Tuesday, April 29, 2008

The Good Signs Continue

I have just talked with Amy and gotten further updates on Katie's cell counts, her medications and her experiences wandering the halls outside her room. Katie's white blood cell count is now up to 1007. Her hemoglobin is currently 8.8. Her platelets are a blissful 103,000 which should mean that petechia are a thing of the past for now. Her antibiotics have been cut from the three that were giving her the nastier side-effects of whole body hives and the deteriorating stomach lining to just one. The remaining antibiotic is Ceftazidime, a drug that she has had in the past with no side-effects.

Katie is still feeling good. In fact, she walked on her own today without help from her mom. She found a little shopping cart to play with and she walked down the hall to a little kitchen area just for the patients at Baird 5. The room contains a fridge (stocked with ice cream, Popsicles, and milk), a microwave, a water and ice dispenser and cupboards filled with things like crackers, cereal, soup, and other kid friendly food. She put a container of ice cream in her cart, grabbed a spoon and headed down the hall to eat in the play room. Unfortunately, after twelve days of mostly bed rest and no walking, she was a bit unsteady on her feet and she ended up falling down and getting very upset about that. Her ability to walk has also been compromised the the Vincristine that she received as her last chemotherapy drug. It can effect a person's nervous system and make it difficult for the legs and feet to do what they are supposed to do.

Aside from that, she is having a really good day, and that has put Amy in a really good mood as well. Looking ahead to next week, we may actually be able to bring her home again. Bringing her home this weekend may even be a remote possibility. Of course, no doctor has been foolish enough to say this. I'm just sharing my hopes in a public forum.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

ALRIGHT!!!! way to go Katie! Prayers work wonders Rick, someday i may need your prayers, so you have all of mine at the moment.

Love
Ashley

Tina Miller said...

I am so happy that Katie is on the mend!! Only good days ahead! I feel so bad that she falls down now, you can only imagine what she wonders. I am so glad that you guys are getting good news! Keep up the good work Katie!! Our prayers are with you all!!

Anonymous said...

The exciting news keeps making us smile. And I am very happy for you and Rick Amy. I am very sorry that she is falling down. But I guess that is minor. Keep sending good news. It is a pleasure to hear. It must definitely be such a releif to you Amy.
Hi Josh. What are you up to these days.
Love To All
Roxy

Falconers/Mahews said...

WAY TO GO KATIE!!!!!So glad to here you are doing better.I call grammie every day to check on you to see if she has heard any more GREAT news on you. Hope everything keeps inproving the way they are right now. We are all praying for you every day. Hopefuly you will be home soon. I know mommy and daddy can't wait for that day to come. Keep up the GREAT work little princess.

Love always
Rhonda and Crew