Day +10

Today is the Bottom!!!!!!  That means in theory now everything starts looking better!  Bill's blood counts should start going up,  his side effects should start diminishing, and they should start talking about going home.   He said it seemed a little easier to swallow this morning and refused to be put on a pain pump.  Although when I mentioned ordering breakfast I got a HUGE dirty look!  It is a combination of being repulsed by the thought of food and the painful throat!   I must say my skin has definitely thickened up these past 2 weeks!!!!!I told him going into this he gets a pass on everything until July 1st!!!! 
He got a big smile on his face this morning when he saw his day nurse is Alex.  She was his nurse for several nights earlier and he loves her thorough, quiet nature.  I call her the church mouse.  She is the only night nurse that would already be at work in the room before I would wake up. 

So.......  today he gets a red blood transfusion, hemoglobin is 8.0.  His absolute neutrofils are still too low to count.  white blood is .01 and platelets 12.    These are the magic numbers we monitor and once they start approaching a normal range consistently is when they start talking about going home.  We have spent 11 days and nights here so far. Bill's coping mechanism is to get in the zone!  Mine is to envision this is a luxury hotel without room keys!

Thank you for all the prayers!!!!  Please know how much they are appreciated and I see their power.  Bill's throat is improving and I was able to walk a few laps with Amy last night!

Kay