Wed May 13, 2009 10:22 AM
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Some results came back, the cancer is very strong. Layla has a 30% chance of making it.
Wed May 13, 2009 11:05 AM
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Layla just drank some juice for the first time since Sunday afternoon!!
Wed May 13, 2009 1:44 PM
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We believe with all our hearts that Layla will make a full recovery.
Wed May 13, 2009 7:56 PM
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Let me clarify the earlier post – Layla is not dying any time soon!! The 30% statistic is just that….a statistic. It’s just a number!
Wed May 13, 2009 7:57 PM
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There IS a 30% survival rate, only because the cancer frequently comes back, and comes back stronger and harder to treat.
Wed May 13, 2009 8:42 PM
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We were blessed with another day of nonstop visitors. Layla is sleeping soundly and pain free. Praise God!
Thurs May 12, 2009 1:04 AM
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I never thought I would be so happy that Layla pooped! It’s been over 2 weeks since she’s had a dirty diaper!
Thurs May 14, 2009 9:38 AM
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Another day of tests and x-rays. Will meet with the Neuroblastoma Specialist today to go over the treatment plan. I’m eager to get started!
Thurs May 14, 2009 – A New Beginning
Tomorrow marks the the first day of the rest of our lives. Layla will begin chemo tomorrow morning. I’m both eager to get it started, and scared of what might come during it. I know that it has to happen to make her well, I just don’t know how I am going to handle watching her go through it. Nobody should have to be put through that, especially an innocent little baby. Her combination of meds are some of the strongest and the side effects are pretty scary. Permanent hearing loss, heart problems and infertility are just the beginning. It just brings me to tears to think about how this will still be affecting her 25 years down the road when she possibly has to explain to her soon to be husband why she can’t have babies.
The past 2 days have been very calming for me. I’ve had the chance to talk with some of the most respected Neuroblastoma Specialists who have written the actual treatment plan Layla will be following, learned that Layla’s surgeon (whom I’ve really grown to adore) just happens to be one of the two most sought after Hematology-Oncology surgeons in the United States, and come in contact with some of the most knowledgeable nurses I’ve ever met. What a blessing to live in Houston and have this type of medical care available to us!!
I’ve also learned more about those that are close to me. I know what it feels like to be blessed with amazing friends, and felt the love of strangers. I’m overwhelmed by the outpouring from the surrounding community, and those as far away as Germany. I’ve felt a blanket of prayer covering us and know that God is working a miracle in Layla’s tiny body. I’m especially grateful for the conversations I’ve had with those who have walked this road before. It’s so uplifting to hear that we can come out of this on the other side and have more faith than when we started! I’m grateful for family members that have turned their lives upside down to help us maintain some sort of normalcy for the other 2 girls.
Kelly, Steph, Sarah and Amy – I don’t even have words to express my gratitude. Seriously…I got nothing! Toni, thank you so much for being a source of support! Tim and Nancy, you have me bawling like a baby! Your generosity is overwhelming! To everyone who has sent something to our room – cards, flowers, cookie and fruit baskets, balloons, stuffed animals and countless toys for Layla, I can’t begin to tell you how appreciative we are! We’ve been blessed with a steady stream of visitors every day we’ve been here. God is good!!!
The next 15 weeks we will be in the Induction phase of chemo. We will be in and out of the hospital every 2 or 3 days, with 5 day stays happening every 3 weeks. At the end of the 15 weeks they hope to have the tumor completely gone, then we’ll work on attacking the cancer in the bones and bone marrow. Please keep Layla in your prayers. Pray for minimal side effects and bursts of energy. We also need her to start eating and drinking. Pray for Jenna and Claire, that they are able to stay well so they can spend precious time with her when she’s home. Pray for Ryan and I, that we are able to stay united and continue to be an advocate for Layla. I can’t imagine the complications and strain this can put on a marriage.
Thanks to everyone for praying without ceasing!!
Thurs May 14, 2009 11:14 AM
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Chest tube is still draining lots of fluid. Can’t move forward until it comes out. I just want to get started so she can feel better!
Thurs May 14, 2009 6:52 PM
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Just had a 2.5 hour long meeting about chemo. WOW!! That was a lot to take in! We will start treatment tomorrow. Praise God!!
Thurs May 14, 2009 9:02 AM
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Is taking a walk while the surgical team replaces Layla’s bandages. There are just some things I can’t stand to be in the room for.
Fri May 15, 2009 3:21 AM
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I’m awake at 3:30am. This does not make me happy! Does blood pressure really need to be checked every hour??
Fri May 15, 2009 1:12 PM
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I’m sitting down to eat lunch. Still waiting to start chemo, but meds have been ordered! Layla is sleeping soundly after a restless night
Fri May 15, 2009 1:16 PM
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I feel great after being visited by the mother of a Neuroblastoma survivor!!! Thanks also to Jon, Stephanie & Khryse for keeping me company!
Fri May 15, 2009 1:16 PM
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The lunches and dinners that are being delivered are WONDERFUL!! Thank you all SOOOO much!!
Fri May 15, 2009 1:30 PM
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A 30 day parking pass was just dropped off. Thank you Patti Gannon! Am I correct in thinking that you are related to Stephanie’s mom, Kim??
Fri May 15, 2009 5:07 PM
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Still waiting for chemo to start. Doctors keeps saying “Yes, it will be very soon” mmmmm hmmmm….
Fri May 15, 2009 5:15 PM
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Layla is watching Blue’s Clues and laughing at Blue dancing! AND she’s taking sips of juice :-)
Fri May 15, 2009 10:25 PM
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Layla starts chemotherapy at midnight tonight via IV, then orally at 6am.
Fri May 15, 2009 10:27 PM
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Layla threw up her meds tonight so we are praying that she is able to keep the chemo down tomorrow morning.
Sat May 16, 2009 8:21 AM
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Chemo through IV started at 3am. Layla is sleeping through it with no side effects so far. Another drug taken by mouth will be given soon.
Sat May 16, 2009 11:40 AM
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So far no bad side effects from the chemotherapy and Layla kept down the oral meds. She will receive more chemo tonight.
Sat May 16, 2009 11:46 AM
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Layla is having a lazy Saturday sleeping off the meds. She looks a tad more pale than usual lately but her blood counts are acceptable.
Sat May 16, 2009 5:04 PM
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So far Layla has taken all of her oral meds today without vomiting.
Sat May 16, 2009 5:14 PM
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Thanks to all who are praying, dropping by to visit, bringing meals, organizing, re-tweeting, and being supportive. God bless all of you.
Sat May 16, 2009 5:40 PM
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Layla is doing her “Jane Fonda” leg routine again… This is good, she’s slept most of the day and only been awake for two book readings.
Sat May 16, 2009 7:11 PM
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Layla’s belly has swollen almost 10cm in 5 days. Today alone it has swollen 3cm. Drs are going to give a diuretic to reduce her fluid levels
Sun May 17 – 2 Days into Chemo
Layla has been taking chemo for 2 days now. She has been able to keep the chemo down so far, and hasn’t had any side effects. She was awake for a good portion of the morning and she read, watched Madagascar, made animal sounds, waved goodbye and even ate 3 bites of mashed potatoes!! Yeah!! I pray this means she’s on the way to feeling better!
The doctor is going to test the fluid in the chest tube and try to determine how much more we can expect to drain out. Once the chest tube is out she will be able to sit up and go for rides in her wagon. I think she’ll feel SO much better when she’s not stuck in the bed!
Thank you for all your prayers, and please continue to pray! She is a strong little girl, but can’t fight this monster alone. God is the Great Physician!!
Sun May 17, 2009 1:20 PM
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Chemo is going well. Layla has been awake a good portion of the morning reading and talking. She even said “Bye guys, love you!”
Sun May 17, 2009 6:52 PM
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Layla is taking her chemo fine so far. The only time she has vomited is with some of the oral medications that taste nasty.
Sun May 17, 2009 6:53 PM
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Whoever got Layla the “Madagascar” DVD thank you, it’s her favorite movie and she has watched it all day.
Sun May 17, 2009 10:17 PM
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Layla is watching Elmo and talking!
Mon May 18, 2009 9:57 AM
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Just changed out Layla’s dressing around her chest tube and central line. The fluid coming out of her chest tube had leaked out everywhere.
Mon May 18, 2009 9:59 AM
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So far she has held down her Chemo. She was a little traumatized by the dressing changes this morning, but now she is watching Elmo quietly.
Mon May 18, 2009 1:30 PM
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Layla is having a good day. She had some energy this morning and was very talkative with her guests!
Tues May 19, 2009 9:15 AM
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Layla had a good day yesterday, let’s pray for an even better day today.
Tues May 19 – Day by Day
Layla is getting better by the day. We are 4 days into chemo and yesterday she was more active than I have seen her in the past 3 weeks. I hope I can get a few days of “Layla” before the side effects kick in and she feels crummy. I can’t wait to see her up and playing again! I feel like she’s been laying in the hospital bed for so long 
We did a CT scan and bone scan today. She wasn’t able to have her chemo this morning since she was going to be sedated for the scans and couldn’t have anything in her belly, so chemo was given this afternoon. She threw it all up and had to be given a 2nd dose. I’m praying it was a one time occurrence and not nausea setting in.
We should have the results of today’s scans by tomorrow. These are the scans that show any cancer in the body. Please pray that we don’t find anything unexpected.
Tues May 19, 2009 11:12 AM
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Layla was injected with a radioactive dye. She’ll be sedated & have a CT scan, and anywhere that is cancerous will light up blue.
Tues May 19, 2009 11:12 AM
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Pray that we only see blue in the places we expect to!!!
Tues May 19, 2009 2:21 PM
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Layla is out of recovery, back in her room. She’s off of oxygen and drinking a little bit of juice.
Tues May 19, 2009 3:42 PM
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Layla threw up her chemo this afternoon. But appears to be fine now. She’s napping.
Tues May 19, 2009 5:51 PM
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Looks like we’re going to have a hard time keeping anything down today.
Tues May 19, 2009 8:03 PM
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Layla has thrown up her chemo 3 times today. We’re going to see if the doctor has any tricks up her sleeve to help Layla keep it down.
Tues May 19, 2009 8:48 PM
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Layla hasn't taken her chemo but she is laughing and playing with the puppy doll Jennifer dropped off.
Tues May 19, 2009 9:03 PM
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Now Layla is eating with Daddy
Tues May 19, 2009 9:14 PM
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Feeding herself noodles!
Tues May 19, 2009 9:23 PM
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Who knew Lo Mein is good for nausea and vomiting?
Tues May 19, 2009 10:28 PM
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Had to completely change out Laylas pillows and sheets… little bits of noodles EVERYWHERE! Just like home! :-)
Tues May 19, 2009 10:29 PM
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We will try her chemo again later tonight after she’s had an even stronger anti-nausea medication.
Tues May 19, 2009 10:44 PM
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Some of Layla’s tests came back and it appears that there are tumors in her skull too. One behind her right eye and one behind each ear.
Tues May 19, 2009 11:07 PM
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The good news is since Layla is going through chemo the medicine will attack these tumors the same as all the others.
Tues May 19, 2009 11:07 PM
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So far Layla has kept the Lo Mein down.
Wed May 20, 2009 8:46 AM
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Layla finally did get her chemo down at 2am. A slight delay but better late than never.
Wed May 20, 2009 2:07 PM
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Layla is in a great mood today! She was hungry & ate some mashed potatoes, lasagna and juice. Great going in, not so good coming back up…
Wed May 20, 2009 3:03 PM
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Layla was just injected with more radioactive dye. Our pregnant nurse was told not to change or get near Layla’s diapers. Scary!!
Thurs May 21, 2009 11:29 AM
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Layla seems to be in more pain today than the past few days. Her eye is bothering her and she can’t get comfortable.
Thurs May 21 – BLECH!!
Layla is finished with this round of Cisplatin. The past 2 days she has been very nauseous and unable to keep the other chemo drug down. Hopefully with the Cisplatin over with, she will tolerate the Etoposide better. She takes it orally for another 9 days.
The preliminary results from the bone scans show a tumor behind her right eye and one behind each ear. Most of her bones have cancer in them, we just don’t know to what extent yet. Hopefully the radiologist will give us the “official” report today! To the naked eye, there is no cancerous activity in her brain, so we’re praying the radiologist doesn’t see anything there either!!
The chest tube is still in and fluid is slowly decreasing. Yesterday’s chest x-ray showed that her left lung has slightly collapsed. The doctors believe this is due to the chest tube and hopefully once they take it out, the lung can fully expand again. If they remove the tube and the lung does not expand, then we’ll discuss surgery.
She seems to be in better spirits and has been slightly more active. We’re hoping to have the chest tube removed in the next few days with no complications, then we can go home for a few days!! Layla’s big sisters are very eager to see her!
Thurs May 21, 2009 9:03 PM
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Even though she was in a considerable amount of pain today, Layla ate and kept down 2 servings of mashed potatoes and drank 2 juice boxes!
Fri May 22, 2009 11:48 PM
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Layla was still in quite a bit of pain today. She just lays there & cries saying “Owie”. It breaks my heart!! I just want to take her home!
Fri May 22, 2009 11:49 PM
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Test results are back and it looks like there is no cancer in the brain. Praise God!! Finally some good news!!
Fri May 22, 2009 11:53 PM
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The fluid draining from her chest is decreasing at almost a normal level. Dr will talk to us in the am b/c there is still air around lungs.
Fri May 22, 2009 11:54 PM
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NB Specialist came in last night to evaluate her and said she’s very pleased with her response to chemo so far. More good news!! Yeah!!
Sat May 23, 2009 9:17 AM
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Layla had a low grade temp off and on the past 24 hours. We are watching her closely. If it gets to 101 we’ll start meds to combat infection
Sat May 23, 2009 11:48 AM
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Layla just had a chest x-ray. This will determine if the chest tube comes out today or stays in. Pray we see no air so it can be removed!!
Sat May 23 – A Long Weekend
Layla has been extremely fussy the past few days. She doesn’t want to be touched at all, and just can’t get comfortable. The doctors have altered a few of her meds so hopefully that will make her feel a little bit better. I had a chance to see all her scans the other day and it looks like her brain is clear of cancer. Yeah!!
Our obstacles for the next few days are:
The chest tube – we need to get this stupid thing out!! She has been confined to the bed for the past 2 weeks because of the tube. The fluid has finally decreased to a level their happy with, but now she has some air around her lung. It could be from the chest tube, it could be something else. They’re taking a chest x-ray daily to see if it’s increasing. If it’s stable, they will go ahead and pull the tube out and hope the lung fully expands, pushing the air out. If it doesn’t….I’m not sure what’s next.
Temperature – her temperature has fluctuated the past 24 hours. At it’s highest, it was 100.6. If it reaches 101, they give meds to start fighting off infection. Since her immune system has been lowered, they take a fever very seriously. Until she’s at a stable temperature, we’re stuck here.
Heart rate – her resting heart rate has been consistent in the 120’s. The past 2 days it’s been in the 170’s. This could be due to her irritability, temperature, air around the lung making her work harder to breathe, medication, a number of things really. But because it’s unstable….you guessed it! We’re stuck here until it’s stable.
Central Line – there is a central line that’s implanted in her chest. It’s the line they use to give her all iv meds and fluids, and take blood from. They are having trouble getting blood from it. It’s a fairly common problem, and usually just means there is something (buildup of fluid or liquid nutrients) clogging it. It could be something more serious, but we won’t know until they do the chest x-ray today.
So those are the 4 things keeping us in the hospital. Please pray that her temp and heart rate will stabilize, the chest tube will be removed and her lung will expand, and the central line is a non-issue.
Sat May 23, 2009 5:02 PM
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Tube is staying in :-( She has more air today than yesterday, so we’ll check again tomorrow. Today has been uneventful, she just slept.
Sun May 24, 2009 3:03 PM
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X-ray was taken this am & again this pm. There was an improvement in the amount of air around the lungs. Hopefully tube will come out today.
Sun May 24, 2009 3:03 PM
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Layla is in a great mood today! She’s doing puzzles, reading, singing and talking up a storm. Praise God!
Sun May 24, 2009 11:01 PM
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Yet another x-ray will be taken in the morning for the chest tube. At this rate, I’m going to be able to take the x-rays myself soon!
Sun May 24, 2009 11:04 PM
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Layla is awake talking up a storm. I’m SO glad that she’s feeling well enough to talk & play! I don’t see much sleep in my future though!!
Mon May 25, 2009 5:56 AM
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She threw up her chemo last night so was given another dose at 3am. She went back to sleep at 4am & they came to do x ray at 5am. Poor baby!
Mon May 25, 2009 5:57 AM
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Please pray for good results so the chest tube can come out!!
Mon May 25, 2009 1:45 PM
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Two photos showing Layla’s improvement.
Admitted to TCH:
Today:
Mon May 25, 2009 3:05 PM
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The surgeon just came by, Layla’s chest tube is coming out today! It will hurt some but it means soon she can go home for a couple of weeks.
Mon May 25, 2009 11:32 PM
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Chest tube is out! Layla is doing good and hasn’t had any complications so far. Praise God!!
Tues May 26, 2009 9:29 AM
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Things are looking up for a discharge in the next 48 hours. Layla will get a much needed week at home before her next round of chemo begins.
Tues May 26 – Home on the Horizon
Layla’s chest tube came out yesterday afternoon!! Yeah!! One step closer to going home! She is also off the morphine pump and is only having it as needed. Once she is able to get up and move around a little better we’re out of here! She’s still pretty sore from where the chest tube was, and after laying in bed for 3 weeks and having pain every time she moved, she’s hesitant to move around for fear that it will still hurt. I was hoping to get her out of bad and into the bathtub today, but I think that will have to wait until tomorrow.
She’s eating a few bites of food here and there, and drinking tiny amounts. We might have to go home with TPN (liquid nutrients that go through her IV), but at this point, I’m perfectly fine with that. The past 2 days she’s been in good spirits and more alert than she has been in a while.
Chemo is going well and she has 4 more days of the oral chemo. If we go home before then, we’ll give it to her at home. If we wait until she’s asleep and give it in tiny amounts, she usually does pretty well and is able to keep it down. If she’s awake, she throws it up every time. She starts round 2 on June 1st, so at that time we’ll be re-admitted for about 7 days while she has the chemo through the IV.
Claire and Jenna are doing well, just ready for her to come home. They’ve both started asking more and more questions about what’s going on and when she’ll be well. Claire is still too little to really understand what’s going on, but I can’t imagine how difficult it is for Jenna to understand. It’s hard for ME to understand what’s going on, how does an 8 year old process something like this??
Please continue to pray that the treatment is working as it should. We won’t do more x-rays and scans until the end of the 2nd round of chemo, so we don’t know exactly what the tumor is doing, but the fact that she wants to eat and is alert tells us that something is going on! I pray that when the x-ray results come back in a month we’ll find that the tumor is almost non-existent, and we can go in and remove it! What a blessing that would be!!
Tues May 26 12:53 PM
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Layla is busy polishing off a little bag of potato chips from Jason’s deli and watching Madagascar
Tues May 26 5:59 PM
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Layla moved from the bed to the couch today. She’s still laying/reclining, but it’s a start! A few more days of baby steps and we’ll be home
Wed May 27 3:29 PM
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Layla is taking a bath.
Wed May 27 4:02 PM
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More bath pictures.
Wed May 27 8:29 PM
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Layla has a healthy appetite but can’t seem to keep much down.
Thurs May 28 – Going Home!
As I type this, the nurses are tying up all the loose ends so we can GO HOME!!! PTL!!! Yesterday Layla got out of bed for the first time since surgery. She had a bath (which was an ordeal for all involved!) took a ride in her wagon, and ate a little bit. Today she has been awake all morning talking, laughing and eating! She is still in pain from where the chest tube was, so we’re being sent home with morphine. I pray we don’t have to use it!
She will also go home with TPN (liquid nutrients) for 18 hours a day. A home health care nurse will come to the house a few times a week to change her tubing and bandages. I look forward to the day that she’s eating enough on her own and won’t need the TPN at all!!
It will be SO nice to have a week at home before she’s admitted again for round 2 of chemo. Please pray that she has no complications this coming week and we can fully enjoy our time with her!
Thank you for your prayers. God is SO good!!
Thurs May 28, 2009 5:05 PM
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Layla is in the car on the way HOME!!!!
Fri May 29, 2009 3:47 PM
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Layla coloring at home today.
Mon May 30, 2009 12:48 PM
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Layla loves being home!! It is harder to control her pain, so playtime is interrupted with bursts of crying, but overall she’s doing great!!
Sun May 31, 2009 12:01 PM
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Layla looks pale and weaker than yesterday. We go to the hospital Tues for lab work. I think she’s going to need a blood transfusion.
Sun May 31 – A Good Weekend
Layla has been home for a few days now, and we are SO thrilled! It has been a whirlwind of medicine, vomit, crying and laundry, but when she laughs and smiles and hugs me I forget all about the other stuff. Today was the first day she went without any pain meds at all, and she did great! She’s finally back on a schedule and getting to bed before midnight. It was tough at first b/c she had to have her chemo at midnight so most nights we were still up at 2am cleaning her up and changing bedding. The next round of chemo, we’ll give it first thing in the morning. She’s eating more every day and managed to keep everything down today! PTL!! She wants to get down at play, but just isn’t strong enough yet. She tried to crawl today but just couldn’t. As soon as she’s strong enough we’ll start physical therapy to get her moving again. The cancer has attacked her bones so severely that they’re very soft and weak. The chemo will help strengthen them but it will take time.
Claire and Jenna are loving all over her and so excited to see her doing better. Claire must wash her hands no less than 20 times a day, and Jenna never leaves her side.
We go back to the hospital Tuesday for lab work, and then if everything looks okay we’re not due back until Friday when she’s admitted again. Thanks for all the prayers and thoughts. Layla is definitely improving each day!
Sun May 31, 2009 8:32PM
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Layla is finally getting back on a regular sleep schedule. She’s starting to eat more too! PTL!!
Mon June 1, 2009 9:47 AM
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Layla woke up this morning with hair all over her bed. Time to start looking for cute hats!
Tues June 2, 2009 11:15 AM
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Layla was up all night talking & finally fell asleep at 5:30am. We’re headed to TCH for a long day of blood work. Pray for good results!
Tues June 2, 2009 11:15 AM
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Dr was very pleased with Layla’s blood counts. We go back Thursday for another set before round 2 of chemo starts.
Thurs June 4, 2009 12:27 PM
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We are waiting at the hospital to get Layla’s blood counts to determine if her body is strong enough for round 2 of chemo.
Thurs June 4, 2009 1:44 PM
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Counts are still too low to proceed with chemo. The incision from her chest tube is infected so the dr might admit her to monitor it.
Thurs June 4, 2009 8:48 PM
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Layla was able to go home with 2 antibiotics for the infection. We go back Tuesday to hopefully be admitted. She is slowly getting stronger.
Fri June 5 – New Infection
We are LOVING having Layla home!! She is getting stronger and more verbal daily. Dare I say, her demeanor is almost back to normal! She is still weak and crawls very slowly, but is making progress. She has been trying to pull herself up to a standing position and succeeded a few times, but is very wobbly and shaky. We will start physical therapy when we’re admitted next week.
She was scheduled to start round 2 of chemo today, but when I took her yesterday for lab work, her numbers were very low. Her body isn’t strong enough for another round just yet, but the doctor thinks she’ll be ready by Tuesday. Also yesterday, we discovered an infection under the incision where the chest tube was. She is on 2 very strong antibiotics and an ointment. The medicine has to be given orally 3x a day and it tastes SO bad. I pray that she is able to keep it down and it will fight off the infection quickly. Until then, we are home bound and she can’t have any visitors.
Overall, we are so pleased with her progress. She is eating well and interacting with her sisters well. She is extremely timid around people, but that is understandable. She’s afraid that everyone who gets near her will do something to hurt her. It breaks my heart that she doesn’t understand what’s going on, but at the same time, I’m so thankful that she won’t remember any of this.
I have faith the chemo is shrinking the abdominal tumor to a size that will be easily removable. Just the fact that she’s eating again tells me that her stomach isn’t as squished as it was a month ago. We won’t know anything for sure until the end of June when she will get another series of x-rays and scans to re-measure. She has surgery scheduled the first week of July to have the abdominal tumor either completely removed, or to remove as much as possible. We’re praying that the chemo will completely shrink the tumors behind the eye and ears, so she won’t have to have surgery to remove those.
Thank you so much for your continued prayers, visits, phone calls, uplifting emails, meals, cards and gifts. We are so very appreciative, and it gives us a sense of peace to know that Layla is constantly being lifted up in prayer.
Fri June 5, 2009 11:19 AM
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Layla finally put weight on her legs today. She was very wobbly, but managed to stand with help!
Mon June 8, 2009 6:03 PM
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I’m packing a bag for Layla & getting all her things together for a wk long hospital stay. Pray that round 2 of chemo is uneventful!!
Mon June 8, 2009 11:06 PM
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Layla keeps flipping to her belly to sleep. This is HUGE!! She can finally put some pressure on her belly without being in pain!!
Tues June 9, 2009 1:59 PM
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While at the hospital waiting to be admitted for chemo, Layla started shaking then spiked a fever
Tues June 9, 2009 2:03 PM
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She will be admitted as planned but she will have several blood tests and a series of meds until she is stable enough to have the chemo
Tues June 9 – Another Infection
We went to the hospital today for blood work and a dr’s visit, then to be admitted for round 2 of chemo. All her counts looked great, but as we were waiting for them to finish cleaning her room, she started shaking and spiked a fever of 103. Praise God we were in the hospital and were able to get antibiotics in her asap!! They took blood cultures and determined that it’s a blood infection – a common occurrence when you have a central line. Unfortunately, she can’t start the chemo until the blood infection clears up.
She was admitted and we are settled in our room where we’ll stay for at least the next week. Please pray that this infection clears up quickly and we can move on with her treatment.
Some good news – the infection that was in her chest tube wound is cleared up! PTL!!
Wed June 10, 2009 8:50 AM
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Blood cultures this morning came back positive for bacteria. More tests need to be run to determine exactly what kind of bacteria.
Wed June 10, 2009 8:52 AM
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Dr’s are putting her on 3 more meds for infection, so she’s taking 5 meds that fight infection!! Pray that one of them will work!!
Wed June 10, 2009 11:19 AM
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Layla had an allergic reaction to one of the meds. Called “red mans syndrome”, she’s red head to toe and very itchy.
Wed June 10, 2009 11:51 AM
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Picture of Layla taken today
Wed June 10, 2009 8:09 PM
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Layla just threw up. I hope this isn’t foreshadowing for chemo!!