Archive for April, 2009
4/30 update
Yesterday Troy stayed at the hospital so I could rest. (THANK YOU HONEY!) Ryan is still not up to par. He whined yesterday, and so far this morning he has had his LAST LP and is back to sleep. Troy said that they went to the spring activity day outside the hospital.
Today is my turn to stay at the hospital with Ryan. I have missed being here, but for my sanity, I needed the break. Troy will be coming back to the hospital tonight – he wants to be here.
I have been asked when he will be able to go home, and the answer is I’m not sure. I haven’t seen the doctor this morning, but I will be asking as soon as I see her.
4/28 report
The past couple of days have been emotionally draining for me. I have heard lots of things from Ryan: “I don’t want to be here; I want to stay at home; Why did I get this cancer?; I miss my family, my friends, my cousins.” And he cried a lot today. All I could do was try to be understanding, but that was hard. As a mother, all I want to do is fix it, but I can’t. All I can do is to be there and try to make him comfortable. I caught Troy online today, and he came to the hospital to take over. Troy and Ryan talked about it, and I’m going in later tomorrow than first thing in the morning just to get a break. I need the break emotionally tomorrow morning. I keep hanging onto the fact that this is the last scheduled round Ryan has.
On a side note, I got a copy of the picture from the Relay for life. The lady in the big blue wig is Ryan’s teacher, Ms. O’Mire. You can really see how much fun Ryan was having at the relay.
4/27 midday report
Well.. just let everyone know – Ryan’s platelet count was up to the point they have started the last scheduled round of chemo. It started with the ole LP and now we have the first bag of chemo going through the IV. Ryan really doesn’t want to be here, and I can’t blame him. We are praying that this is the last round of chemo, but we won’t know for sure until the evaluation is done after this round.
Thanks for everyone’s continued support and prayers during all of this. They mean so much to us.
4/27 Morning Update
Ryan and I are sitting in the cancer clinic. We just prayed that his platelet count would be high enough form them to begin chemotherapy again today. Please pray that:
- Ryan’s counts are good enough to begin chemotherapy again.
- Ryan will be physically and emotionally strong (as will Victoria and me)!
- This is the last scheduled round of chemo, pray for it to be the last!
- Pray for a cancer free report in his next set of scans.
Ryan wanted to share a picture from this morning in the waiting room. He won the Batman Action Figure (not a doll mind you) at the Relay for Life. :-)
Hope you all enjoy. Thank you again for you continued prayers and support. God Bless!
4/25 update
Sorry for not posting yesterday, but it was a busy day. Ryan went in for counts, and for the most part they were good. His ANC was in the normal range, which is a blessing. However, his platelets were low. They were not low enough to get a transfusion, but they are low enough that the next round of chemo can’t start until they are up. So, instead of being admitted tomorrow, the doctor wants to wait until Monday morning at 6:30. Once Ryan is admitted, they will do counts again to see if the platelets are up, and if they are, then the chemo can begin. The doctor is certain that it will be up, but we have to make sure. If not, it could put the chemo back a day or two until the count comes up. Please pray that Ryan’s platelet count rises. We want this round to start ontime.
Last night was the Relay for Life here in Northwest Rankin County, and Ryan was an honorary co-chair of the event. He, along with other cancer survivors, got to kick off the relay by leading the Survivors lap. It was great to be there as we have never been. Local schools, businesses, churches, and families had tents set up where you could get food and goodies. We saw several people that had not seen in some time, and that was such a blessing. Even Ryan’s school, Flowood Elementary, had a tent, and we did take a picture with him and the teachers, but for some reason it didn’t take on my camera. So, if your camera has a copy of the picture, ladies, please send one to me. I would love to post it here so everyone can see Ryan with you.
Today, we are going to go and play putt-putt golf, something that Ryan wants to do before having to go back into the hospital. Not sure what all else we have planned, but that is going to happen today. We try to do what Ryan wants to do while he is out of the hospital as we know that he can’t do them while in it. He seems to enjoy the freedom of being out and about, and that is just fine with me. :D
4/23 update
Ryan’s ANC went from 162 yesterday to 380 today. Considering that his doctor wanted it to double before he went home, it is safe to assume that he is being released to go home. As soon as the paperwork is completed, we are out of here. Ryan is excited to go home, but now we went on the paperwork. He will have to come back tomorrow morning to the clinic for CBC (counts), but he will be home tonight.
4/22 update
Yesterday Ryan had to get a platelet and blood transfusion. Now he is back to his old self – full of energy and not sure what to do with it. Right now he is eating a popsicle and watching some show on TV.
Ryan’s ANC went from 0 to 162 in one day. The doctor is hopeful that he will get to go home tomorrow, but we will have to wait and see what the numbers are then. I’m keeping my figures crossed that we get to go home.
I went to the doctor to get my blood pressure checked, and the doctor gave me some medication to help out for now. It’s hard to watch the salt intake while eating food at the hospital, so I will just have to do the best I can.
4/21 morning update
Ryan might be getting a platelet and blood transfusions today, but we haven’t seen his doctor to know for sure yet. He seems to be in great spirits today so far – he has been cutting up with the nurses and having a good time. I will post more when I have seen his doctor this morning.
Last night, I got light-headed and asked the nurse to take my blood pressure. Well – it was up and now I have to watch it closely. I have told my doctor and as soon as I get a chance, I will be making an appointment to get it checked out. In the meantime, I have to watch what I eat and increase my water intake.
4/20 morning update
I have talked to the doctor today and she is happy to see that Ryan’s fever has stayed down. She said that he has to stay at least today. His WBC is 0.2 today, and that is up from yesterday, but he still has no ANC. We’ll look at everything tomorrow to see if he gets to go home.
Ryan is in high spirits today and cutting up with all the nurses. And they are really enjoying the fact that Ryan is up to it.
4/19 update
Today I took over the hospital duty, and the first thing that happens to me is that my son squirts me with water as I walk in the door. That means one thing – he is feeling better. He still has no fever, but I still don’t know if he will get to go home. He has no ANC, and it all depends on the doctor. We will just have to wait and see what the doctor says tomorrow.
He has been having fun with the nurses and they really enjoy watching him having fun.