Blessings

Praises for the longest time away from St. Louis since diagnosis.
Jordon loves giving the nurses a hard time, but he loves the blessing of being home even more.  Since miraculously his platelets or hemoglobin did not go to a transfusable number, and Jordon did not get an alarming temperature, we did not return between treatments this time!
Last week Jordon attended school 2 1/2 days.  In the middle of the third day kids in Jordon's class became sick.  That cut his day short and he did not return the next day.
Last Tuesday night Jordon participated in basketball practice.  Before he went, I made a call into the doctor to confirm that it would be okay for him to participate.  His numbers were good last Monday (in fact his platelets were 160) so they suggested to let Jordon do what he feels like doing.  Sometimes I think this can be dangerous because when Jordon puts his mind to something he doesn't let things like exhaustion, or even being really sick, get in the way.  But Jordon was excited to go and be a part of his basketball team, so he went.  It was as though NOTHING had happened since the last time he practiced.  He jumped right in there.  After 1 1/2 hours we suggested to Jordon that it was time to go.  He was not happy at all, since the team still had another half hour or more to go.  But he began to look flushed and tired.  He angrily stomped out and I think after we got home, and he thought about it, he was glad he did.
Thursday's blood draw showed a slight decrease in Jordon's numbers which meant his A.N.C. (absolute neutrophil count or "immune system") was decreased also.
Monday's blood draw showed an even lower immune system.  The requirement to receive chemo is that Jordon's A.N.C. be 1000 or above.  Well, Monday it was slightly below 1000.  Fortunately, Jordon was able to proceed (odd to say fortunate when you are talking about receiving chemotherapy).
We were required to be in St. Louis at 8 am Tuesday so that he could begin to receive chemotherapy which made for an early day.  Jordon's first roommate was an 11 year old that was born with sickle cell anemia.  His mother passed away after having him at the age of 21 from the same disease he is battling.  He was in the hospital because he had "coded".  Our next roommate was a little 4 year old girl.  The floor was so full that they had to temporarily place a girl with Jordon.  It is uncommon to have girls and boys in the same room.  The little girl had been having symptoms of an illness and the doctors were unable to figure out what was going on.  They had given her laxatives because her abdomen was swelling.  She had been in pain for nearly six months and the mother just had a baby Friday and decided that she needed to get some answers because the baby made them a family of 6 and would require much of her attention.  Well the "answers" were not what they expected and the doctor is leaning toward a cancer that will require them to remove the kidney and they believe there is bone marrow involvement because the little girl is extremely anemic.
Sometimes it takes things like this for me to be reminded of just how blessed we are.  We have so much to be thankful for.  A blessing that our children were healthy at birth and once Jordon is cured he will prayerfully be healthy again.  A blessing that Jordon was diagnosed early and that there was no secondary malignancies.  And many many more blessings that we often overlook.
This stay is scheduled to be short, but has had many test crammed into 2 1/2 days.  Jordon had an x-ray shortly after arrival.  His doctor suggested the x-ray to confirm that the existing tumor is not growing and it is recommended that a PET or CT scan only be done after every 2nd chemo stay since so much radiation is involved.  The x-ray was conclusive that the tumor is shrinking and consistent with that of necrotic tissue.  Another blessing.
He also had his breathing treatment and another echocardiogram.
His appetite has been ok.  He has ate only one meal a day, but he is being consistent with his other stays.  When they weighed Jordon yesterday morning he weighed 79 pounds!  Another blessing since he has gained weight since diagnosis.
The plan is to leave tomorrow.  I will administer the remainder of the 5 day chemo regimen at home.  The first three days must be done in the hospital.  Etoposide requires that Jordon's blood pressure be monitored every 15 minutes during infusion.  The remaining chemotherapy (Cytarabine) can be administered at home because it does not require monitoring.
Thank you for the continued prayers. The prayers for Jordon, our family, and the doctors.  We are blessed by each and every one of you.

Jordon playing basketball

                                                

  Family pictures we had taken while were home.