4th April 2010 Sunday
There have been no entries for the first few months of this year as Jake's recovery process has been steadily less eventful. He finally tested negative for all his viruses, and his red and white cell counts (including and especially his neutrophils) have been climbing every week.
We started seeing Dr Tiedemann only every fortnight in about February, and have just moved to monthly checkups. Jake is now able to go out in public without a mask, and see many more adults and children (as long as they are reasonably healthy).
Jake's Hickman line was removed in the last week of February, leaving only a small scar on his chest to add to the two from the port (neck and ribs).
All four of us, plus Dianne to help us look after the kids, went away to Wilson's Promontory on the 28th of February for almost a week. Without his Hickman, Jake was able to go swimming in the river and loved building sandcastles, playing soccer on the beach, and walking (well, being carried) around Lilly Pilly Gully track. We went to see Fantastic Mr Fox at the theater there which was very good. He thought everything tasted better because we were camping :-)
The only hiccup Jake's had recently is an outbreak of hives and dry skin - so we're staying on top of that with a change of shampoo and liberal applications of moisturiser.
His immuno-suppressant (cyclosporin) dose has been tapering off, and will be completely gone on Thursday. This means that three other medications will also stop at that point as he is only taking them to counter side-effects. The only thing left will be Glivec every day for a year or so, to remove any stray leukaemic cells that might still be around (preventative at this point - he has tested negative for having any of his original blood cells left) and Bactrim to prevent throat infections.
It is amazing to be here, in a situation and with a result that we almost didn't dare to hope for only a few months ago. Thanks to everyone for all the support and good wishes, and we hope to see everyone soon now that Jake's isolation is almost over.
Doug