February 16, 2003 -- Consolidation (Day 21)

Katie went through her day 21 of the "Consolidation Phase" on Thursday at Children's Hospital. We opted not to go to the clinic in King of Prussia on Wednesday because they wouldn't have been able to access the port (too soon since her surgery last week). They would have had to do another IV and after the prior weeks, I didn't want to put Katie through the torture.

Everything went very smoothly. Katie was given general anesthesia and had her last spinal tap and spinal chemo treatment until next month sometime. She awoke very pleasant, played with her sticker book and had her lunch of Gold Fish, Oreos and Hershey kisses (that's her treat when we go to clinic).

As with the past weeks, two days after the spinal treatments, Katie had diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. This will probably continue for a few more days. She's not eating much while she's sick, but she at least drinks her juice and water. And, she only wants her mommy right now.

She hasn't walked yet, but we are pushing her to crawl as much as possible and pull herself up to her knees. Her back seems to be feeling a little better, although she still complains about pain.

This Wednesday will be her last day of the Consolidation Phase and day zero of the next phase called "Interim Maintenance". The Interim Maintenance will last for 56 days. Katie will continue her nightly oral chemo (Mercaptopurine) through this phase. The chemo she's been getting in her spine will be given orally (Methotrexate) and in her spine on day 28, along with five days of the steroids (Dexamethasone), and an IV chemo (Vincristine) on day zero, day 21 and day 56.

NEXT: February 22, 2003 -- Consolidation (Day 28) / Interim Maintenance #1 (Day 0)