Friday, March 21, 2008

UPDATE.....

I apologize for not posting sooner. The past few months have been very difficult for me & my family.....and the long dreary days of winter haven't helped either.
I know there are many of you out there that have been praying for Mr. T....and hoping that he can get a bone marrow donor soon....but that hasn't happened yet.
We are still waiting patiently....so please don't stop praying! I'm convinced that the reason that Mr. T and I are still at home...is because of all the big-hearted bloggers out there who continually keep us in their prayers.

Talking about big-hearted people.....please go visit Shelly @ THIS ECLECTIC LIFE . They do things 'really big' in Texas....and surely, Shelly is proof of that. As some of you know....Shelly has a goal of creating 140 afghans for kids with cancer. As of today...she has almost reached that goal with the help of many wonderful people from all around the world. If you visit her site....please click on 'Share a Square' in the upper-right hand corner of her blog and be ready to be overwhelmed when you see the multi-colored squares that have been sent to her from all over the globe. As of now she has enough squares to finish the afghans & more....but she could use some help putting the afghans together....or making little bags to put the name cards in. Although we don't live in the States.....Shelly sent my grandson, Mr. T. the very first afghan that was made. He loves it....he finds it warm and cuddly....as it was meant to be. To think that 40 prs of hands made this afghan....so you know this afghan was made with a lot of love....and it brings a lot of comfort to my grandson when he is not feeling well.
Shelly doesn't stop there.....she just keeps on giving. This week she really out-did herself. She researched how to be a bone marrow donor.....and she did it. Did I tell you that she is PETRIFIED of needles?? (except for crochet needles)........and she hates the sight of blood, especially her own....but with Mr. T's picture in hand.....and her LAST WILL in the other.....she did it! THANK YOU SHELLY!
She did it for Mr. T., my grandson and for all the kids out there who desperately need a bone marrow donor......and if Shelly can do it.....you can too!
Please visit Shelly @ THIS ECLECTIC LIFE to read about her experience on St. Patrick's Day and to see what she went through in order to be a donor. She even took pictures so everyone can see it's not as bad as you think. Just think....you WILL save a life......and all it takes is a few hours of your time. Now...isn't it worth it?
Mr. T continues to do well....although his immune system has taken a real beating. The oncology team has decided to continue with the phlebotomy treatments as he still has too much iron in his blood.
This week all the numbers are low:
RBC is 3.85* normal is 4.5-5.2
HGB is 102* normal is 120-160
PLATELETS are 23* normal is 150-450
NEUTRO-POLYS are 0.78* normal is 1.8-8.0
The Oncology team tell me to keep a close eye on Mr. T.....and watch for bruising or bleeding. No rough-housing or wrestling....no contact sports.....etc. I do notice that he tires easily and he's not eating as much. If his numbers continue to drop...he will become neutro-penic and then he won't be able to go to school or have friends over.
On April 8th....he will be having another bone marrow test done...and I promise to keep you up-dated.
Mr. T....becomes a teenager on May 25th! Help!! He turns '13' and this year wants to have his 'pool party' & BBQ with all his friends. I hope that we get to stay home till then! I want to give Mr. T a party he won't forget!
Again......I thank you for all the warm wishes and prayers!

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Tayten, the trouble maker in me says ask (sweet talk) your grandmother for loads more things than you really want for your thirteenth birthday... but then she may not speak to me anymore if you took that advice, so let's pretend like I didn't say it.

The adult who remembers all the thing her son wanted for his thirteenth birthday is ready to say, "you really don't need all those things." (I know, what do I know about what a 13 year old needs or wants...You are too polite to say it, though.)

A pool party sounds like fun.. but does it get warm enough up there in May to swim?

Hang in there kid.

Tayten Court aka 'Mr. T'. said...

Marcia,
This 'almost-teenager' has everything he wants. Last month a lady in town had a bridal show and gave the proceeds to 3 kids with cancer.....Mr. T was one of them. He received $350 in gift cards and spent it all on games at Wal-Mart...he did buy his sister a bulletin board & posters for her room.
He has a PlayStation, Nintendo, GameBoy, PS2, WII, Guitar Hero 2 & 3..and all the latest games to go with each system...and tons of music cd's & movies.
He is asking for a lizard or guinea pig......and I said 'NO'! I don't want anything crawling around the house! (I have to worry about germs..we don't know what those animals carry) But I did give in and agreed to get him an aquarium for his birthday. He loves tropical fish.
He also wants guitar lessons...but he agreed to wait till we are done with the Hospital.
Usually here in Canada...by late May..it's warm enough to have a pool party! I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
Thanks for the warm wishes!

Anonymous said...

Man, I wish I had one third of those things!

P.S. Don't let him talk you into a cute little red eared slider turtle to add to that aquarium! Until they are at least four inches, they carry Salmonella.. not something he wants to take a chance on.

Tayten Court aka 'Mr. T'. said...

Marcia.
Mr. T's mother has offered to give him some African frogs for his aquarium....that live in water? but I told her to hold on.......I'll have to google it...and ask the Oncology team first.....you never know what those little critters can give you!

I asked the Oncology Dr's if he can dye his hair...because all his friends...(yep...12 yr old boys have dyed their hair blonde or red or purple.) and the Dr...said...Nope...never...we don't know yet what those chemicals can do to you...so no hair colors...no tatoo's.......and no lifting weights.
Mr. T says...fine...I'll get some nose rings then......and I said......we'll see when you're 18 and not before.....
So...he smiled...he's cool with that......Yay for me.......and he knows he can never smoke (secondary cancer) or drink because of his liver.......so all I have to worry about is girls! and condoms! I think I can handle that....i hope! (grin).