Day +32

Monday.  Another day at the clinic. 

Labs today:
White blood cells:  3.6  (normal 4.5 - 13.5)
Red Blood cells: 12  (normal 13.5 - 17.5)
Platelets: 67  (normal 150 - 425)
ANC:  2016 ( < 500 = severely neutropenic) (normal 2,000 - 5,000)

Day + 30

Saturday.  I wanted to document Riley's bedroom door. Brenna made sure that Riley knew how happy we all were to have him home!  Sweet sister!   Bryant also made a sign for the bathroom door (which is right next door to his bedroom) that said,   "only for Riley!".  Thanks guys for making sure Riley is taken care of! 

Day + 29

Friday.  Another clinic visit this week.  Today Riley needed an infusion of pentamidine.  It prevents a certain kind of pneumonia.  You can't really tell from the picture, but Riley is accessed in his port and hooked up to the IV pole.  This infusion makes you feel really yucky.  Riley is brave and strong. 

I saw this sticker on a fridge in the clinic.   nuff said.

Labs today:
White blood cells:  3.7  (normal 4.5 - 13.5)
Red Blood cells:  10.9  (normal 13.5 - 17.5)
Platelets: 66  (normal 150 - 425)
ANC:  2224  ( < 500 = severely neutropenic) (normal 2,000 - 5,000)

 

 



Day + 28

Thursday.  This was my counter top when we came home from the hospital this past week.  I feel like a pharmacy.

Lets take a closer look at the number of  medication information printouts we received from the pharmacy when we went home.

 This is after cleaning out a cabinet in the kitchen to store all of the meds and mouthwashes and masks.  Now we are an official pharmacy.  :)

Riley's morning pills.  12 pills. 

Day + 27

Wednesday.   Today was a big day.  Around 30 days post transplant they do a biopsy and send results out of state for an ENGRAFTMENT STUDY.  This will tell us how well Riley has engrafted with the new cells.  How much of Riley is -Riley- or -Preston-. ?  We'll see.  
Riley has continued to have a slight wheeze and it was a little worse right before the biopsy.  He is a pro and took the breathing treatment like it was nothing.  Riley has endured so much and really not complained.  He is a brave boy!

We were so hungry after leaving the hospital.  We had to be there very early this morning and Riley could not eat anything because of the biopsy.  Riley woke up from the anesthesia wanting "Famous Daves"!  I would never turn down "Famous Daves"!  As we pulled into the parking lot, I was planning on getting food to go, but the parking lot was empty.  We decided to stay and be "regular".  It was past the lunch crowd and before the dinner crowd.  After wiping down the table with clorox wipes, we enjoyed a delicious lunch together!  

Labs today:
White blood cells:  3.6  (normal 4.5 - 13.5)
Red Blood cells: 12.3  (normal 13.5 - 17.5)
Platelets: 75  (normal 150 - 425)
ANC:  2664  ( < 500 = severely neutropenic) (normal 2,000 - 5,000)

Day + 25

Monday.  It was wonderful to go home yesterday, but here we are again.  We spent the morning in the clinic, running tests.  Bryant was so patient.  The Ipad is an amazing tool!  This picture shows the boys waiting while I am in the pharmacy line.  Riley loves... (not)... wearing a mask. Must be done. :)  We are just thrilled to be able to head back home, and stay.

This is a shot of Riley's lines.  The very visible line from his neck down to the central line on the right is his Hickman.  We have to flush it every night and cover it for showering.
The opposite side of his neck also has a little scar where his port line is.  It is not as visible in this picture but when the angle is right you can also see it just as much.  Not shown in this picture is his port.  It sticks out quite a bit, but he's just thrilled to not be accessed all the time any more.  He can shower regularly when not accessed because it is underneath the skin.  I call him "Iron Man". 

Day +24 GOING HOME!

Sunday.  This is the final cart load to go to the car.  Riley has been patiently waiting to be discharged, and for his mom to pack it all up!  ... Last minute instructions and goodbyes.  (We will be back tomorrow... in the clinic).  We then walk down the quiet hall with Brittney (our nurse today) and as we  get close to the front desk, we hear loud noise makers and lots of cheering!!  They have the whole front decorted and a gift for Riley and "THE GONG" is out waiting to be hit!  Whenever a patient finishes their treatment on the 6th floor, they get to hit "the gong".  We have seen others pass this stage.  It is very exciting for everyone! 

So this is me and my teary eyed face.  We have spent so many days and nights in this place, with these wonderful people that I was very emotional leaving today.  Words cannot express how thankful I am to them.  They have treated Riley with such respect, care and knowledge.  They have uplifted him with laughter and been there to ease worry.  They have become like family!  Many of the nurses have made sure to tell Riley that they only want to see him again as a VISITOR.  Not as a patient!That's the plan!! :) 

Labs today:
White blood cells: 2.7  (normal 4.5 - 13.5)
Red Blood cells: 12  (normal 13.5 - 17.5)
Platelets: 51  (normal 150 - 425)
ANC:  1836  ( < 500 = severely neutropenic) (normal 2,000 - 5,000)

Day 131 -- (Day+23)

Saturday.  Riley and I learned how to flush out his port and central line today.  We will have to do it everyday at home as part of his care.  Riley is already a pro. 
Riley's white blood cell count and ANC came back quite low today compared to what it has been.  Initially I was very concerned, but the doctors assure that all of the numbers will flucuate for a while.  Also it just might be the read for today.  It changes constantly.  White blood cells only live 3-4 hours.  We are all anxious for tomorrows labs.  It is our going home day and we are pretty set on that...

Labs today:
White blood cells:  2.5  (normal 4.5 - 13.5)
Red Blood cells:  10.1  (normal 13.5 - 17.5)
Platelets: 50  (normal 150 - 425)
ANC:  1650  ( < 500 = severely neutropenic) (normal 2,000 - 5,000)

Day 130 -- (Day +22)

Friday.  Amber came by knocking on our door this morning during Riley's mid morning nap... "Riley... you are going to want to get up for this!  Some U of A football players are here!"
Chelsea, our awesome child life specialist pulled some strings!  She's great!  They all chatted for a bit, they talked about positions, they gave Riley a new hat and other fun U of A stuff.  Cool!  Ya, ... that will make his day!

Then Riley did his walk.  He stopped to chat with Irene for awhile.  She's great!  Everyone is so wonderful to Riley!  They have been taking care of him for a long while now.  They are compassionate and care so much for him.  They are like family.  They all say how much they will miss him... but hope he only comes back to "visit"... not to stay! :)

(this is the "really mom... another picture" look :)

Our doctors put in all of our perscriptions to the pharmacy today so we won't have any hold ups on Sunday when we try to leave (since it will be the weekend).  I knew it would be a lot... two grocery bags however, I was not expecting. 



Mom and Dad headed home tonight.  Words cannot express how grateful I am for the support of good parents.  We are lucky to have the incredible support of Vince's mom and dad and siblings as well!  I don't know how people make it through an ordeal like this without the support of extended family.  Vince still had to work, ...most of the time I needed to be with Riley... and then at times we both needed to be here.  How would it be ok for our other children?  First of all, Vince has been amazing!!  He was everywhere.  Working, playing with the kids, shopping, cleaning, at the hospital, at home, tucking in, getting the kids up for school... and the list goes on.  We still needed help.  When family steps in and comforts and keeps life as regular as it can be, kids are blessed!  Good memories were made for my children.  Walks to the park, book reading, scripture reading, U of A baseball games, rides to scouts, birthday parties and activities... Just knowing that a loved one is there is priceless.  For them and for me.  Thank you mom and dad!  What a bleesing you have been to our family.  You have been our hands when we couldn't be.  We love you!

Labs today:
White blood cells:  4.9  (normal 4.5 - 13.5)
Red Blood cells:  11.6  (normal 13.5 - 17.5)
Platelets: 50  (normal 150 - 425)
ANC:  3822  ( < 500 = severely neutropenic) (normal 2,000 - 5,000)

Day 129 -- (Day +21)

Thursday.  We are definately feeling the winding down of this hospital stay!!  Rounds this morning, I had to get a picture because Dr. Gupta (yellow shirt), will be in the clinic the rest of the week... I also wanted to remember the number of doctors that saw us every morning during rounds.  They continue to be so impressed with how well he has handled the transplant!  The doctors and nurses are giving a lot of the credit to how well Riley has performed his "jobs".  They say that some teenagers and young adults refuse to get up and walk every day, do their mouthcare, take showers every day...  Riley is determined to beat this thing and get home (and he is just an obediant boy!), that he is willing to do whatever it takes!  They also say that a positive attitude truly plays a role and Riley definately has that covered!  They are amazed to be sending Riley home about a week earlier than the "normal" hospital stay after a bone marrow transplant.  YEAH! 

I went home this afternoon to help clean our house.  Nana came with her awesome house cleaners and of course mom and dad were there to help too.  We dusted, replaced the filters and sanitized that house in preparation for Riley!  Vince will clean the carpets on Saturday. We can't wait to bring that boy home!! 

Labs today:
White blood cells:  4.6  (normal 4.5 - 13.5)
Red Blood cells:  12  (normal 13.5 - 17.5)
Platelets: 50  (normal 150 - 425)
ANC:  3450 ( < 500 = severely neutropenic) (normal 2,000 - 5,000)

Day 128 -- (Day +20)

Wednesday.  This is Amber.  We met her back in December when she was diagnosed with ALL not long after Riley's diagnosis.  Most of her treatments until now have been done in the clinic, so it was great to catch up.   It is wonderful to see another teenager on the floor.  I sat and chatted with the nurses and Riley had a new walking buddy for the night.  Awesome!  It really is so good for him to talk with someone who KNOWS what life is like with leukemia.  It is a whole different world.  These two are so positive, even talking about their treatments, they just have a great outlook on life!

Labs today:
White blood cells:  4.7  (normal 4.5 - 13.5)
Red Blood cells: 12  (normal 13.5 - 17.5)
Platelets: 56  (normal 150 - 425)
ANC:  3149  ( < 500 = severely neutropenic) (normal 2,000 - 5,000)

Officially off TPN

Day 127 -- (Day +19)

Tuesday.  Riley is free!!  He has been attached to the IV pole for 30 days!  It wasn't any ordinary IV pole either with regular saline fluids...  I'm talking a serious hefty pole.  Trust me, I toted that thing around during our walks every day!  He was speaking with the nutritionist this morning as Gina tinkered with his lines and a bit later he got up to use the bathroom and exclaimed... "Mom, I'm not attached!!" :)  Really exciting.  Later Gina said, "I knew he didn't notice... I thought it would a great surprise!". 

This afternoon, Vince and I were able to attend a lunch at the Arizona Inn (beautiful!) by the wonderful organzation, "Jazmyn's Lunch Break".  They are wondeful people who have been through their own medical ordeal and are giving back to families with seriously ill children.  We were their guests today.  We have known Jazmyn and her mom Lisa since Riley was diagnosed in December.  Very caring and wonderful people who know what it is like to be in the hospital for so long.  Jazmyn went to 6 different hospitals (including UMC) during her year of treatment.  She is encouraging to Riley and fun to be around.  So thankful for people like this!!

Labs today:
White blood cells:  4.5  (normal 4.5 - 13.5)
Red Blood cells:  12.6  (normal 13.5 - 17.5)
Platelets:  58  (normal 150 - 425)
ANC:  3645  ( < 500 = severely neutropenic) (normal 2,000 - 5,000)

Day 126 -- (Day +18)

Monday.   Riley shed half his IV pole today.  Awesome!!  Every single day during rounds, the doctors are amazed at Riley's progress and have given us the going home date of this coming Sunday or Monday!!!  YEAH!  He has a little work ahead of him.  He has been weaning off the TPN and eating more on his own.  They are continuing to switch over medication from IV to pill.  His numbers need to continue to be monitored and he is being weaned off the methadone.  ...
Saturday night Riley had some diarrhea.  We thought maybe it was some graft vs. host starting.  He then felt "really uncomfortable in his own skin".  He felt very hot and then cold.  Over night he would get so hot for awhile that he would sweat through his beanie.  He then would get very cold and put on a new beanie and ask for extra blankets.  Then sweat through that one.  In the morning explaining his symptoms during rounds, Dr. Gupta knew exactly what it was... he was having withdrawals from the morphine.  Even though he was weaned off, he needed a bit more weaning.  Methadone is used to to treat withdrawal symptoms and to help wean. It has definitely helped and he is on a schedule to be off by the time we go home.  Progress.  He is doing awesome!

Labs today:
White blood cells:  4.1   (normal 4.5 - 13.5)
Red Blood cells: 11.6  (normal 13.5 - 17.5)
Platelets: 54   (normal 150 - 425)
ANC:  3198   ( < 500 = severely neutropenic) (normal 2,000 - 5,000)

Day 125 -- (Day +17)

Sunday.  This is my corner.  I like to keep track of the numbers and see the trends. Maybe a little OCD of me :)  ... It is how I stay "in control".  Since I really have no control over this whole situation, it has been my way to cope.

Really interesting...


                                     (normal 4.5 - 13.5)                     (normal 2,000 - 5,000)
Day                            White blood cell count                           ANC

0 (transplant day)                 2.5                                                2275
+1                                         1.6                                                1376
+2                                           .4                                                  252
+3                                           .2                                                      0
+4                                           .1                                                      0
+5                                        < .1                                                      0
+6                                           .1                                                      0
+7                                           .1                                                      0
+8                                        < .1                                                      0
+9                                           .1                                                      0
+10                                         .1                                                      0
+11                                         .2                                                      0
+12 Engraftment                    .3                                                    72
+13                                         .6                                                  312
+14                                       1.2                                                  648
+15                                       1.8                                                1278
+16                                       2.7                                                2106
+17                                       3.8                                                2660
           

So cool to see the numbers headed in the right direction!  Love that he is close to, or in the "normal range".  Although his numbers are looking normal... the cells that he is developing are just "baby cells".  Unable to protect Riley like a normal immune system should.  It will take time.  The next 6 months are very important.  After he gets off the Cyclosporine (anti rejection medicine), he will be doing better, but still will require wearing a mask in public and staying away from those who are sick.  It will also be late fall and the beginning of cold and flu season.  Just not worth the risk.  Riley will be doing online school next year and continue skyping into church.  The doctors say it is important to get back to life though.  He can go to the movies... but like on a tuesday, in the morning... when no one is there.  :)  It will be interesting to get back into life.  Cautious, but not so completely isolated either. 

Labs today:
White blood cells:  3.8  (normal 4.5 - 13.5)
Red Blood cells:  11.5  (normal 13.5 - 17.5)
Platelets:  48  (normal 150 - 425)
ANC:  2660  ( < 500 = severely neutropenic) (normal 2,000 - 5,000)

Day 124 -- (Day +16)

Saturday.   Sleep, sleep and more sleep.  Had to drag that boy out for his walk tonight.  He did it, of course... but in silence.  Maybe half awake.  It is hard work building an immune system.  :)  He is starting to try to eat.  Kinda tough.  Nothing tastes good (or as it should).  His taste buds are wiped out and he has been using a special mouth wash to help him regain saliva.  Platelets dropped some today.  Just praying he won't need too many platelet transfusions while his counts are still coming in.  They say platelets are usually the last to get back.  :/

Labs today:
White blood cells:  2.7  (normal 4.5 - 13.5)
Red Blood cells:  12.2  (normal 13.5 - 17.5)
Platelets:  36  (normal 150 - 425)
ANC:  2106  ( < 500 = severely neutropenic) (normal 2,000 - 5,000)

Day 123 -- (Day +15)

Friday.  Riley continues to sleep a lot.  He is still doing his "jobs" of walking everyday, showering and mouth care.  He throws in a little facebook time and rolls over again. 
Today is the second day he has retained some fluids since engraftment. We could see it in his face, and his weight was up and output down.  The doctor ordered lasix (used to reduce swelling and fluid retention) and through the end of today he had a 5 liter output!!  The doctor was completely impressed! 

Riley is handling all of the tubing very well.  It would drive me crazy!  He has to watch all of the tubing very carefully as he goes about his day.  I push his IV pole during our walk and we have to stay in sync so he doesn't get tangled or worse.  He of course has to shower with the pole and just moving about is more complicated with so many channels.

Riley's sugar is up, so they separated the lipids (fats) from his TPN (IV nutrition).  This way the lipids can go in over a shorter period of time.  The TPN goes in over 24 hours, lipids now only 10 hours. Without the fats (smaller white milk looking bag), the bag of TPN is just clear and yellow.  Riley and the nurses have debated on what it looks like... we decided on apple juice. The least offending of the choices.  :) 

Labs today:
White blood cells:  1.8  (normal 4.5 - 13.5)
Red Blood cells:  11.3  (normal 13.5 - 17.5)
Platelets:  51  (normal 150 - 425)
ANC:  1278  ( < 500 = severely neutropenic) (normal 2,000 - 5,000)

Day 122 -- (Day +14)

Thursday.  Riley is sleeping and sleeping.
 He will start out watching an episode of "The Office", fall asleep, wake up a bit later and turn on another episode and fall asleep again.  Sometimes I would attempt to turn off his show (because he was falling asleep), and with his eyes closed, he would say, "no mom, I'm watching that".  :)
The Office is getting him through...  laughter is a good thing!

Labs today:

White blood cells:  1.2  (normal 4.5 - 13.5)

Red Blood cells:  12.2  (normal 13.5 - 17.5)

Platelets:  45  (normal 150 - 425)

ANC:  648  ( < 500 = severely neutropenic) (normal 2,000 - 5,000)



Day 121 -- (Day +13)

Wednesday.      Odd chemotheraphy effects...

          

  Striped fingernails from chemo cycles.

Skin sensitivity

"Chemo Tan"

Labs today:

White blood cells:  .6   (normal 4.5 - 13.5)

Red Blood cells:   10.7  (normal 13.5 - 17.5)

Platelets:      31  (normal 150 - 425)

ANC:    312   ( < 500 = severely neutropenic) (normal 2,000 - 5,000)

Day 120 -- (Day +12)

Tuesday. 

Engraftment!!  The new cells are coming in!!  AWESOME!! 

Riley has been sleeping and sleeping!  It is hard work to develop cells!!

(This is a picture of Riley's Port and Hickman line after a dressing change.) 

Labs today:

White blood cells: .3  (normal 4.5 - 13.5)

Red Blood cells: 10.4  (normal 13.5 - 17.5)
Platelets: 34  (normal 150 - 425)
ANC:  72  ( < 500 = severely neutropenic) (normal 2,000 - 5,000)

Day 119 -- (Day + 11)

Monday.  It was a rough weekend.  Riley made use of his morphine button and continued to have fevers.  At one point over the weekend he was laying in bed with his eyes wide open, body very still and whispered, "Mom... mom... do you see this?  Do you see the cowboys??  They are all around.  Don't you see them??  then he fell asleep.  He was awake, but not awake.    Odd.     He remembers it later as very real, but knew it couldn't be.  The fevers were consistent, which led to blood cultures... waiting... and thankfully negative results.  Last night Riley had a fever of 105.4   -Scary.  Fevers could be a result of infection, or just the fact that he doesn't have counts.  Today is Riley's 9th day of having an ANC of 0.  An ANC is a number which indicates your ability to fight infection.  (Typically a person is between 2,000 - 5,000.)  Riley's white blood cell count has been .1 or < .1 for seven days. 
BUT today... it is .2  -- hooray!
The doctor feels like last night's high fever was an engraftment fever.  We shall see what tomorrow brings... are the counts on the way up?  It is a few days earlier than we anticipated...

Labs today:
White blood cells: .2   (normal 4.5 - 13.5)
Red Blood cells:  10.8  (normal 13.5 - 17.5)
Platelets:  35   (normal 150 - 425)
ANC: 0 ( < 500 = severely neutropenic) (normal 2,000 - 5,000)

Today was Riley's last dose of methotrexate chemo.  A small dose of chemo to suppress his immune system so the new can take over.  This is a significant day!!  Last day of chemo!!

Day 118 -- (Day +10)

Sunday.  Easter Sunday.  Look what the Easter bunny left for Riley!  Sprite is the only drink that settles well and as he says, "gives him a sugar coating on his sore throat".  That Easter bunny is so smart! :)   Taryn mentioned to me that they were serving ham and mashed potatoes in the cafeteria today for Easter.  Riley wanted some so bad.  "It just doesn't feel like Easter without ham!"  So I thought mashed potatoes were probably fine on the throat and I could cut up some ham in very small pieces. ...  Didn't work out too well.  It tore up his mouth...    Sprite will do. :)  Actually, we are thrilled he is getting sipps of anything.  Some transplant kids don't try anything for weeks!  Hang in there Riley!

Labs today:
White blood cells: .1   (normal 4.5 - 13.5)
Red Blood cells: 10.2  (normal 13.5 - 17.5)
Platelets: 52 (normal 150 - 425)
ANC: 0 ( < 500 = severely neutropenic) (normal 2,000 - 5,000)

fevers continue

Day 117 -- (Day +9)

Saturday.  Riley continues to have fevers.  Ugh.  Because of the fevers, the doctor tested Riley's blood again this afternoon.  His platelet count from his early morning draw was 37.  Acceptable for our situation.  What the doctor explained is that fevers burn up your platelets.  They are sensitive little things.  So his afternoon platelet count was 22.  Unacceptable.  Riley needs a transfusion.  Because of his continued reactions to platelets, our doctor spoke to the blood bank again and they agreed to "volume reduce" his platelets today.  The bag is put in a machine that spins off the plasma from the actual platelets.  The plasma is where they believe his reaction is coming from.  It takes an hour to spin them and another hour sitting in a dark room to "relax" (again... sensitive, huh?)  Riley received the platelets this evening and believe it or not, still reacted!!  Not as severe as before, but he wheezed and crackled.  Again, he received steroids, breathing treatments and benadryl, along with an x-ray.  My poor boy.  He handles it very well.  Just a fact of life for him I guess.

After the evening with Riley settled down, I went home for the first time in almost 3 weeks.  The last several weeks, our house has had germy bugs.  Coughs and stomach flus.  I stayed away for fear I would get it and  1. Give it to Riley and  2. Not be able to be with Riley during the hardest part of this whole ordeal.  Thankfully our household felt better and I was able to see my kiddos for an unusual Easter.  Vince had to work until 11:30 at night, so we gathered then for an Easter Egg Hunt in the yard at midnight.  (Nana and Papa were helping for the weekend as Grandma and Grandpa had to return to Las Vegas for a few days.) 

We had a wonderful and crazy time together!  Good thing my kids are such night owls!!  We were up until after 1 AM!!  This is an unusual year.  Our kids are really amazing to handle it all with such sweet spirits!!  I am thankful to know that we all will be together again soon! 

Labs today:
White blood cells: .1  (normal 4.5 - 13.5)
Red Blood cells: 10.3 (normal 13.5 - 17.5)
Platelets:  AM 37   PM 22  (normal 150 - 425)
ANC: 0 ( < 500 = severely neutropenic) (normal 2,000 - 5,000)

Day 116 -- (Day +8)

Friday.   The last several days have been hard.  Riley hasn't been eating at all.  He cannot even swallow his own saliva at times.  They have a device set up for suctioning that out when he is unable.  He is coughing and gagging up gunk, which makes the pain in the throat unbearable.  Thanks to morphine, he is managing.  He has a morphine drip which now gives him 3.5 mg of morphine every hour and then a button that he can push that will pump in a quick 1.5 mg every 10 minutes if he needs.  
Things might be turning around a little...  Last night Riley asked for an Eegee's slush.  I ran out and grabbed one... flavor of the month, "Orange Dream".  Yum!   I am so thankful that he is comfortable enough to get something in his tummy!   The doctors aren't pushing anything (because he does have the TPN), but agreed that if he was able to get something... anything down, even water, that would help his stomach from "falling asleep" to its job.  It will make eating again easier if his stomach stays awake.  He has sipped on water up until this point, but can't always keep it down.  I was so happy that he is able to try new things!  Everyone is thrilled with how well Riley is doing through his transplant.  Yep, he is hanging in!
Other happenings for the day...
Riley was low on red blood cells and had 2 units transfused today.  Fevers continue.  He also continues to have respiratory come up to check him out and give treatments for his wheezing.   ---Another day done.

Labs today:

White blood cells:  < .1 (normal 4.5 - 13.5)

Red Blood cells:  7.1  (normal 13.5 - 17.5)   2 units transfused

Platelets:  48  (normal 150 - 425)

ANC:   0 ( < 500 = severely neutropenic) (normal 2,000 - 5,000)



    

Day 115 -- (Day +7)

Thursday.  Riley's platelets were low today and he needed a transfusion.  He had all of the pre- medications and guess what??  still had an allergic reaction!!  His breathing gets seriously wheezy and he tightens up.  Thankfully, the doctors are prepared for Riley's sensitivity and "respiratory" came up, he received steroids and and extra dose of Benadryl.  Oh, LIFE.  This is a picture of Riley continuing his breathing treatment during the day.  He's tough!!

Sister Clark, Riley's seminary teacher, came by today.  She brought a basket full of "EGGStrordinary thoughts" for Riley!  Notes written from his classmates and also a scripture reference for Riley to look up which refers to a character trait of his.  How wonderful!!  I continue to be amazed and so grateful for the huge support that she has been for Riley this year!  Especially on harder days like this!!  The timing was perfect!

Labs today:

White blood cells:  .1   (normal 4.5 - 13.5)
Red Blood cells: 9.9 (normal 13.5 - 17.5)
Platelets: 27 (normal 150 - 425)  (one unit transfused)
ANC: 0 ( < 500 = severely neutropenic) (normal 2,000 - 5,000)