Madelyn had a big chemo day scheduled on Monday. I was anxious for her to proceed with her chemo - I do not like delays. Not because they disrupt our lives, but because her chemo is important. Those toxic chemicals are killing the beast and the worry of relapse is constantly on my mind. It probably will always be. For the rest of my life.
Her counts were good. They have returned to Madelyn's "normal" ... meaning she is not showing signs of being sick... and she is certainly feeling and acting that way! Sophia and Madelyn both have been so happy walking off to school this week.
Hem 36.9 Plat 164 WBC 2.0 ANC 946
She went to The Sleepy Room for chemo in her Central Nervous System via spinal tap. While in there they also gave her the annual flu shot. I was surprised and very happy that she was able to get this. Most cancer patients can not receive regular immunizations so I assumed no flu shot either. As you know, cancer patients immune systems are depressed and introducing these potentially deadly diseases is well, not good. Peter and I are very, very pro-vaccination. We have a Global Village mindset - each vaccination our children receive doesn't just protect them it protects the worlds children. We had Madelyn receive all her Kindergarten vaccinations early, with doctor's approval, when she was four. I am so happy about that decision now...
She will not have her regular steroid pulse this week. The steroids can cause the flu shot to be ineffective so she will have the five days of steroids starting next week. She had her usual Vincristine infusion and we are now waiting to see if she has any pain from this. It is to be expected with the Vincristine chemo... but last month she did not need any oxycodone (pain meds) at all. We'll see what this week holds...
Peter and I decided this summer that each of us would take a week vacation on our own. A little re-couping time. Peter went climbing in the Bugaboos with his friend Jim Thompson in August. I will be heading to my old town New York City on October 24th. There is a big annual photography conference, I will be visiting one of my best friends and gallery hoping. I am really excited. Peter will be heading up the home front on his own...
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
October 5
Monday afternoon Madelyn started running a low grade temperature. The fever continued until Tuesday morning and she was acting sick - so we called Children's. They told us to come in as soon as possible... let me tell you those are NOT fun words to hear. Madelyn and I packed up for a inpatient stay, put her Elma cream on and headed south. Sophia was also running a temperature so she and Peter stayed home. The fevers didn't surprise us as two parents from school contacted us and her two best friends were also sick.
I hate, hate, hate these reminders of the danger Madelyn lives in. I hate cancer. It was a long drive to Seattle.
It looks like she will be ok this time around though. As soon as we arrived we were ushered back to a room, her port was accessed and was immediately evaluated by an Oncologist. She was given some Tylenol and received an hour of fluids. We are not allowed to give Madelyn Tylenol unless instructed to by an Oncologist. They need to know when a fever is presenting itself. Her blood was drawn for a CBC and blood cultures. She also gave a urine sample. Then we waited for her blood cell counts to come back...
Hem 39.2 Plat 146 WBC 2.7 ANC 2052
Because her ANC is so high her body is able to fight this off. If she had a fever and a low ANC we would immediately be inpatient. She would have received 48 hours of IV antibiotics and not released until she was 48 hours fever free. Luckily, this didn't happen.
I decided to go to my sisters house in case her fever continued. I was allowed to giver her Tylenol until 7am this morning and then if the fever continued we were to go back to the hospital. She was essentially fever free from the afternoon until this morning so we headed home today. We are still waiting on the blood cultures and urine sample, but she is already noticeably feeling better. My feeling is all will be well...
I hate, hate, hate these reminders of the danger Madelyn lives in. I hate cancer. It was a long drive to Seattle.
It looks like she will be ok this time around though. As soon as we arrived we were ushered back to a room, her port was accessed and was immediately evaluated by an Oncologist. She was given some Tylenol and received an hour of fluids. We are not allowed to give Madelyn Tylenol unless instructed to by an Oncologist. They need to know when a fever is presenting itself. Her blood was drawn for a CBC and blood cultures. She also gave a urine sample. Then we waited for her blood cell counts to come back...
Hem 39.2 Plat 146 WBC 2.7 ANC 2052
Because her ANC is so high her body is able to fight this off. If she had a fever and a low ANC we would immediately be inpatient. She would have received 48 hours of IV antibiotics and not released until she was 48 hours fever free. Luckily, this didn't happen.
I decided to go to my sisters house in case her fever continued. I was allowed to giver her Tylenol until 7am this morning and then if the fever continued we were to go back to the hospital. She was essentially fever free from the afternoon until this morning so we headed home today. We are still waiting on the blood cultures and urine sample, but she is already noticeably feeling better. My feeling is all will be well...
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