The McNeils

Well I thought today was suppose to be the day they did the bone marrow biopsy.  When the doctor came in, he didn't say anything about doing it, so maybe tomorrow.  I bet it has something to do with the fact that his chemo actually ran over into day 8.

No fevers yet today.  But Eddie has felt real weak.  His mouth is bothering him.  One part of his gum is a little swollen and the edges of his mouth has split on both sides.  This keeps him from opening his mouth wide to eat.  He does try though.  We went to the North Pavilion today for dinner.  Eddie ordered shrimp & fries and I had a grilled 3 cheese & ham sandwich.  It was kind of expensive, but a change from the everyday hospital food we normally get.

We went outside maybe three times today to smoke, and I did laundry.  Most of the day we just kind of lounged around.  Oh yeah, we got approved for Medicaid & Foodstamps.  It was actually kind of easy.  I applied online and all I had to do is have a telephone interview with the case worker in Panama City.  We don't qualify for Cash Assistance because Eddie would have to participate in the one on one program, which would mean that he would have to work.  I explained to the lady that the doctors aren't releasing him to work for a year and SSDI won't start paying out for 6 months.  She said there wasn't anything she could do.  As far as paying the electric bill and vehicle insurance every month we are going to have to find the money else where.  I'm sure there are charity services that will help with the electric bill, but I doubt they pay car insurance.  Our insurance has already lapsed since we've been in the hospital.  We'll more than likely have to borrow a ride to the doctors and stuff until something happens financially.  I don't know, I guess take one day at a time.  But at least we'll have food in the house to eat.  Maybe no electricity to cook it and cool it, but there will be food.  Just kidding.  I'm sure there will be a way to pay the bills when they come due, we just have to have faith.

I just want to say thank you again to our friends & family that are supporting us through this time of need.  We love yall.

Well here are the numbers for the day.

Day 10

Platelets
24

Hemoglobin
9.2

Red Blood Cells
3

White Blood Cells
0.6

Well here we are.....another day in Birmingham.  Still everything is looking good.  Eddie received two pints of blood today and a pint of platelets.  The doctor came in this morning and they are changing his antibiotics because last night he ran a fever of 100.4.  Not to high for me or you, but in Eddie's case it means a sign of infection.  The doctor seems to think that he is having an allergic reaction to the antibiotics because with what they are giving him he shouldn't have any infections.  Plus they ran a blood test and it came back negative.  Eddie also started scratching and forming something that appears to be a rash on his ankels and tops of his feet.  He didn't have any nausea today.

Willie left here about 6 this evening.  We had Starbucks and Papa Johns Pizza.  Boy, did I enjoy eating food that didn't come from the hospital.  Eddie ate three slices of, if I knew he would eat that good every meal, I would order him pizza all day everyday. 

He has officially reached Nadir, from what the nurse told me.   Here are his numbers.  He should remain leveled out for about a week and then the numbers should start coming up. 

Day 9

Platelets
11.7

Hemoglobin
7.7

Red Blood Cells
2.47

White Blood Cells
0.70

Ed, Tammy, & Gabe left today about 3 I think.  We are gonna miss them.  Tammy and I went to Wal-Mart for a couple of hours.  It's nice getting out of this hospital for a little bit, but I feel guilty for leaving him here by himself.  But today wasn't to bad cause he got to spend some time with Gabe and his dad.  A little guy time for the three of them.  When we got back to the hospital Willie just made it here.  So Tammy & I met him at the parking garage and brought him up to see Eddie.  Since more than likely we will be in the hospital for Eddie's 30th birthday, we went ahead and gave him his presents so he could go ahead and open them in front of everyone.

About noon today Eddie came off of the chemo.  I am so relieved that it is over with.  It's hard looking at that I.V. pump everyday knowing that their is poison pumping into his body.  But of course we still have a bumpy ride ahead of us the next two weeks. 

Today was the beginning of it.  About 6 he began to run a fever of 99, every 30 minutes I check his temperature, until it read about 100 and I called the nurse.  She then took his temp and it read 100.5, so she had to call the doctor and of course he ordered some blood work.  With some Tylenol and antibiotics running through his "Hickman", he's feeling better now.  The fever went down and now he's sitting here playing his new video game he got for his birthday.

Willie's gonna spend the night with us here in the room.  I guess we're gonna have a slumber party.  LOL.  I'm sure Eddie really enjoys having his best friend here with him.  I think Jason & Shelby will be coming up in two weeks if we are still here.  I am so glad that we have such wonderful friends who are there for us.  It always seems like when situations are at their lowest, this is times when you find out who your real friends are.

I think we should know something by Monday if we will be able to come home soon.  Everybody please send him "energies" & "prayers".  He will officially reach Nadir in two days.  This is going to be the time he needs to receive them the most.  I will continue the count, but of course relabeling it Days of Treatment.

Day 8

Platelets
22.5

Hemoglobin
8.1

Red Blood Cells
2.60

White Blood Cells
0.76

Well today is the final day.  Kind of anyways.  Last bag of chemo administered.  He technically won't be done with it until about 10 tomorrow morning.  Only because the nurses got a late start on the first bag.  It's been an easy 7 days, so horror stories to tell, but they said that he wouldn't start having the effects until day 10-14.  So we still have a couple of days left before the fevers and sickness really set in.

Eddie's dad, Tammy, & Gabe came up today.  It was great to see them.  We haven't seen Gabe in two weeks as of Saturday.  At least he's young enough right now he doesn't understand why we aren't home with him.  He's not sure what to take of his daddy being "sick". 

Eddie's appetite has really been good lately.  Ever since they started giving him Nexium, he's been eating about the same amount of food he used to eat, but instead of eating it all at one meal he breaks it up throughout the day.  I don't care, as long as he has the calorie intake.

When the doctor came in this morning he started talking about the bone marrow transplant.  We won't know if Eddie needs one until sometime next week.  But he wants to go ahead and check his brother Jeff to see if he is going to be a match.  The odds are only 1/4.  Not really that great of odds but better than if he has to get it from someone else.  If Jeff doesn't match, his name will just go into a data base and we sit back and wait.  And I'm assuming that Eddie would just continue chemo treatments until a donor is available.

Doctor came back from the dentist and said that the other two teeth that they missed during fillings will just have to wait until Eddie can have them done as out patient services.  Well I guess that will be alright, I was really just hoping that he wouldn't have to worry about dental work for awhile.  I am so glad that they took care of the majority of them.

Well no blood today, but I am sure that he will be getting a pint tomorrow.  Platelets are looking really good today, but that is to do with the bag he got last night of them.  I am so proud of how well Eddie has been handling all of this.  Sometimes when I look at him or talk to him, I don't even realize that he is "sick".  He has color back in his face and he seems happy.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that he does really well for the next two weeks.

Well enough for tonight.  Just remember every night I will be posting how is doing, so don't forget to check back.

Day 7

Platelets
38.3

Hemoglobin
8

Red Blood Cells
2.60

White Blood Cells
0.74

Nothing to much today either.  Eddie received a pint of blood, a pint of platelets, and potassium.  Along with with antibiotics and the regulars.  We are both so ready to go home.  We only went to the 3rd floor 3 times today to smoke.  I think the walls are starting to close in on us.

Well we talked to the doctor this morning and I think they are going to send Eddie to the dentist again once his counts come back up, cause they forgot 2 teeth that need to be filled.  After those are done, his mouth will have a clean bill.

Dr. Baird said that if everything goes right for this treatment of chemo, we may actually be able to go home in 3 weeks.  Well I won't get my hopes up, we'll just wait and see how his bone marrow test goes in 8 days.  But all in all, he is doing really well.  Tomorrow is the last day of chemo....woohoo

Check out the new links that I have added to our page.  As you can tell what kept me busy today.

Day 6

Platelets
14.7

Hemoglobin
8.1

Red Blood Cells
2.58

White Blood Cells
1.15

For those of you that didn't quite understand the first blog where I described what will be happening to his blood counts as he goes through chemo, maybe this explaination will help a little more.  When he started chemo he entered a state called neutropenic which means that his blood count, which are the different numbers that I am listing every day, have dropped to a point where his immune system won?t fight bacteria very well, so he cannot eat ?fresh? fruit and vegetables because they cannot be washed properly.  After approximately day 10-14 he reaches a state called nadir.  That is when his counts are at an extreme low and he will be susceptible to any and all germs, viruses, and bacteria?s.  During both of these stages he is not suppose to be around a lot of people especially if anyone is sick.  That is why he has to wear a mask when he goes out of the room.  The chemo kills his cells in his blood and bone marrow in hopes that his bone marrow will produce ?good? cells and not cancerous ones.  That is what chemo does, kills the cells, that is why his counts drop every day, this is what they are suppose to do.  You will notice after his ?low? point, the numbers will gradually go up to near normal until he has to do treatment again.  It will be like a roller coaster ride for the next 6 months or so until the doctors think they have gotten him into a complete remission.

Nothing much happened today.  Eddie got his go-go juice (pint of blood) and had a little more energy later on in the evening.  We spent a majority of the day being extremely bored.  I walked over to the "Town House" and took some Gatorade's over there.  They give Eddie 3 with every meal and there is no way he will drink all of them including the juice, milk, and tea they give him.  I think we have nearly 2 cases saved up.  Hell, since he's going to get charged for them anyways, might as well keep them.  I don't know if we'll drink them when we get home, but Gabe sure will enjoy them.  Well maybe more news to report tomorrow.  Stay tuned.........

Day 5

Platelets
22.1

Hemoglobin
7.7

Red Blood Cells
2.44

White Blood Cells
1.45 ~ not really sure why this one gained a 0.01, haven't had a chance to ask.

Not to much going on today.  Eddie started his day out very tired, so he slept a majority of the morning and afternoon.  I am sure a lot of that had to do with an elderly gentleman across the hall that made a turn for the worse and was moaning all night and we heard him even with the door closed and the t.v. turned up.  I think they finally took him to ICU.  After Eddie's long nap, he was actually doing really well today.  We watched movies, took a couple of walks around the hospital, and joked around.  The nurses laugh at us and tell us how cute we are piled up in one hospital bed watching t.v.

Eddie gets aggravated with me because I stay on him about eating.  He hasn't had much of an appetite over the past two weeks, even though he can have whatever he wants.  Today I was so proud of him.  He ate really good at all three meals, plus snacked in between.  That alone really made my day.

I think tomorrow they are planning on giving him another pint of blood.  So maybe he'll have another good day, cause he'll be getting his go-go juice.  I want to say thank you to his Aunt Jo and his mom for the cards and pictures that they sent.  It is really nice hearing from home.  If anyone is interested in sending him a hello letter or a card, here is the address and telephone number.

205-975-1619

Well here are the numbers for today.  More news tomorrow.

 Day 4

Platelets
23

Hemoglobin
8.2

Red Blood Cells
2.59

White Blood Cells
1.44

Well here we are, on day 3 of Chemo.  Eddie received his 3rd and final push of one of the chemo drugs they are using today.  We still have 4 more days of the IV drip of chemo.  It will take anywhere from 6-8 wks here for him to recover.  Basically they are keeping us here for the induction phase to achieve a remission.  If the first treatment doesn't work, then he has to do another treatment until he reaches remission before they will even let him go home.  Once remission has been achieved, then has to continue having chemo for 6 months, once a month for a week at a time, being put into the hospita, then recovering at home.  The time he is receiving the chemo isn't the bad time, it's the recovering time when he is sick.  So by the time he recovers and is able to be at home by himself it's time for another round of chemo.  Eddie has been really tired today and I think the nausea is starting.  He's been complaining of heart burn and his stomach having a "full" feeling.  He's hardly eaten anything toda.  When he doesn't eat that's when it really scares me.  He is starting to lose more weight.  I knew this day was going to get here.  But they say, it will get much worse before it gets better.  I am so ready for us to come home. 

When we get home, I?m going to try and get food stamps and AFDC.  I hope they can help us.  It is going to be difficult for me to find a job until this is all over with because I am going to have to be there taking care of him during his critical times.  I know Eddie's mom and brother are taking care of the electric bill this month.  I am sure this will all come together in time, but it is stressful just thinking about the next step I have to make and prepare for.  We applied for social security and disability, but the social worker here said it takes 6 months to start receiving a check.  Well I've rattled on enough for tonight.  I will have more later.  Here are the numbers for today.

O.k...day 2 of Chemo.  Still no symptoms of the chemo treatment besides the affects of the leukemia.  We didn't wake up until after 10 this morning cause we tried our best to tune the nurses out as they came in and out of the room.  I can at least say I got 8 hours of sleep last night.

Eddie was really fatigued today.  After his 2nd push of chemo he took a couple hour nap.  His red blood count was really low, so they gave him another pint of blood.  A few hours after the blood, he got a little pep in his step.  I have nick named the blood his go-go juice.  They say the red blood cells are what gives him energy.

There's really no news today......so here are the numbers.  Stay tuned for what tomorrow brings.

Day 2

Platelets
35.2

Hemoglobin
7.6

Red Blood Cells
2.38

White Blood Cells
2.31