"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....