June 7, 2012 - Once month post diagnosis

One month ago today, we got the sucker punch that has Ryan fighting for his life.  A lot has happened.

Ryan has been home for 3 days, and is relaxing a little bit.  He still has the severe headaches, and isn't sleeping well.  But he has a constant grin on his face.  He tires quickly but is still determined to be up and doing all the time. 

Yesterday he had a CBC - his WBC is 2.8 (2800), with 2500 healthy "PMNs", the infection-fighting cells.  So he can go out in public.  His hemoglobin is up to 10 - woohoo!!  Normal is 12, but we'll take it!  And his platelets are now in normal range. 

He has a follow-up CBC tomorrow, and a spinal tap with more intrathecal  chemo on Monday.  And a bone marrow biopsy sometime next week.

Sophia had an interview yesterday and landed the job!  She will be a receptionist for a law office that handles intellectual property, copyright & patent cases.  She looked like a million bucks dressed professionally for the interview - even though she was on pins and needles.  Last week she wrote a very professional resume.

So this morning Sophia was up at the crack of dawn and off to work.  And Tim is off to an overnight business trip in the North Country - way upstate NY.

Ryan & Sophia's car is a 1973 Toyota Camry with over 280,000 miles (but on it's second engine).  It drives well, but the A/C doesn't work, and the roof leaks.  So the interior smells of mildew. 

Fungal infections can be quite difficult to fight in immuno-compromised people.  They need a reliable car to get Sophia to & from work - and one without spores that could endanger Ryan.  Our dear friend Fran's brother Ned was a car salesman for many years and is very knowledgeable about cars.  So he is going to take Ryan out with him today to find a good car.

Then there are all the financial concerns - student loan payments, etc.  We found out that Ryan is eligible for SSI since he is disabled.  So he will apply for that and contact the lenders to postpone the payments which would normally come due when you leave school.  Our real blessing is that the health insurance coverage is excellent.  No co-pays with this diagnosis.

School is winding down for MeiLin & Kaia.  End of year picnics, field days, etc.  They will probably miss the last few days of school to fly out and spend a few days with Missy and Meghan in AZ.  Then a busy summer of basketball & chinese camps.  And maybe a tennis camp for Kaia.

MeiLin is off to CT for a BB tournament this weekend.  One of the other moms on the team graciously volunteered to take her.  Shannon is having her tonsils out tomorrow in NYC.  I will drive down to pick her (and her cat, "Tofu") up so she can recuperate at home for the next week.  

So we're settling into a routine with 4 adults and 2 kids sharing the house.  Shower times & hot water.  Shared cooking.  Shared dishes.  More drivers for kids activities.  Different, but rremarkably comfortable.  Feels like all my chicks are safe...........for the moment.
---Barb