06/27/2010
by Michael Wells Sunday is just about over and it’s a very good thing. Brady has a very difficult Saturday night followed by an even more excruciating Sunday morning. His temperature continued to spike up to 103.4˚ and no one seems to have an answer as to, “why.” He has been given different antibiotics along with a different type of steroid and it appears to have the temperature under control; since around 1:00pm his highest temperature was 101.4˚. Sherrie and I had a very difficult time with the attending physician; Dr. Glod. The good doctor basically had to be told by us what we wanted done and when we expected it to be completed. We both felt as if he was giving up on Brady. When I asked him if the only option left was to take Brady home, his response was shrugging of his shoulders. Not the answer we wanted and not the answer we accepted. The immediate problem facing Brady is getting his temperature under control so we can get him to CHOP for the lymphocyte transfusion. To complicate the situation, Dr. Glod is not sure if Brady has Graft Versus Host Disease, (GVHD). If Brady has GVH, it is unlikely Brady will be able to receive the lymphocyte transfusion and when I asked “should we just take Brady home” I got the shrugging of Dr. Glod’s shoulders. Well, there is a test to determine if Brady has GVH; a simple skin biopsy. I instructed Dr. Glod to get this done and told him to have pathology get the sample started so we would have the results by Monday. It was simple; take my instructions or have a chat with the senior management of the hospital. I cannot believe this crap; our son is battling for his life and the most intelligent thing I get is a shoulder shrug. Anyway, Dr. Glod performed the biopsy and pathology has prepared the slides so we will have the results by Monday morning. We will be heading the CHOP tomorrow if Brady’s is not febrile or on Tuesday with the ALS transport team from CHOP. I cannot remember exactly what ALS means but there will be a doctor, nurse and a technician in the ambulance if Brady continues to have a temperature. Well, I guess it’s officially Monday and Sunday is finally over, thank God! it’s late and I have to get up early tomorrow. Until the next time; now is the time for all the prayers, hugs and good thoughts you have.“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.