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Back in the Hospital (Hopefully only for a night)
By Margot | June 24, 2009
Laser Tag Fun -Joe’s Birthday
We were admitted again last night. Sam was peeing blood all day yesterday. He woke up with very red urine but otherwise feeling fine.  He went to science camp with Andrew and they had a great time.  Afterwards, Meredith and I had a picnic with the kids before I had to take Sam to his blood check. The boys all played tag and ran around. Sam had to go to the bathroom so I walked him over to the mens room at the rec center and he came out with a very stricken face.  He said, “Mom, I can’t get it to flush and it’s red. So I walked into the men’s room and sure enough the urnial was full of red blood. We tried to flush it but it didn’t work, there wasn’t anyone in there so I told Sam not to worry about it, no one would know it was him. That’s his main worry about the red blood – that someone will see it. He always asked before, “what if it’s red at school and someone sees? Poor guy. Not really what most eight year olds are worrying about.  After that though he went out and played with the other boys and ate a little lunch.  There was a moment in the bathroom as I was trying to flush the urinal that I was thinking what a crazy life we lead.  After lunch Andy stayed to play with Luke and I took Sam and Charlie to Sam’s blood check. We got the blood check and dropped off a urine sample and left. Thirty minutes later Gina was calling me back saying we needed to be admitted. Sam’s urine contained a lot of blood (obviously because it was bright red) and his platelets were only 31. He needed overnight hydration and a platelet infusion.  His ANC is a whopping 5 this morning but no fever. Knock everything you can find.  His urine is clear this morning and platelets are 115 thanks to the infusion last night. Thank you all platelet and blood donors. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. They may let us out of here today though we are thinking we might see if we can leave him accessed and set up home health care to come and give him night time hydration for a couple of days.
He had a very good two days off from the hospital as you can see from the pictures Colleen emailed me last night, he got to go to Joe’s laser tag party and had such a good time. They beat the adult team they were playing against and were super excited. I guess it was really close. Colleen said the adult team came out all sweaty and tired and said, “They were tough.” Sam now wants to have a Laser Tag party for his birthday.
Charlie had dinner with Jake and Joe last night and Andy had dinner with Luke and Ashlyn and Catherine. Meredith took Andy home from basketball practice last night and Colleen took Charlie who piped right up at practice and said, “I’ll go have dinner at Jake’s house” after I’d said I was off to the hospital.  Thank you Meredith and Colleen for all your help yesterday.
 Neil spent the night with Sam last night and I got here around 7:20 this morning. Sam is still sleeping Neil said he beat him at Monopoly last night before the benadryl he gets before platelets kicked in. Neil said he gave his evil giggle every time Neil landed on his property. We have the awesome nurse Carole today and yesterday -she’s leaving to get married tomorrow -(congratulations!) and we had nurse Julie last night who we love. Joe may come in and see Sam today and hopefull we’ll be out of here. Since Sam doesn’t have a fever we won’t have to wait until his ANC is 500. Now we just need to keep him fever free. He had his peg GCSF shot yesterday after a small drama brought about by me. He was supposed to have it on Sunday but it comes an adult dose 6mg syringe so I’m supposed to transfer it to a smaller syringe and only give him 4mg. Well, I completely screwed up the transfer and tried to squirt the shot into the top of the other syringe instead of the bottom and then tried to put the plunger into the top which immediately squirted all of the medicine out.  I can’t tell you the sick feeling I had when that happened.  I knew it was an expensive shot. I found out just how expensive - $3200 – when I called to see how I could get another one. Anyway after a day on the phone with Cigna and TelDrugs pharmacy and finally Amgen telling my sad story, Amgen (the manufacturer)  agreed to a one time replacement for free . Whew. So he got his shot a day late thanks to me but we’re hoping it kicks in so he is not neutropenic for long.
Will let you know if we get sprung today.
Margot
Topics: Progress Reports | 8 Comments »
June 24th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
Margot,
Glad to see everyone having fun, and I’m knocking wood, crossing body parts, pushing thumbs, and trying to find an acorn to carry to ensure good luck for Sam on the get-out-of-hospital-free front.
When Erin got the shot, we didn’t actually transfer into a smaller syringe, we just wasted the volume that was not needed. Would that work?
VB
June 24th, 2009 at 8:57 pm
Anytime Margot! It was a treat to have Andy over. Wish I could do way more for you. Please don’t hesitate to ask.
No fevers…no fevers…no fevers…
Meredith
June 24th, 2009 at 9:10 pm
Margot,
As always I am amazed at the crazy life you lead. I know once upon a time I could have written close to the same entry but now reading it just makes me tired :). Tell Sam that Shelby absolutely loves laser tag too. Maybe I will email the shot of her and her BFFS in their Charlies Angels pose. 🙂 As always praying here in Wa.
With Hope
Abra
June 24th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
Sam looks so good, so on top of his game, great color.
Thinking and sending good thoughts.
June 24th, 2009 at 11:53 pm
You are amazing I know how tough the fever worry is I am wishing with all my heart Sam stays fever free and you can go home. Hang in there you an amazing mother.
June 25th, 2009 at 5:35 am
Knocking on wood here… wishing no fevers, only BIG smiles !!!!
Love to all,
Colleen and crew
June 25th, 2009 at 6:05 am
Hope you are out soon!You guys are such great parents to your little crew! Angela (Madison’s Mom)
June 25th, 2009 at 3:24 pm
Dear Margot, I hope Sam is fever free and “yall”will be out of the hospital very soon! Nobody answers my calls to the house, so that makes me think you’re still in the hospital! Sam looks adorable and so healthy in Joe’s bday fotos; but strong chemo can be a “hard hitter” So glad he’s got blood and hydration; and hopefully he’s out today! so he can go home and be a couch potato in the “good ole summertime”I am “knocking on” everything I can find!
Much Love “Mom”