August 8, 2013

Someone turned FOUR since our last update!

This is a photo we've taken on every one of SD's birthdays so far; he shares his birthday with his Daddy! This might have been the last year this particular pose will be possible. :)

SD has been doing extremely well over the past month. At his 4 year wellness check-up last week his RBC count was 10.3, which his pediatrician thought was a bit low, but to us that sounded like a pretty good number! He's been doing so well in health and mood that we expected nothing but a great report at his clinic visit last Friday, which is why we were astonished to learn that his WBC and ANC were close to bottoming out. He was still on reduced doses of his oral chemo, although his 6-MP dose had been raised from 1/2 to 3/4 since his July clinic visit. It seems even that may be too much for him to handle. The oncologist ordered an extra lab drawn for a test called Thiopurine Metabolites, which they will use to see if/how SD's body is metabolizing the 6-MP and whether he can take a lower dose and still have a good outcome.

Because of the low counts SD is off his oral chemo until further notice (he did finish a steroid pulse yesterday morning, however). We'll have his counts rechecked tomorrow.

Prayer requests: that the doctors will be able to figure out the optimal dosages for SD's case, and that SD's counts will be high enough to enjoy the trip to Wisconsin Dells and the U.P. next week!