The first month and a half after surgery and radiation, Luke lost quite a bit of weight and had a really hard time gaining it back. We discovered that he really like Cheetoh's Cheesies and we always made sure he had a bowl of them handy to snack on. We also gave him several cans of vanilla Pediasure a day. It was very troubling for me to see my baby looking so thin. His rear end was supposed to be plump and fleshy, like all babies, but instead, the skin just hung down. His eyes were sunken into his skull. He looked terrible. But, he still managed to smile and to make us laugh. It wasn't until around Christmas time that Luke began to put on weight again. He also started to walk then too. They were much-appreciated presents to us.

After the radiation, Luke's chemo treatments went from once a week to once every three weeks. Luke got used to having his blood drawn every week. In January, Luke had a bunch of tests that showed everything looked good and his body appeared to be clear.

Things seemed to be settling down until, at the end of January 2000, both of Luke's older half-brothers came down with the chickenpox. His older brothers ended up staying with their dad for the month of February but Luke had already been exposed. We ended up having to take him into the clinic where they gave him an immune boosting shot and then we waited out the month praying that Luke wouldn't get them. Luke didn't get them. The one chemo treatment we had to get in that month was done in an isolation room to protect the other oncology kids in the clinic.

Next thing we knew, it is the beginning of March and Luke was scheduled to get his LAST chemo treatment on March 10. We baked some cupcakes and took them into the clinic with us for the nurses and patients to share. I remember feeling both happy and sad at the same time. Happy that the treatments would end and sad because I could finally let my guard down and start feeling all the emotions that I had been pushing aside through out the whole adventure. It was hard to believe that we had come so far.

Luke had his VAD removed on April 5th. It was minor surgery and we were in and out in a couple of hours. That was the last bit. Our safety net was being taken away. Again, mixed emotions ruled the day. Instead of sadness, fear seemed to be the strongest emotion. I was terrified that something awful was going to happen during the 'routine' surgery. When Luke had to have the kidney surgery, it was as if there was a gun to our heads, it was a matter of life and death. It was easy then. Much harder when it wasn't so serious.

Luke's had more routine tests and everything still looks good. His blood pressure is still a little bit high and he's on medications for that but it's hoped that he'll be off them soon. He'll be going for routine check-ups every 3 months for awhile and then it will be every 6 months for a bit. Eventually it will get down to once a year until he's well into his teens.

His hair is growing back, his scars are fading on his skin and he still has a wicked sense of humor. It's been one heck of a ride. Many ups and many downs. We've faced our weaknesses and discovered our strengths. Adventures can have that effect though, can't they?