Acceptance speech. :)

Even though I'm not an avid attendant to public religious activities, I am a true believer of higher beings, the divine.  Everything happens for a reason.  We might be too trivial to be able to understand the reason at the time of the incidence, and we might not even be able to comprehend within this lifetime, but there must be a reason.  If it's planned that I, together with my family, should experience something challenging and emotionally involving as this, I accept it.  I do not accept it as if I accept a challenge and ready to fight.  I accept it as if this experience will offer me an opportunity to live my life differently as I originally thought it would be.  I will embrace this opportunity and live my life positively, as I have always done before.

I'm so fortunate to have so many caring friends.  I read each and every emails, messages to my iPhone through different channels,  and comments left here.  Reading your kind and encouraging words is when I cannot control my tears.  I will not be able to spend as much time with you-my friends- in the near future.  Please keep us in mind and your encouraging words are always appreciated!

The operation last evening went smoothly.  Lucas went to OR 4:55. Bone marrow procedure and lumber puncture (spinal tap) done by Hematologist is finished around 5:30.  Installation of portacath done by general surgeon is finished around 6:50.  We were allowed to see Lucas in recovery room around 7:15.  Lucas's eye lids and skins around his eyes were a little bruised from the fact his platelets were low and he was blindfolded during the surgery.   The anesthesia did give Lucas side effects manifested as throwing up 5 times.  As he hadn't had food or water intake since Thursday dinner, he was throwing up stomach acid and that made him uncomfortable and fussy.  We didn't get back to our room until after 9pm.  Finally he settled down and went to sleep shortly after 10pm.

We had a very good night of sleep last night.   The nurse allowed me to sleep with Lucas in his bed as Lucas really wants me to.  Lucas is on IV for basic nutrition.  He hasn't complained about thirst or hunger.  I do worry that he will have poor appetite for a while and cooking for him will need patience and creativity.  Any advice or suggestion on that subject is highly appreciated!

Today the attending doctor will meet with both my husband and I to discuss the details of this type of leukemia Lucas has and the treatment plan for the first six month or so.  The spinal fluid result will be out by the the time we talk to her. Fingers crossed.  The treatment plan will be enhanced after the gene mapping results come back in 1 week.  The total treatment is at least 3.25 years (Lucas being a boy needs one extra year than girls to decrease cancer relapse in the productive organs).  The doctor joked that they would always be in our life from now on since Lucas would need annual check-up from Hematology and Oncology all his life.  Right.  Even after Lucas is considered "cured" from leukemia, he would live with a higher possibility to develop cancer (in many cases, hard to treat kinds) throughout his life.  It might be mind-boggling for most parents.  My super cute and 100% perfect Lucas is having an extraordinary life ahead of him.  I appreciate the opportunity to be his mother, to be able to see some extraordinary sceneries along the way.