Good News for a Change

Concerns around Gavin’s recovery continue to plague us, but here are some good to excellent things that have been happening:

We finally heard back from pathology/oncology, and although Gavin’s tumour is malignant as expected, it’s not the really terrible kind that the doctors had feared.  The one he has is considered quite treatable, and the prognosis is pretty good. It’s not the worst kind, hurrah!

A few days ago, Gavin smiled again for the first time, initially reserving his smiles for Daddy only, who has always been able to make him laugh.  I’m getting some smiles out of him now too.

We are now able to take Gavin out of his room for little cruises in a stroller, attached of course to his IV stand.  We can’t leave the floor yet but we do laps, play games, and lay on the slapstick humour to get a few grins out of him.

Gavin’s started to show interest in playing with toys again, and we’ve had a lot of fun with stickers, markers, and his new Max and Ruby dolls.  (Thank you Noa!)  It’s awesome to see him taking an interest in these things and taking part in imaginative play again.

We met with our physiotherapist and occupational therapist today for our first session, and Gavin sat up in bed, holding up his head on his own for a good fifteen minutes, and then stood up and took some steps for the first time.  He’s not ready to walk unassisted yet, but I’m sure will come along, little by little.

I’m also so happy to report that Gavin has decided that he’s content to be with other members of the family again.  For a long time, he only wanted me and Craig, and sent Grandma, Grandad, Auntie Loz and Uncle Duncan away within seconds of appearing in his room.  Today he decided that I was allowed to go out and eat lunch while he stayed alone with Grandma and Grandad.  It has been pretty tiring making sure that either Craig or I was there at all times so this is a welcome change.