First Clinic Visit

Everett went for his first clinic visit (of many to come) today.  They ran blood work and said his platelet and red blood cell count are great.  His white count is low, but this is to be expected after chemo.  No crowds and no sick people for us for quite a while:)  They also removed his PICC line so he will be wire free for a week or so.  As usual, Everett did great and his doctors and nurse were impressed at how brave he is:)

We are scheduled to return to Childrens on Monday, January 31st for a bone marrow biopsy and to place a new line called a broviac line, which will be used to give him his arsenic (and later chemo) and any blood products or other meds he may need as well as to draw blood.  This will also be Day 1 of Consolidation 1 treatment, which will last for 33 days.  Everett will get IV arsenic Monday through Friday and will have the weekends off.  He will get ATRA on Days 1-14 only.

Everett's doctors said that he did so well during his first round of treatments (Induction) that they plan to do his Consolidation 1 treatments in the clinic (instead of admitting him) and he will be allowed to go "home" to  Ronald McDonald house each day.  Even better, as long as his blood counts permit, he will be allowed to come home to Oil City on the weekends.  This is pretty exciting for us after being cooped up in the hospital for 4 weeks.  Ronald McDonald house may not be home, but at least it's not a hospital room.  These days even small victories like this seem huge.

Hoping for a quiet week and a half before Everett and I return to Childrens for round 2...

Val