Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML)
is a fast-growing cancer of the blood and bone marrow. In AML, the bone marrow makes many unformed cells called blasts. Blasts normally develop into white blood cells that fight infection. However, the blasts are abnormal in AML. They do not develop and cannot fight infections. The bone marrow may also make abnormal red blood cells and platelets. The number of abnormal cells (or leukemia cells) grows quickly. They crowd out the normal red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets the body needs.

Monday, January 16, 2012

Day 35

Monday.  Day 4 of 8 for the second round of chemo.  Riley is handling it all so well.  Kyle and Kayla came by and hung out for awhile.  They went on a walk with Riley and then decided to help him decorate his window.  The patients mom from next door started it all by writing, "cancer fears me!".  Then Taryn, our nurse drew an Eagle.  So today was the day for Riley to put his mark on it! 




Then Riley decided to finish his walk.  We met up with Brandon, another patient, who is back in for another round of chemo.  The three of us walked and caught up with each other.  We were distracted as we chatted and were taken by surprise by Taryn and Melissa who got the boys good with some serious silly string!! 




Brandon and Riley warned the nurses that they would be plotting revenge!  They stopped to look out the window at the beautiful sunset on the mountains.  Riley talked about someday hiking those mountains again...   He'll get there.

Then later in the evening, we were visited by the Ross family.  They came as a "mariachi band", complete with chips and salsa for Riley to enjoy.  Funniest thing ever... they only knew Feliz Navidad in spanish, so that is what they played for him.  It was nice to have Riley hang out with such fun kids and I spoke to Sister Ross, who knows what this is like.  One of her older children had leukemia as a child.  He is 26 now and doing well. 

It really has been a great day.  A treasured day with my son.



1 comment:

  1. I love these posts Chrissie!! What great friends and fun nurses that Riley has. I love the window, silly string and even a "mariachi band!:)

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