The Good and the Bad

 Good:  The fevers and chest pain have both subsided and Spence feeling much more like himself again.   He's still on loads of antibiotics, but the pain meds have been weaned! 

Bad:  Spence has C-Diff again, which means we're all on isolation.  :(    C-Diff is a stomach bug (luckily without too horrible symptoms), that is considered highly contagious among  immuno-compromised patients.  Visitors will need to wash their hands with soap and water at the nurse's station before entering and after leaving Spencer's room, but otherwise don't need to worry about contracting it unless their immune system is also suppressed (or they have a newborn baby).

Good:  Thank goodness we were moved to the bigger room before being put on isolation!  A week cooped up in that shoebox room probably would've put me in the loony bin! 

Bad/Good:  I called the blood bank to see if I could get a final count of how many people donated blood in Spencer's name and not only were they rude to me, but said that it was impossible to tell me numbers.  So based solely on eyewitness accounts of people who donated (and notes that people sent to me), I'm estimating that we're at least in the 30-40 range.  Despite the blood bank management's rude non-helpfulness, the actual blood bank workers were very grateful for the influx of donations and were amazed at all the people who turned out to donate for Spencer.    Thank you to all who donated (or tried to donate and couldn't for whatever reason)!  You all are amazing!!!!


Good:  Spence's eyebrows and 'stache are growing back quickly (see picture at top for evidence).  They may very well fall out again in a week, but he is relieved by how quickly they returned!

Bad: Spence got a new hat that would likely be the envy of the pediatric hem/onc floor (see picture at top for evidence), but because he's on isolation he can't even show it off or share it with any of his fellow chemo buddies!   :) 

Good:  Tonight Spence received what will hopefully be his last dose of chemo....ever!!!!!!


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"...remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."

Helaman 5:12 (from the Book of Mormon)

Isolation

Isolation is prescribed for Spence after coming down with a  stomach bug called Clostridium difficile (C. Diff for short), which although common and treatable, is highly contagious among cancer patients with suppressed immune systems.  

Spence has his own personal stethoscope and blood pressure machine in the room, so that they don't have to touch any other patients. 

One whole week without leaving the room! 

Lara and Glen are annoyed that the isolation even applies to us and there will be no more walking the halls or going to the  nutrition center anymore.  Straight from the elevator to the room is all we can do.

An antibiotic called flagyl is how they treat C-Diff. 

The nurses will have to run all errands for us, which will include getting ice water, heating up food in the microwave, and fetching fresh linens for us. 

It's considered almost exclusively a hospital bacteria. 

Oddly, Spencer does not feel too horrible with this bug.  The stomach cramps and frequent trips to the bathroom aren't fun, but for the most part he's eating okay and feeling somewhat chipper. 

Nurses and doctors have to wear gloves and full body suits when they come to Spence's room, so they don't spread the C. Diff germ to other patients on their clothing after visiting Spence. 

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This is the glove and gown station just outside Spence's door.  It's for the nurses and doctors to use, so they don't spread germs from him to other patients.   Visitors do NOT have to put gloves and gowns on unless they are visiting other rooms (including the nourishment center).

Spence's very own vital machine, complete with blood pressure reader and electronic thermometer. 

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Just a note:  VISITORS ARE STILL WELCOME!!!!  This is one of those bugs that is only a problem for people with suppressed immune systems and/or people who are handling bodily fluids of the patient.    While this is a bug that isn't fun for Spence, he actually doesn't feel too horrible either.  Please come visit!!!   The only difference you'll notice is that he can't leave the room and you'll need to wash your hands with soap and water (instead of the hand sanitizer) upon arriving and leaving his room. 


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"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." 
                                                                                            Martin Luther King, Jr.                                                                                                                      (as seen on the MLK memorial in DC)