Home Again!

CJ was released from the hospital yesterday. After a long afternoon of waiting - for paperwork or whatever - they finally arrived home around 7:00 PM.


We have test results!


The CT scan did not show any clots, but they are not yet ruling one out completely. There is one more test they want to run, but they will do that Monday during his next trip to the clinic for his chemo treatment. This test will be another scan, but only of his arm. They will run dye into his veins and look for any kind of blockage in his left arm.

We've also received the results of the bone marrow aspirate and spinal tap that they did last Monday. The purpose of these tests is to monitor the effects of the chemo. When CJ was originally admitted to the hospital the concentration of leukemia cells in the bone marrow was 93%. The goal is to reduce this count to below 5% in the first 28 days of treatment. CJ's count in his last bone barrow test was indeed, less than 5%, but the doctors have advised that it is too early to be too excited by this good news. The important thing is that these counts remain below 5% at the end of the first 28 days. What these results do tell them is that the treatment plan appears to be working. CJ's bone marrow is now beginning to produce it's own cells again. The question is whether or not his body will continue to produce the leukemia cells (immature white blood cells) or whether it will produce them in such low amounts that the chemo can keep them under control. That's what the next test will tell . (I am probably not explaining all of this with technical accuracy. And I hope what I am saying is not misleading. This is my understanding of what is happening, so forgive me if we find out later that I was off base.) -
The spinal fluid test came back clear of any leukemia cells. They will continue to monitor this throughout the treatment program so they can catch any developing cells in the central nervous system

About those steroids...

Steroids are used in combination with the chemo to kill the leukemia cells. This treatment itself is not too bad - CJ takes a liquid dosage by mouth several times a day. The effects of these steroids on his body - mood swings and incessant hunger make this one of the dreaded phases of the treatment.

CJ is beginning to "puff up". This is not puffed up as in bulk and muscle like an athelete. His little cheeks are getting puffy and his little tummy is really pooching out there! He can't get enough to eat. Last night as he was finishing off a large plate of "hot cheese" he asked for cheese sticks. While Sheree was heating the oven to make the cheese sticks, he decided he couldn't wait and needed a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. He ate them all - the hot cheese, PB & J sandwich and the cheese sticks!

Today his food of choice was more hot cheese, corn dogs and grilled cheese sandwiches. I know I made him two sandwiches and I have no idea how many Sheree made during the day. He won't eat the crusts, so Hunter is enjoying the cast-offs. We chuckled a little that we think Hunter can keep up with CJ in the eating department even without steroids. Let me tell you, that little one can pack it away!

C jdid not feel well at all today. He didn't have the energy to do much more than lie on the couch and watch videos. He tried to play a little Wii, but just couldn't stick with it for very long. He and Mommy were able to take a good nap, though.

He is taking a long list of prescription meds including laxatives that are keeping him running to the potty. The vinchristine (chemo treatment) he gets on Mondays causes constipation so they keep him on laxatives during the week. It made for a very miserable day for him today.

On top of everything else, he has to take two shots of blood thinner each day - one in the morning and one in the evening. Sheree has been taught to give these shots to him in his thigh. I was Mommy's helper this evening and I'm not ashamed to tell you that I cried worse than he did. I'm pretty sure that wasn't the kind of help Sheree needed, but there was just no controlling myself. I headed to the livingroom in tears, trying to hide from both Sheree and CJ. There's something so wrong about a mother having to do that for her child!

Sheree found me in the livingroom and told me that after I left his room, CJ looked at her and asked her to give him the shot slow - not too fast. I'm coming apart at the seams over it and he didn't even know she had already given him the shot. I guess I diverted his attention after all.

Hopefully, tomorrow will be a better day. He still has to endure two more shots, but we are hoping the laxatives will have worn off and he will be more comfortable during the day. The next big concern is how they are going to get through Sunday night and Monday morning when CJ can't have anything to eat before his next scan.