Heading home?

Spoke with my sweetie this morning and he sounded really good. His body is responding positively to his treatment. Last Sunday I posted that his white cell counts were .2. On Monday they were .2, Tuesday .3, Weds. .2, Thurs. .4, Friday .7, then this morning 1.1. This is good news, the cells are multiplying!

His temperature has bounced around a lot this week. It would stay in normal ranges throughout the day, then go up as high as 102 degrees in the evening. They've run a number of tests, including blood cultures, a nose swab and a CAT scan of his head, chest and abdomen. The CAT scan came back "unremarkable." (Those of you that know Mic can hear him say, "Wow! I've been called a lot of things but unremarkable is not one of them!") Since all the tests have come back negative, we can assume that the evening fevers will go away as his blood cell counts go up. And because he is doing so well, it sounds like he may get to come home on Sunday. That's right, this Sunday the 26th! Yippee!

He did end up with a pick in his bicep again (left side this time) which will be removed before he is discharged. His infectious disease doctor told him he's comfortable sending him home with a prescription for an oral antibiotic. This is wonderful news because it is very freeing to not have to wrap your arm in plastic wrap & tape in order to take a shower. Count your many blessings! He hasn't been able to swim with the kids at all this summer, so this also means he will be able to join them in the pool.

Our first born celebrates his birthday this coming Friday. Isaiah turns 9 on the 31st. And did you know that Arnold Schwarzenegger's birthday is on the 30th? He'll be 62. J.K. Rowling (author) celebrates her 44th birthday and Wesley Snipes (actor) celebrates his 47th birthday, both on the 31st. (Google's a wonderful tool!)

Praying that this will be his final treatment and that he will be in remission...forever! His oncologist prefers to do 4 rounds of maintenance treatment, which would take us into August. But because he develops the fevers, it seems that this will be his final dose. Some doctors say 3 maintenance rounds, some say 4. He had 3 maintenance rounds of chemotherapy.

I'm not certain where we go from here. I understand we will visit the Cleveland Clinic for a second opinion. I'm sure that he will have his blood drawn frequently. We understand that his immune system won't be what it used to be, so lots of hand washing! Seems that it's the best way for all of us to stay healthy.

Thank you for all of your support. It's been such a blessing to connect with you and have you pray on our behalf. God hears your prayers.

Warmly,
Wendy and Family