Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

"Fragile" is the word the doctor used to describe Brendan's condition today.  After infections of meningitis and c diff, and surgery recovery, and radiation, and chemotherapy, his little body is really fighting hard.  

 Brendan was really miserable with his fever hitting 105 degrees.  Ibuprophen was finally used in conjunction with Tylenol to bring his fever down.  Once the fever was down he was able to sleep some.

 The test for c diff came back positive and the concern is that it will be more difficult to get rid of this time.  They are also concerned that there might be another infection being masked by the c diff -- so they are culturing everything out.  They started Brendan early on oral flagyl and were considering oral doses of vancomycin as well.

 Around 1 p.m., Brendan began shaking hard again.  He was throwing up and had diarrhea.  His heart rate was racing at 150+.  Radiation was cancelled for the day.  But by 3 p.m. Brendan was starting to feel a little better and watched a little TV.

 It looks like Brendan will spend the weekend in the hospital and it has yet to be decided if he will have his chemotherapy on Monday (as previously planned).  Brendan's feeding tube formula was started tonight and Shaun says he has kept it all down so far.

How hard it was for me today to hear about this setback.  Just when it seems like Brendan is making good progress, something comes along to trip him up.  I know my frustration comes when I have some expectations about what will or will not happen. Today I really wanted Brendan to be able to come home and recuperate before chemo.  It's days like this that remind me once again to take each day as it comes.  We find we can handle one day at a time -- but only one day at a time.  Because in this business, it's two steps forward and one step back.