DAY PLUS 91 - OCTOBER 16, 2008

I apologize for not blogging. The days have been going by very quickly since we've been home. Mr. T and I spend 2 days a week at Cheo....getting blood work done, changing his dressing and getting a check-up. Then we have a tutor coming to the house twice a week. The rest of the time is spent in doling out medication 4 times a day, and cleaning, cleaning, cleaning.

(I also had to wait a month to buy a new tower (hard drive) My computer was fried).

I live in a very old house in the country. We have many windows that should be replaced and we heat with wood and oil....which makes for a very dusty house. Every day there is a new coat of dust over everything....and I start cleaning all over again.

We had the rugs removed before we got got home...which helps a lot...but still there is so much dust that accumulates while we sleep.

So far....we've been very fortunate. Mr. T's blood counts keep improving week by week. His energy and appetite improves daily. As of next week....we will no longer have to go for check-ups twice a week. We will only go for check-ups once a week on a Monday. That's great news!

I haven't blogged for awhile......I have been so busy cleaning, giving Mr. T his medications, preparing a low-bacteria diet...and doing the thousand other chores that is needed to make this home run efficiently.

I've also been walking & sleeping on eggshells.....always wondering if I made the right decision in bringing Mr. T home......questioning every cough, sniffle and ache. So far....so good!

When I hear from other mothers at Cheo......that the hospital is crawling with disease...they have had to put kids with infectious disease on the oncology unit for lack of beds......... parents on the oncology floor have had to isolate their own kids in fear that their kids would get sicker....well then...I feel that just maybe I did make the right decision.

We have been home now for over a month....and still I feel overwhelmed. I still haven't seen my doctor or dentist....I still haven't slept for 8 hours straight, I haven't read a book or seen a movie........and I probably won't for awhile yet. I'm not complaining......we have been blessed.....at least we're home and things are going well. There are some mothers right now with their children at Sick Kids waiting to be transferred back to Cheo...if everything goes well......and so I pray for them each and every night...for a safe journey home.

Again......I apologize for not blogging sooner.....

DAY PLUS 53 - SEPTEMBER 8, 2008

Today we are going home. This morning we walked over to Cheo...and we talked to the doctor. She doesn't think we should go home.....not till we reach 100 days after transplant. It didn't matter what I said...she feels very strongly that we should stay close to the hospital. She told us a story of another child who lived 2 hours from the hospital....and got an infection after her bone marrow transplant.....and died. She lived too far from the hospital.....so the doctor couldn't and wouldn't give her permission for us to leave. The doctor does agree that hospitals are crawling with germs...it's not safe there for my grandson.......so she wants us to stay at Ronald Mcdonald House. I understand the doctor's fears. We live 1 1/2 hrs away from the hospital.....so yes....she has a real concern....but the other options are not acceptable. Her words scared me.......but what I read in the papers scared me a lot more. If the doctor's intentions were to scare me.......it worked. I'm deathly afraid of what could happen.....and every day I walk on eggshells......I would put Martha Stewart to shame.....the way I clean and scour every day...and make everyone wash their hands for 3 minutes a gazillion times a day....but I'm doing what I feel is best for my grandson.

I told the doctor I have kept my grandson safe from all harm since he was 2 years old......and I don't intend to stop now. His safety takes precedence over everything. I have no control over visitors at Ronald Mcdonald House......which they have a lot of......groups of people touring the house.....cleaners....teams of volunteers who cook for families.....and right now the house is under renovation...so there is drywall and insulation issues as well. Unless I had a self-contained apartment with cooking facilities, tv and cable....I would be endangering him there....and that's not possible. The hospital has no funds for this and neither do I.

Finally..... the doctor let us go home.....after I signed a waiver.

I'm going by my gut......I feel that I could keep my grandson safer at home....there are no visitors to my house.....my grandson can go from the livingroom to the dining room and to the kitchen....he can sit on the deck and enjoy the view, he can ride his bike every day......he can enjoy his movies from the privacy of his bedroom......I can control the cleanliness........but I can't do that at Ronald Mcdonald House. And of course...there is a shortage of beds at the hospital....so that's not an option.

This past summer......3 teenagers died at the General Hospital here in Ottawa......after their bone marrow transplant. One of 13, 15 & 16. I knew the girl of 16.....and my heart breaks for the mother and the pain she is going through. These 3 kids caught a virus at the hospital after their transplant.......and their immune system wasn't able to fight it. The 3 teenagers that died were all in their early teen's.....and they died in July and August of this year....while we were in
Toronto at Sick Kids. We chose not to have the bone marrow transplant done in Ottawa......and I'm really glad we did.

I'm hoping that I can keep my grandson safer. I can't control the environment at the hospital and neither at Ronald Mcdonald house.....but I can control the cleanliness of my home.......and make sure no visitors come to our house till they decide he is safe enough to go to school. For the next 6 months he will be tutored at home.

I also believe that my grandson's mental and emotional health are just as important as his physical health......and if he is happy at home.......he will heal much faster from his ordeal. Let's hope that I'm right.

DAY PLUS 49 - SEPTEMBER 4, 2008

We are now staying at rmh (Ronald Mcdonald House) in Ottawa. We have a very nice room here, very clean & air-conditioned.
Mr. T continues to do very well. His counts are coming up all the time. It is very difficult keeping him in his room. He contstantly wants to go to the kitchen to eat or to get snacks. I have asked the doctors to rethink their decision....as I can't control the level of cleanliness in the house as there are too many families staying here......while I CAN control the amount of visitors to my house. They will let me know next Monday if we can leave to go home and come back once a week for his blood work. It may be twice a week when there are other clinics to attend. It will be really great to finally get home.

DAY PLUS 46 - SEPTEMBER 1, 2008

Today is a much better day. Mr. T is not upset any longer. He realizes that the Oncology Team is very concerned for him and want to keep him safe and he knows the time will go by quickly.

After the 2nd xray.....they tell me he has a spot on his right lung which they think is a collapsed lung from being 5 months in bed. They don't know if the cough he has is caused by the collapsed lung....or did it cause the cough? What came first...the chicken or the egg sort of thing. To remedy that...he is using a contraption called an incentive insperameter that he blows into every couple of hours to strengthen that lung. In 2 days he will get another xray to see if there is any improvement.

His counts continue to improve daily:

WBC - 7.31 normal range (4.5-13.0)

Hgb - 103 (120-160)

Platelets - 170 (150-450)

Neutropolys - 4.57 (1.8-8.0)

Mr. T's appetite is back to normal. He is eating 3 meals a day and drinking plenty. He can only eat what is on the hospital menu....no ordering out...no restaurant food as he is on a low-bacteria diet. Although he's not too happy about his choices...he is following orders.

This being the long holiday weekend...we won't know what the overall plan is till Tuesday or Wednesday. They will try to provide home-care for Mr. T....but it may not be possible as I live in a village. We'll see.

OH NO......YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING!

I don't believe this!!!! On Friday, when Dr. R came to visit us...she mentionned vaguely about '100 days after transplant' we need to be in-hospital. I replied..."WHAT DID YOU SAY?? Don't even go there!"....and with that she said....'Well, tomorrow Dr. B will be on and she's in charge of transplants so she is the one to ask.'

We came here to Cheo because we were told that it was wise to make sure that Mr. T got a clean bill of health....and what was another week?? maybe only 2 or 3 days...and we were fine with that. We were told if Mr. T did not need platelets or blood products...and his counts were good....we could go HOME and come to clinic twice a week.

We had plans!! Mr. T wrote on MSN...(I'll be home in 3 days). We were looking forward to going home....and everyone was looking forward to us coming home! Hubby and Uncle have been very busy in the past 3 weeks. They removed all the carpeting from my house and put in hardwood floors...better to control the dust & germs. They painted all the upstairs and freshened up the house. They worked non-stop in preparation of our coming home.

My granddaughter is so happy that finally we'll be home. She tells me everyday how much she misses us. It's been a very difficult 5 months for her.

But the flippin' plan has changed.....

When Dr. B walked in...I said.."I'm glad to see you....as YOU are going to tell us what DAY we'll be going home this week."

Then the fun began.......first she told us...that NO...she wasn't in charge...It was Dr. R that was in charge....and we both looked at her and said......"DON'T EVEN GO THERE - Dr. R said YOU are in charge. It's very confusing if the doctors don't know who's in charge.

Yes..I was upset...very upset and I let them know that I didn't appreciate being told at this late stage of the game that we would have to stay an additional 2 months. They believe that Mr. T is high-risk for infections....and seeing that we live 1- 1/2 hrs away......if he should get a fever...it would really soar before we could get here and Mr. T would end up in ICU or worse.

I understand their concern.......I understand there is a chance of this happening....I understand that Mr. T's health takes priority........BUT WHY THE HELL DIDN'T ANYBODY TELL US BEFORE THIS???

Why did they pick NOW to tell us? If they would have told me this last month...I would have prepared mentally & emotionally for it.........and so would Mr. T.

Mr. T was so excited that when his Uncle drove us here from Toronto...he told his uncle to bring home all his play systems and games...as we would be following shortly. He sent everything home in anticipation of the big day. Even when we got here...the staff asked how long we would be here...and we replied...oh, just a few days for a check-up and we're on our way. Nobody told us different. We were led to believe that if Mr. T was not attached to any pole....we were on our way. Everyone encouraged our thinking and beliefs. Even the interlink nurse said she would make sure to get in touch with the tutor for this week.

Well....to say I LOST IT........is putting it mildly! I let the staff know that there was a 'complete lack of communication' here.......nobody was on the same page.......hell...they weren't even reading the same book. There is no excuse for this! On top of that....'to be passing the buck' and not taking ownership...blaming each other....not knowing who was in charge.....is too much!

Then one of the Dr's said..."I don't like it when you raise your voice at me....so keep it down!"

Whoa......I told him....'Too damn bad what you don't like....we don't like being told one thing...and now that's changed. I am damn upset and I won't apologize for it. When I get angry or upset...I get louder...and that's fine too. I'm allowed to be angry...I'm allowed to be upset....and if it bothers him......too damn bad! I'm not in a popularity contest here!

We were led to believe if everything went well......and it did.....and if Mr. T did not need platelets or blood products...that we'd go home and come twice a week for check-ups. Nobody told us different....up till this week....when it finally occurred to them...that I live 1- 1/2 hrs away.

At this late stage of the game....we should have known what was expected of us....everybody knew our plans and nobody said a thing.....not till we asked what day we were going home!

As it stands now....we plan to be in-hospital for another week. Then we will stay at Ronald Mcdonald house for 2 months and just come here twice a week for check-ups. Mr. T is not happy about this. He was told that he would have to stay in the room at RMH...no socializing...he would have to eat in the room as well. We would get his Uncle to bring up his game systems and games and television set. He'd rather stay in the hospital...and have people come in and out of the room...and go to the playroom...but thats not feasible. They need the bed here. For Mr. T...this would be like going from a jail cell to solitary....and I'm very upset for him. He had plans to go fishing and getting his hunting licence. All this will have to wait.

Friday....Mr. T had an x-ray done...they noticed a small spot on his right lung....so today we went for another x-ray. We don't know the results yet.

T's counts continue upward....his appetite is back...he's eating and drinking well...and for this I'm truly grateful.

DAY PLUS 43 - AUGUST 29, 2008

We are now back at Cheo Hospital. What a nice warm reception we got. We arrived Wednesday at 7 p.m., and they already had a room prepared with his name on the door.

Mr. T was very pleased to be back here. By 9 p.m....both of us were sound asleep.

The next morning the doctors were in to see us., and so was the dietician and the pharmacist. The plan is to get Mr. T eating on a regular basis, adjust his diabetic medication as he is no longer on insulin and get an x-ray of his chest, so that we can go home next week with a clean bill of health.

I am so glad to be back here. The Oncology team is great. I have confidence in them. They all work closely together and make sure you understand everything. They answer all your questions, sit with you and explain what each medication is for...and what the plan is...so that you will feel confident going home. I can't say enough about Cheo. This is a wonderful, caring hospital for kids.

At Sick Kids, when you asked for the daily counts, they gave you a small slip of paper 3" x 3", with a few counts hand-written down. It didn't show 'what' the counts should be, or what was the norm. I found this very confusing...and the nurses didn't know either. These were the numbers they copied from the computer.

Here at Cheo when you ask for the blood counts, they give you a computerized print-out, a full sheet of paper with all the numbers and next to it in brackets what the normal numbers should be.

Today's counts:

WBC 8.71 (4.5-13.0)

Hgb 107 (120-160)

Platelets 132 (150-450)

Neutro-polys 5.75 (1.8-8.0)

These numbers are amazing! It's like holding the winning lottery numbers! Mr. T has not received platelets or blood products in the past 3 weeks. Although I know our journey is far from over...I can't help but be excited. Mr. T will have to be monitored closely, and follow a low-bacteria diet as well as a diabetic diet, and for 6 months stay close to home as he is high-risk for infection......but after all he's been through, this will be a piece of cake!

Hopefully I'll be blogging from home this time next week!

As for Mr. T......he is very cranky! He still is bothered with his right eye. They gave him Polysporin eye drops for the irritation caused by the shingles. His right eye is extremely sensitive to light (photo-sensitive)....so its difficult for him to watch television or play games. This also causes severe headaches...which they treat with Gabapentin & hydro-morphine. We have been away from home for 152 days....so he has every right to be cranky. The eye irritation shoud be gone in a week and so will we! We are on our way..........

DAY PLUS 40 - AUGUST 26, 2008

Although Mr. T still has a terrible cough.....they are letting us go back to Cheo tomorrow. We didn't get any results back from the lab yet....but doctors here know that the medical staff at Cheo can take care of any problems that Mr. T has.

He is still very sensitive to any light....and uses special eyedrops but we can still travel.

We will be a lot closer to home. My son is coming to get us tomorrow and will drive us to Cheo in Ottawa. I don't imagine we will stay there for too long....maybe 3 or 4 days. Once they give Mr. T a clean bill of health...they will send us home. As of tomorrow....we will have been gone from home for 150 days. That's a long time!

Although I did enjoy Toronto...its time to get back home!

I will continue to blog once I get there......and let you know how Mr. T is doing. I've got a lot of packing to do!

DAY PLUS 39 - AUGUST 25, 2008

A doctor finally came to see Mr. T yesterday at 4...........over 24 hrs after I asked for a doctor. He didn't seem too concerned because Mr. T had no fever or runny nose.
This morning when our primary doctor came back from vacation...I let him know my concerns. A cold can easily lead to pneumonia and ICU and much worse. This happened at Cheo when he got HAP (hospital acquired pneumonia).
Our doctor said I had every reason to be concerned and right away ordered a nasal swab test...and had him cough into a specimen jar and we are waiting on results from the lab. The doctor is also calling Cheo to find out if they have a bed for Mr. T. They don't want me to go straight home as I still live 1 1/2 hrs from the hospital....and Mr. T is still very high risk for infections. Better safe than sorry.
This afternoon they informed me...that Mr. T was one of the patients here who ate Maple Leaf products the very first week we came here...so he will also be carefully monitored for LISTERIA....which can lead to fevers, severe headaches and nausea.


Apparently many consumers got very sick and a number of them died from ingesting products made at the Maple Leaf plant here in North York, Toronto.


Patients contract listeriosis after consuming foods contaminated with listeria monocytogenes.
Public health officials have warned that food contaminated with listeria may not look or smell like it has spoiled.
Listeriosis can cause flu-like symptoms, such as a stiff neck, headache, nausea and fever.
Healthy individuals may remain symptom-free. However, pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are at greatest risk.

THE good news...is Mr. T's counts continue to rise. His WBC (white blood cells) are 8.9 from 7.9 and his Neutropolys are 5.89 from 2.78.
Today he had chicken noodle soup for breakfast, and the same for lunch and he's drinking a lot more. Because of his cold...he is not permitted to walk the halls, but at least he's watching television now and playing games. I should know by Wednesday if we are staying or going. Chances are we'll be leaving at the end of the week if there aren't anymore complications.

THAT'S IT...........

What do I have to do to get a doctor to check out Mr. T?? We are still waiting to see a bloody doctor.........agh!!

I think the nurse is getting frustrated with me. She keeps telling me the doctor is doing rounds....the doctor is with a patient....the doctor knows...the doctor will come by.........the doctor is on break!

All morning...Mr. T has been throwing up phlegm and coughing. I am positive that there is something on his chest. They keep telling me not to worry as he doesn't have a fever. This could have been prevented if someone would have listened to me early in the week. No wonder he doesn't want to eat or drink!

Now Mr. T is frustrated and crying....he just wants to go home and he knows this cough will hold him back.

DAY PLUS 37 - AUGUST 23, 2008

Today wasn't a good day! Mr. T threw up a few times....so breakfast was out! And because he didn't drink his quota today...they had to hook him back up to the saline......so no exercise either.


It seems like 1 step forward and 2 back.....but I'm not complaining. We're getting there slow but sure.
He did have 2 cans of diet ginger ale at 335 ml each.......but that's still not enough...they want him to drink at least 1,000 ml! I'm not going to push it....he cried from frustration....he thinks I'm pushing him too much to eat and drink...just because I want to get home soon.......and I assured him that's not the case. I'm just following the Dr's orders. But perhaps it is too much for Mr. T....maybe his body needs more time to recuperate, and he's extremely frustrated that he can't do what we demand..... and thats okay with me. Iknow we're on the last leg of our journey.....so I'm willing to let Mr. T go at his own pace. I think we are both frustrated & very homesick.

Today he also tried to eat....2 oz of chicken and a bite of a roasted potato...and a handful of chips.

4 days ago...I told his nurse that I thought Mr. T was coming down with a cold.....but unless he has a drippy nose or fever...they don't do anything. The next day...I told the nurse...I think his cough is worse....still....if he has no fever, no phlegm, well they don't bother.

Today...Mr. T was coughing a lot more....so this time I insisted that I want the Doctor to check him out.....his cough sounds phlegmy to me!
She told the doctor on call at 4 p.m.......and we waited & waited......and waited.
Everytime she came into the room...I asked her if the doctor was coming as I don't like the sound of his cough....a harsh, dry hacking cough.........and yes, she said...he was coming any time now.
My constant fear is that a simple cough can turn into pneumonia.......and we don't want or need any complications right now.........and still we waited. It is now 9 p.m.....and still no doctor.

Yes it is a Saturday.....so there is less staff.......I understand that...and this is a large hospital...so we have to be patient.

DAY PLUS 36 - AUGUST 22, 2008

Today's counts are very confusing. White blood cells are 4.8...down from 6.5 & Neutropolys are 2.78...down from 3.54. They say its normal for the numbers to fluctuate....then why have they not been fluctuating in the past 2 weeks...they were just going one way and that was up?? I really think the lab can make mistakes or the blood test wasn't a good one. Our nurse today tells me they look for consistency and patterns...to look for a trend. If the numbers keep going down...then they want to know why! I will be closely watching the numbers in the next few days....and they'd better be going up!

I understand this could also happen if you have a viral infection. Hmmm!
Yesterday Mr. T did have breakfast but threw it up. Later he ate one pierogi and kept that down. He is trying.

Today he ate one bite of waffles and said they had a metallic taste. The 3 cookies he ate were fine...and so was the Oh Henry! He is drinking a lot more fluid as well.. If he keeps this up...we are sure to go home by Tuesday or Wednesday.

The physiotherapist came to see us today. She gave Mr. T some homework to do till Monday. He is to go for a 10 min. walk (in the halls) twice a day....as well as some calf stretches and one flight of stairs a day.

Today we walked the hallways.....he wasn't attached to the machine.....he wore a mask....he did some stretching exercises with the therapist....he was on the computer for a few hours as well. I'm very happy with his attempts at walking and eating.

Finally.....we are getting ready to go home!

DAY PLUS 34 - AUGUST 20, 2008

So far...so good! The numbers are amazing...his counts keep going up. Mr. T's white blood cells are 5.2 from 4.1.
Neutropolys were 2.53 and now they are a whopping 3.54!
Dr. Sam told us T does not have GVH (graft versus host)...but he does have a viral infection from the stool sample and there is nothing to do for that. We can even go home with a viral infection.
We are still waiting for the opthamologist to come and see him as his eye is very red and caused him pain...but he hasn't come yet.
His doctor told me that Mr. T can now eat and drink whatever he wants...but he doesn't want to.
They advise not to have dairy foods right now with diarrhea. I'm trying to encourage him to have soup or crackers or even toast...he says he might tomorrow.
This afternoon we went for a pantamidine test....this is a treatment to discourage pneumonia on his lungs.
He asked me to buy him peanuts...so I bought 3 different kinds...and he's eating cashews. It's a start!

DAY PLUS 33 - AUGUST 19, 2008

We are still waiting on results from the lab. Mr. T is still not eating or drinking and they advise me not to push it. He was sick this morning...throwing up bile. I hope tomorrow he feels like drinking. He will see the physiotherapist tomorrow as well as the eye doctor. His right eye is still red and sore from the shingles.

He watched television all morning, played a game on his PS3 and beat me at Crazy Eight's!

KIND OF CONFUSED.............

I really don't know what to think. This morning when Dr. Doyle did his rounds....he would not talk about discharge...not until we get results back from the lab. When a doctor says...you have to be patient...these things take time......that means you will definitely stay awhile.

This afternoon...Dr. Samira came to see us........and she said...because his stool is not runny...there is no reason why we won't be discharged this weekend. Just for today to remain in isolation and either today or tomorrow a physiotherapist will come see us to prepare Mr. T for going home this weekend.

So who do I believe? and what do I believe??

I don't know if we're coming or going....and I wish the doctors were a little more sure of themselves. You really don't have much confidence in someone who's always sitting on the fence. How can they be on the same team...with such drastically different opinions? Makes you wonder..........

I really want to believe that WE ARE GOING HOME! So...I will believe Dr. Samira...even though she does look like Janet Jackson! If she looked like Michael.......forget it!

DAY PLUS 32 - AUGUST 18, 2008

Today they will send samples of stool to the lab - the Dr thinks the diarrhea could be signs of Graft versus Host disease where the donor cells attack the body. We will know the results of this in a few days. Hopefully the results will be negative...but till then they don't want him to eat or drink!

The good news is that his neutropolys have doubled. They went from 1.01 to 2.53 and his WBC are 4.2.

Mr. T begged the doctor to please let him go home...and the doctor explained that its not a good idea right now....and to just be patient for a little while longer!

So...although we are still in a step-down room....Mr. T is in isolation again...they don't want him leaving his room.......and I have to wear the dreaded yellow gown again! Oh well...it could be worse!

At least being in this room...Mr. T's mood & attitude has improved. He's trying to stay up longer in the day & is now watching television. Baby steps all the way!

DAY PLUS 31 - AUGUST 17, 2008

I need to be patient...I expect too much! Today...Mr. T didn't feel good. He threw up twice this morning (bile) and refused to eat. Later I pushed him in his wheelchair around the hallway twice...and even that was a lot. He was crying with muscle pain...needed hot packs on his legs & hydromorphone for the pain as well as gravol & ativan for nausea. I ran a hot tub for him...and that seemed to help a bit.
Mr. T has lost a lot of muscle in his arms and legs from being in bed so much...so it will take time to strengthen him once again. He promised that tomorrow he will walk a bit on his own. One day at a time!

DAY PLUS 30 - AUGUST 16, 2008

Great day today! Mr. T was up bright and early....and had breakfast! He ate all his cereal and had a raison & cinnamon bagel w/butter and ate everything! I thought for sure he would have to give it the old heave-ho....but not really. The food stayed down. Then he played his PS3 games till lunchtime. Finally!
For awhile there...he had his days & nights reversed....maybe he's getting back on track now.
His WBC's are 2.9 ...
Also today....no more hydromorphone through his line. If he needs it he will have to take the medication orally. No more Stat probe on his toe....that's gone as well. Every day...small changes & baby steps till we can run...............all the way home!

DAY PLUS 29 - AUGUST 15, 2008

It keeps getting better! The neutropolys are 1.01 today. Mr. T is feeling better...he was playing PS3 games all morning.

This afternoon we moved to a step-down room! No more wearing yellow gowns! We're getting closer to our goal every day! Just baby steps for now!

The shingles rash is clearing up nicely and he's no longer contagious. Mr. T has not eaten yet...but I'm sure that will be the next step.

His Uncle came to visit with Mr. T's sister and brought him more games for his PS3...and encouraged him to start eating and drinking more.

DAY PLUS 27 - AUGUST 13, 2008

Today neutropolys went from 0.51 to 0.78. Yahoo! Yippee! Hot diggety-dawg! White blood cells are 2.7.
Mr. T did drink a bottle of iced tea this morning...but still refuses to eat. As anybody who has dealt with him knows how very hard-headed he is!
All day long I kept the television on the Food Network channel...and as well...I ate in his room with much moaning & groaning and smacking of the lips & drank or should I say slurped my drinks with a straw. Yes, I know the visuals are scary! But I'm desperate to get him eating again.
We will be out of isolation and into a step-down room on Friday!
Finally....out of solitary! Before you know it.....we'll be home-ward bound!
Isn't it amazing that he had the bone marrow transplant on July 17th....and we are not even a month....and Mr. T is doing so good?? I believe that its not only the medical care Mr. T received...but its also the 'power of prayer'. Prayer is the best medecine!

DAY PLUS 26 - AUGUST 12, 2008

Today...Mr. T's white blood cells are 2.2. This morning he woke up and started playing his PS3 for an hour. That's a good sign! Today...they will remove the TPN just in the daytime....and as well cut back on the hydro-morphone.


Also....Mr. T received a gift from the nurses and staff at Cheo hospital in Ottawa. He was thrilled when he read the card they all signed and left comments of encouragement and cheer for him. They must know him really well as they sent him a Manga binder and also Manga sketchbook with markers and crayons. They even sent me candy!
He felt really good to hear that they were all thinking of him and wishing him well.
He said......"tell NOAH TO THANK EVERYONE FOR ME" and I'll see them soon.

I'll be really anxious to see what his neutropolys are tomorrow.
They only do the bloodwork for that on Monday's, Wednesdays & Fridays.