Prepare for Takeoff!

So our days in Baltimore have become fairly routine and low stress for the most part. Henry now wakes up within 10 minutes after his treatments are complete and customarily devours a blueberry poptart.

Partly because the rest of the day is up for grabs and partly to give back to a system that's done so much for us, we've enrolled Henry in two studies measuring cognitive effects of radiation on children. This means additional neuropsychology testing (which he generally enjoys) and MRI's.

Our researchers are not allowed to use extra sedation for their MRI testing so they can either wait for aclinical scan or attempt the 15 minute scan without sedation.

To prepare Henry for this, last week we began telling him he was going on a spaceship as an astronaut. He got very excited. During the neuropsych testing we met the research radiologist and told her of Henry's "trip". At the MRI today, she'd left him a bag with three beanie babies and a special note talking about the first astronauts were a dog and monkey and that the "engines" on the "spaceship" were pretty loud. It was such a nice gesture.

So the time had come. Henry entered the room in my arms. He laid on the table, let the tech prepare him, put tape over his head, earplugs in his ears and what I can only describe as a cage over his head. The sound was so loud I couldn't read the books I brought him, but instead held them up in view of the tiny mirror that allowed him to see me at the end of the tunnel they sucked him back into.

He did beautifully. They said the pictures were perfect. He's the youngest patient they've been able to do this without sedation. I was filled with pride and admiration for him.

I asked him if he had fun. He said, "Yeah, I could see the moon and everything!" Oh the power of imagination!