Andrew was diagnosed with Erythroid (M6) Acute Myeloid Leukemia on November 4th, 2010 when he was almost 5 months old. Andrew is currently in remission from his cancer, after finishing his 5 rounds of chemotherapy. He is a healthy, happy toddler.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Voilà chemo symptoms

Andrew has been doing great lately, I really wondered if this round would be an easier one for him (even though we haven't gotten the mitoxantrone yet), but I think it's just started to affect him. He's been sleeping a lot (mostly on his own), so that's made things a bit easier for me, but I really would rather have him be peppy and exhausting for me than just sleepy... The reason he's exhausting in the hospital is just that I have to constantly fish his lines away from his mouth and his hands, and he's a pretty rolly polly climber man most of the time. Anyway, he's sworn off most solids as of today and is a little crabbier. Overall, we're doing great, though.

We had such a warm welcome coming back. We know all the staff really well by now, and it was almost like coming home... I have a talkative nurse today, which is always a lot of fun for me because the lack of social interaction in the hospital can be a little wearing sometimes. It's fun to hear the perspectives of people who are in the trenches of health care, what they think of decisions from doctors and patients, and what they've noticed people do when put in tough situations. My nurse today has worked here for 10 years, and has done both adult and pediatric oncology. She says that it's so interesting that in peds the parents are so much more willing to do clinical trials than the adults are. I wonder if it's because parents are so much more hopeful their children will recover? I don't know.

I'm really loving the view from my room and the book that I've been reading about the history of cancer. We're still rooting for Kim and Aubree who have been so sick and pray that they'll be more comfortable and recover. We just love the people we've met up here, and are so grateful they've been willing to share their thoughts and experiences and just be our friends.

5 comments:

  1. Glad everything seems to be going well. Sorry we missed you guys on Sat. BUt all 4 of our kids have been really sick for a week now. As always let us know if we can do anything for you.

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  2. So glad you have a chance to breathe and that Andrew can rest while he's going through this. Bless the lovely people who choose to work in health care! Please give them our love and gratitude.

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  3. I'm so glad that he is doing well so far, and that you are able to get some sleep! Hopefully you will breeze through this round! I had to laugh when you said its like coming home, because it some ways it really is! Thanks for all you support! Love ya!

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  4. I think the care in ICS is so wonderful. The nurses are so loving and caring and they'll do nearly anything for you. I go to my pediatrician now and it's just not the same. It is weird to say I've been "spoiled" with such good care? I hope he does well on the blue stuff! :)

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  5. Hi Lizzie,
    Funny I was talking to one of the nurses today about how i miss my other family. So glad you got a great view, we hope to join you there next Thursday or 5:00 Friday morning, were pulling for Thursday. We hope all goes well this round, and look forward to our visits.
    Hope you get some good rest when ya can, save a room with a view for us too. see ya soon
    Kristi

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