Still in hospital

So Isaiah is still in the hospital.  He seems completely well except for a cough.  Today he was running down the halls of the oncology ward giggling.  Unfortunately, we need to remain in hospital until his ANC reaches 0.2 (normal is 1.5-8.5).  On Sunday, it was 0.12, Monday 0.06, Tuesday 0.07 and today 0.03.  So it seems , it's on a bit of a downward trend.

Although he seems better and his blood cultures came back negative for a bacterial infection, when levels are this low, it is safest to remain in hospital.  He has no immunity to fight off potential infections.  If he were to catch anything, it could be life threatening.

Every 6 hours, he is given antibiotics through his IV to cover his body against any type of potential infection.

To give you some background, we were at Children's Hospital on Friday to get his monthly IV chemo.  They saw that he was sick and discovered a fever.  He slept in my bed the night before because he was sick.  He felt warm, but not feverish.  Chemo was cancelled.  He received antibiotics instead.  That night, he spiked a fever again.  We came back Saturday morning for more antibiotics.  Fever again Saturday night - more antibiotics on Sunday.  This is normal protocol with cancer patients: to receive antibiotics when a fever spikes.  Sunday, they decided to admit Isaiah.  He didn't have a fever that night and hasn't had one since.

Unfortunately, Isaiah is isolated to his room.  He can go for short walks...or runs through the ward as long as he wears a mask.  I'm so proud of how well behaved he is.  He never complains and accepts all circumstances with optimism.  Today, Isaiah and I changed his bed three times.  He kept spilling things.  (They really need an eating section in those rooms.)  He loved collecting the linens down the hall.
He fills his days playing cars, watching Caillou on his ipad and sculpting mud pits for his cars with Playdoh.

Pray that his ANC spikes so that we can go home!!