MRI post treatment

We were starting to find our rhythm with life at home again.  I had started taking Zac to a few little playgroups and doing some of the activities he had enjoyed before his diagnosis.  It was great to see him around other children again, although being away from kids his own for so long did have an impact.  He was more withdrawn and shy than what he used to be and wasn’t at all keen on sharing.  There were still good and bad days, but the really bad days gradually became fewer.

It was also the first MRI scan following the end of his treatment.  The build up to scan day is tense, it never gets any easier and the ‘scanxiety’ is real.  In the days before you become snappy, on edge and your mind wanders to imagine all the different scenarios dependant on the result.  Your sleep is disturbed as your dreams are haunted by past experiences and future possibilities.

We take him along for his general anaesthetic and kiss him goodbye as he goes under.  The nurse comments how calm we seem leaving him, and then understands why when we tell her he’s had almost 40 general anaesthetics in the past 6 months.  His MRI completed; we are called to get him from recovery.  The oncologist informs us, mercifully quickly later that day, that the scan looks clear, and we are beyond relieved.  As the adrenaline seeps away and the tension lifts, everyone is exhausted but incredibly grateful to have come this far.