It really is difficult...
We're now at day twenty post-transplant (that's twenty-eight days in the hospital). Ethen has been doing better the past few days. The transplant team has talked about sending Ethen home, but the timeframe is uncertain at this point because of recurrent fevers. The fevers could be caused from a few different things: engrafting of the stem cells, the rhinovirus (i.e., common cold), or infection. They won't send him home with a fever because of a possible infection. To determine which of these is causing the fevers the transplant team has "peeled off" Ethen's antibiotics to try to rule out infection. They've tried this a couple times only to see Ethen's fever return shortly afterwards. When the fever comes back they put him back on the antibiotic as a precaution to kill any potential bacterial growth. The past week has really been a "waiting game." So we wait.
When we do go home, life won't be peachy keen (not that anyone would think that). Just this morning Ethen vomited about 4 ounces of his G-tube feed. Before this regimen of chemotherapy Ethen had thrown up once or twice in his whole life, which only happened after other chemotherapy treatments. Vomiting bouts may be a common occurrence in the coming weeks. Vomit itself is gross, but it also diminishes Ethen's fluid and calorie intake, which can be dangerous. Ethen will also likely require platelet and blood transfusions in the coming weeks as his bone marrow regains functionality. The transplant team will monitor him at our visits over the coming weeks—thankfully we live relatively close to the clinic because we'll have three visits a week for a few weeks. We'll also have to take extra precaution over the next five or six months as Ethen's immune system rebuilds. Even though some of his white blood cells, particularly his neutrophils, are returning, his other immune cells (e.g., T-cells and B-cells) will not recover fully for a half a year or so.
Please know that this is not a sob story. I know we have the sympathy of many people. We've had tons of help and tons of offers for help. My aim in sharing some of these details of Ethen's story is to share some of the difficulties that face anyone with a child battling cancer. This month is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and I hope Ethen's story pierces your heart. We've shared little ways to get involved this month. I hope that the reality of childhood cancer sticks with you. For our christian readers, I hope you know caring for the sick is a Gospel issue, which is highlighted in this passage from Matthew's account: “All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for ... I was sick and you took care of me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that ... we saw you sick?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me’” (Matt 25:32-40). I know we can't all be totally invested in the fight against childhood cancer, but we should all be willing to consider how we can help—however big or small.
Please pray with us that Ethen has no infection. Pray his immune system strengthens. Pray for protection for him against infection. Pray we are wise and take appropriate measures to guard Ethen's body against germs.
When we do go home, life won't be peachy keen (not that anyone would think that). Just this morning Ethen vomited about 4 ounces of his G-tube feed. Before this regimen of chemotherapy Ethen had thrown up once or twice in his whole life, which only happened after other chemotherapy treatments. Vomiting bouts may be a common occurrence in the coming weeks. Vomit itself is gross, but it also diminishes Ethen's fluid and calorie intake, which can be dangerous. Ethen will also likely require platelet and blood transfusions in the coming weeks as his bone marrow regains functionality. The transplant team will monitor him at our visits over the coming weeks—thankfully we live relatively close to the clinic because we'll have three visits a week for a few weeks. We'll also have to take extra precaution over the next five or six months as Ethen's immune system rebuilds. Even though some of his white blood cells, particularly his neutrophils, are returning, his other immune cells (e.g., T-cells and B-cells) will not recover fully for a half a year or so.
Please know that this is not a sob story. I know we have the sympathy of many people. We've had tons of help and tons of offers for help. My aim in sharing some of these details of Ethen's story is to share some of the difficulties that face anyone with a child battling cancer. This month is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and I hope Ethen's story pierces your heart. We've shared little ways to get involved this month. I hope that the reality of childhood cancer sticks with you. For our christian readers, I hope you know caring for the sick is a Gospel issue, which is highlighted in this passage from Matthew's account: “All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for ... I was sick and you took care of me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that ... we saw you sick?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me’” (Matt 25:32-40). I know we can't all be totally invested in the fight against childhood cancer, but we should all be willing to consider how we can help—however big or small.
Please pray with us that Ethen has no infection. Pray his immune system strengthens. Pray for protection for him against infection. Pray we are wise and take appropriate measures to guard Ethen's body against germs.
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