Update on E. coli and Tentative Schedule Going Forward

     Over the weekend the cefepime had success in working against Ethen's infections (E. coli and another bacterium that grew in the blood cultures over the weekend). The treatment protocol for a bacterial infection is to give 14 days of antibiotic. Although Ethen's cultures from Saturday did not grow any E. coli (or other bacteria), the treatment must go to completion to prevent the development of drug resistance. Now we are waiting for Ethen's counts to rebound, which is the cue that we can go home and administer the remainder of the antibiotic at home.
     Unrelated to bacterial infections, Ethen has developed some sore spots in his mouth and in the diaper region. Please pray that these do not worsen. Pray his white blood cells will return and help to heal the sores. Likewise, pray he can gain an appetite so as to bulk up and gain strength for the coming month. He's got another chemotherapy scheduled for next week (which could be pushed back a week), and then a surgery to resect any remnants of cancer. After surgery he'll have a stem cell transfusion, which is accompanied by a potent chemotherapy concoction that aims to annihilate any traces of cancer.