APRIL 10, 2008

Not a good day! Mr. T slept most of the day....feeling very nauseous. Temperature was 38.2.....gravol and tylenol all day.

Hemoglobin is 88*
Platelets are 40*
Neutro-polys are 0.07

He managed to go to the playroom for half an hour...all he wants to do is sleep.

Hopefully tomorrow is a better day!

APRIL 8, 2008

Today Mr. T received chemo again and also platelets...but he felt well enough to go to the play room with his room-mate. They enjoyed 'Rock Band' for a few hours.......something like Guitar Hero...he played guitar and his pal played drums.

Later he watched 'Mr. Woodcock'....a very funny movie!

I'm very glad Mr. T is having a good day. The good days will be rare as we get closer to the day when he will get a bone marrow transplant. Life is too short....enjoy every moment!

Hemoglobin is 98*

platelets are 15.3*

Neutro-polys are 0.22*

MORE CHEMO!

APRIL 7, 2008
Today...Mr. T started more chemotherapy. You can see the Cytarabine on his I.V. pole. Mr. T is not paying attention....he's too busy playing Lost Planet on his X-box.
It's nice to see him feeling better!



Hemoglobin is 69*
Platelets are 32*
Neutro-polys are 0.23*


3 hours later...he received 785 ml of blood as his hemoglobin was low....and he slept right through that.





Mr. T has lost 2 lbs in thepast week...the chemo drugs can make you sick to your stomach...and cause you to lose your appetite.

NOT A HAPPY CAMPER!

APRIL 6, 2008

Today was such a beautiful sunny day...that Dr. K gave Mr. T a day pass so he could get out a bit in the sun. The nurse unhooked him from his I.V. pole. Mr. T asked if we could go to St. Laurent Mall (he wanted a game) and the Doc said NO!!!! Mr. T begged.... but it was still NO! Dr. K..said...we have just given you massive doses of chemo....your blood counts are low.....you can't go to crowded places...it would be dangerous for you.

Instead...we walked over to Ronald Mcdonald Manor very slowly. It's only a block away...but Mr. T was getting chest pains...and out of breath...so when we got there...he laid on the couch and watched television.

He hasn't been eating very well...so when he begged me to get him Chinese food...I gave in! He managed to eat 3 chicken balls and 2 spoons of rice! In Mr. T's words....HOSPITAL FOOD SUCKS!

On the way back to Cheo tonight...we took a pic of the first rabbit we've seen this year. There are many rabbits around Cheo.

Tonight the counts are:

Hemoglobin is 75

Platelets are 43*

Neutro Polys are 0.37*

APRIL 5, 2008

During the night.....Mr. T had a nose-bleed that lasted 1 hr. 15 minutes so he was given platelets again....and gravol & benadryl because he has a reaction to blood products.

At 8 p.m....I told the nurse that after feeling his forehead...I thought he was getting a fever. She took his temp but it was only 37.1.....but she said she would keep an eye on it.

Sure enough it went up to 37.8 a few hours later. Doctor's & nurse's are starting to pay attention to what parents think (some of them).....they realize that we know our child/grandchild best.....so when we 'think' they are getting a fever....they are! Parents do know best!

Because Mr. T. received platelets....today his blood work has improved:

Hemoglobin 75

Platelets 56*

Neutro-polys .55*

Tonight with his mini DVD player...he was watching a movie in bed. He started laughing so hard...I just had to see what he was watching! 'DEUCE BIGALOW'...European Gigolo??? Hey...that's not a kid's movie!! It's rated 'R'! and he got that from the Child Care Specialist in the 4North Playroom! Hmmm! I guess I'll have to watch it later....mind you...only to review it of course!

WE WANT YOUR BLOOD!!

50 billion mosquito's can't be wrong!

It only takes half an hour or so to donate your blood! And it doesn't cost a thing!

WHY SHOULD YOU GIVE BLOOD??

Giving blood doesn't just benefit recipients. Regardless of age, donating blood offers many benefits for donors. It lets you:
Make a difference in your community by helping others.
Develop a sense of commitment to and connection with your local community.
Be assured that adequate supplies of blood are available for you, as well as your family and others.
Check your blood pressure, temperature, hemoglobin and pulse rate every time you give.
Join a group of special volunteers.

The demand for blood never lets up. Every day, thousands of people need donations to live. Before they can receive it, donated blood must go through time-consuming tests. Then, it must be used relatively quickly or it will perish - whole blood, for instance, is no longer usable after 42 days. As a result, maintaining an adequate blood supply is a challenge - especially when a disaster occurs, which may cause the need for blood to soar. The only way to meet demand is to have regular donations from healthy volunteers.

GIVE THE MR. T'S OF THIS WORLD....A TOMORROW...BY GIVING BLOOD TODAY!

2 years ago....when Mr. T spent 6 months in the hospital....he received 38 units of blood & 47 units of platelets.

One year...when I lived in Montreal...we planned a family day! All the adults got together and went and gave blood at the local bank. Not only did we have a great time....it was a good excuse to get together....and we felt great just knowing that we were giving the 'gift of life'!

YUCKY DAY!

APRIL 4, 2008

Mr T is not feeling well today. Sick to his stomach. The nurse kept giving him Ondansetron (reduces nausea) and gravol throughout the day.

He managed to eat half a bowl of chicken noodle soup & a few crackers.

Hemoglobin is 72*

Platelets are 16*

Neutro-polys are 17*

With those counts...no wonder he doesn't feel well. His Uncle G & Aunt came for a visit and brought Maggie...so that cheered him up. Uncle G brought his Xbox and games...earphones and he also burned him 25 movies. When they left...he watched Alvin & the Chipmunks and really enjoyed it. Mr. T has the kind of laugh that once you hear it.....you're laughing as well....and everyone comes to see what he's laughing about it. I love to see him laugh!

Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day....