A couple's journey of raising three children in 3 years
Thursday, February 28, 2013
From The Love of Meme
These were sent from Emily our meme!! She means so much to us and you can see through these pictures how much she loves our kids. She sent these to me dating back to December:
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
An Overview-Hepatitis Associated Aplastic Anemia
Some people have been confused about Mack and I know it takes a long time to go back through old blog posts, so here is an overview of what has happened with our little man. Maybe it can clear up some misconceptions.
It all started back in October when Mack had an ear infection. He was on medication, but wasn't getting better. I made an appointment on Monday morning, October 28th to have him looked at. As I was getting him ready to go I noticed some yellowing in his skin. As soon as the doctor saw him, he wanted some blood work. Here is more of the story: The beginning
He ended up spending a few days in the hospital in Columbia. Then on Halloween night we moved by ambulance to St. Louis because they had a liver specialist. While we were there Mack's numbers stayed about the same and didn't come down. They tested EVERYTHING you could test. Everything came back fine. We went home with a PICC line in his arm and gave him steroids at home. He was still not getting better as fast as he should have. The doctors tried another medicine that children with an autoimmune disease would take and his numbers dropped. They stayed down and were back to normal. Then, because they were testing his blood each week and I brought up how bad he was bruising, they noticed his platelet count was dropping...
In those few weeks before we went back to St. Louis they began dropping to low numbers. We had no idea what was happening. We had a meeting with a hematology doctor that Wednesday. When we left, we had no idea what was ahead of us. In fact, we left Avery and Lincoln in Columbia so they weren't having to travel as much.
Within 10 minutes of meeting our new Dr. he was able to explain to us what was happening. He wouldn't know for sure until a bone marrow biopsy. He told us about Hepatitis Associated Aplastic Anemia. It is very rare-in fact there is not much research to compare to Mack. It is caused from an unknown virus (we donated some of his biopsy for testing) that attacks his stem cells. They were still able to keep up with cells and platelets, but the liver was affected first. About two months later when the liver was healed, his stem cells weren't able to keep up.
It is treatable, but the journey is long and painful. We first tried to see if he had a sibling match for a donor because his white blood cell count is really low and you can "get" or transfuse more white blood cells. Unfortunately, they weren't matches, so it was on to the treatment. This treatment is actually taken from horse serum. There are side effects, but he did really well during the treatment. It strips his body of everything to allow his stem cells to rest and hopefully they will begin reproducing cells on it's own.
While we were getting treatement, we were the only non-cancer patient on the floor and our doctor was they only one to know about this kind of aplastic anemia. We were confined to the room for five days and were thrilled to get out (Busting out) we made it home for three days!!!
Then on Sunday, February 17th, Mack woke up with a fever and was throwing up. Mark took him to the ER and then they flew him to St. Louis. It was the most terrifying moment to date...
He spent some time in the PICU and was later moved back to the ninth floor (oncology/hematology). There he was given some medicine, but was worse and then started to complain about pain in his knees. Our doctor had told us about this side effect-it's called Serum Sickness. It attacks his joints and is very painful. He slept a lot! He was on a lot of morphine to help him sleep a lot.
This was our fourth time to the hospital, so we have the drill down. Except this time we used more help. Between exhaustion, the stupid snow storms, and Mack we needed more breaks. We had a friend stay with him one night, my mom stayed with him another night, and Nanny and Papa H. sat with him a lot.
As of February 26th, We are out and at home (in St. Louis), but only because as parents we knew he would be better out. It doesn't mean the medicine is working. Not at all. He had to have four platelet transfusions and one blood transfusion just in one week. We will have to keep doing those and the doctors in Columbia won't let us do it there. They claim it's too many cooks in the kitchen-I don't agree with that, but it's not for me to decide.
It will be a while until we know if the medicine has worked. Until then they have searched for a donor in case he will need a bone marrow transplant. Kids wait months and sometimes don't find one, but he already has two potential donors. If you are interested in being a donor check this out: donor
He still looks like our Mack, but on steroids:). He is still going to play like Mack, but gets a little tired. As our doctor told the other doctors and nurses on his floor "Just because he has hair, doesn't make him any less sick than these other kids on the floor." He is sick. He is real sick. I am thankful for everyone telling me how strong we are, but ANYONE would do this for their child or family member. We will continue to be his advocates and there isn't much time for feeling sorry for ourselves. Yes, there is the occasional "why us" moments, but it's our world and we have to step up and get our baby better.
I hope this explains our situation better. There is nothing good on the Internet about this. In fact, I tried to look and see if there were any other blogs out there and all I encountered was a story of a 13 year old boy who got a bacterial infection and died...yeah that was the end of our search. Mack is going to live a normal, happy life! Cheers to Mack getting home and being happier with all of us together. There is nothing stronger than family!!!!
I am not in the medical field-this is what I know as a parent.
It all started back in October when Mack had an ear infection. He was on medication, but wasn't getting better. I made an appointment on Monday morning, October 28th to have him looked at. As I was getting him ready to go I noticed some yellowing in his skin. As soon as the doctor saw him, he wanted some blood work. Here is more of the story: The beginning
He ended up spending a few days in the hospital in Columbia. Then on Halloween night we moved by ambulance to St. Louis because they had a liver specialist. While we were there Mack's numbers stayed about the same and didn't come down. They tested EVERYTHING you could test. Everything came back fine. We went home with a PICC line in his arm and gave him steroids at home. He was still not getting better as fast as he should have. The doctors tried another medicine that children with an autoimmune disease would take and his numbers dropped. They stayed down and were back to normal. Then, because they were testing his blood each week and I brought up how bad he was bruising, they noticed his platelet count was dropping...
In those few weeks before we went back to St. Louis they began dropping to low numbers. We had no idea what was happening. We had a meeting with a hematology doctor that Wednesday. When we left, we had no idea what was ahead of us. In fact, we left Avery and Lincoln in Columbia so they weren't having to travel as much.
Within 10 minutes of meeting our new Dr. he was able to explain to us what was happening. He wouldn't know for sure until a bone marrow biopsy. He told us about Hepatitis Associated Aplastic Anemia. It is very rare-in fact there is not much research to compare to Mack. It is caused from an unknown virus (we donated some of his biopsy for testing) that attacks his stem cells. They were still able to keep up with cells and platelets, but the liver was affected first. About two months later when the liver was healed, his stem cells weren't able to keep up.
It is treatable, but the journey is long and painful. We first tried to see if he had a sibling match for a donor because his white blood cell count is really low and you can "get" or transfuse more white blood cells. Unfortunately, they weren't matches, so it was on to the treatment. This treatment is actually taken from horse serum. There are side effects, but he did really well during the treatment. It strips his body of everything to allow his stem cells to rest and hopefully they will begin reproducing cells on it's own.
While we were getting treatement, we were the only non-cancer patient on the floor and our doctor was they only one to know about this kind of aplastic anemia. We were confined to the room for five days and were thrilled to get out (Busting out) we made it home for three days!!!
Then on Sunday, February 17th, Mack woke up with a fever and was throwing up. Mark took him to the ER and then they flew him to St. Louis. It was the most terrifying moment to date...
He spent some time in the PICU and was later moved back to the ninth floor (oncology/hematology). There he was given some medicine, but was worse and then started to complain about pain in his knees. Our doctor had told us about this side effect-it's called Serum Sickness. It attacks his joints and is very painful. He slept a lot! He was on a lot of morphine to help him sleep a lot.
This was our fourth time to the hospital, so we have the drill down. Except this time we used more help. Between exhaustion, the stupid snow storms, and Mack we needed more breaks. We had a friend stay with him one night, my mom stayed with him another night, and Nanny and Papa H. sat with him a lot.
As of February 26th, We are out and at home (in St. Louis), but only because as parents we knew he would be better out. It doesn't mean the medicine is working. Not at all. He had to have four platelet transfusions and one blood transfusion just in one week. We will have to keep doing those and the doctors in Columbia won't let us do it there. They claim it's too many cooks in the kitchen-I don't agree with that, but it's not for me to decide.
It will be a while until we know if the medicine has worked. Until then they have searched for a donor in case he will need a bone marrow transplant. Kids wait months and sometimes don't find one, but he already has two potential donors. If you are interested in being a donor check this out: donor
He still looks like our Mack, but on steroids:). He is still going to play like Mack, but gets a little tired. As our doctor told the other doctors and nurses on his floor "Just because he has hair, doesn't make him any less sick than these other kids on the floor." He is sick. He is real sick. I am thankful for everyone telling me how strong we are, but ANYONE would do this for their child or family member. We will continue to be his advocates and there isn't much time for feeling sorry for ourselves. Yes, there is the occasional "why us" moments, but it's our world and we have to step up and get our baby better.
I hope this explains our situation better. There is nothing good on the Internet about this. In fact, I tried to look and see if there were any other blogs out there and all I encountered was a story of a 13 year old boy who got a bacterial infection and died...yeah that was the end of our search. Mack is going to live a normal, happy life! Cheers to Mack getting home and being happier with all of us together. There is nothing stronger than family!!!!
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Busting Out Take Two
Today I begged with the doctors and made so many promises (wink to doctor Meagan) to let us out. It was over a week and he was feeling better, but being in there made him depressed. He had that one good day, but then just wanted to sleep.
I knew if I could just get him home he would be better. With being home we have a ton of medicine to give, we have to watch blood pressure, we have to make sure he's drinking and he can't come into contact with anything! Oh and we have to stay close until Friday for another transfusion... I don't care!
We have only been home for two hours and he has; drank a lot, is sleeping now and scored a bag of chips from Nanny. It's scary to be out-his white blood cell count is next to nothing-to be straight forward, if he gets a bacterial infection he will not be able to fight it off!
We are going to live in a bubble and enforce hand washing as you enter our house, but we get to be a family...and celebrate Lincoln turning one!! Yippee!
Everyone's prayers worked to get us out. I know I've asked a lot, but please keep it up! Thank you for your support!!
I knew if I could just get him home he would be better. With being home we have a ton of medicine to give, we have to watch blood pressure, we have to make sure he's drinking and he can't come into contact with anything! Oh and we have to stay close until Friday for another transfusion... I don't care!
We have only been home for two hours and he has; drank a lot, is sleeping now and scored a bag of chips from Nanny. It's scary to be out-his white blood cell count is next to nothing-to be straight forward, if he gets a bacterial infection he will not be able to fight it off!
We are going to live in a bubble and enforce hand washing as you enter our house, but we get to be a family...and celebrate Lincoln turning one!! Yippee!
Everyone's prayers worked to get us out. I know I've asked a lot, but please keep it up! Thank you for your support!!
Double the Fun
On top of all our family we have two other special "family" members. One being "meme" Emily and the other is Kristina. Kristina helps with my brothers kids, but has been apart of my kids life through the years-including our trip to Italy. She has also been a huge help, while we've been in town, by taking my kids to play. Today these two special people united!! They ventured to the Magic House and it was double the fun for Avery, Lincoln and Gretchen (their cousin). I am adding most of the pictures I have been receiving from the two. If they're reading this, I want them to know there is no way we could do all of this with Mack without their help!!! Thank you Meme and Kristina our kids are lucky to have two people love them and play with them so much!
(I have to add that my posts from the past few weeks have been on my phone, so it's fast and probably sounds messy at times. I also don't have a choice on the size of pictures...or you might but I don't know how😁)
(I have to add that my posts from the past few weeks have been on my phone, so it's fast and probably sounds messy at times. I also don't have a choice on the size of pictures...or you might but I don't know how😁)
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