Alex's nose swab came back negative for any type of cold virus, so the nurses don't have to wear a mask when they come in the room. Unfortunately, the C-Diff test came back positive, so we are stuck in the room for another five days (total of ten days in isolation for C-Diff).
Amazingly, Alex's energy has remained very good, considering the amount of radiation, and Chemo he received. Today is Day +6, and we are just starting to see some nausea. The doctors are quite surprised, since most kiddos are so sick and exhausted by day 3 or 4. But, Alex has always been one to buck the trends, so why stop now?
Our days are full of sitting in a small room. The hospital teacher comes in from 11:45 to 12:30 each weekday to work with Alex. We have a sticker chart, and try to make sure that we get everything done each day, including reading and school work.
Other things on the chart are getting much harder to check off. The squares for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinking have all been blank for the past three days. The mouth sores have erupted in Alex's mouth, and he refuses to eat or drink anything. Right now he is receiving his nutrition and fluids via IV. His weight is maintaining, so it seems to be working.
We have been having difficulty getting his one pill down. Everything that can be given through an IV is running through one of the six pumps on his "mobile medication dispensing device" (MMDD), aka, his IV pole. This morning, he actually vomited before taking the pill, so we have asked for that one to be switched to a liquid form, to see if he can get it down.
So far, he has received one transfusion of red blood cells, and one unit of platelets, with more on the horizon. Even though his donor marrow is A+, the doctors will continue to transfuse O+ blood (his old blood type), since O is universal. With platelets, the doctors prefer A+. I am not exactly sure of the science behind it, but as soon as I know why, I will pass it on to all of you.
Amazingly, Alex's energy has remained very good, considering the amount of radiation, and Chemo he received. Today is Day +6, and we are just starting to see some nausea. The doctors are quite surprised, since most kiddos are so sick and exhausted by day 3 or 4. But, Alex has always been one to buck the trends, so why stop now?
Our days are full of sitting in a small room. The hospital teacher comes in from 11:45 to 12:30 each weekday to work with Alex. We have a sticker chart, and try to make sure that we get everything done each day, including reading and school work.
Other things on the chart are getting much harder to check off. The squares for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinking have all been blank for the past three days. The mouth sores have erupted in Alex's mouth, and he refuses to eat or drink anything. Right now he is receiving his nutrition and fluids via IV. His weight is maintaining, so it seems to be working.
We have been having difficulty getting his one pill down. Everything that can be given through an IV is running through one of the six pumps on his "mobile medication dispensing device" (MMDD), aka, his IV pole. This morning, he actually vomited before taking the pill, so we have asked for that one to be switched to a liquid form, to see if he can get it down.
So far, he has received one transfusion of red blood cells, and one unit of platelets, with more on the horizon. Even though his donor marrow is A+, the doctors will continue to transfuse O+ blood (his old blood type), since O is universal. With platelets, the doctors prefer A+. I am not exactly sure of the science behind it, but as soon as I know why, I will pass it on to all of you.
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