We are all tired

Chris is getting sicker each day.  He had platelet transfusions last Friday and again on Monday but had a strange nosebleed yesterday. Tomorrow, he gets more blood work and an echocardiogram; some of the blood tests are ordered by Penn, as is the echo.  It is a good thing to get some of these tests out of the way before we get there.

Unfortunately, the blast-delaying drug our Heme/Onc wanted to give Chris was disallowed by Penn, so his numbers continue to all go in the wrong directions.  He is breathless often and sleeping more.

Fortunately, while I am seeing my patients tomorrow, I think I can talk my secretary into trotting
Chris about the hospital in a wheelchair.  She is an especially kind person and a friend.

Regarding getting about: I have a great travel agent (yes, they still exist) who helped me find good flights and arranged for wheelchair transport in the airports as well as priority seating toward the front of the plane.  She was upset to tell me that there are NO rooms in Philly less than $700 during the days of our stay: amazing.  So, we have taken Olivia up on her offer of a place to stay.  Actually, I think it is a good idea to be with her and her family for general support and the liveliness of Anna.

Alex continues to run track even though he considered quitting earlier this year.  He has done well in his new event (800m), even getting a first place with his relay last weekend.  I was startled last night when he came home after a meet and told me that the cough he has had was now violent enough that his coaches suggested that he be seen by a physician.  I had not been paying proper attention, but he has had that cough since we went to Texas.  Bad mom.  He was seen and given a prescription for antibiotics today.

If all goes well at Penn, there is room in the lab schedule to start cell production on 5/1, giving us a date of late May for infusion of the tinkered cells.

When I asked him directly on Monday, Chris's oncologist said he thinks we can get Chris through to infusion.  I'm hanging onto that.