HOTEL RENOWN?

Tuesday I picked Kristin up from school after the nurse had called. She had a fever of 100.2 and was complaing of the chills. After talking to Oakland we went straight to Renown. She was immediately started on iv antibiotics, and labs and blood cultures were drawn. Soon the fever was conquered. Labs showed that she was severely neutropenic. Her neutrophils were basically nill meaning she was very susceptible to infection. Although the cultures have been negative thus far, it would be extremely dangerous to go home until her counts are on the up swing and recovering. She has a 50% chance of getting a life threatening infection. Dr. Hastings has said that there have been times when patients have gone home with counts like hers and have not made it back to the hospital in time! That is how quickly these patients have can take a turn for the worse. She spoke right to Kristin as she said this. As stressful as this is for her she is in the best place and receiving excellent care from the great staff at Renown. So, it is Friday and she is still in room 528. The anxiety of school, cancer, and feeling like %$&* are taking their toll. Her weight is at an all time low. She is so thin, bruises easily, and finds sitting and lying in bed painful. We are trying all that we can to make her comfortable and help her sleep peacefully. Wednesday she had moderate nose bleeds as we waited for more platelets. Needless to say, we are all tired of this and cannot wait for some kind of normalcy to enter back into our lives. I am glad though that this is not happening in Oakland. At lease Darren and I can trade off at night. I am able to run home in the morning, take care of the boys, clean up, go back to the hospital, get Cody from football, and Wyatt from school, fix something that resembles a dinner and go back to the hospital......yes, normalcy would be a welcome friend!

On a happier note,
Kristin had an absolutely, hands-down, fantastic BIRTHDAY! We wanted to say thank you to you all and promise to get pictures posted and thank yous written as soon as the dust settles!

My love to you all!