BRING IT ON!

Every time I’ve called today to check on Van, which was at least three times, because I miss him so much, he had the TV on watching some football games (they are re-runs but he missed them the first time so they are new to him) or he has another visitor. He is really having too much fun today.

I came home yesterday afternoon to go to parent/teacher conferences, help Megan with many things at school, go to the bank and you get the picture. I’m accomplishing a lot and will go back to be with him tomorrow morning.

The Doctor seems to think Van is ready to go home, but I don't. He has taken his I.V. out (but only if he drinks a ton of water), cut back on a lot of medications, and is waiting to see how he responds. We also must have the major drug he is on be delivered to our home. This drug specifically helps keep the white blood cells down. We are hoping it will come in the next few days. Once he goes home, then I will take him back to the hospital every other day for tests to make sure he is stable. Next Thursday we are hoping to know if one of his siblings will be his bone marrow donor. We will be attending many classes and being educated about the bone marrow procedure. The Doctor said that the length of stay at home before bone marrow transplant-must have his leukemia in remission and must find a bone marrow match.

Bad white blood cells: Yesterday 17,000 today 14,000 (This is good.)
Red blood cells: Yesterday 26,000 today 30,000 (They are up because he received two pints of blood yesterday which is good.)
Good white blood cells: Yesterday 65,000 today 33,000 must be above 1000 to prevent infection. (Good for now but going down.)
Blood platelets: Yesterday 23,000, today 39,000 (Up because he had a platelet transfusion yesterday, which is good.)

My Dad, the computer genius, has hooked up a web-cam with Skype in Van’s room so we can talk to him from home and my brothers and sister who have a web-cam can talk to him also.

I’ve decided my new motto is “BRING IT ON”! It gives me a positive power when I say it and I feel like I can handle anything.

Please read President Halladay’s post to the blog under “Bloody Nose” January 6th. His message was so uplifting. President Halladay reminds us of the power of Hymns “The hymns of the Church have served as powerful forms of encouragement. The third verse of How Firm A Foundation in particular. "Fear not I am with thee, O be not dismayed, for I am thy God and will still give thee aid, I'll strengthen thee, help thee and cause thee to stand, Up held by My righteous omnipotent hand."