The Coffey Connection: Happy New Year!

01/01/2012: 4:45 PM

Happy New Year!

Annakate recovered from the tummy flu and no one managed to get it from her. The rest of the week was calm and relaxing.

The highlights . . . .

On Wednesday, a few of my former students stopped over for a visit. We had a great time visiting. I am not sure if they were expecting to get their play on, but they sure did. Annakate kept them busy playing with her, and they even got up and played on the Wii a bit. Definitely a fun time. I am so fortunate to work with such good students who grow up and turn into such great friends.

On Thursday, we headed down to St. Louis a day early for a little mini-vacation. We ate at one of the family's favorite restaurant, and the kids swam at the hotel. It was pretty uneventful, but the get-away was nice.

Davis had to go to clinic early on Friday because his hemoglobin had dropped to 7.5, and it needs to be over 8.0 for chemo. His white count had jumped from 1.2 to 2.0, and his platelets were 78. They have to be over 75 for chemo. His ANC (immune system) had to be over 750 for chemo, and it was 800. As you can see, he barely made counts for chemo. Davis had a blood transfusion and received two chemo medications via port. The transfusion, chemo, and doctor's visit took 3 1/2 hours. We were a bit late for his spinal appointment. They had him back in a procedure room and under anesthesia in no time. Davis has to lie flat for an hour after the procedure to allow the methotrexate to circulate properly in his central nervous system and brain and to reduce the potential for a spinal migraine. Davis receives a bolus (bag of fluids) after his spinals to reduce spinal migraines as well. (He has had them in the past.) When Davis was released for the day, it was nearly 3:30 PM. A long day.

Fantastic news! You are not going to believe this! Davis was off of chemo for three weeks, and in that time, he gained 9.8 lbs. He weighed in at 62.8 pounds! We have dodged a feeding tube, thank goodness. The doctors would really like to see him at 75 pounds, but 62 is a good start. Davis will be on and off some steroids the next few weeks, so hopefully the steroids will encourage some healthy eating too. What a difference nine pounds makes. He looks healthier - still pale, but healthier.

We met with both our Fellow (oncology resident) and overseeing consultant physician on Friday. Dr. Bernardski, the consultant physician, informed us that this phase, the delayed intensification, can be a bit brutal. He told us that Davis would be neutropenic (critical or no immune system) for most of the next couple of months, and fevers, hospital stays, and transfusions were common. Crowds and public places (school being the exception) need to be avoided once again. We were told to treat this phase much like the first phase, induction.

Saturday was peaceful. We attended our New Year's Eve service at church. We sit in the top of the rise section where no one sits. We can avoid the crowd (Davis wears his mask) and I find it to be much warmer up there. After the service, we came home. It is the first year in many that my family was awake to welcome the new year. I chuckle a bit because I ran into my room to wish Kyle and Davis a happy new year, and they were snuggled in bed watching the movie "Anaconda". I guess it is only fitting after watching "Jaws" on Christmas.

Davis will have blood work tomorrow. We won't know the results until Tuesday, because Children's in closed on Monday. The blood work will determine if Davis will need a platelet transfusion on Tuesday (it is believed that he will). Tuesday, he is scheduled to get a platelet transfusion if needed and the Pegs shots in his legs. I am hoping that this will be less painful because of his weight gain, but the dosage continues to increase, so the weight gain will probably make little difference.

The kids go back to school on Wednesday, and Davis will have more chemo on Friday. His counts are to tank or wipe out around Friday or next weekend, so we will be watching counts closely.

Looking back, we had a marvelous December. We pray that the good health and blessings continue. I have no doubt that this year will provide more opportunities and lessons for us to grow as a family and as individuals. You know, cancer is something that I would never wish on anyone, let alone my baby boy, but we have been bettered by this experience, and for that, I am grateful. And I am pleased and proud that we haven't let cancer shake us to our core or break our spirits. Had it not been for cancer, we would have never fully appreciated the power of prayer, the bond of family, and the uplifting support from friends and community.

We still appreciate your prayers and thoughts. I am praying every sickness and fever off Davis already. I know what the doctors have said about this round, but I also know that Davis has done better than most. We still pray against the short term (mouth sores, hair loss, count drop, etc) and long term (heart, liver, kidney damage; secondary cancer) side effects and relapses.

May God richly bless you with good health and precious time this year. May we all get the to heart of what really matters in 2012.

Every tomorrow has two handles. We can take hold of it by the handle of anxiety, or by the handle of faith. ~Author Unknown
Do not be afraid of tomorrow; for God is already there. ~Author Unknown

Lamentations 3:22-24 (NIV): Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”