May 14, 2009

Today was a very good day for Bryce! It was exciting to see some good progress in him today. This morning his white blood count reached 1.3 (0.4 yesterday). Later this afternoon it increased to 2.0. This means that the bone marrow is starting to do its job again. It will also allow the oncologists to do another round of chemotherapy to kill the cancer cells - they may do this as early as tomorrow or Saturday.

Bryce still has the endotracheal tube in his throat and on the ventilator, but he was much less agitated and much more alert and interactive today than he has been since he was put on the ventilator. It was so special to be able to communicate more with him.

Jerica came in today when the physical therapist was working on Bryce so his hands were not restrained as they normally are. When he came in he reached both arms up to her so she could embrace him. I wasn't there, but Kendra said it was a very tender moment. It was their first embrace for almost two weeks since he went into emergency surgery. (I got an embrace today also, which was very special to me. Bryce also signed that he loved me - which is something I will cherish.)

Today his weight was 157 lbs - only nine lbs more than his admission weight. Since Bryce was alert I told him that he had got up to 235 lbs. His expressive eyes got really big with a look of "really?" Kendra told him that he once again has bird legs like his father. (I admit it, but it did help me more easily run marathons...)

Tomorrow could be a very big day for Bryce. They are going to replace the central line in his femoral artery and put it in his neck/chest area (probably a subclavian vein). This is a very important step because it will allow Bryce to sit up and perhaps even get out of bed. If he does well with all of this it is possible that they can remove the endotracheal tube tomorrow!!! Let us hope and pray. They are getting worried that if they leave it in much longer that he will get pneumonia.

We know that your prayers are working. Thank you so much for this wonderful support.