April's Treatment!

Matthew had a treatment way back in April.  He did amazing.  We had talked on the way in hoping that we would get the "good guy" Arik and we talked about how the day was going to go.  We had Zachary with us again so it was going to be a challenge.  We got a room with a chair instead of a bed.  I wasn't sure how it was going to go at first but Matthew seemed to enjoy the chair more then the bed.  After getting his dose of Benadryl and Tylenol the IV team got there.  Guess what?!?!  We got Arik!  He walked in and I said "Matthew look we got the good guy!!"  Matthew was excited.  He talked to him again to keep him calm and told him what was going to happen.  I asked Matthew if he wanted me to sit with him or just hold his other hand.  At first he just wanted me to hold his other hand.  Then when Arik started to wash his arm he got a little nervous.  So I sat with him in the chair and held him a little.  After he was all cleaned and ready to go Arik said it was time.  He got the needle and was set.  Matthew didn't flinch.  He got the IV in and there was not a peep out of Matthew.  He had to hold it with some pressure so that Arik could hook up the syringe for the labs.  He told Matthew he had to tell him when to stop when he got the blood all the way up to the 8.  He got closer and closer and then had to ask Matthew when he was supposed to stop cuz  Matt had stopped paying attention.  He unhooked him and got him all taped up.  Matthew didn't make a sound!!  I asked him if he took some brave pills this morning and he said no very confused.  ;)  So he did really well the rest of the treatment.  Ryan came to join us 1/2 way through.  I took Zack and headed home to get Braden.  Matt and Ryan stayed to finish up the treatment. In the middle Matthew had to use the bathroom.  ITC doesn't have a bathroom in their area, So Ryan had to take him up the hall with the IV pole in tow.  Ryan said it was really hard walking through the halls like that.  He said a lot of people looked at him with pity eyes.  It upset Ryan more then Matt.   Ryan said Matthew asked if he could help take out the IV and just started pulling and the nurse had to stop him!