It’s amazing what a little time, fluids and a blood transfusion will do!

Hi Everyone!

What a rough week it has been for Sam.  After five days of not eating, drinking only sips of liquid a day, constant stomach pains and no energy, Sam received some IV fluids at Riley on Monday to help hydrate him.  On Tuesday, because his counts were low, Sam received a blood transfusion.  Because he was still showing signs of dehydration, his doctor ordered IV fluids to be given at home each night for awhile until his appetite and thirst return.  A home heathcare nurse paid us a visit Tuesday evening to show us the ropes on how to rig his IV pump, line and all the other goodies that go with starting an IV.  Please now add “nurse” to our growing resume as we feel we are now certified in beginning a fluid IV complete with a push of saline and other meds.  Yes, we wear many hats these days! By Wednesday Sam was showing definite signs of improvement and we were rejoicing in his requests for pudding cups and Powerade!

Sam preferred to lay on the floor when he wasn’t feeling well. He just couldn’t get comfortable.  He’d go from the couch, to the floor, to the bed, back to the floor.  For some reason, he loved to lay on this red rug in his bathroom.  Said it made him feel better.  :)

A little smile while laying on the kitchen floor.  Again, he just found it more comforting and loved the feel of the cool tile.  I think it just must run in the family, because my mom, sister and I all love to lay on the bathroom floor when we are sick (or have had too much to drink the night before.  Is that too much information?  :)  )

We must have taken 182 baths this week…some even at 1:30 in the morning!  He loved feeling the warm water on his skin and the sound of the running water just soothed him and made him feel better.  Baths were always followed by a trip to the red rug!  We’re still waiting for those Sharpie marker lines to fade from his chest that were used to line him up during his radiation treatments at Riley.  That’s one powerful marker and I swear we’ve gone through a half a bar of soap trying to get it off!  :)

Daddy finally talked him into leaving the bathroom and the floor, but he just wouldn’t give up the red rug.  Here he is in his brother’s room laying on the rug, on the bed!  The red rug also traveled downstairs to the couch and the family room floor.

We are happy to report that Sam is feeling better these days and is no longer needing the red rug!  HA!  Hooray!  He is still on nightly fluids and we will re-evaluate if he needs to continue them during his next clinic visit on Tuesday.  His appetite is increasing (as he’s on meds to stimulate it) and he’s been up and about on the computer, playing with a few toys, made a quick trip to Vacation Bible School at church to watch the bible story and do a craft and to McDonald’s to have lunch with friends.  It’s wonderful to see.  You know the ‘ol saying, ‘If you don’t have your health, you don’t have anything’….it’s so true and we’ve witnessed it first hand this week.  Count your blessings for your health for it’s truly a gift and something that shouldn’t be taken for granted.

This week, I ask not only for your prayers for Sam, but for my friend Sue, who has been battling breast cancer for sometime now.  This week she received news that her cancer had spread to the lining of her brain and she would need surgery to insert a port into her head so that her brain could directly receive the chemo.  She is a wonderful woman and I’ve actually known her now for some time.  I first met Sue when I had her daughter in my fifth grade class when I taught at St. Lawrence years ago.  (Let’s just say her daughter has now graduated from college and now has a career.)  Our paths crossed again a few years ago when we both attended a weekend retreat at our church called “Christ Renews His Parish” (CRHP for short-pronounced “chirp”).  She is an incredible person, full of strength, love, kindness and optimism.  I know first hand the power of prayer, and am asking all of you prayer warriors to please pray for Sue as well.

On November 8th of last year, we (my CRHP sisters and I) held a silent auction down at a local pub to raise money for Sue- complete with a DJ, food, drinks, awesome prize baskets, and a room full of incredible friends and family.  It was a wonderful night!

Until next time!

Erica