The HemOnc docs gave us the results from both procedures this week (bronchial wash and needle biopsy). Both came back negative for any growth — most would think that is great news (we do!) but if it doesn’t grow, you can’t target the infection. HemOnc seemed happy with the results but the ID team was disappointed.

ID really wanted to know what was going on in his lung — the procedures told them it was an infection and as it healed, left dead tissue behind — no news there! From the slides, you can’t read what type of cell it was which is good because it’s healed, but bad because we still don’t know anything. One thing everyone agrees on — it was using any ANC it could get it’s greedy little hands on. Which might explain why it appeared to be larger and brighter on the last CT. At this point we won’t know what it was unless we go in again and get a big chunk — but NO ONE wants to do that. And frankly, I’m tired of talking and thinking about the ‘mystery mass’. Onward!

As the game plan stands now (tonight, at this moment — tomorrow it will probably be different), chemo resumes tomorrow, continue both anti-fungals and one antibiotic for another 2-3 weeks, plus a follow up CT sometime next week. He will be closely watched next week by every team this hospital has to offer to make sure he’s stable and balanced.

PT will continue — currently, not his favorite thing because it requires him to get out of bed for more than just a squirt. Everyone agrees he must keep his strength –that is what saved him the last few weeks. No more GCSF (the stuff to boost ANC’s) but he will continue with TPN (tube food) and meds to make him hungry. He’s been on tube food for a few weeks now and it can/will ruin his liver, which he will need when he transplants (or, pretty much in general). The incentive is, if he were eating well he wouldn’t need TPN and most of the day we would be tube/wire/IV free!

Overall it was a good day, nothing to shocking or earth shattering — and we (doctors and nurses too) welcome boring at this point! Boring is GOOD.

We celebrated Julie’s birthday today.  I’m not going to tell you how old she is, but I met her in ‘91, and I’m pretty sure she was legal then.  I’m going to go out on a limb and say that today was a pretty good day for her all things considered.  She only asked for a few things; that Johnny not spike a fever, that Johnny get out of bed and walk around, that he smile a lot, and that he take a bath at some point during the day.  She also asked for a couple of things from me.  I’m happy to say we both delivered, and Julie got all her birthday wishes.  We definitely need to keep mama happy.