The Strickland Family Blog

Everything has been so busy at the hospital….We will continue to be here for the remainder of the month, in isolation. 

We arrived due to fevers and Paris being neutropenic.  It somewhat was expected due to her receiving the dose and type of Chemo which was expected to wipe out her immune system.  Since there are germs and bacteria a around us, Paris was just prone to getting sick, where the average person can fight off the every day exposure to bacteria. Her blood culture determined that she had bacteria in her blood (strepneuvo) which typically could be fought off by kids that have had immunizations and who haven’t just received Chemo.  She was given antibiotics but it was not reducing the fevers, so they determined that the bacteria had infected the actual port.

The infectious disease team determined that the port was infected since it was a foreign object in her body the bacteria latched on to the port requiring it to be re moved.  We had surgery yesterday to remove it so now she is recovering from that, typicaly it would be considered a minor surgery however since she syill has no immune system and very low white bood counts she is prone to infection and longer time of recovery.  Since the port was removed she has 2 IVs that are been used to infuse now 4 different antiobiotics to treat the remaining infection.

We have had a total of 10 blood/platelet transfusions, which were needed to help re-produce more blood cells and white blood cells.  Platelets are given about twice a day to boost her system, as soon as her body absorbs them they quickly get used.  She was up to 75,000 but then dropped to 34,000.  We need to keep her above 50,000.  Her red blood cells are maintaining above 8, yesterday they were 11 The white blood cells are beginning to form, called monocytes, which were 2.0 classifying her still as neutropenic.

Her stomach is swollen and extended, measuring 42cm which causes pressure to her lungs making it difficult to breath.  We needed oxygen to aide her breathing and through X rays and ultra sounds it was determined that she may have typhlitis where the lining of the large intestine irritated, causing her diaherra and pain.  They explained that the harsh Chemo affected the lining of the organ and with time, antibiotics and increase of white blood cells the swelling should go down and she should be back to normal .

She continues to have fevers, and it just seems as if Paris is still not getting any better.  Over all the doctors keep re-assuring me that whatever she has can be treated, it may just take a while depending on how quickly her immune system which will greatly help the situation.  We are scheduled to return to New York on January 1, however the date may change due to Paris and her recovery time.

Thank you so much for continuing to think and pray for Paris, we truly appreciate it

Thanks again for the ongoing thoughts, prayers and support.

Hello everyone,

WOW-this past week has really been the worst week thus far. Paris really became sick after the first day of treatment on Monday. The 3 doses of Chemo (carbo, temodar and irenotecan) for 5 straight days really affected her. A specific oral chemo temodar is a gel cap pill that children are usally able to swallow, however Paris’ age doesn’t help her so they have to mix the powder with apple juice but just enough to fill the syringe to ensure that she gets the correct dose. Well the first attempt was a disaster, as soon as it hit her mouth the taste was so potent that she threw everything up within seconds. They tried again a while later and it stayed down after many dry heives. On Tuesday we repeated the same thing. I finally said place a NG tube so that she wouldn’t tase it. She struggled for 25 minutes and then she pulled it out. We repeated it again and then she pulled it out at home later that night. We had to put another one in on Wednesday which she finally left alone and I pulled it out on Sunday. I also used it to give her zofran, a anti-nausa medication which has a horrible taste as well. This past week has been horrible, Paris constantly throwing up-everywhere-daily actually hourly, very tired and moody. Today Sunday was the first day that she had a burst of energy and no vomiting. She seems to be doing a bit better, hopefully it will continue for the next 3 weeks. She lost more weight down to about 14 1/2 pounds now. We again have at home nurse care twice a week to take blood counts and I access her port, give her all of the medication plus neupagen through her port daily (exactly the same as last year). The nurse called and asked if I had any questions and if I needed a refresher course -I just laughed… Unfortunately, I’m a pro, I told her.

We are loosing hair again but we are gaining teeth. Go figure!

Thanks again for the ongoing thoughts, prayers and support.