Friday September 19, 2008

Nicholas actually had his surgery this morning for the installation of his central line (the valves through which he will be getting his chemo and blood drawn) and a spinal tap to determine whether or not the cancer was surrounding his brain (common with Leukemia) GOOD NEWS!! No cancer near his brain and therefore, he will not need radiation. He came out of the anesthesia a bit cranky and bloated, but has since been happy and singing. He has learned that when he sees the rubber gloves come on, something not fun is about to happen and is starting to resist even just being examined.
He was given something to relieve the extra liquid he is retaining, but will soon get him back on the fluids as being hydrated is a critical part of getting better. As the chemo breaks down all of the white blood cells, the excess can be trapped in the kidney or liver. Not being hydrated enough will cause kidney problems and require dialysis.
He is currently receiving another blood transfusion and will get some differant chemoin an hour or so. He wants to remove his central line, but hopefully he will get used to it as it is a permanent fixture until he is in remission! Keeping this in him and clean will be one of the toughest jobs. It can't get wet and needs to be flushed out and and re-bandaged every day.
He looks very smollen in the eyes from all this extra liquid, so he looks a little sad, but he is acting basically like the happy kids he usually is. We know all the lines to Toy Story now as we have seen it nonstop since we began this ordeal. He does keep reminding us that he is done and ready to go home. That part is hard to hear. But, they have popsicles at your disposal and an ice machine, so that helps distract him.
We have just moved to a new room and arranged it to more suit our needs. Since we have to be here for a long time, we need to make it work. We are in room C5209.
Thank you for all your prayers. They seem to be helping and make us feel better just knowing they are happening.