So much for rest ...

One of Ben’s favourite pass times ... video games!

Well, as we are unfortunately accustomed to constant “surprises”, we had another one Sunday morning. Ben woke up Sunday morning and felt a little more tired than usual. Other than the pale face and lack of energy, no other symptoms were present. He felt quite warm so we took his temperature. It was 39.6ºC (104ºF). So, as per protocol, we phoned Children’s hospital and drove down to emergency. He was admitted, blood was taken and we went up to 3B (the cancer ward). More tests were done. He had only 6 platelets and his red blood cells were down to 43. He received more platelet transfusions and more blood.

That evening he started trembling uncontrollably and said he was cold. His blood pressure was low and his pulse rate was 166 beats per minute. After about 90 minutes, he stopped shivering and seemed much better. He was, and still is, receiving IV antibiotics every 6 hours.

The cultures came back from the lab showing he has a bacteria in his blood. We’re not sure where it came from but he is expected to get antibiotics for the next 14 days as well as more transfusions. Since his counts are practically nil, he needs these antibiotics and transfusions. If you ever wonder where the blood goes when you donate, that’s just one example.

So, now, instead of 3 weeks for recuperation, it will only turn out to be possibly one week, before more chemo starts

up again.