Cycle 4, Day +5: A Model for Neutropenia

We're playing the waiting game, waiting to see if we can make it to the weekend without a fever. We feel as if Saturday arrives and Steven's not in the hospital, then he'll probably avoid an extra mind-numbing five days as an inpatient in hospital jail.

Steven woke this morning with a very slight croup, no coughing during the night. No wheezing like last time, so, we wait and see.

Steven's ANC was 2200 on Friday, 5000 on Sunday, and was 200 today, this means he is now officially neutropenic, and highly susceptible to infection.

Despite his weakened immune system, he continues to feel wonderful, good spirits, high energy level. They told us to expect he will need a platelet transfusion tomorrow.

When we returned to Target House, they were doing a photo shoot, taking pictures for their new brochure. They asked us if Steven and Sean could participate by letting them photograph them playing on the play structure.

We said OK. They powdered Sean's face, combed his hair, and put eyebrow pencil on Steven, who has very thin eyebrows since he started chemo.

Then they took them outside and took photos of Steven, Sean, and two adorable little girls, sisters, whose names I can't pronounce or spell.

So, we wait to see if tomorrow brings fever or not. Tomorrow is also Steven's last dose of chemo-- he receives a push of vincristine while he is getting his daily infusion of GCSF.

- Kathleen