The Logan Update: 12/9/10

Good day overall here, I'd say. Logan's methotrexate level was still too high to be discharged this morning (.13), but the doctor agreed to re-draw the lab at 4 PM to see if it would fall below the .1 marker. Since we were in something of a limbo land with respect to whether or not he'd be coming home in the evening, Adam stuck around CHO and worked in the cafeteria while I stayed with Logan.

He was a little on the lower energy side for the first part of my shift. He wound up falling asleep shortly after Adam left and was very, very cranky when he woke up to use the bathroom and again a little while later for no apparent reason at all. The third wake-up was the charm; I offered him some apple juice, which he accepted, and then he asked what he could have to eat. Thus began his quest to sample bits and pieces of the lunch he'd ordered earlier but not eaten: Strawberry yogurt, white bread, a hot dog, carrot sticks, Cheerios. He polished off the carrots in good order, and had bits and pieces of everything else. The food increased his energy level and he was soon ready to talk and wander again. Of course, he was also receiving a hemoglobin transfusion, too, so that probably helped with the overall mood a bit.

I headed back home at 4:40 to relieve Adam's mom, and Logan himself called at around 6 to tell me the news: I GET TO COME HOME TONIGHT! Yes, he literally shouted it into my ear. Adam said he was so excited when his nurse came in and told him he could leave -- he immediately said Yay, I get to see Abby and Isaac! His number fell to .08, good enough to get out for now. Of course, in order to stay out, he'll need to avoid mucusitis and a fever. So please pray over those! Philippa was very impressed that he managed to stay out of CHO for as long as he did last cycle, since it happens so rarely. We've love a repeat.

Abby was very excited that he was coming home and wanted to run out to the store to buy him a present. Instead, we settled for running out to Arby's to buy dinner and she and Isaac worked to line up 40 or 50 cars near the door so he'd see them when he came in. (He did, and he was impressed.) Earlier in the day, she'd also cleaned up his room (shocking; when I saw it I realized JUST how much she misses him) and written him the sweetest welcome home note.

When Adam and Logan got here, Logan got to see our outside Christmas lights for the first time, and I was so taken with his response. He just stood underneath the tree and breathed it's so beautiful over and over again, total wonder in his eyes. That's part of what this time of year is all about. It's such a Logan kind of reaction to have in the first place; I was sad wondering how many times in the past I'd missed that kind of reaction from him, but also grateful that I was able to fully absord it this time.

In nitty gritty land, it's likely that he'll need platelets tomorrow, as today's number was only 69. Hopefully the blood he received today will last him through the weekend before he'll need to return for more.

Finally (and I'm sorry this is such a disjointed entry!), we have a schedule change to note. His next MRI, which was initially scheduled for 1/4 and will look at both his brain as well as his spinal column, has been moved up a week to 12/28. Philippa noted that since the results of the MRI are so crucial with respect to our next move, it made sense to make it happen sooner. So what are the potential next steps, you ask? There are a few. If there's NO sign of any disease remaining, we could skip cycle 5 and go straight to the transplant cycle. If there's operable disease remaining, he'll have another surgical resection to get it out and move forward from there. If it still looks like cycle 5 would be a good idea, he'll do that. I'm edgy over what's to come, and obviously my prayer is for option one -- NO disease remaining so a direct shot to the transplant cycle.

Thank you as always for your continued prayers. I keep envisioning the chemo drugs and God's hand crushing the cancer cells into nothingness and although I'm nervous, I'm also hopeful. Blessings to you all.