Jordon's Footprints: Where did a week go?

I logged in tonight and after looking at my last post realized that I have not been on here for over a week! A WEEK!!!! Where did that week go?

Since my last post Jordon's body and numbers have began to improve in preparation for the next chemo treatment.

I think when I posted his immune system was completely wiped out. Well that continued for several days. In fact Jordon usually goes 2-3 days at the most without an immune system and this time he went 6 days. Also Jordon has been below 500 (which is essentially no immune system) but has never been zero-until this time-6 days completely ZERO! The doctors say this could be in part from the last chemo treatment(which was more intense) and the infection. This time was also the first time that Jordon required platelets. A normal platelet count is above 150. Sunday morning Jordon's platelets were a measly 8, so they transfused. Monday his platelets climbed to 16 (not quite low enough to transfuse) then Tuesday back down to 8. It is abnormal for a child to go down once they begin to come back up (his body was essentially eating platelets) so the doctors transfused a double dose on Tuesday this time with an exact type match to what Jordon's platelets are.

In the mean time Jordon kept busy watching a lot of "Deal or No Deal", playing video games, and giving the nurses a hard time. Jordon filled a large medicine tube with water and squirted his nurse while hiding behind a curtain. I neglected to take a picture of it, but it was hilarious! What is so funny is that his nurse came back in a repaid the soaking.

Wednesday Jordon woke up and had an A.N.C (immune system). Since his A.N.C was above 500 (it was 625) we got to go home. But since Jordon still hasn't finished his round of antibiotics his port has to remain accessed so that I can administer the IV antibiotic at home.

In the past, when Jordon's A.N.C. finally recovered it recovered so well that it made his bones hurt (since stimulated bone marrow creates and immunity response). In fact a normal white blood count range is 5-10. Well in the past Jordon's would always climb to 25 (which is similar to what a persons would be when they are fighting an infection-ie body aches because your bone marrow is stimulated). So the doctors concluded that they would begin a different medicine that was less powerful and was a low dosage, so that when his immune system recovered we could discontinue the medicine. Well Friday (two days after his white blood count was 2.5) Jordon's white blood count was a whopping 29! This means that his bones hurt again and this medicine didn't have quite the outcome they were looking for. So I am anxious to see what they will suggest next.

So we have been home for a few days now and Jordon has attended school once and was able to attend the annual fall festival in our town. What a great way to spend time while at home! It was a bit cold and dreary but he wrapped up good and since his numbers are so good, and he is still on an antibiotic, we figured that we would take advantage by letting him live life as normal as possible.

I know this is a lot of information and may be jumbled together. I just wanted to let everyone know what a normal boy Jordon remains despite medical bumps. He seems to be the same kid that he always has been. He gives me a hard time about brushing his teeth and going to bed at a decent time but he NEVER complains about daily shots, procedures, or medically necessary things. Please pray that he will continue to have such good spirits as we enter the hospital again on Thursday. As it says in the Serenity Prayer, God has provided Jordon with an understanding to accept the things he cannot change. Please also pray that while we are home, family life will be normal or routine. Please pray that germs and bacteria and illness stay away from the family and does not enter Jordon's fragile body. Please pray for remission for Jordon and pray that when they do the next scan the tumor will be gone. Please continue to pray against side effects both short and long term. Praises are that we are enjoying time at home, that there was no damage done by the bacteria in Jordon's body, that his last chemo treatment did not make him sick, that we have wonderful friends and family, that our girls are healthy and safe, and that we are still at peace.

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.