Day +3

This morning Dale was visited by 5 very special girls. They stood in the quad area holding signs that spelled out "We love Dale" in view of his window. Then they flipped the signs over and it read " Go Bruins ". It was a nice surprise that brought a smile to his face after getting a bit of bad news earlier that morning.
We were told Derek would not be able to visit Dale for approximately 2 1/2 weeks because a student in Derek's class came down with chicken pox. Derek has been immunized but the doctor's don't want to take a chance risking Dale or the other children on this ward. I think I cried the most out of us three. Fortunately, with the grace of God and the kindness of a dear friend who gave us a lap top, Danny,Derek and Dale are able to talk and see each other with a web cam. Derek and Dale talk to each other for hours. Sometimes they just sit there doing their own thing. From time to time, Eski, our dog is brought in for Dale to see. Grandma and Grandpa visit Dale through the web cam too. Dale's platelets are holding at 96,000 and Hgb - 9.6. The doctor's were impressed with the rise in platelets after only 1 unit that they are going to look into who that donor was. The wbc is 0.12. Dale developed a small sore on his tongue which is very common after radiation and chemo. His caloric intake has decreased so he was started on a TPN (total parenteral nutrition) today. (For you health professionals, D10/2%AA no lipids with lytes and mvi at 40 cc/hr) He told the nurse tonight he wanted to try ativan again because that drug took the pain and the nausea away. This is the same medicine that made Dale act drunk on the night of the transplant. We were hoping he wouldn't remember but "whatever works" seems to be the motto here. The goal is to get him eating enough on his own so they won't have give him his nutrition iv. The doctor's also mentioned today that Dale is turning into a teenager because he goes to bed late(around 11:30 pm) and doesn't wake up until 10 or 10:30 am . My goal is to get him back to his old schedule because we don't need another teenager in the family. We are thankful for having made it through another day. Blessing upon you all.