August 25, 2001

Update #3

Good Morning, 

Friday the 17th Jeff and I went down early for be admitted for beginning of course 2.  Dr. Chu wanted an x-ray first to see how the first three weeks were.  He was pleased and so were we.  The largest mass outside the left side lung has diminished from a little over 2 inches to about 1 1/2 inches.  The trachea is completely open.  Lymph nodes you could feel before are now down in size.  The outpatient Costas Center was extremely busy so things were slower than usual.  When Jeff was ready to go up to his room to begin chemo, 4 North (where all the Costas kids go) was admitting four new kids and trying to clean rooms.  We didn't get up there till 4:30 and then they were still in the process of having to switch kids around due to gender and being filled to capacity.  Jeff was in three different rooms before he settled down by bedtime.  We were curious to see how the pill form of the anti-nausea medicine would work on the first day of chemo since that's his biggest day with five different meds.  It worked - not sick once!!  Dr. Chu even upped one of the chemo meds since he tolerated it so well last time.  Dr. Chu also started Jeff on Zantac (150) for that constant stomach pain. 

Ken and Nana came 5 minutes after Jeff got to his first room.  Ken spent the night at CG and Nana and I stayed at the Ronald McDonald House 2 blocks away.  It's nice like the one our church group serves at once or twice during the summer in Springfield, IL.  Now we are considered a returning family and it will be easier to get in as long as they have an open room.  Jeff and I may use it in the future.  

Saturday's chemo also went very well.  The stomach pain had already greatly diminished.  Jeff was released Sat. afternoon for home.  Sunday we could just come back to 4 North for outpatient since Costas Center is closed over the weekend.  Ken's folks and Dennis drove in on Sat. morn so when Jeff was released, all seven of us went out to eat.  Of course, Ted Drewes was the final stopping point!! 

Sunday morning Jeff and I got to 4 North by 9:00, did chemo, and returned home by Noon.  He was thrilled since he got to spend Sat. night in his own bed. 

Mon. and Tues. were outpatient days and Jeff and I went down.  He was feeling great without that stomach pain.  Oh, also picked up Jeff's Senior proofs on Monday.  All are wonderful and it will be tough to decide.  Burl did a great job of positioning Jeff's right arm and hiding the PIC line.  Wednesday was time for me to start the Neupogen shots to build up the white count.  Home health also came and checked in.  Jeff felt great and even helped out at HHS with freshman orientation in the evening.  I started work on Wed. but didn't get too much accomplished with everyone concerned about Jeff. 

Thursday was the official first day of school - half day.  Jeff went and enjoyed it.  Later, we checked in with all teachers so things are set for when he's there and when he's home bound.  Even for when he's half there with outpatient.  Friday was his last outpatient for this round.  Ken and Jeff took off at Noon (I'll usually do it but didn't want to miss the first full day of school.) and were back home around 4:30.  The first football game was scheduled and Jeff had planned to walk out with the band director when the band marched out.  He was going to sit with the band until half-time, watch them perform and then come home.  

Things went somewhat differently than he thought.  Ken and I were going to the game but I changed my mind at the last minute with too many things to do here at home.  A little while later I heard the garage door and there were Ken and Jeff.  When Ken arrived at the parking lot, he heard himself being paged.  Apparently, Jeff had gone to the band room as usual but when they went outside to line up - he turned completely white.  He sat down on a bench while one of drum majors got the director and one of the moms (who happens to be a nurse).  The mom took him back to the band room to lie down then paged Ken.  Jeff had a fever and it quickly went up to 101.  CG always said a fever could come and then rise to 101 in less than an hour and it did.  Jeff's home health nurse was at the game (and also her weekend for duty) and heard the page also.  She was ready to come to the house when we called her.  She called CG and it also happens to be Dr. Chu's weekend.  He had seen Jeff in the Costas Center and had decided to take a blood count (very good) and knew things were looking well for Jeff.  He recommended Tylenol and thinking maybe he was trying to be too normal with doing too much the last few days.  

The fever is down this morning and he's gone back to bed to rest some more.  He has a little bit of Thrush which started on Thursday but he has that Swish N Swallow to clear that up.  We were really pleased with the week.  I think last night's episode may slow Jeff down a bit.  He had previously taken rests during the day but this week he didn't stop what he was doing since he felt great without that stomach pain.  Of course, typical teenager, he had rebuffed our objections to things we wanted to curtail.  He may listen a little closer now.  He said he was worried last night that CG might want him to come down.  So maybe the choice is easy - slow down and stay home, or push yourself with possibility of being readmitted.  

Just for your information - future dates are tentatively schedule as follows:  Sept. 7 - PIC line taken out and Port or Broviac put in.  Sept. 24 - stem cells will be harvested and frozen (if needed for the future).  Sept. 10 - next chemo begins on Mon. and instead of Fri. due to stem cell harvest. 

Guess that about covers it all.  Continue your thoughts and prayers.  They help us all.  Thanks for your love and support. 

Love,

Marcia