Unfortunately, Lydia is experiencing some typical side effects from a spinal stem cell treatment: headache,vomitting, fever. Her temp is rising and is now 100+ and the nurse went to check with the doctor about more meds. She has had a rough day-first the headache,then vomitting, now fever. This morning an opthamologist tried to see her for an evaluation, however he wanted her to do the most difficult thing-keep her eyes open with a bright light shining in it. I tried to explain it was a very painful thing for her, but the doctor persisted and ,of course, was unsuccessful. He came to the room later in the afternoon with the same result and with Lydia crying uncontrollably. Then, due to her symptoms, IV fluids needed to be started again. Unfortunately her right hand IV was bad and burned, had to put in new IV on the left-more sobbing. The new IV was better, her favorite nurse Sophie put it in and I think that helped her. Now she is sleeping and I have to wake her to give her Ibuprofen. I hope tomorrow is better and this doesn’t happen after every procedure!
January 15th, 2008
Lydia had her first stem cell transplant yesterday. All is well today, she has a slight headache and occasional nausea but overall good. I must say, she really is a brave little girl. All of the doctors told us she was brave in the OR. We were all caught a little of guard yesterday because they came early for her, she was scared and tearful going into the OR which made me a bit tearful as well. She did not have sedation because it being her first time, the doctors wanted to make sure she was reacting well to the transplant. Lydia said,”The doctors rubbed my back like they were giving be a massage” I asked if if she felt the needle in her back and she said “no, I didn’t realize the doctors put a needle in my back”. After a few minutes of being back in the room, she was back to being herself. She was so sweet and said,”I think I am starting to see a little, I think I might be able to see the IV pole. Well,maybe” This was 2 minutes after the procedure. She really wants this to work about as much as the rest of us.
The difficult part of the day was that she was not able to eat or drink for a few hours before and after the procedure and not able to get up or more improtantly lift her head for 6 hrs after the procedure. She got to experience the bedpan and thought that was pretty cool-she had several experiences with it as she had 3 bags of IV fluids run -kept me busy!
Lydia continued to appropriately praise herself for being brave and not getting too upset. “Now I will know what is going to happen, so next time I won’t be scared”, she says. What an adult trapped in a little body!
Today will be a recovery day for all of us as I did not sleep much, checked on her frequently as did the nurse all night. I hope for both of us to get some good food today and enjoy being together. The doctors will round in a little bit and take out her IV which will make her happy. Her next stem cell treatment will be on Friday and will be an IV only. She will be able to eat,drink and run around as usual that day. Thanks to everyone for your continued support. Keep the comments coming, we really like to hear from everyone.
January 15th, 2008
