Happy Valentine's Day!

It is day #70 and Samuel is doing well! Last week on Saturday, three of his medications were stopped because of the downward trend of his white blood cell count. All three drugs have a possible side effect of suppressing white blood cell production. Yesterday, his count made its first move upward. This is a good thing. Samuel has had a HEPA filter running in his room since he was first admitted, but now we were very close to the point of people needing to wear gowns and masks around him. Praise the Lord, it didn’t come to that!! The plan is to start a new “cocktail” of immune suppressing drugs once Samuel’s white blood cell count has normalized. The transplant team is researching just the right combination of drugs. In the meantime, Samuel has received two doses of a drug that should hold him for a couple weeks until they start the new regimen.

Before Samuel can head home, there are a couple more things to be accomplished. He needs to be able to drink enough in a day to keep himself well-hydrated. For now, he is still receiving IV fluids. He also needs to be fever-free for two days once there is no longer a detectable level of antibiotics in his blood stream. Today’s level was pretty low, so it is possible that tomorrow will start the countdown to going home!

Samuel is getting stronger every day. He has been working with a physical therapist here at the hospital. Today he was well enough and strong enough to stand and play table foosball in the teen room. Despite his physical disadvantage, he creamed me! :) It is so great to be once again laughing and playing together!