Jordon's Footprints: How many licks does it take to postpone a scan?

Bright and early we started on the road to Children's. We arrived around 9 am and Jordon slept the entire way. Jordon's clinic visit takes place on the 9th floor, but when we arrived they told us this time he had to go to the 2nd floor (the one we had just entered the hospital on) to get his labs done (he gets labs twice a week). I explained to the nurses that we had never been there and we would feel more comfortable if they would draw, but they explained that since he no longer had a picc line and they didn't want to access his port for a blood draw Jordon had to go to the 2nd floor. Back down we went. After they drew labs, they gave Jordon a sucker. He immediately began to eat it. I looked at him and said, "Jordon, you can't eat that!" When we saw the nurse back on the 9th floor we told her that Jordon had had a few licks of a lolly pop they gave him after his lab draw. They explained that they must call down to radiology to see if that would be enough to postpone the scan. Of course it was! They said that even one lick would have been too many. The purpose of a PET scan is to inject radioactive sugar into the vein and it attaches to the cancer cells in the body. ANY other sugar/food in the body would effect/skew the test. They told us that we had two options-wait around until 2 pm for the scan, or go home and come back tomorrow. They warned us that the radioactive sugar was already mixed for Jordon's scan and there was a possibility that it would decompose by 2 pm. We still chose to wait until 2. We were already there, we opted to take the chance.

It all worked out okay anyway. I requested that Jordon have another heart test and they sent him down for a echocardiogram. One of the chemo's that he takes can damage the heart so it was time for him to have another echo before his next infusion of that chemo which is Thursday. Jordon was also due for his breathing treatment. Since he is allergic to an antibiotic commonly given to immunocompromised children, to prevent a very serious infection, he must do a breathing treatment once a month. At one point, the nurse administering the treatment asked Jordon if he would like any gum. My quick response was a sarcastic chuckle and "I don't think so". They often give gum to kids receiving the treatment because it causes a bad taste. But of course we didn't want to compromise his PET scan. We were able to get both the echo and treatment done in perfect time to go to the postponed scan, and the contrast did not decompose. The Lord certainly works in mysterious ways.

So now we are again at the "hurry up and wait" point. Jordon finished the scan about 3:30 and we were the last ones to leave. So we will have to wait until tomorrow for the radiologist to read the scan.

Again we are praying for remission and if it is the Lord's will that Jordon would continue his maintenance chemotherapy without the introduction or addition of radiation or surgery. Maintenance chemo will be 6-9 months.

We want you to know how VERY thankful we are for the outpouring of prayers today! We want to praise the Lord for everything working out-even if our human minds think it wasn't smoothly He was with us. Praises are that Jordon is still doing so well with everything. He takes everything so well, and really goes with the flow. Praises are that we have an amazing community and friends!

The genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:7