Day 134

Jesse woke at 6:30am. She instantly asked me if we could go downstairs and eat in the hotel lobby. She is so excited to be able to do things that have been denied to her for so long. And it has pepped her up. She ate one and half muffins.

She also began asking me when Mike would arrive. It’s getting hard for Jesse to be separated from the family. And I agree. She is a different child at home. I wonder why that doesn’t play more into these kids’ treatments? If they are happier at home, why can’t things be done to help them get the treatment at home?

At 11am, Mike arrived. Jesse was so excited. Poor Mike was exhausted. She showed Mike her tick spots, which are looking pretty good today. Mike told me he was on a plane with a lady coming for a huge conference here at St Jude this weekend for the money donors. Yeah a ton of people filtering through the hospital as Jesse’s ANC is knocked to the ground.

About 11:30am, we went over so Mike could answer his donor questions and give blood for labs. Jesse needed to give a sterile urine sample.

While Mike and Jesse registered, I asked triage for a sterile urine kit. Then we went to the donor room for Mike’s appointment. While he answered questions, Jesse and I waited. A recruiting nurse came along. Very lively character. She and another nurse took Jesse to the ABC wall to get a Popsicle. Jesse walked the whole way there and back. We met them at the door.

She ate the Popsicle while Mike and I had lunch. Jesse is convinced that there is nothing she wants to eat in the cafeteria at St Jude. I have not been able to convenience her otherwise. Our clinic nurse called to ask if we knew about the sterile urine and to make sure Jesse got an arm band before 4pm today. Luckily we had both covered. I actually thought for a minute it was the nurse practitioner calling about something she’d forgotten.

After lunch, we went to triage to wait for Mike’s lab work appointment. Jesse was really excited to watch him get stuck. But when the time came for her to see it happen, she was covering her eyes. Once Mike’s labs were taken, we returned to the room to spend the last twenty minutes before Mike had to leave for his flight home. The van called at 1:45pm to say they were ready. This gets harder and harder for Jesse each time. She cried some downstairs, then was distracted by a lively boy in the elevator. But once we were in the room, she was in tears again.

Around 4:30, clinic called to say Jesse would be in room 2072. I am crossing my fingers this is a corner room with double windows. But this could change. We have to report over at 8pm. Tomorrow will start the chemo.

Tonight Jesse wanted pizza, but when we went downstairs to get the coupon , a group was serving dinner. Jesse was actually interested in eating the corn on the cob and spaghetti they served. Afterwards she played in the playroom and even went outside to play on the playground. She went up and down the steps several times. I am really proud of how active she has been today. I am hoping that this helps her with recovery this time.

Thank you Pam and Jimmy and Mike, Cindy, and Biscuit for your cards and well wishes. Thank you Aunt Phyllis for the support and stickers. Thank you Uncle Greg and Aunt Beverly for the support and note.