The scene in this movie came into my head this morning...feels like where we are. Weve planted the bomb in the aliens (leukemias) lap, and now we are trying to make a narrow escape through a rapidly closing door. Pedal is now to the metal.....some small encouraging signs today (knock on wood as always)...Zach has stable weight, normal blood flow in liver, great vital signs, encouraging liver trends....but his kidneys are angry about all of this so next step will be feedback from kidney docs. Ive now stopped being afraid of Dr Carpenter....his soft side coming out. Hes very data/trend driven and I feel confident in his decision making -- I like how he looks at the entire landscape to assess the situation. He has always been very soft and caring toward Zach...but hes an imposing and very smart Australian guy! He currently owes Zach 5 cokes....and a chocolate milkshake was added to the list at 1:15am this morning! Zach continues to be Zach...perhaps the most encouraging data point of all. Workin it for Zach today. Fry and die, AML -- bombs in your lap, suckers! And kidneys....were all tired!!!...quit complaining and get to work!!! Look, were trying to help you, so buck up! Pls do the *pee* dance for Zach today! :) UPDATE ON THE UPDATE: 16 people in rounds today...! Wow...I think we have a good plan...they are going to put Zach on continuous dialysis today to give his kidneys a break and to allow more flexibility in medications, transfusions, etc. They have been scaling back meds and all fluids in an attempt to avoid fluid overload...now this will be taken care of by dialysis so they can regain full treatment flexibility. Zachs immunosuppression has even been cut back...so graft vs. host disease can start to appear...docs are doing a very fine balancing act. I have to hand it to Seattle Childrens...they work as a tightly integrated team....weve seen this from day one. Every team member rounds on a patient -- today, ICU, BMT, Renal guys, Infectious disease, nutrition...all there strategizing in real time. Pressing on. Go Zach, go! Julie
Posted on: Fri, 31 Jan 2014 18:07:45 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015