Wyatt - Round One

Wyatt was diagnosed with AML Leukemia and entered the hospital at the end of February, 2016. It was a Leap Year too. In addition to getting many wonderful days ahead where he isn't in the hospital and can be and do the everything a 9-year-old boy loves to do, our boy deserves a "BONUS LEAP YEAR" day too!

As I write this blog, it's the middle of August, 2016 and Wyatt is still in the hospital completing Round Four and patiently waiting for his numbers to climb high enough so that he can be released and go home FOR GOOD!!! Almost six months later - and he's fought the good fight and won, and he's almost there!!!

This photo shows Wyatt at the beginning of Round One. I've become so used to Wyatt without hair that I almost don't recognize him in this picture. Playing his keyboard was one of the many things that helped him pass the time. Wyatt is a natural musician and plays with lots of feeling and ability. He plays by ear too, which is a talent!  Wyatt got to play "Blues in the Night" for Presiding Bishop Gerald Causse, and Bishop Causse played "Rhapsody in Blue" for Wyatt on this very keyboard. The timing of Bishop Causse being in Minnesota and hearing about Wyatt and coming to visit him was a tender mercy. Wyatt received many Priesthood blessings from Forrest and others, and he also was privileged to receive a Priesthood blessing from Bishop Causse.

This was the view out Wyatt's hospital window during Round One. Brrrr! It was still winter in Minnesota. I think the nurses made sure Wyatt got the room with the gorgeous view of the Minneapolis skyline since he had to spend so much time in the hospital.

I have such tender feelings when I look at this photo taken on March 17th, 2016,  Elise's 18th birthday.Wyatt had only been in the hospital for a couple of weeks and everything was still so new and overwhelming and unknown. But there is a light in his eye and courage in his smile, as there is in everyone else's. 

Angie put this photo of the Savior in the window sill. I was able to spend a few nights with Wyatt and it was such a comfort to roll over and have it be the first thing I'd see in the morning and the last thing I'd see at night before falling asleep. Sometimes after we'd said our prayers and were falling asleep, Wyatt would break the silence and say, "Night night, sleep tight - don't let the bed bugs bite!"

This photo was taken one night after family scripture and prayer. Angie and Forrest were never at home together since one of them was always at the hospital with Wyatt. I will always remember the feelings of safety and peace that it brought when they would gather us for scriptures and prayer every night even though the family was separated. I'm grateful their family has this tradition. These really are the things that matter most. Jonas and Elise welcomed us into their lives with open arms. Although it wasn't how we would have liked to be together, it was such a welcome opportunity to be able to spend lots of time with them, sharing their daily routine, preparing meals, hearing them get up early for Seminary, listening to them sing in the shower, just living life.

Wyatt got lots of donated blankets from the hospital Child Life Specialists. He really appreciated them and wrapped himself up in their warmth. I could feel the love that was tied into each one of them. Wyatt also had visits from therapy animals, including this bunny "Tail-less." That bunny loved Wyatt, and Wyatt loved him back. The owner of Tail-less was such a nice woman. These therapy animals bring a smile to everyone's face and always lifted Wyatt's spirits. There were a few times during each round where he wasn't up to doing much of anything because of low red blood cells, white blood counts, elusive platelets, and the various side effects of chemo, but he was almost always up to petting the bunny.

Sweet handsome boy. There were many days where Round One was rough! 

Back at the home front, here is a photo of Elise and me. We made a "bucket list" for spring break (thanks for the idea Jane) . One of the things on the list was to go running. I know, I know, picture it.
We ran one block as fast as we could and I was EXHAUSTED and Elise smoked me! Forrest had her clean out the Jeep too, and that's what she had finished doing when this picture was taken.

ROUND ONE IS IN THE BOOKS!!!! Love, love, love this photo. After completing Round One and being allowed to come home for some R & R, Wyatt immediately went upstairs and FLOPPED face down onto his bed. HIS.BED. And side note, hauling all the stuff that was necessary for three people to live in a hospital for a month is exactly like sending someone off to college.

Yeah, it was pretty happy in there! Jonas and Elise helped him arrange all of his stuffed animals.

I'll never forget the feelings of freedom and exhilaration watching Wyatt and Forrest play baseball in the back yard after Round One. I could literally feel his body and lungs filling with fresh, clean air.

Fabulous to watch indeed!

This is Wyatt through and through. His smile, his stamina, his maturity, his ability to patiently submit to the battle and come out on top.

I love this photo too - waiting for Forrest to zing one right down the middle.
I think Wyatt looks like the child actor Kevin Cochoran who starred in "Toby Tyler" in this picture.

 

After playing baseball, they watched their cat Hazel for a few minutes. Hazel = one intensly outdoor cat. She couldn't stand being inside - she wanted to be outside ridding Woodbury, Minnesota of excess bunnies. And she got her wish because they decided that given her habits, she would do better back on the farm from whence she came. And I think she's thriving there too! Although I'm sure she misses everyone :-)

Home and glowing with health after all he'd been through!

It was General Conference while Wyatt was home after round One. Here is the family working on the quilts and listening to conference. I will never forget the overwhelming emotions I felt as we listened to April Conference, 2016 with the Hallstrom family.

We were able to attend a few of the kid's events while we were there, which is something we miss out on with them living so far away and we loved being able to do. This is Jonas performing at the speech awards night. He did such a great job, and looked smashing!

We took a quick trip up North to Chicago while Wyatt was home after Round One.

 The Chicago skyline is gorgeous, but not as gorgeous as the Minneapolis skyline.

After we returned to Woodbury, we attended a Saturday morning session at the Minneapolis Temple. The temple workers said was the most packed session in recent memory. We waited for a half hour while they put extra chairs in the aisles to accommodate everyone. It was an empowering experience to attend the Temple with all that was unfolding in our lives. I listened carefully to every word and felt truth in everything I heard and saw. On our way home, out of the blue, a thought occurred to me that we should make a quick trip home. Dennis was immediately on board. We decided to make it a three-day trip and make a quick detour to see Amy's family in Colorado. We were so glad we were able to see them!

The girls and Jack have such vivid imaginations. They are at those golden ages where all they need is three plastic animals and before you know it they've created an entire imaginary universe. Add American Girl dolls AND horses AND cats AND dogs, well, you get the picture!

 Carly is like a little woman. Like a GOOFY little woman!

 Jack impressed Grandpa with some new magic tricks!

 and Macy and Jack both played the piano for us. They're GOOD!

 Gotta love those freckles!

 The fam.

 And when we got home, spring had arrived in Utah with popcorn popping on the Apricot trees!

I couldn't resist doing a "Wyatt" pose on our bed!

It turned out that Julie was in Utah making a visit to see mom and dad so we were fortunate to get to see her too! Denny and Joe had us out to their house one night and we are posing here "drinking in" the lilacs!

And we got to see Truman George! He is so handsome that I think he borders on a male version of beautiful!

We played "One Night Werewolf" with the Sweat kids.(Lauren wasn't home).

One Night Werewolf is such a crazy game. We played it a lot with the Hallstroms too. I don't know if I like it or hate it, but it sure makes for some good laughs!

Eli must have sensed he was getting his picture taken!

Yes, a beautiful boy indeed!

This is the chair in our bedroom where I sat for two hours after we received the text from Angie and Forrest telling us the wonderful news that Wyatt had responded well to Round One of chemo and was in remission. I sat there and was just simply awash with happiness. I didn't move. There was no need to move. I was too overwhelmed with gratitude and joy.

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