That time of year

A week ago Jordon's A.N.C. (immune system) was what someone would consider ideal at around 2500.  By Thursday he had dropped back down to 300 (anything under 500 is severe risk of infection).  However Jordon felt really good and attended school Tuesday through Friday.  We didn't hear about his low A.N.C. until Friday mid morning, and by then Jordon was already at school (we assumed since he had "recovered" his counts on Monday that he would still be good on Thursday.  The doctors say this is common for kids immune system to be low because of the "build up" of chemo over the last few months.  Today Jordon's A.N.C. was slightly better at 650.  Our main concern for this is that on Friday the nurse called from school and said that Lauren Belle had broken out in a rash (I believe my last post I wrote about how she had run a fever and been ill).  Well to our surprise she has for the last two weeks been carrying around "fifth's disease".  And of course when the rash presents itself, you are no longer contagious.  But the symptoms before the rash present themselves as many other viral infections, so we just assumed that she had a typical virus.  Fifth's disease is common among children and most children have no complications.  However kids that are immunocompromised, such as Jordon, are at risk of dangerous anemia.  When Jordon's nurse reported his numbers to me today his hemoglobin or iron level was the highest EVER at 11.9 (not anemic at all).  We are prayerful that the Lord has protected Jordon against this illness.  It is quite possible that Jordon has had the virus before and therefore would not be at risk of getting it again.

Jordon did have a little fun and got to play with his team.  He really enjoyed it and the doctors told us to let him do what he felt like doing.  He tired easily but all in all did amazing for what he has been through.

Tomorrow we will once again travel to St. Louis for a PET scan.  This is to "monitor" the residual tumor.  We are prayerful, that if it is the Lord's will, that the tumor will be completely gone.

Please pray for continued strength through this process, and for Jordon's body to be protected from short and long term side effects.  Praises that the Lord has carried us this far and comforted Jordon through all of this.