Day One- Done!

Although today has been pretty uneventful, I still thought we should update the blog. Jack started chemo yesterday around 5pm. He did very well! He says he is feeling ok, even with the continuous IV of Ara-C. He is having some difficulty seeing, because he cannot wear his contacts while receiving chemo. For those of you who don't know, without his contacts Jack is just about legally blind. Needless to say, today has been a bit boring for him since he can't see the TV, read magazines or books, or even see facial expressions. His nurse called me his "seeing eye wife". The good news is, Jack's Dad and Grandpa Pochardt are working hard to find an old pair of glasses that will get him by until he can wear his contacts again. The Mayo Clinic also has an optometrist on staff, so one way or another we will get him seeing again.

Jack also needs to stay active, which can be difficult since he can't leave his room or the hallway just outside of his room. His friend Chase searched around and found him a stationary bike, so that has been keeping him busy today. As you can see in this picture, he is really taking his biking seriously :)
If you are wondering, the thing in Jack's nose is packing to prevent bleeding. It's basically a 5.5 inch long balloon that puts pressure on his blood vessels. He has had that in since Friday morning, and so far, he says it has been the most uncomfortable thing he has experienced (bone marrow biopsies included!) He should get that out sometime tomorrow. The white netting on his arm is covering his PICC line which is where the doctors and nurses draw blood, deliver IVs, and give him his chemo. This prevents him from getting poked with needles multiple times a day. Also, he really dislikes wearing hospital gowns, so athletic shorts are his attire of choice.

There really isn't a whole lot of new information to share today. The nurses say that being bored is a good thing, because it means he isn't feeling too many side effects from the chemo. I'll update more as the week goes on!