Port's out!

Today we reached a huge milestone: the removal of Hope's port. 

The history of that tiny device is so remarkable. It was implanted in her chest on March 17, 2014, just as she ended the first phase of treatment (Induction). And through months and years we finely tuned the routine turned ritual of accessing it. In workhorse fashion it was a means of drawing labs and getting countless blood transfusions, chemo infusions, and IVIG treatments. We were so lucky to have only the slightest troubles - an occasional clog - while some kids get life-threatening infections, port failure and replacements, and persistent problems with access. It made so much possible - and now its work is done.

Hope will have monthly lab draws through a peripheral IV from now on. Not quite as easy as her port access, but no danger of central line infections and no racing to the ER for small fevers. 

She was scheduled for a 10:30 OR time, but we got a call yesterday changing it to 11:45. Damn - that's a long time with no eating or drinking but that's the way it goes. Then we arrived and found out they were running late. Sigh. At 1:45 she was finally taken back. But she was a total champ - she played and played, and hardly complained at all. I think she handled the waiting better than Greg and I did!

And by the time we arrived in the recovery room, she was already awake and asking for her doughnut. 

"I did it! I all done!" 

"I brave, mommy."

Yup, she really did it this time. Last visit to the downstairs doctors. No more port. All done.