Update - Day 2 of Induction Phase (Phase 1)

We started the "Induction Phase" yesterday, so we now count 29 days from yesterday for this phase.  He gets meds on specific days, so our next med day is 'Day 4', more commonly known as Tuesday. 

This kid never ceases to amaze me.  So far, we have no significant side effects, but I expect this to change as time goes on.  We did get some platelets today (as his count was pretty low, at 32), which is a common. 

We also keep an eye on a few specific numbers... The first is the ANC (Absolute Neutrophil Count), which will tell us how well he can fight off bacterial infections.  We want this number to be higher than 500, and he was at 823, so that is good.

The other number we look at is the number of Blasts (which is an approximate number of cancer cells).  We would like this number to be 0, and it's at 11.  To compare, he was at 53,000 when we arrived last Friday.  So, this is really a good number, which is less than 1%, so the doctors are really happy. 

He is still eating and the chemo doesn't seem to be affecting his (non-existent) appetite.  He had his Doritos and pizza today (or at least the pepperoni off the top of the pizza) and is doing really well.  We shifted his TPN to everyday, so he has IV nutrition, which will be an extra blessing if he does develop nausea or lack of appetite. 

Tomorrow will be Day 3, which means pretty much nothing except hanging out.  The doctors are very happy with his reaction to the meds and are already discussing discharge sometime this week (which lends a whole new set of anxiety).  Patrick is looking at a short-term apartment near the hospital tomorrow, so we might not have to live on the streets (just kidding, we have options and backup plans, so no worries)...

If anyone was thinking of mailing anything out to him, you might want to wait... if we get discharged by Wednesday or Thursday, the mail may not arrive before we leave.  As soon as we have a new address, I'll post it here. 

The nurses and doctors seem extra pleased that Ryan is always so happy and in such a great mood.  He has never seen the hospital as a scary place, and he has always been grateful, with a wise understanding that the nurses and doctors only want to help him get better.  Even the steroid 'roid rage' was more pathetic than mean, and the caregivers here were grateful for that.  And Patrick is the perfect person to be out there right now, learning everything he can to be the best advocate for Ryan... I couldn't ask for a better husband and father for my kids.

I managed to sleep away most of the day, with the exception of a few hours where I got to watch Connor at his piano recital (which was awesome!  Thank you Misty Annala!) 

Kathryn, our friend Caitlyn, Allen and Connor at Prom 2017

All three kids are recovering from Prom night, with sore muscles and big smiles.  It's hard for me to believe that Allen is 18 and leaving us soon. But I get to keep Connor and Katie for a little longer. I'm so glad that I didn't have to miss this.  More 'end of the school year' events going on this week, and then my BPA trip to Orlando on the 9th.  Assuming Ryan is still doing as well as he has been, I have been told by my husband to take my students to Florida.  To be honest, I've been fighting a slight cold and I think Patrick is concerned about me coming out there and getting Ryan sick... He has a good point.  While the guilt factor is still there, I realize that I could probably catch a flight from Orlando to Seattle faster than the trip from Great Falls, if something comes up.  (it's cheaper anyway 😉  )

Thank you all for your prayers and good thoughts!  Obviously, they are working wonders!