03/31/2010
by Michael Wells Another day and yet another diagnosis, today’s disease: Slapped Cheek or Fifth disease. The CDC defines fifth disease as “a mild rash illness that occurs most commonly in children. The ill child typically has a “slapped-cheek” rash on the face and a lacy red rash on the trunk and limbs. Occasionally, the rash may itch. An ill child may have a low-grade fever, malaise, or a “cold” a few days before the rash breaks out. The child is usually not very ill, and the rash resolves in 7 to 10 days”. Slap my face if what Brady has is a mild rash. He is covered from head to toe and looks simply horrible and combined with everything else is a very ill baby. His attending doctor doubled the amount of morphine he is receiving, he appears to be pain much of the time, his temperature fluctuates like a yo-yo and he continues to vomit virtually everything he eats or drinks. He’s on steroids for the ES and/or the Slapped Face situation. I sometimes wonder if the doctors are just guessing what is causing Brady’s condition because they really don’t know. The only positive news regarding Brady’s progress is the stem cells appear to be having some initial success engrafting. Today’s white blood cells were at .3 which is much higher than .1 and hopefully is the beginning of Brady seeing just a glimmer of light at the end of this long and painful tunnel. I got to the hospital around 8pm tonight and both Sherrie & her Mom looked whipped. They have been put through the mill for the past couple of days and today was no exception. One of the many tubes connected to Brady came disconnected and blood started to spurt out of it. Thank God Sherrie was there when this happened because I would have passed out. Sherrie told me it was “no big deal” as she simply closed off the opening and called for a nurse. She said the worst part was cleaning up the mess this made. Again, I am so glad this did not happen to me! Brady has a truly “special” Mom and Grandma. I must tell you the past few days have been just excruciatingly painful for Brady and extremely difficult (for us) to watch and feel just so helpless. Brady still has several days if not weeks ahead of him that will be most likely be a continuation of his present situation. Please continue with your prayers, hugs and good thoughts I am convinced they are helping Brady and I know for a fact they give Sherrie and me great comfort. Sherrie and Brady are both trying to sleep, so I’m going to head on home. Thank you for all your kind words in our guest book, until next time…“8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer” is a series of posts revisiting the journal kept by Sherrie and Michael Wells during the cancer diagnosis and treatment of their son, Brady Michael. Hopefully these entires will provide an understanding of the journey families face when dealing with these horrific diseases and of the important work the Hugs for Brady Foundation does.