Finally!

Whew! As one can note via the time of this entry, it was an incredibly long day to say the very least. (OK, I won't say the very least - I need to vent!! Here goes!)

The flight went off without a hitch. (We actually landed 35 minutes AHEAD of schedule.) The amazing and compassionate Mr. Grant was even already there waiting to help with our luggage while I pushed Christi - sleeping the entire day away. (The only time she was awake today was during her brief apperance at school.) Mom was already there too. Things were looking good.....

Tim carefully drove us to CHOP (AGAIN with Mr. Grant's driving no car sickness!!) and dropped me off for what turned out to be a lovely (smile) seven plus hour stay in the sparkling clean and germ free (hee hee) emergency room at CHOP. (UGH! Yes, I'm venting!!) Then Tim took Mom to go check in at the Ronald House and she came back to the hospital for about an hour before catching the last shuttle back to Ronald. When I asked her how the room was she said, "It's in the middle of a wall." Ah, a hobo room! (hee hee!)

In the ER we discovered that Christi had a 39.2 (C) fever. They asked me how long she had the fever. (I didn't know she had one until we got there - perfect timing on our part, but I can't take any of the credit.) Her blood counts came back with a lowered hgb. (8.4). It was 11.4 yesterday; however, there is some question as to if that was accurate at home or not. Platelets up to 69 after yesterday's transfusion. Her white count went from 1.1 yesterday to 1.2 today so she bawled when she found out her ANC was still zero and there wasn't enough movement to avoid getting the shot. More crying spells occured when the first port wasn't put in correctly and it had to be taken out and accessed the second time. (It's not just the needles, but because of all of Christi's recent treatments, her chest is so red and tender.)

So in our seven hours spent in the ER, she was unable to get a pillow or to get comfortable on the stretcher while the meds were pumped in; therefore, I started and nearly finished "Maniac MaGee" by Jerry Spinelli (another "Christi Recommended" book) while she tried to rest. (And while crazy to say I think she's "better" than I've seen her in days! I stopped her pain meds tonight so we'll see how the night goes.)

We're not able to get in down on the oncology floor so we're up here on four. When a room becomes available I was told they'll move her down; however, being without an immune system she's in a special isolated room so I'm not holding my breath.

I'm anxious to hear what Dr. Maris has to say tomorrow. I think after talking with the doctor tonight a CT scan of her chest will be conducted. She did an Xray in the ER tonight. (She also ate a little bit of food, possibly more than she has in the past seven days!)

OK, now I feel better and I hope that I sleep better tonight than I have in recent days! I'm sorry this update was such a downer with my "bad attitude" tonight! We pray tomorrow will be a good day!

Missing Shayne and Shayla and so happy my Mom is here,
Angela