"Buying a Ticket...

While Jon was in the hospital with a  neutropenic fever last week, the oncologist paid him a visit.  She said, "Congratulations...you just bought a ticket out of more chemo..."  Yes--he heard that correctly....2/3 neutropenic fevers is considered "too risky" to continue treatment.

She said, "your bone marrow doesn't like chemo...."

hmhmhm...is there bone marrow that likes chemo?

None the less, Jon is resting in the fact there is no "choice" to be made. He is finished with chemotherapy, and he celebrates its' end.

Jon will have a chest scan at the end of the month and a pelvic MRI in three months.

He is pressing into the next phase of the journey...restoration.

Home Again

Jon was able to come home from the hospital last night after his counts rose to "normal". Ye-ha...Today we are breathing deep and resting...

We watched the LA Marathon on the tele' this morning...and are thinking of all our friends running the race...

xoxoxox

Rising

Jon's WBC was 2 and his ANC was .6 this morning! He had a painful night, but we are so grateful that his body is regenerating.  His ANC needs to be at 1 in order to go home: this will likely be tomorrow.

Caleb and Josiah are doing well... thanks to the tremendous support that surrounds us.

Neutrophils

Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) is a measure of the number of neutrophil granulocytes.  Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell that fights against infection.

www.wikipedia.com

Jon's white count was .7 and his ANC was 0 when admitted to the ER Wednesday night. As of this afternoon, his numbers are the same. We are praying that his immune system starts to rebuild quickly.

The first day home from chemo, Jon began daily Neupogen injections. Neupogen helps to stimulate white cell production. A common side effect of these injections is bone pain. The last time Jon was admitted with neutropenia, he woke in the night with intense body aches. He was convinced it was the end....he had never experienced bone pain before. Now he is anxiously awaiting the "bone pain" as a sign the white cells are rebuilding in his bone marrow.

Jon will remain in the hospital until his white count is normal. No visitors please...he needs a sterile room.

Thanks for all the love....

History Repeats

Jon felt amazing after leaving the hospital last week. We were surprised how well he was feeling compared to other chemo rounds. He had a great five days....

Last night he took a turn and felt miserable. After fighting a low-grade fever for 16 hours, he decided to go to the hospital tonight. His fever was hovering around 101. It could be a virus that his body can't fight (due to a low white cell count) or it could be a bacterial infection. The latter is the danger. When your white cell count is very low, your own body's bacterial balance can go awry...causing infection.

Thank you Tom Cornwell for driving Jon to the ER...we are so grateful.

Home

Jon is home from the hospital and feeling "less beat-up than last time".  He is eating and in good spirits.

"...And the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day"

We all have days when we we want to hurl stones at our circumstance...Today was one of those days. On the way to the hospital, Jon and I waded through the logic that "this might not be the best choice". We imagined turning our cheek from the next few rounds of chemotherapy, throwing our hands in the air, and going on a bike ride. What a relief this would bring...for a few seconds.

When the oncologist walked in the office, Jon raised one eyebrow and said, "I am not at peace with this...signing up for toxic sludge that carries a 1% risk of secondary cancer --just in case there are a few rogue cells." I sat, arms-folded, in a similar defensive posture....it is excruciating to imagine Jon on chemo... especially after a full recovery....

Dr. P beautifully empathized with our questions but assured us that this choice is prudent, necessary, and could save Jon's life.

The Doxifos began this afternoon and will continue through thursday.  Jon appreciates all words of encouragement and gestures of support. This leg of the journey is a bit isolating...and he is leaning on his crew.

In prayer...