Last week, Christy traveled to Phoenix for work.  Her coworkers rallied around her and made a very generous donation to Rally, and a huge group of them participated in a run in Alexander’s honor.  Once again, we felt so loved and supported.  Thank you, Medtronic family!

We had a great weekend with friends and family, including our last Red Stars game of the season, but now we’re back to the hospital life.  Yesterday began Alexander’s second round of inpatient chemotherapy.  In the morning, he had a procedure to harvest some testicular tissue for cryopreservation.  Chemotherapy is likely to impair his ability to produce sperm.  There is not yet a way to derive viable sperm from 4-year-old testicular tissue, but there may be in the future.  If Alexander is otherwise equipped to be a father, we want him to have the chance to have biological children.

Alexander’s chemo infusions have gone well so far.  His energy is fairly good, and he ate well last night.  A good day in the hospital for him is any day he wins at hospital bingo, and he won twice today!  All the excitement wore him out—he’s sleeping now, his lunch waiting on him when he awakes.

We are slated to go back home tomorrow after a morning infusion followed by plenty of fluids to flush the metabolized chemo drugs from his body.  Christy may not want to leave, though, because she slept so well in the hospital room last night, thanks to some earplugs, an eye mask, and some melatonin.  

Wait … I’m getting word that Christy does not want to stay.

This evening, a magician came by our room and did magic for and with Alexander!  He helped Alexander create a magic phrase (“blue giraffe”), did magic with foam balls, a silk scarf, and the Eye of the Mummy, and entranced Alexander thoroughly.  I don’t think Alexander has been that captivated ever before.  He even got to keep the magic wand and the Eye of the Mummy!  Thanks, Magician Matt!