I don’t really have it in me right this second to make this remotely interesting or amusing. But here’s the update:
1. Counts were down again this morning, ANC was 200, hemoglobin was up to 9.6 because she got blood last night, platelets were down to 16 so she got an infusion of those this afternoon.
2. Her lips are looking better, there’s definitely some healing going on. Someone out there posted that putting up pictures of her painful lips was in bad taste and out of line. If anyone was offended by the pictures of her lips, I’m sorry, but it’s the reality of what she’s going through. I wish it were all pictures of ponytails and smiles, but this is it. This is her life. I’m sure not trying to make light of her pain, I knew there was really no way to explain how bad they were without showing them.
3. They are going to do a chest x-ray because they heard some crackles in her lungs and they want to check for pneumonia. Her cough has become really congested and chunky, so I’m glad they’re on it. They have oxygen blowing in her face because her stats have been down and last night they dropped into the 80% range, so today we are using the oxygen sporadically if she starts getting low.
4. Her blood cultures aren’t growing anything at this point, so no apparent blood infection.
5. She finally pooped a bit. It was painful and she was miserable. In true Peyton fashion, her bowels decide to move at the moment her entire body breaks out in a massive hive attack from the platelet infusion. So she’s in pain from trying to poop while working her hardest to scratch every square inch of her body. She scratched so hard she has a raw spot on her neck, she rubbed her neck and head so hard that great big balls of hair came off all over the place. At least her bowels are moving, and a big dose of hydrocortisone has relieved the hives.
6. She’s on a constant morphine pump right now for the pain, she gets a constant dose and then we can push a button to boost it every 15 minutes as needed.
7. She was going to get TPN, a push of proteins and basic nutrients because she hadn’t eaten in days. But with pain meds helping with her mouth she was able to eat a pancake and drink some milk, so they are holding off on the TPN as long as she is eating.
8. Her hair is still coming out in clumps, her pillow cases need to be changed regularly because they are covered in strands. You can see her hair is seriously thinned and even a few bald patches. It breaks my heart, but not the worse of it by any means.
9. She had her bone marrow this morning, we have no results or answers yet. All I can tell you is that the marrow came out easily, so that’s a positive thing. When she was diagnosed and her bones were packed full of leukemia cells, the bone marrow aspiration was so rough that two doctors attempted to get marrow to come out and they could get almost nothing to come out. This didn’t happen today, so that’s a good thing.
10. For those who’ve asked, we’re in room 265 at All Children’s Hospital. Kay Bertoch came up today and stayed with us through the bone marrow and to help in so many ways. She’s even gone out to the store to pick up some munchies and treats for us. Feel free to visit, we’re not going anywhere. Just please don’t come if you’re sick in any way and don’t be surprised if Peyton won’t even look at you, I’ll be glad to see you!
Keep the prayers in motion, Peyton, Sierra, Connor, Jimmy, Kaylie, Presley, Kate, Matt, good grief, it sounds like I’m writing a “Baby’s Name Book”. You can’t possibly pray too much.
Thank for all the support and love, you’re keeping my spirits lifted.
f.r.o.G.
–Anissa
on Apr 30th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
i am praying!!! i've been checking every hour to see if there was an update. Thank you for the update. Hope you are feeling the prayers coming FAST from Texas!!!!! Blessings!!!!!
on Apr 30th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
I have just been waiting on an update – thanks! It sounds like Peyton is being very well taken care of! I'm glad her lips are starting to heal, and I really believe that her marrow will come back fine.
Also, I didn't mind the pictures of her lips at all. It's the reality of what you guys are having to live with. I mean, it's not like it was an "indecent" photo or anything. Sure, we love the smiling happy pictures, but sometimes that not how things are.
I will continue to pray!!! Please keep us updated when you can.
on Apr 30th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Poor taste??? Are you kidding me?? Every person who has a healthy child or is a healthy adult should see what these children go through! That little girl smiles when the average adult would probably sink into depression. I was more touched by the look in her eyes than by the condition of her lips. The sparkle just wasn't there and she should never have a look like that in her eyes. It's getting a little lofty up here on my soap box so I'll climb down now. Let Peyton know that with or without hair she is beautiful and her cute little headbands make her quite the girly girl. Think of your stay there as a vacation at the finest hotel. Minus the comfy bed, private shower and round the clock room service. On second thought just be thankful you're not in a tent with mosquitos the size of bats!
Hugs!
Shelley
on Apr 30th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Anissa, pay no mind to people who think they have the right to interject their opinions. You are her mommy and you know what's best. Those of us who love you and support you WANT the whole picture. How on earth can we pray for you and support you and love you the right way if we don't really know what's going on.
I'm so hoping that the little signs like the ease of the marrow aspiration are indicating that things are moving in the right direction.
We are storming the heavens for you my friend and we won't quit. I wish I was there to come keep you company but I am thinking of you constantly.
Hugs and kisses for Peyton.
J
on Apr 30th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
I did not find the pictures of Peyton's lips to be in bad taste either. I found them to be her reality. I suppose that the person who made that comment DOES lead a life of ponytails and smiles. Just because you do not see something does not mean that it doesn't exist.
Anyway on to more important things….I am glad to hear there is a little improvement with her mouth. Praying for Peyton to be pain free and for good results for the bone marrow. LOVE YOU PEYTON!:SMILE
on Apr 30th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Lots of prayers coming your way from Maryland! While the pictures of Peyton aren't the best ones you've ever taken of her :TONGUE, they are the reality of what us cancer parents have to watch our children go through. Please post away so that the world knows how painful cancer is and why we fight so hard for a cure. I am sure Peyton's low counts are only a result of her virus but I am all too aware of what goes through your mind. Trust in God and his plan!
on Apr 30th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Anissa and Pete,
Thinking of you and Peyton and hope she finds comfort and relief very soon.
We are all obviously hoping for good news with the bma. It is amazing what a virus can do to our children when they are going through chemo, they have nothing left in reserve for when they do pick up a bug or ailment, and so, the counts will plunge.
Hoping that you get reassurance that this is all it is, quickly.
With love, lots of hugs, and best wishes,
the Skittles household
[url=http://skittlesupdate.blogspot.com/]http://skittlesupdate.blogspot.com/[/url]
on Apr 30th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
Anissa,
I thank you for posting the pictures of Peyton it is reality.
These children with cancer go through hell and back and most of the time don’t even bat en eye. Katie right now looks like a child abuse victim with 3rd degree radiation burns to her eye and face and 2nd degree burns to her neck. I have read your sight over and over and have never felt any of your postings to be wrong, hey it’s our world (The cancer World) and if you have never lived it you can’t ever imagine what our children or the family goes through.
Anyway enough of that I hope Peyton is getting better by the minute and I can’t wait to hear the results of her bone marrow test. I am praying that it all comes back clear. The prayers are in motion daily for Katie, Peyton and all the children some I know and most I don’t that are suffering from this horrible disease.
Thinking of you guys and will continue to check for updates.
Love and Prayers
Tracey & Katie
"Angels all around and on her pillow too"
on Apr 30th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
Hey Anissa and peyton,
First of all, I am assuming the person that made the coments about the pictures is not a mother of a cancer child! The pain that our children go through is an unfortunate reality of our life. I truly hope that peyton begins to feel better and that all her cultures and chest xrays and of course BM come out negative. Hang in there. I wish I was in town to come and visit you and support you like you did for me during Justin's long hospital stay in Dec. I am sending you many prayers from NY. Miss you and please give Peyton a hug from Justin and I.
Love,
Robyn
on Apr 30th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
Hi,
My name is Marisa. I don't know how I came across your site, but I have been reading it every day for the past few months. When I first started reading, I knew I recognized Peyton from somewhere but I wasn't sure where. It wasn't until I got to the postings about the 2007 Telethon at ACH that I figured out that I had seen her there. I have volunteered at All Children's since 2003 and have helped with every Telethon since then. I am praying for Peyton and your family and I hope she starts feeling better really soon. Your postings help people like me, who aren't in the cancer world, understand what it is really like. Thanks.
Marisa
on Apr 30th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
Hi Anissa,
Thanks for the update. We're praying for all of you to get through this. Glad that her lips are healing. I wish I lived in your area so I could give you a shoulder rub and bring you some rice crispy treats/starbucks/chocolate//ben &Jerry's/etc. I'd probably cry my eyes out to see her that way.
I'm sorry that in the middle of this somebody felt that they should be giving you their opinion about what is tasteful. My opinion is that person didn't think before pressing the send button.
I love you guys,
basi
on Apr 30th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
Still praying…
on Apr 30th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Hi Anissa,
You were absolutely right to post the pictures of Peyton. We love knowing how she's doing, and we appreciate all the time, effort, and love you put into Peyton's site. It's too bad that some people find it necessary to give opinions that are hurtful and inappropriate. The Michigan crew continues to check on you every day, to pray for all of you, and to send smiles and hugs your way. Now, can you send a steady stream of warm Florida weather to us (no more threats of snow in late April)! HaHa!
Big hugs!
Lisa, Dan, and girls
on Apr 30th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
uggg why do people feel the need to put TASTELESS comments on here!! It IS what you are living, and even those of us who do not know you personally come here daily to see how Peyton and her family are doing..GOOD, BAD, WHATEVER… those pictures were not the least bit offensive… NOT AT ALL….. I am glad you put them up!!
Know that I am still thinking about and praying for you all daily!!!
on May 1st, 2008 at 2:41 am
Isn't it funny how a bit of controversy gets everyone commenting? Usually there's only 2 of us who comment, suddenly it's 14.
Well anywho, I was really mad when I read about that post. Those pictures conveyed Peyton's pain more than any words you could ever write.
If that person is reading here, here's a message for you: Listen you little worm, what kind of person comes to a cancer child's website and has the nerve to tell her mother what she can and can't post on her own site???
You are truly pathetic. This is already a very difficult time for Anissa, dealing with a very sick child, 2 healthy but emotionally suffering siblings, the recent deaths of several dear friends, and the worry that Peyton will relapse. And you go ahead and add to that by criticizing her and making her feel bad about her journal which is probably one of the things that helps her. Shameful.
Feel free to post that on the front page if you like Anissa. I can't stand these miserable people who do this. Do you know there are people who have written to the parents of very ill children, to criticize them for continuing treatment and calling them selfish for not letting their child die?? Don't apologize for anything you put on this site Anissa.