Day #20

Total White Blood Cell Count= 100

Maddy spiked another fever last night, so she is getting a second antibiotic now. Hopefully, this will take care of what ever is causing her fevers. If not, she is going to have to have further tests done. Maddy's platelets also dropped, so she had to have a platelet transfusion today. She actually had to wait while someone donated platelets this morning before she could get the transfusion! This reminded us of how thankful we are to everyone who donates blood products. Maddy has benefited many times from your generosity.

It is beginning to feel like Maddy is never going to get out of the hospital. I think we are going to need a moving truck once we do get to leave. It seems like we keep bringing a little more stuff each day. Once Maddy does get home and her counts get to a certain level, she will have to turn around and start the next induction phase which will land her back in the hospital again. During this last induction phase which will last about a month, we have to decide which treatment option to take from that point on- continued chemo or a bone marrow transplant. As I said before, Maddy is in a gray area. We have talked to the bone marrow transplant team and to Maddy's current doctors and we have been told that the decision is up to us. Russ and I are struggling right now and could use all the prayers we can get. We are asking for the strength and wisdom to make this decision.