Steps Forward

Allison was finally able to come home after my last update, following a very long 26-day hospital stay.

When we were discharged, her doctors had to change her antibiotic because the one she was receiving in the hospital is only available through IV. Unfortunately, when we returned the following week for blood work, her inflammatory markers were rising again, making it clear that the new antibiotic wasn't working as well. Thankfully, the team was able to arrange home IV antibiotics, and they decided she would need to continue them for another six weeks.

After that, the doctors decided to try to drain the spot on her liver to see if it might help resolve the infection. However, her platelet count was still too low for the procedure, especially since the liver has a higher risk of bleeding. Because of that, she was admitted the night before to receive several units of platelets.

The next day, during the procedure, they were unable to locate the abscess on ultrasound. Instead, they used anatomical landmarks to guide a biopsy. Essentially, they told us that if the biopsy showed signs of infection, that would be helpful information, but if it came back negative, it wouldn't necessarily mean much because they couldn't be certain they sampled the exact area they were targeting. Not what we were hoping to hear at all. 

Afterward, Allison spent a few hours in the ICU for observation because the procedure site was close to her heart and because of the risk of bleeding. Thankfully, everything was uneventful, and she was able to return to the oncology floor later that night.

At that point, the oncology team began discussing whether she should remain hospitalized longer to monitor the infection and because she was requiring oxygen. With some persistence and coordination, they were able to arrange home oxygen, and we were very grateful to be able to return home the following day.

Since then, there have been a few more bumps in the road. After some delays, Allison was able to receive another round of chemotherapy, but additional delays followed because her immune system and platelet counts simply weren't recovering the way they should. The infection just took a tremendous toll on her body.

This week, however, we finally received some encouraging news. Her blood work looked great, and her CRP, that inflammatory marker we've been watching so closely, is FINALLY NORMAL! It is such a relief to think that we may finally be putting this infection behind us. She still has a couple more weeks of antibiotics to complete, but this feels like a huge step forward.

There have been some other exciting milestones, too. Today, Alli got to register for school. We still have a lot to figure out before she can return, and she has about five weeks of chemotherapy left (spread over the next seven or so weeks), which means she still won't be able to attend regularly for a while. But just getting to make plans for the future feels like a gift.

She also received her first dose of outpatient chemotherapy this week. That may not sound like a big deal, but after so many hospital stays, being able to get treatment and then go home afterward felt incredibly exciting.

Things are moving forward. The finish line is still a ways off, but for the first time in a while, it feels like we're making progress toward it. We're doing our best to stay strong, take things one step at a time, and keep our eyes on the hope that this season won't last forever.

Thank you, as always, for your prayers, encouragement, and support. We continue to feel carried by them.