Monday 16th Dec - Day 17... Another good night, Tim stayed up late playing PC games and hence slept in this morning. Improvement overall with dirrahoea, phelgm, coughing, and mouth. Spiked a temperature 38.4 again at 5:00am. This is a concern - infection? or Tim has a history of doing this at relapse (not that he is in remission) - it could be anything. Will worry about that when we have something to worry about. More blood cultures taken - nothing has grown yet from yesterdays samples. It's the waiting game and we are used to that by now. Tim had a kidney function test (GFR) to assess the rate at which the kidneys excrete substances. All part of the pre BMT work up tests - routine test done here.
Received lots of mail - keeping Aust Post busy. Thank you all so much for your gifts, cards and good wishes. Message for the Moore Family - Ertha and Walter had a pleasant trip and arrived safely and are sharing the bed with Tim and Leuk. The poem in the card was great, Thankyou and we loved the post pack with Sylvester and Tweety.
Blood results are not looking good - small number of nucleated cells - most are blasts, occasional lymphocyte - this was the findings by the haemotologist when the slide was examined . BMA and Bone Biopsy will put this to rest - only one more day to wait. Whatever the outcome it was worth having a shot at it. Thankyou all for your support and encouragement. On a positive note, Tim is looking well and feeling comfortable with the great nurses here. At the moment sitting up eating potato cakes and raspberry fanta - can't say it is healthy but he is enjoying it.
Finally met Dr Helen Irving today. It was Helen who we emailed originally for a second opinion which she gave and took the liberty to refer us on to Dr Kent Roberson (as he is the BMT specialist) for his opinion. Helen is a lovely lady and is the consultant on for this week. Unfortunately Kent is away from the hospital tomorrow for a few days, back Friday. Kent is only a phone call away and will be in contact but is taking 3 days leave as he is covering the ward for this Christmas period.
The ward has a special friend in Mr Moore who brings gifts in regularly for the children. Jill the BMT coordinator thought of Tim. It was a large sports bag with an electronic game, packet of batteries, colouring book, puzzle book, textas, coloured pencils, large panther soft toy (now sitting at the foot of Tim's bed), 2 tubes of pringles and 6 poptop drinks now sitting in Tim's bar refrigerator. Mr Moore does not meet the children, he just leaves the gifts.
Rebecca our nanny went fine overnight and today took the children to Southbank for a picnic and a swim. They are all happy which is important. We thank Soraya for her care with the children last week. We are very fortunate to have the services of these two fine nannies working under difficult family circumstances.Tuesday 17th Dec - Day 18...Platelet transfusion this morning in preparation for theatre. Today is the day we have been waiting for.
God, grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change... Courage to change the things I can, and Wisdom to know the difference.Tim had chest xray this morning, on his return there was a huge box waiting for him. Thankyou Peter Hachlica, Jason Mackenzie and the Staff and Management at Boise Cascade for the assortment of fun stationery including disposable cameras, electronic organiser, textas, oil pastels, crayons, coloured pencils, biros, scissors etc.... While going through his treasure chest of goodies Tim was called to theatre for his BMA, biopsy and LP. Tim went well as usual and the procedures were done without incident. Just the wait now for the test results. Upon Tim's return to his room waiting on his bed was the daily mail with an assortment of cards and gifts. Thankyou everyone.
The children back at home went to the pictures and saw Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. They then spent a quiet afternoon resting at the house. Tomorrow all the children and hopefully Tim will be going to the Working Wonders Christmas Party at the hospital. Meanwhile we wait for the results, what will be will be. We stay in hope the tests will show his bone marrow is currently clear of leukemia cells, and we also realise what it will mean if the results are bad. We are prepared for whatever the next few days may bring Tim and his loving family. He has battled hard against this terrible disease that wants to take Tim away from us. Thankyou everyone for your support, we know we are not alone and we draw comfort from knowing that.No news is good news as the say.........
