February 27, 2011

Casey went to his usual appointment this morning.  His fever was up while he was there and they were not able to get it back down.  He has been admitted back into the hospital again.  The fever keeps going up and down.  Hopefully they can figure out where it is coming from and get rid of it.  One of the tests included having a cotton swab pushed way up his nose.  He didn't like that one.  Hoping tomorrow brings good news.  I will keep you posted.
Peggy

February 26, 2011

Casey was able to come home from the hospital on Wednesday afternoon.  Before releasing him he had a bone marrow biopsy and we are still waiting for the results from that.  He has not been feeling great, his fever is up and down, but not up to the point of admitting him back into the hospital.  Today he went along to take the dogs for their walk, and then we went to Chelsea's rugby game.  That was my first rugby game, it was a tournament so the game was only about a half an hour long.  Just about the time I was beginning to figure out what they were trying to do, the game was over.  I'll have to go to another game sometime soon before I forget what little bit I learned today.  My nephew, Derek (who played rugby) was there and was explaining things to me.  I will need him again too.  What an odd, but entertaining game.  All of that has wiped Casey out.  I doubt if he will be getting off of the sofa for the rest of the day.
Peggy

February 22, 2011

Casey's fever continued to hang around, so he is still in the hospital. He has now gone almost 24 hours without a fever.  If all goes as planned, they will do a bone marrow biopsy tomorrow and then release him.  We will not have the biopsy results for a couple of days, but that will dictate the next steps.  Hopefully this clinical trial drug has killed off all of the leukemia blasts and they can give him a mini transplant.  We all need to say our prayers and cross our fingers that this biopsy comes back clear. 
We are getting into championship season for Casey's swimmers.  He is so proud that every one of his senior team swimmers has qualified for districts. Way to go L.A.C.!
I also have to send kudos to Casey's friend Griff.  Griff's brother in law got to perform on stage at the grammy awards with Bob Dylan.  I think that is the best story I have heard all year.  Just 2 short years ago The Avett Brothers were performing in bars in Chapel Hill, and now they have perfomed on the grammys....and with Bob Dylan.  I had to watch the clip on the internet a couple of times.  The grammy's is one of my favorite shows.  I can't believe how star struck I am with the whole situation.  Not only does Griff personally know Big Bob, but he now also has a kinda famous brother in law.  I bet with all of his new found fame, Griff would still be willing to come up here and take Casey in for another round at the day hospital.
We will see what tomorrow brings.  I will keep you posted.
Peggy

February 19, 2011

Casey's fever is under control.  They have been giving  him IV antibiotics and monitoring him.  Thursday night his fever spiked and he broke into one of those sweats that left the sheets soaking wet.  They changed his bedding, and his fever has not gotten over 100 since then.  The nurse said if his fever stays under control he may be able to go home tomorrow.  He is not feeling fantastic, but that could be the chemo kicking in.  This particular drug makes you feel bad a couple of days after infusion instead of immediately.  He is complaining about the food, so you know he is not feeling too bad.  We just take things as they come, one day (and one meal) at a time.
Peggy

February 17, 2011

Casey's time at home was short lived.  Today he got a fever and has been admitted back into the hospital.  We spent most of the day in the E.R. until a room was ready for him.  They gave him IV fluids and antibiotics which seemed to have kept the fever at bay.  He was not feeling great when we left him tonight, but he was feeling much better than when we arrived this afternoon.  Hopefully we caught this early enough for his recovery to be quick and painless.
Peggy

February 16, 2011

I brought Casey home from the hospital today.  Annie and Bowie were so happy to see him.  Casey's counts are real low, so he will be under house arrest for the next several weeks.  He will be going to Hershey every other day to be monitored and get blood transfusions as needed.  Boy am I going to miss having Stevie around. 
He took the chemo real well, but the steroids have really kicked in.  He even ate the hospital food.  I went to Costco to fill the cupboards (and empty my wallet!). Keeping our finger crossed that the third time is a charm.
Thank you to everyone, and Thank you Betsy (or should I call you Dr. Betsy?)....I was thinking about you just today, and wondering where you were in your rotation.  You must have been reading my mind.
Peggy

February 12, 2011

Here we go again. 
Casey had a routine bone marrow biopsy last Thursday, and I was hoping to be able to post on the blog that everything is clear and fully engrafted.  Unfortunately that is not the case.  Leukemia blasts are in his marrow.  The good news is that they have not entered into his blood, so it has been caught very early.  In September they did a bone marrow biopsy and discovered a very small amount of blasts, so they reduced his anti rejection medicines in hopes that the new stem cells would kill them off.  This last biopsy showed the blasts have multiplied.  The course of action they have decided to take is a clinical trial.  Casey was admitted into the hospital on Thursday to begin another round of chemo, which he is tolerating very well.  He had another central line put in, so it is back to taping him up for showers and daily line flushing.  Upon his release from the hospital next week, he will be going up to Hershey every other day to have his blood counts monitored and more bone marrow biopsies.  His dark brown hair will probably all fall out.  We are wondering what color it might grow in the next time.
I will keep you posted.
Peggy