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Radiation level down 6.9
By Margot | October 11, 2009
We are cleared for take off from the hospital today. Sam’s radiation level was 57 on Friday, dropped to 18.6 yesterday and today is 6.9. It only has to be 7 or below for discharge. We have a scan tomorrow at 10:30 am but my Dad has a hotel room close by so since Sam is itching to get out of here, we’ll do the blood draw scheduled for tomorrow today and then just come back for the scan. That’s the plan anyway. We haven’t done any blood draws since before the injection to minimize exposure for the nurses. Sam’s radition level today is probably just above regular background stuff you get from the air. My Dad explained it all to me -how much you get per year from the sun and from the uranium in the earth’s core and how seven milicurie (sp?) equals about 1 milirem and most people get about 300 milirems per year form normal background stuff – so a little less than one per day.
The nurse just came and took Sam’s blood so if he needs transfusions, we’ll get them before we get out of here today. He’s feeling well and hungry so that’s a good sign. Friday night his jaw swelled up and his salivary glands started to hurt and he threw up in the middle of the night Friday and some of yesterday morning. By ten o’clock last night though he was feeling better and had two tacos and two bowls of Ben and Jerry’s Ice-Cream that we went and got while Uncle Matt stayed with Sam. He’s playing a video game now. Our flight back to San Diego is not until Wednesday and it’s prohibitively expensive to change it until Tuesday (the difference in fight prices about $600) so we are thinking of leaving for Washington DC on a train after the scan and going to see some sights for a day. That plan may change depending on how things go today and tomorrow.
The boys just called for some pancake instructions. Charlie woke up and Neil said, “Tell mommy what you slept in last night.” “I slept in my soccer suit, Mom.” Guess pajamas didn’t happen ;-). They seem to be doing fine. I sent Neil some instructions about Andy’s lunch for tomorrow since he was worried anybody else getting it right. He did well in his soccer game and scored a goal but he was in a bit of funk before he scored the goal and came off the field in tears and Neil gave him a pep talk before he went back in and he seemed to cheer up. He was in a good mood this morning when he called but has been kind of out of sorts here and there lately. I think this is all getting to him.
Sam is excited to get out today and ready to go home. His class is learning about communicable and non-comunicable diseases in health and someone called from the school and asked if the Child-life specialist would come from the hosptial again and talk to Sam’s 4th grade class. Most of them have seen the speil a couple of times but maybe Mrs. O’Donavan got some tough questions last week. Not sure. This is the paragraph in Sam’s health book says about Cancer: “Some people get cancer. Cancer occurs when body cells that are not normal frow out of control. Cancer cells often form lumps called tumors. Cancer can occur in nearly every part of the body including the bones and the blood. Cancer can also spread from one part of the body to another. Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in the United States.” Lovely. Sam and I haven’t done this chapter together yet but I guess I’m glad I’m teaching it. It goes on to say that scientists know what causes some forms of cancer. Then it moves on to diabetes and allergies. You know it’s bad when you wish you were on the drug addiction chapter instead.
Anyway, I’ll update on the scan and Tuesday’s plans tomorrow. It’ll just be to see if the MIBG is being sucked up in all the right places.
Margot
Topics: Progress Reports | 10 Comments »
October 11th, 2009 at 9:22 pm
So glad to hear that you might be “sprung” today!!! (-: If you need anything in D.C -my good friend Carol lives there…..
October 11th, 2009 at 10:59 pm
Reading your post has me so happy that all I keep hearing in my head is: “M-I-G-B” (sung to the tune of Village People’s YMCA)! Excellent 2nd round. Maybe Sam’s health assignment should be to re-write that paragraph for his textbook in his own words. See you soon!
Best
Lisa
October 11th, 2009 at 11:43 pm
Wow, great news Margot. Can you just leave your relatives there for our beck-and-call next week too please? That sounds P-R-E-T-T-Y nice! I hope we get to see you on Tues! Erik has ECHO at 11 am on Tues. Tomorrow night we may not get into Sheraton until 1130 pm…
Constant prayers for further NB obliteration….
October 12th, 2009 at 12:18 am
Yay Margot! Yay Sam!
It sounds, dare I say, that perhaps the second round of the MIBG wasn’t quite as bad as the first.
Thank goodness. Good luck getting in and out of there with no hassles!
Lara
October 12th, 2009 at 1:21 am
Great news!!!! Hope your tourist plans work out ! DC is a great place and Sam is at a great age to visit the memorials !!
So nice your Dad is there with you and Sam and Matt!
Prayers for all, including little Andy! 😉
XO,
Colleen
October 12th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
Hi:
Glad to hear you are getting discharged and things are going well. We are in Philly also. We head to clinic this afternoon and Brittany will be admitted. Second MIBG infusion Tuesday 10-13-09. Maybe our paths will cross, if not best of luck to Sam. We have been thinking of him often. Michelle and Brittany
October 15th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Hang in there.. Hope you guys got home safely. Angela (Madison’s Mom)
October 15th, 2009 at 8:18 pm
Okay, I’m nosy – are you back, safe, did you make it to DC?
Lara
October 16th, 2009 at 1:05 am
thats great news and i hope we can see ech other soon!
from marty
October 25th, 2009 at 5:24 am
Margot:
I love this post… I am catching up as things have been nuts around here. I hear you on the chapter… Just finished carving brains (small watermelon) for Sophie’s birthday party tomorrow – the boys would love it.. looks gross but who does not like brainy watermelon. We are keeping you in our prayers and sending good Karma your way!