short ER visit

Okay "short" is relative as any visit we take to the ER always lasts at least 4 hours. I ended up calling Ethan's team on Thursday to just get their opinion on a few of symptoms that he's been having lately. No dramatic symptoms but just some general fatigue, paleness and a few other things that made me want to get their opinion. His team's recommendation was for us to take him to the ER just to rule out any kind of infection.

Pete was out of town on a business trip to California (yes, California!) but we were thankful to have Grandma Sheila here to come with Ethan and I to the hospital to get things checked out. She always has a way of putting a big smile on his face.

Thankfully everything checked out fine and they gave him a couple of IV antibiotics (standard procedure in case there is an infection, they don't want to waste time while they wait on test results). We learned that his blood counts have improved slightly to the mid 100 range, and that his hemoglobin and platelets are in good range so no need for any transfusions. End result - DISCHARGED!

Pete made it back from California later that night as well and yes, we were all thrilled to have him home! :)

Next steps for Ethan are to have labs checked this coming Monday. The goal is for him to be at 750 in order for him to start chemo on Wednesday. If he does start chemo on Wednesday he will have 2 IV chemos, be sedated for intrathecal chemo and then come back to the clinic on Thursday for one more IV chemo. 

I have a few specific prayer requests:

• Per usual - please pray that Ethan's body recovers and continues to make white blood cells to get his counts up. And that he would stay healthy.
• Please pray against anxiety and fear, for all of us. There's a fine balance between facing the reality of all that comes with cancer and chemo and yet not dwelling on fears of the unknown and of the future. If there is anything this whole thing has made clear, it's that I do not know the future and yet God does. My continual prayer is that God would help me hang my hat on that truth.
• Ethan only has 2 weeks left of preschool for the year and I am hoping that he will be able to attend at least once or twice before the last day of school on May 29th. Yes, it seems trivial considering everything but it would be nice for him to get to attend if possible. 

Thank you for continuing to pray for Ethan and our family!