Thomas did end up at the hospital yesterday with a fever, but this one was not as severe as the previous three. The fever began Wednesday night, but as his temperature was only in the 100-101 degree range rather than the 103-105 range we'd seen previously, our oncologist allowed us to keep him at home Wednesday night and then bring him down to the oncology clinic on Thursday. Thomas was examined and released and is now home doing fine.

Thomas and Ritina returned home from Manhattan this afternoon following the completion of Thomas's final round of chemotherapy. Thomas appears to be feeling well, and he and Taylor are inseparable today. Because his last three treatments have been followed high fevers, he came home this time already on an antibiotic. We are hopeful that this might prevent a recurrence of the problem, but we are prepared for him to return to Columbia nonetheless.

We are all overjoyed to have reached this point. There are still challenges ahead, but having reached this point we feel as if we have conquered something, Thomas most of all. Thank you for all of your continued prayers and support!

We are often asked how Taylor, Thomas's six-year-old younger brother, feels about everything that has happened to Thomas. Our honest response is that he hasn't seemed all that affected. Mostly he just talks about how much he misses Thomas when Thomas is at the hospital. He's never expressed much emotion about it all or talked about what Thomas is going through.

Tonight, that changed.

With Ritina and Thomas gone to the hospital, it's just me and Taylor. This evening I walked into the living room to find him teary-eyed. Before I could ask him about it, he said, "Daddy, today I just can't stop crying for Thomas."

I had him come over and stand in a chair in the dining room so that I could hug him, and then I asked him "What do you mean?"

"All day I just can't stop crying," he replied, "because of everything Thomas has been through and because he only has one eye now. I wish it could have happened to me instead because I'm just so sad for Thomas."

The he hugged me real tight, buried his head in my shoulder, and cried. I hugged him back and cried with him. Then I told him it was okay to be sad and that Mommy and I had cried for Thomas a lot too.

I hugged him for another minute until he stopped crying, then he looked at me and I could see tears forming again. He said, "See I just can't stop, the tears are in my eyes again." Another minute or so and he finally let go and went back to the living room.

When I walked upstairs again a few minutes ago to tell him his dinner was ready, he was teary-eyed yet again. Whatever he has or has not felt for the past several months, it is clear that Thomas's suffering is certainly weighing upon him today. I asked him if he was okay and he said yes, but again shared that he "just can't stop crying for Thomas because of his cancer and because he only has one eye," and again he said, "Daddy I just really wish it could have been me."

For an innocent six-year-old to wish the pain and suffering of his brother upon himself is nothing less than true and selfless love. Once again I am humbled by the spirit exhibited by one of my own children. Is it any wonder that Christ likened the kingdom of heaven unto the heart of a child?

Thomas and Ritina are headed down to Manhattan today for Thomas's final round of chemotherapy at Columbia Presbyterian. We can't tell you how elated Thomas (and all of us) are to be crossing this threshold. We are fearful that this round, like the past three, will likely be followed by a return trip to the hospital because of a high fever two to three days after the treatment, but still, today marks the beginning of the end of chemo, and it's hard not to be excited about this.

Once chemo is over we have a ways to go, primarily more reconstructive surgery on Thomas's exenterated eye socket and then the fitting of a prosthetic eye, but for the first time the end really seems to be in sight. Thomas and Ritina are decorating his hospital room this time as a celebration of having reached this point. After they return home this weekend I hope to post some pictures.

We thank all of you for your continued prayers and support. Our prayer requests at this point are that Thomas's final round of chemo proceeds as smoothly as all the rest, and that this time Thomas might be spared the additional suffering of the fever, chills, and vomiting that have followed the last three treatments.

Following Tuesday's rough day, Thomas spent an uneventful (medically) two and one-half days at the hospital, and was allowed to come home yesterday afternoon. He missed trick-or-treating here at home, but I understand the hospital had a great trick-or-treat event. Other than Thomas's blood counts being the lowest they've ever been (for which reason we are limiting access to our house right now, so if you're coming to visit, call first), he is acting and appears to be feeling pretty much himself again.

Thank you so much to everyone who helped us this week with food, arrangements for Taylor, housework, and all of life's other little details that, at times like this, seem to become so much bigger. In particular, our special thanks to Nancy Symanowitz, Stephanie Terry, Jeanie Shepherd, Peter and Gail Traisci, and Kim Melillo. What you did may seem small to you, but to us it goes beyond our ability to express appreciation.