Lots of Tests

I know it's been awhile since I update everyone on Logan but there hasn't been a lot to update about until now.  He has been going to the doctor every week and catching up on school work.  That's about it until this week.

Yesterday Logan had another doctors appointment and his Kidneys are unhappy again.  The doctors are not sure why.  They are thinking it is related to his medications so they are having us hold most of his medicines and will recheck on Wednesday.  

Yesterday he also took his last anti-rejection pill!  It will take a few days for him to clear all the residual effects of the medicine, but soon, very soon, Logan will have NO restrictions!  : )

Tomorrow Logan will head into surgery to remove his Hickman Catheter (tubes in his chest) and have a bone marrow aspirate to check for leukemia.  We should get the results from that test on Friday or the following Monday.  This is a routine test.  The doctors have not seen anything suspicious on this blood tests so we expect this to be fine.  (They will be doing these "routine tests" more frequently since this is Logan's 2nd relapse)

Thursday, Logan goes back to the endocrinologist for an adrenal insufficiency test.  They suspect this adrenal glands are not producing their own cortisol since he has been on steroids for so long.  If not, this is something that will heal with time, however Logan will need to carry around a stress dose of hydrocortisone, both in pill form and in shot form, in case he has a traumatic physical event (broken bone, sickness, seizure...).    

At the endocrinologist last week he also had an exam and tests to determine if his growth rate and development has been effected by all the chemo.  We are still waiting for the results from those tests. 

So, like I said, something to update! 
  

Big Doctor Appointment

Eric, Logan and I met with the doctor yesterday to discuss where we go from here.  His doctor has been doing some research to see if we should do some post transplant treatment for the prevention for relapse.  We discussed the pros and cons of this new treatment but there isn't a lot of research available so we opted for the wait and see approach.  What has already been done to Logan may have already cured him of the disease and Eric and I don't want to expose him to more toxic drugs if it is not absolutely necessary.  Since he has relapsed twice and his cancer has become resistant to some chemo drugs he is in a higher risk category and the doctors will be keeping a closer eye on him for the next few years with more frequent bone marrow biopsies.  His next biopsy is scheduled for May 24.  Everything on his blood work to date is perfect.  No hint of anything abnormal.

Logan is SO ready to get back to a normal life.  He also asked his doctor if we could pull his Hickman tubes a little early so he can join the swim team this summer.  His doctor agreed!  When Logan gets his next bone marrow biopsy on the 24th he will come out of the procedure without his Hickman!!!!   He is super excited and while this means he will have to get poked with a needle every time he needs labs drawn it is a fair trade off in his mind.  

Logan has also started his tacrolimus wean.  This is his anti-rejection drug and the reason he has to avoid germs, mold and fungus.  He has a high white blood cell count but the anti-rejection drug makes his immune system kinda dumb and unable to do its job.  Once he is off the tacrolimus he can go out in public without a mask, enjoy his outdoor activities and more importantly... MOW THE YARD!!!  : )  

Kidneys Are Working

Logan's doctor appointment today showed that his kidneys are happy and back in working order.  He is still on extra fluids and we are holding some (but not all) of his meds.  More lab work on Friday.

Small Set Back

Logan had a rough weekend with multiple meds coming into play making him feel bad.  His Fentanyl patch wean (his pain patch) ended on Sunday however Logan had symptoms of withdraw.  We had a doctors appointment scheduled for the next day so Eric and I gave him Oxycodone and Morphine at regular intervals to help ease his withdraw.  He also laid on the couch all day Sunday with no energy and a headache (even with all the pain meds on board).  We were thinking this was part of his withdraw however after getting to the doctor office and labs were drawn we discovered his kidneys were angry and not working properly and his tacrolimus (anti rejection drug) was 3 times higher than his therapeutic level.  The doctor think the tacrolimus was the source of the kidneys issues and headache.  They are holding 4 of his meds to give his kidneys time to heal and he is back on IV fluids to help flush out his system.  They also think he was having withdrawn from the Fentanyl (which would explain the nausea and stomach cramps) and put him on scheduled doses of Oxycodone for the next few weeks.  Because of all this drama we are heading back to the doctor today for more blood work to check on his kidney function and this tacrolimus levels.  Just a small set back and we will return to Logan's regularly scheduled healing soon.

Routine

We are all getting into a routine with school and work with only one month left of school.  Phew!  That took a while!  Logan is still on many restrictions but we have a plan for tapering off his anti-rejection drug.  Once that is no longer needed many of the restrictions will be lifted.  If all goes according to plan, this time next month Logan will be completely free of the Tacrolimus (anti-rejection drug).  He is hoping to do all his favorite things this summer like swim team, camping, hunting, target shooting, 4 wheeling, and kayaking.  Listing out all his favorite activities makes me realize my boy is an avid outdoors man!  I guess I have raised him right after all.  : )  He also has plans to attend 2 camps for cancer survivors this summer so he is planning a very exciting, fun packed summer break planned.  As of right now, he is on track to go back to school in August when classes start back up.  

His doctor keeps telling me how wonderful Logan is doing.  So far they haven't detected any permanent damage from the chemo and transplant.    His new bone marrow is doing a wonderful job cranking out red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets (much better than his last transplant).  He's going to have a few new scars when all this is done but we are calling them battle wounds.  It sounds more sexy and is very accurate for what he has gone through.  I hope it is smoothing sailing for him from here on out because he has been through so much in his short life but he has been a trooper through everything.  I've said before that Logan could have made this very difficult for everyone by whining, complaining, and being uncooperative.  He was certainly entitled to do so.  However he took everything in stride.  Even on the days he was feeling his worst he was a kind and considerate child.  I'm so proud of my son.  When I grow up, I want to be just like him.  

Bone Marrow Clear

Logan's bone marrow biopsy results are back. The bone marrow is clear! No leukemic cells were found.  His blood work is good and he has been reduced to once a week doctor's appointments!

Tomorrow is a Big Day

Logan goes in tomorrow for a bone marrow biopsy.  This is his first biopsy since his transplant to check for remission.  We should know the results Friday or Monday next week.  

We have been keeping busy with managing doctor appointments, meds administered at home, school work, and work work.  Logan is still not really able to get out of the house but his health is continuing to improve and we have modified his bed so the dogs can sleep with him (and he won't have to manage the stairs to his loft bed in the middle of the night for those frequent bathroom trips.) 

 Yes, this is a couch in front of the bed.  Logan picked out this couch himself and is very proud of it (and it's super comfy) so don't judge.  : )  

 The dogs can choose to sleep on the bed with Logan or on the couch right next to Logan.  

Since Logan has had a loft bed for many many years he is really enjoying the novelty of having his dogs in bed with him.  And I think the dogs like it too.

I hope you all are not bored with all the dog pictures and videos but that's about all the entertainment we have around here.  Here is a little video of a new game Logan inventing with the dogs.