WE ARE HOME!

Logan was discharged from the hospital today!  Eric and I were caught by surprise!  We expected to be there another two to four days but the doctors felt like he was doing well enough to continue healing at home.  Logan, Eric and I were taking bets on when he would be discharged.  Logan bet Monday, I bet Wednesday, and Eric bet Friday.  Logan is for sure the winner winner chicken dinner!  
We will go back to the clinic on Thursday for a check up and will hear from the bone marrow team then (instead of tomorrow's appointment).  If all goes well we will be home for a good two weeks before heading back to the hospital.

There were two little puppies that were very excited to see him today when he got home!  They are following him around the house and won't leave him alone.  

Shenanigans and Healing

As I'm sure you can tell from the photos Logan is feeling good.  We have an appointment on Tuesday to meet with the bone marrow team to hear the specifics of his transplant.  In the mean time, he is continuing to heal.   His last blood test showed that his bone marrow is indeed working and churning out some new, cancer free blood.  He needs a ANC (absolute neutrophil count) of at least 200 before they will release him from the hospital.  Eric and I expect him to hit that goal sometime next week.  Just for reference, a healthy individual has an ANC of 1500 to 8000 so he will still be immunocompromised when we get to go home so he will have to continue to steer clear of germs.  

School Work and Visitors

School Work at the Hospital

Today was a busy day here at the hospital.  In addition to all the doctors that visit him daily, Logan had a visit from family to play cards and visit, the hospital teacher came to do tutoring, and the bone marrow coordinator stop by to chat.  Eric and I have been waiting on pins and needles for this last visitor for weeks.  She came with news on the ongoing search for Logan's bone marrow donor.  Right now she has 2 potential candidates identified.  A little more research needs to be done to determine which of these two individuals would make a good match for Logan but she anticipates Logan receiving his bone marrow transplant by the end of September.  Hip Hip HOORAY!!!!  If all goes well Logan will not need to do a second round of chemo!

A Little Blip On His Blood Counts

Logan had a small rise in his white blood cell count this morning.  Not sure if this is the start of his count recovery but we are watching his counts expectantly.  Next CBC should tell us something in a few days.

Feeling Cheerful

Logan has not spiked another clinical fever but has had a few episodes of elevated temperatures.  He got another platelet transfusion today and is still on IV antibiotic but is in good spirits.  He has been joking around, walking the halls, and playing cards in between gaming on his computer and getting some homework done.

Spiked Another Stinking Fever

While getting his blood transfusion Logan spiked another fever.  It could be a reaction to the blood transfusion but they are being cautious by doing every culture know to man.  If he has an infection, they will find it!  We are back on contact precautions until the results come back and no leaving the room for Logan for at least 24 hours.  

Time for a Blood Boost

Logan is getting a blood transfusion today.  Hopefully this will help his energy level improve.  He's been feeling rather blah lately.  He has, however, been doing a great job eating!  The dietitian said his calorie count is much improved so no need for a feeding tube at this time.  We will take our small victories where ever we can get them.  

Passing Time

Logan has been working through some projects to keep him occupied now that he is feeling better.  He and Eric put together the K'nex roller coaster and Logan will sit for long periods of time watching his creation run the tracks.  It's quite mesmerising. 

We have also been playing a lot of games in the teen room and watching some classic movies together.  Eric also brought him a catapult kit that they are building together and they plan to launch mini marshmallows at the door.  I bet the nurses are counting down the days unit our little hero is sent home.

Nothing to report medically.  No count recovery yet.  No bone marrow donor identified yet.  We are just waiting and healing.  His cultures did not grow any bacteria so his fevers were caused by a low white blood cell count (neutropenic fever).  

EAT EAT EAT

Logan is feeling much better today.  He had another fever last night but woke up fever free this morning.  He lost even more weight over the past two days of sickness so the dietitian visited us.  Logan has until Monday to put some weight on.  If he can't bulk up on calories by then they will be looking to put in a feeding tube.  He really really doesn't want a feeding tube so he is doing his best to EAT EAT EAT!  Healthy foods are out the window.  Only high calorie foods are passing his lips.  The Lamar's cinnamon roll the size of his head gave him a nice head start on the calorie train today.  

Fevers and Cultures

The CBC came back.  His hemoglobin is low but not "too low" but his ANC (white blood cells that fight infection) are zero.  Then I noticed that he was warm to the touch and asked the nurse to take his temperature.  He was running a low grade fever and they rechecked an hour later.  Fever was a touch higher so they ordered cultures to see if Logan has an infection.  It will take 48 hours for the cultures to grow.  In the mean time he will get antibiotics as a precaution.  He looks like the feels... terrible, and has been sleeping for hours.  I hope that he sleeps the rest of this day away and tomorrow he feels better.  

Feeling Yucky

Logan's blood counts are starting to bottom out and he is getting mouth sores and stomach ulcers from the chemo.  We suspect he is needing a blood transfusion and we are talking with the doctors to see if we can get an early CBC.  They usually schedule them on Thursdays, but since he has a headache, dizzy when he stands up, and no energy we believe we have probable cause.  Logan won't take any pain medicine because he is worried it will make him sick (the IV stuff does, but he won't even try the pill version).  So right now, we are keeping him as comfortable as we can and nagging him to eat and drink even though he doesn't want to.  

Family Time

Yesterday all four of us hung out here at the hospital together.  We were able to check Logan out to walk outside for a little bit and enjoy the fresh air.  He has to wear a mask any time he leaves the oncology floor to protect him from sick people in the hallways.  This photo was taken while we waited for the elevator.

Once we made it outside, we headed to the small playground in front of the hospital.  We made up silly games and challenged each other to "walk up the stairs with two feet together", "do a no jump pull-up", and more.  We had a wonderful family day and made the most of our time together.  When we got back inside, I noticed that Logan had some petechiae (bleeding under the skin).  They did an early CBC and discovered he was very low on Platelets so they gave him a transfusion overnight.  They are also starting him on Cipro (an antibiotic) as a precaution against infection because his blood chemistry also showed that he is very low on white blood cells and is now officially immunocompromised.  Until this counts recover, we are on infection watch and Logan will not be allowed off the oncology floor.  This makes yesterday's family day at the park all the sweeter.

Building With Dad

Logan received a care package with a K'nex set today.  He and Eric enjoyed building the project together this afternoon.  Thank you Ekaterina!

Logan's appetite comes and goes.  We are trying to push as many calories into this guy that we can when he is feeling like eating.  He is still loosing weight, but not enough for the doctors to intervene yet.  Otherwise he is feeling good.

Cards Anyone?

Logan had a visit from his cousins yesterday and we passed the time with some cards in the game room.  He is doing well.  Up and exercising daily.  Waiting for count recovery.  Our days are filled with games, movies, and tinkering activities to keep this active young man entertained.  

What a Difference a Day Makes

Day 7:  First day of no chemo.  Logan woke up feeling great.  His grandma came to visit and brought some activities to keep this guy busy here in the hospital.  They spent a good hour chasing a little orange airplane around the hospital halls.  Good exercise!

This Last Drug is a Whooper

Logan had a very noble goal for this round of chemo.  He want to fight back the nausea so he had no vomiting.  Today's last chemo drug was just too strong for our warrior.  This new drug is called Mylotarg and while it has some great results, the side effects are brutal.  He is down for the count.  We are pumping him full of anti-nausea medicine and crossing our fingers he will sleep unit the side effects pass.

I am thinking of some choice four letter words for this cancer...

Furry Therapy

Today, when Logan was getting ready for his shower, he had an unexpected visitor from the hospital therapy dog.  He was a red golden retriever named Hunter.  We also have a red golden retriever named Hunter here at home.  Logan was very happy to invite this other Hunter into his bed and gladly petted the little fella to sleep.  I say little because this golden weights about 40 pounds less than our golden.  

Tomorrow is the last day for chemo this round.  Then we will wait for his recovery.  We expect recovery to take another 3 weeks or so, but we will keep everyone updated on his progress.  No word if they have found a bone marrow donor for him yet.  

Doing Much Better

Today was a much better day for Logan.  Eric had the doctors premedicate Logan before they administered the chemo drugs today and that made a world of difference.  He was active, eating, drinking, and alert.  He felt well enough for a visit from a friend and even enjoyed a bag of popcorn he brought.  Doing much better!

A Cheer Up Visit

Amanda came up to the hospital today to cheer up her brother with some candy and cards!  Looks like it's working.

Killing Time

We seem to be getting into a groove with the chemo and side effect management.  Today, we cut his Benadryl dosage in half which helped him with the nausea but didn't give him a chemical induced 3 hour nap.  He is watching the Olympic games and doing some in-bed tinkering (Thank you, Jane!)  He has lost a few pounds but that is to be expected.  He eats when he can, which is typically in the evenings after he feels better.  Hanging in there!

A Better Day

It was short lived,  but Logan was able to go on a walk about today between chemo treatments.  We found the outdoor garden and sat in the sun for a bit.

His nausea is being controlled but all these medications are making him sleepy. Day 2 was rather uneventful...keeping it boring!

Highs and Lows

We've had a roller coaster of a day.  Logan had pain this morning from the spinal tap.  IV pain medicine made him feel wonderful.  We went for a walk, rode the exercise bike, and played pinball...

Then a few hours later we saw the effects from the first chemo drug.  Nausea, numbness, and pain hit him like a truck.  More medicine to control those symptoms put him out like a light...  getting ready for the second chemo drug... and hoping he will sleep through it all.

A Little Lopsided

Day One:  First chemo drug, fludarabine, complete.  2nd drug, Ara-C, will be administered this afternoon around 2:00.  So far so good.  Logan is a little lopsided from surgery but we are working with him to get straightened up.  Right now he is chilling with a movie but we have big plans after lunch for a pinball tournament and some cards... Know any good two person card games?

Recovering

We are settled into our hospital room after having the Hickman catheter port placed this morning.  Logan woke up with a stuffy nose so they had to use a tube to keep his airway open during surgery.  He has discovered the healing properties of popsicles and milk shakes for soothing his raw throat.  He has some pain from the surgery but is otherwise doing well.  Tomorrow the IV chemo begins.