Two days ago the doctors told us that Tyler’s blood counts were coming back up at a rate that could send him home much earlier than expected for his break before the next course of chemo. His neutrophil count had to be 200 in order to go home. Yesterday his neutrophil count was 90, so going home today was a little iffy. This morning, his labs revealed a count of 200, exactly what is needed! Tyler is beyond excited, and his deadpan comment about his count was,
“I always do the bare minimum.”
Right now Tyler is having his bone marrow aspirate and biopsy, under general anesthesia. I’m updating CaringBridge and getting his room packed up! How long he stays home depends on when his neutrophil count reaches 1000. We come back to the hospital on Monday so he can be tested, and then continue to come back until he reaches 1000. The estimate is a few days to a week.
Tyler will spend his 15th birthday, which is next Tuesday, at HOME! We can’t tell you how happy we are about this! While home, Tyler will have all the same precautions he has at the hospital. He is still neutropenic, which means very prone to infection.
Ron’s sisters came to our house to sanitize Tyler’s room and the rest of our house so that it will be a safe environment for him. We’re stocked up on Purell as well. Ron is hitting the grocery store to buy everything needed to make all Tyler’s favorite meals.
Also exciting is that Tyler was convincing enough with his doctors that he got the greenlight to attend church and visit his school next week!
Early next week we should have the results of the bone marrow aspirate and biopsy. These results are critical – they tell us whether or not the chemo is killing off his cancer cells.
Thanks for continuing to partner in prayer with us. This unexpected trip home will be refreshing and healing for all of us.