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January 22, 2005 -- Maintenance #7 (Day 16) We're very surprised to have been set free today, and VERY happy to be home. Katie's ANC dropped to 169 yesterday. Her blood cultures came back negative. She wasn't allowed to leave the room until her respiratory cultures came back, and everyone entering the room (except John and I) had to be gloved, gowned and masked. At least it didn't bother Katie for her birthday. John came with Katie's birthday gifts, a cake and lots of balloons. The nurses brought her another cake, pretzels, chips, fruit punch, and some presents so we could have a party in her room. We ate cake and snacks, and played board games all afternoon. Her respiratory cultures came back negative last night. It was late, but Katie wanted to go for a walk to the playroom. She rode a trike around the oncology floor for awhile and then we watched a movie in her room until she fell asleep. Katie said she had lots of fun on her 5th birthday. She said something funny before she went to sleep last night. She was flipping through the channels looking for something to watch and she saw a "big kid" show that she's not supposed to watch. When I told her that show was for big kids, she said, "Mo-om! I AM a big kid now. Didn't you remember? I'm five! I was such a little kid when I was four, but now I'm five and I'm allowed to watch this stuff!!" Her ANC went up to 330 this morning. Normally the doctors like to wait for the ANC to show an upward trend for a few days, but with the snow coming, all her cultures coming back negative, and no fevers since yesterday morning, they decided to discharge her today. We were out of there by noon. We're going to celebrate Katie's birthday all weekend. Since she has no restrictions on her activities, she can play in the snow tomorrow for a little while. Thank you for all the prayers and well wishes. I've haven't gotten through all the emails and guest book entries with Katie yet, but she is so excited to get all the messages!!! Please continue to keep Katie in your prayers. Here is Katie's ANC and chemo/meds since last update: January 20, 2005: ANC 629. Inpatient on antibiotics, no other meds/chemo. January 21, 2005: ANC 169. Inpatient on antibiotics, no other meds/chemo. January 22, 2005: ANC 330. Discharged. Hold all meds/chemo at home. See Dr. Julie January 26 for CBC with differential. Return February 2 for CBC, and her final IV VCR at KOP Specialty Care Center. NEXT: January 27, 2005 -- Maintenance #7 (Day 17-21) |
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