Lovingheart

Marlon has had four dental appointments. Two the first week, then the following week, we went and hung out at my niece's cottage for a few days. Nice to hang out with family, celebrate Aneesa's fifth birthday, and get away. At this point, Marlon said, 'This is the most fun I've had in forever' The week after, at Marlon's third appointment, the pain of working on a deep cavity was too much even with extra freezing. The dentist said the cavity was at the nerve and an extraction would be best. Either that or a root canal and there is crowding in his mouth. At that, Marlon was quite upset. Because there are so many factors at play, and still so much work to be done, the dentist recommends dental surgery at sick kids. Just as that was decided the power went out and after waiting a while, they put a temporary filling on the two teeth that had been drilled. So Marlon's fourth appointment included re-filling the tooth that was ok and pictures of s

Decision was made that Marlon was to go check blood counts on Monday.  We drove down to Hamilton together, quick finger poke, and then leave again.  A couple of times, we drove around the parking garage for almost a half-hour looking for a spot, but Monday was smooth.  Busy place. Blood counts are good so dental work begins.  Marlon's doctor was impressed with the dentist when she spoke with him last week.  In support, I sit next to him in the dentist's room and hope my own anxiety, discomfort, and fear don't affect him. Halfway through the drilling of four teeth which was quite intense, they took a little break to check in with Marlon and see if he was up to continue.  He agreed to do more but said he was most concerned about the tastes of the filling material.  With the pain and discomfort of the first part, one would think that would be the least of his worries but he is very sensitive to taste and flavour.  As it turned out he didn't gag or react too strongly so I g

Back at hospital for monthly injected chemo including LP.  After having been on half doses at home, his blood counts are good.  Amazing really, they haven't been this good in who knows how long.  Unfortunately, it won't last as they will up his doses at home. Marlon desperately needs dental work done.  It is quite sad to see that every tooth needs some work done and some cavities are big and deep.  But it is hard to do the work while undergoing chemo.  After yesterday's dentist appointment we have renewed the discussion to see if it is possible to do the work now or if we have to wait until the new year when he is hopefully finished with treatment.  Poor guy, he has been having a rough go of it. On the upside, last week he went on a Toronto day trip with friends.  At first, he wasn't sure about participating as he didn't think he could keep up.  Once he decided to give it a try, he was able to and enjoyed his day.  He was tired and a little sore after all the walkin

Happy to say Marlon is much better.  Tuesday again, and we were back at the hospital to get his blood counts checked and all is well. Before his last LP (lumbar puncture) in April, Marlon was dreading it, and also curious.  After the previous LP, when he reacted so poorly, he was scared to have another but curious to have a coke, a drink he hadn't had before.  Apparently, the caffeine in the pop can help with the headache and it did.  We were both relieved that he was ok after the treatment.  He still felt his back and head but not the screaming kind of pain from before.  Next LP is June 28th and we are prepared with a different kind of caffeinated pop in the hopes it will work again.  While he has chemo hospital visits every month on top of the chemo pills he takes at home, we are grateful that the LP procedures are down to every three months. The biggest issue of late is Charley horses.  Monday night he was up every two hours crying with the pain of his cramping legs.  We had him

Yesterday, Marlon had a transfusion as his hemoglobin was low.  As far as the pain and rash go, the doctor thought it may be an autoimmune response.  Some big name but basically the blood vessels get inflamed.  Sounds about right.  Now except for a couple of small bruises and slight redness his legs are better. He has been getting headaches but it is likely just a reaction to everything he has been through the past couple of days. And we went home today.  Yay!  His neutrophils are quite low as are his platelets but those are expected. Getting checked into emergency early Saturday morning was a slow process.  Very slow.  There were about 6 people in the small check-in office, staring at the computer screen, making occasional moves, pointing at the screen, shrugging, and looking confused.  I believe we were one of the first patents to be checked-in under the new computer system that has been two years in the making.  Since then, there have been several confused faces and a great deal of

Overall, Marlon is much better.  While he had an elevated temperature yesterday for a while, he has had no more fevers. Since his diagnosis, Marlon is more worried about his health.  Worried the cancer will come back.  A couple of times lately, his legs hurt.  The pain is such that even gentle touch makes it worse.  One day while I was at work, he messaged me to come home because he was scared.  His dad was there for him and I did not leave work.  I trust he is healed and hope he never has to deal with cancer again.  While we may wish he did not have to continue with chemo, I tell him he is safe from the cancer. Last night, he did have an episode of very sore legs and knees.  It hurt to walk, and the pressure of rolling up his pants legs had him crying out in pain.  Along with the pain he had a blotchy, bright red rash.  No one had any idea what that was about and the pain has eased up but some rash is still there with one spot looking like a bruise. During March and the beginning of A

I feel like I have some catching up to do but I will start with this week. Tuesday, Marlon had his monthly chemo injection at the hospital to add to the daily chemo pills he still takes. He was commenting that it feels it is hitting him harder every month. By Thursday night, he was crying with leg pain and a bad headache. Friday, he didn't eat anything and had a raised temperature but not quite a fever. He woke in the night and was quite warm and when I checked his temperature was 39.9. Darn, a trip to the hospital. By the time we got to the hospital, his temperature was down to 37.2 and then a bit later, 37, so I thought that for sure, they would check his blood and we would go home. I was hoping to be back home to go to work at 4. Then we were told, his platelets had dropped from 64 on Tuesday to 9 so he would need platelets. His neutrophils had been 1.1 on Tuesday and today they are 0.2. Without any reserves to fight infection which is what the fever indicates, he is ge