Jadan is starting his first day of week three today. This is his second week without chemo. He will begin his second round on Monday, August 18th, the same day the Fall 2025 semester starts at the University of New Mexico. From the beginning of treatment, the care team’s advice has been, “just do normal,” meaning live as normally as possible. For Jadan, that means playing music, listening to classic vinyl, and eating his favorite margherita pizza from Amore Neopolitan Pizzeria. I am happy to share that Jadan has been able to engage in many of his normal activities. We are grateful he is feeling well.
Last week, he was navigating bone pain. This week, the pain has subsided, and he is feeling strong. Also, during our last visit to Dr. Purdy, we learned of the concern about possible hearing loss, a side effect from cisplatin, the medication that cures his cancer type. Cisplatin damages hair cells found in the cochlea, where sound vibrations are converted into electrical signals that the brain interprets (Acco.org).
We were able to get an appointment with the audiologist late Friday afternoon, and felt inspired by the sign on the check-in desk. According to the results, Jadan has not had any ill effects of hearing loss. This was great news! He now has a baseline to follow as he progresses in his chemotherapy treatments. The goal is to avoid hearing loss completely. We will follow up with Dr. Purdy this Thursday to get his take on the results and for another blood test. We want to avoid a week-long hospital stay as much as possible.
In celebration of the great news, you are invited to learn how to create your very own soul gardeners. The following video will include the materials needed and instructions for shaping the wire. Soul Gardeners celebrate the essential nobility in all human beings. They are perfect to bring joy to others. Enjoy!
Soul Gardening: Jadan's Cancer Journey 