“C” is for Cancer (#16/365)
Posted by: Devyl GyrlMonday, Baby S went to the hospital for her overnight chemo treatment. She came home Tuesday night, then went to the oncology clinic for her Wednesday treatment. I went up Sunday so I could be home Monday with the 3 yr old all day & with the 6 & 9 yr olds when they got home from school. I came home Monday night, then went back Tuesday night because the 6 yr old had pneumonia and couldn’t go to school … but also couldn’t be taken to the oncology clinic while Baby S received treatment.
So, I stayed with them Tues/Wed night, and came home yesterday.
Some of you have asked for an update regarding Baby S. I have been afraid to talk about her when things go well, because it seems like every time I do, things go south. I am sorry that you only see negative updates on my blog. If you don’t see me blogging about her, it is usually because things are going as planned, and that she is feeling okay.
C & B have been filling out the applications to St. Jude, and I believe they went out this week. Hopefully it will not take too long to get an answer regarding whether or not Baby S will be accepted into a program there. The doctors, along with B’s help (since he does a great deal of research for every step of the way, and is willing to stand up and fight for Baby S, even if the doctors hate him for it), have been taking great care of her. Fact is, though, Baby S was much younger than most children who are found to have a hepatoblastoma. I am sure it is because of the lumps in her back - they had to investigate those, which led to learning about the liver spot.
Also complicating matters is that a child, up to 2 years of age, has different levels than an adult. By levels, I am referring to the AFP and the ANC levels I have mentioned in previous posts. The AFP levels are the “tumor markers” and tell us when it is possible that there is another occurrence of cancer in Baby S’s body. The ANC levels tell us if Baby S is able to fight off infection.
As most of you probably know, chemotherapy attacks fast-growing cells in the body in order to kill of cancer cells. It cannot tell the difference between “good” and “bad” cells, though, so it attacks anything that falls within the parameter it was designed to attack. The chemotherapy kills the cancer … but also causes horrendous side effects for many people.
Baby S is nearly 8 months old … but she does not yet have the capability to tell us what she is feeling or what she needs, beyond the normal scope of crying, laughing, playing, and reaching for things. Because of this, we often do not know she is nauseous until she is throwing up. We do keep a close eye on her fever, and on her activity levels: a rise in fever or lessened activity level could meann she is becomingneutropenic and that she needs to go to the hospital for treatment.
In all of this, we try not to overreact to things, for the sake of sanity and the other children. We watch closely, but do not freak out when things start going wrong - keeping the calm not only helps Baby S stay happy (and we all know a happy person can fight off illness better than an unhappy person), but keeps the other children calm so they can try to have as normal of a life as possible.
Right now, Baby S is doing well. She had a bad night last night, and has been throwing up a lot since last night, but she is doing okay. We know it is due to the cisplatin, but it does not make it any easier to watch her throwing up or dry retching due to the nausea.
Yesterday was C & B’s wedding anniversary. I’ll be headed back up to their house in a little while, to watch the kids so they can go out for a dinner. I wish they would go to a movie, or at least a really nice dinner … but I know they will not. They trust me with the kids (and they tell me that all the time, which means a lot to me because B does not trust easily), but want to be on hand if anything happens.
Thank you for keeping Baby S in your thoughts and prayers, and for all the positive thoughts and love that you send her way. We are all grateful for you love and support, and it really makes us happy, knowing she has so many people loving her from afar.
As always, I will keep you updated as things happen. I might wait for the bad things, but that is just because I am a ninny and am afraid to jinx her when things are going well.
OH!! Baby S is starting to pull herself into the sitting position much more often now, and can hold it for a moment or two before she tumbles over. This is a milestone for her - with the surgeries and the chemo, she will be physically behind for a little while … but she progresses every day, and is a happy happy little girl. She spends a lot of time laughing and smiling, and that brings joy to all of us!! Unfortunately, when I try to take a photograph, she tends to stop laughing because she is intent on grabbing the camera or phone in my hand. I’ll try to sneak a smile for next time!!
xoxo
January 29th, 2009 at 11:58 pm
What a gorgeous child. Thanks for sharing the photo.
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