Go away Adenovirus - April 4, 2014

Frustrating test results today. Virus counts are back to 1000, up from 319, even though clinically Asa is great. As docs point out, all these numbers are truly fractionally different and below 1000 is considered okay, but we are not dealin...g in a normal situation. Systemic chemo is planned for Monday. Docs will be using a slightly altered combo of chemo drugs that should not crater Asa's immune system quite so hard. It will be followed by more viral treatments to keep virus at bay. All this will require careful balance of fluids and kidney function.

Please pray for wisdom on part of docs. After talking with all the teams, we are still in new and uncharted waters medically speaking, though we know that God knows our direction and course here and is up to something good. Monday will also involve staff change and we will need folks to help us address Asa's daily issues with treatment wisely and with a level head, taking into consideration all we have already dealt with. So we need fabulous attending docs and experienced, attentive nurses. Pray that kidneys continue to fare well and that this treatment will shrink this tumor away from the necessary artery. Pray as we deal with Asa and all the ins and outs and stresses of this. This has been a tiring excursion. 

Thanks today for sweet encouraging visitors. Happy to see Asa feeling better and all over the room today, even trying to pull up on his shaky little legs. Thanks for Annalisa the helper who bore some of the weight of caring for her brother cheerfully in spite of hospital food and not much to do. Asa's sporting his ninja turtle hat to help him fight off not only this evil cancer, but this virus mess as well. Thanks for praying for all of us!