Today's clinic visit went well. Eli insisted on getting his tubie instead of a finger poke..go figure..I figure he hasn't been able to control much about this whole treatment thing, so I let him decide. He was such a trooper. No crying or anything. So I figured once he was accessed he might as well get his IVIG treatment. The treatment is a blood product so it takes about 3 hours to infuse. I was going to wait until next week because he has to get chemo, but this actually split things in half for us. Eli was great throughout. I am always amazed at how accustomed he has become to the entire clinic process...this is all he knows, and he is a true pro. Our counts were:

ANC 1136 (good)
Platelets 196 (normal)
Hemoglobin 12.1 (normal)

So they again increased his chemo. He is now at 100% again. Unless he goes below 750 again we will stay here. The onc was a little concerned about the rash, but again, we have kinda ruled the worse stuff out. The biopsy said nothing and because the steroids got rid of it it isn't an infection. So we have no idea. One thing that we are trying is switching the manufacturer of one of his chemos. I go on the LLS discussion board where many folks from all over with kids with cancer can go and discuss things, and there have been a couple of instances where a different type of a certain drug caused a rash. We figure it is worth a shot. It is the same drug, so we really aren't changing anything.

I went and visited with Cliff's mom shortly today. They are still in the PICU but she said they would probably be moving to the floor today. When I saw her and the look on her face I knew exactly how she felt...it killed me. Eli was with me, so that was good. When you are where they are now it is so hard to imagine being where we are now. The thing that I think is the worst about pediatric cancer is that the world makes you believe that it could never happen to you....it is so rare...but then it DOES happen to you...and your baby is so sick...it is so awful!! Please continue to keep them in your prayers.

So things here continue to go well. Pediatric Cancer Awareness month is this month, please pray for all of those children battling this monster and those that have lost the battle. There seem to be so many, and it is so unfair.

Thanks for checking in.

Maria

I am thankful for being blessed with such a wonderful church family that helped me and prayed me through the most difficult time in my life. Without them I would be lost...