Monday, August 24, 2009

All is Well ...


Miss Zoey checked out fine.A few areas are still lagging in the labs.White count:2.99,normal is between 4.5-11.hemoglobin:She is rocking in that department,normal is 9.5-15.5 and she is 15.3.Red: She is 5.06,normal is 4.0-5.5 and finally,those pesky platelets are 111,000,still below the norm of 140,00-450,00.Her ANC is lower then we would like as we head into what is going to be a doozy of a flu season,especially the swine.My pediatrician warned me of it and our oncologist confirmed it.Our oncologist told Mark and I that two little loves,both with Down syndrome,undergoing treatment for AML,passed away on the 4th floor.I had heard rumor of this a few weeks ago from another parent.Saddened beyond belief,especially because we knew one of them.A sweet guy,3 years old and in his last round.Unfair and in my opinion,preventable but I won't go off on that right now.As for Zoey,she has only a 740 ANC.Which means,yes she has the ability to fight off some of the crap out there BUT she is borderline immunosuppressed or neutropenic.Anything 500 or below significantly increases your chance of infection.A normal,healthy ability to adequately fight off infection would be 1,500.Bummed about this for sure.The theory her oncologists is riding with at the moment is that her Bactrim is interfering with her counts.Bactrim is a prophylactic antibiotic,given during and for 6 months following chemotherapy, that is proven to be 100% effective in preventing a specific type of deadly pneumonia.So for now the benefit out weighs the risk.We will check her counts in one month.Leave her port in for another month and then decide which direction we go.It does occasionally happen that children undergoing chemotherapy and the months following,while on Bactrim, to be delayed in count recovery.The reason is that the components that make up the Bactrim and its effectiveness are actually similar to that of methotreaxate,a chemotherapy drug,which can reduce counts.Strange,but true.It makes sense to me that Zoey falls in this small category.One, because she is Zoey and that's the way she does things and two,during all her rounds,her ANC took FOREVER to come up to start the next.So,I'm at peace with things.As peaceful as I can be having a child cut loose from chemo just a short time ago.But peace,nonetheless.I want to leave you with a a story.Something that happened today while at the hospital.It was a reminder once again of how fortunate my family is and how blessed we are to be where we are and have Zoey, and the rest of us for that matter,doing more then alright.Today, while I sat in the lobby waiting on Zoey's labs to come back,I notice a gentleman that I recognized from the 4th floor.I had never actually met him before but you remember faces when you spend day after day,wandering the halls.I sat next to him and we struck up a conversation.His English was broken but no matter,we really spoke the same one,the deep abiding love of our children.His 8 year old son Steven, has ALL.He relapsed in February of this year.He will be going into the bone marrow transplant unit in a week or so and his 10 year old sister is his match.As we sat talking about our children,I asked how everyone was coping emotionally.He said his son was the rock.The positive one.The one who gave strength to those around him.I asked about his wife and he said she had passed away 4 years ago from an infection that went to her heart.My very own heart broke at that moment.I continued to listen as he told me he also had lost 2 brothers to cancer,one to leukemia and that his mother passed away from a brain tumor.My heart continued to break.He said he had remarried and had an infant son,4 months old .... who has Cystic Fibrosis ... what does ones heart do at that point?What does one say to a man,a young man,who had endured unspeakable sadness and STILL has hope and faith and belief that life is still inherently good?We stood,said goodbye,exchanged promises to pray for each others child and we parted.But I will never forget that man.Or his son.Or his family.Or what I am meant to remember forever and that is this:"Strange is our situation here upon earth. Each of us comes for a short visit, not knowing why, yet sometimes seeming to a divine purpose. From the standpoint of daily life, however, there is one thing we know: That we are here for the sake of others ... for the countless unknown souls with whose fate we are connected by a bond of sympathy. Many times a day, I realize how much my outer and inner life is built upon the labors of people, both living and dead, and how earnestly I must exert myself in order to give in return as much as I have received." ~Albert Einstein

That's all I've got for now.It's off to do last minute things for the first day of school for the boys and making sure Taylor is all situated to head to college ... tomorrow.I have deja vu,as I did the exact thing when Jess went to college.Jake was going to kindergarten and this year it's Joe going.And when Caitlin went,Zoey was being discharged from the hospital following her heart surgery.I literally moved Caitlin in and headed to the hospital to pick up Mark and Zoey.How's that for crazy.And the craziness hasn't stopped since!!!

24 comments:

Denise said...

THANK GOD!!! That's all I can say about the blood work. And how exciting for you to get to do the college thing and the kindergarten thing all in the same week. Blessed are you!!!

Reagan Leigh said...

Glad to hear all went well today...I'm sure you were sweating this trip a little. Zoey doesn't look too nervous about it. Such a sad story from the guy you met up with. Hope all goes well with the transplant for his little boy.

Stephanie said...

A good day ! I could feel it! You're so stinkin' busy how do you do it. I'm in complete denial that summer is ending.
We'll have to compare kindergarten notes as we both have boys going that way. I was just talking to Aniela(my Cali Girl) about Olivia one day taking flight. Gives me chills. Wishing Taylor a great year.

Scrappy quilter said...

Woo hoo, Zoey you go girl. She is doing so well. God definitely is answering prayers. Continuing to pray for her.

blogzilly said...

Wow, what that man has endured...

Glad to know Zoey checked out so well.

Unknown said...

The docs took Carly off Bactrim early on during treatment for that very reason. They put her on Pentamadine, which is given via IV over the course of an hour. That did help bring her counts up a bit. But, Carly is Carly..she, like Zoey, did her own thing in her own time.

Happy to see the platelets are up. What a relief for you all. All other counts look good too!! Yay!

Carly's Oncologist told me once, while we were inpatient with a fever. That no matter what room we looked into on the 7th floor, there would be a child/family worse off than us. She was so right. That story you wrote about sure was a tear jerker. I sure hope his son does okay. How very sad. It really make one appreciate just what they have.

Anonymous said...

Glad to read that all is well.

Sigh of relief, Jenefer

Junior said...

So happy to hear the good news, go Zoey
Big hugs

Anonymous said...

Correcting an earlier post - good luck to JAKE and Joe going off to school - it was early and my fingers were still sleeping.

Such good news about the labs - that a girl, Zoey....

Maybe you can take a few minutes for yourself now that school will be starting...hahaha

Hope you guys enjoy the visit from Lisa and Michelle (take lots of pics Lisa to show us at the up coming Pig Roast!) Mark - hope you'll get some time off to spend with your sister & niece

Robyn from Otisco

Danyele Easterhaus said...

loving the "all is well" thing! and chuckling a little at the off to college and the toddler...that's so where i am in a year or two!

Cammie Heflin said...

I'm glad that all is well! Sweet Zoey!

Unknown said...

A big sigh tonight to know all is well! You can join the neutropenia club...I started it! :) Meetings at my house...hope you'll come! :) So glad, my dear, that all is well...so glad Zoey has proved once again that she wont be taken down. What an amazing meeting with that man tonight...reminds us all what true faith is! Love the quote too...so much to learn here, so much to be grateful for, so many wonderful moments, so many hard times...all wrapped up in this thing called life. So glad youare part of mine my dear friend!

Kristen's mom said...

The count game can be a fustrating. Kristen has been done with treatment since March and her white count is only 1.6 and ANC 1200. When I go into the clinic sometimes I feel as though the docs are just waiting for her to relapse. Like they expect it to happen. It really sickens me. Glad Miss Zoey's numbers are looking good.

Googsmom said...

Blessed is my Hero, sweet Zoey. {{{HUGS}}}}

Prayers going up for the nice man you met and his family.{{HUGS}}

Lacey said...

I hate to say it dear but the craziness will continue. We miss you guys, my boys miss your boys. this trip was crazy. The inside of my car looks like the beach. Sand and seashells on the seats and floor. All I need is water and I'm set. What a doozy thats going to be to clean. I remember you talking about the 4th floor. I can't imagine what those parents are going through, well actually, I kind of can. It is crazy when you know something could have been prevented. You start to blame yourself and the hosptial definitely becomes the target of your anger and frustrations.

Jeana said...

I'm so glad! Thanks for sharing that story, and thoughts about life. Life is so precious, and there is so much more for us to learn here than I ever could have imagined.

The VW's said...

Praise the Lord that all is well! Praying that Miss Zoey continues to do so well! HUGS!

Anonymous said...

my post (Monday) must have got lost in the shuffle or I hit the wrong button....

Anyways - glad things went as well as they could at the hospital.

Story of that gentleman (and I mean gentle man) is so sad. Praying for he & his family.

Will be looking forward to hearing about Joe's "first day" in kindergarten. Hope all went well in that departmet. Well wishes for big brother Jake and sister Taylor also

Take care

Bluebelle

Jamie said...

WOO HOO!! :)!!
Zoey looks like she is sayin "cmon mama, quit fussing over me..Im fine!" hee hee
Happy Days to come :)

Maggie May said...

This post was very beautiful but I admit I am overwhelmed and weeping now. Today was a hard day for me, I have had, like so many people, much suffering and loss in my life, and this post broke the dam, and that man's pain overwhelmed me, and all I can do is cry and say a silent prayer for his little boy, and for your Zooey.

Alisha said...

Thank Stars for the lab work.

That is one of the saddest stories I have ever heard. Some people have it really rough. :(

Anonymous said...

I nominated you for an award check my blog!


on a side note I just wanna squeeze your little girl! I am glad all is good. Andd bactrium is a GREAT drug. I've been on it alot for pnuemonia treatment and it works awesomely.

Have you looked into other stuff that can boost the immune system?

Anonymous said...

You do a beautiful job of segueing from lab results into the meaning of life.

The only way this world makes sense to me is with my faith in God. To whom I am very thankful for answering my prayers for Zoey.

Your life-management skills ARE impressive, and I won't be looking to see your name in my comments 'til after school settles in, eh?

Barbara

Anonymous said...

I am SO happy to hear that Miss Zoey is doing well! We went for labs today...always an emotional roller coaster ride!
We have a close friend who joined the little fighters on the 4th floor with ALL on Tuesday. Brittny is 13.
So VERY sorry to hear about the 2 little angels! think I know the little boy :(