Once in the clinic, Daisy whipped us back to get vitals done and immediately put us in a room as Sam had such pain. The nurse practitioner said it could be the result of the steroids accumulating in his body, getting more aggressive as they have been in his system for so long now. The doctor, Dr. G. felt there was more to it and found a red ear along with flushed cheeks. He put two and two together and came up with infection. No fever??? Well, Sammy's counts are no longer in the neutropenic range so, just like you or I, he can get an infection without getting the tell-tale fever.
I had the foresight to numb Sammy's chest and finger. It is a habit I have when we go to the clinic....they usually stick something in him! It was a blessing because Sam could get accessed and have a culture taken, along with morphine and antibiotics. He is already allergic to Vecomycin, getting Red Man's Syndrome if it is administerd too quickly. The doctor mentioned Ceftriaxone and I told them Sam had developed a hive last time he had that (or at least I thought it was that) in the Stamford ER. The decision was made to administer it anyway and then come to their own conclusions about allergic reactions. It was, after all the best choice for the situation.
My super guy asked me to go get him some food from the store. He was about to be accessed so I offered to wait. He preferred I got the food...how comfortable is he with this stabbing the chest thing now!!! I was very impressed. Blood could be drawn immediately and a culture is growing to check for a line infection. We will cross that bridge if we come to it (one day at a time). Cefrtiaxone given through IV, hives developed, Benadryl given, allergy confirmed, (told ya), and now they had to decide how to proceed in order to best beat this infection. In total Sammy fashion, he leaned over to me and quietly said, "See, I told you it wasn't the steroid feeling I usually get. I know it was something different." Can you imagine a young seven year old begin so acutely aware of his own body? Cancer kids are...they are amazing and will be great people when they grow up.
So Sammy is still accessed with tubes dangling from his chest, He will return to the hospital tomorrow for more antibiotics, get his weekly chemo a little early, stay home from school as he will be a wreck just from the battery of junk pumped into him, and we will wait for the all clear on the culture. Another dose of antibiotics will be given at home by mouth.
Monday is a day for kids who are in earlier stages of treatment. There were so many more bald heads than on Thursday. It took me back and reminded me of how far we have come. This is a speed bump...one I caught because my body ached with worry over Sammy's condition. I love my instincts, I trust them, I will always listen to them. We are lucky...words I used in my earlier posts...we really are. Cancer stinks, what Sammy has to go through is too much for a small child, but we are lucky to be where we are now...with a future, a party to look forward to...hope!
