The point of this hospital stay was to pump Harry with large amounts of methotrexate for 24 hours, while pumping him with large amounts of saline and some leukoporin to offset some of the side effects of methotrexate -- all while monitoring his blood levels until the methotrexate level dropped below .1, so Harry could go home.
Methotrexate, you see, is a potent chemo drug but one that can cause severe damage to the liver and kidney as well as painful sores on the lips. So nurses were coming day and night to refresh his saline drip to make sure he was fully hydrated.
After the infusion, Harry's first methotrexate level was .72 on Friday night. By Saturday morning, it was at .46. By Saturday evening, it dropped to .27. And Sunday morning, we got word that Harry would be able to leave at 7 p.m. that evening. This is considered quick processing!
In the hospital, Harry developed a bruise on his foot. This may be a side effect from another chemo drug he takes, vincristin. A physical therapist came to see Harry to examine the ongoing hip/groin pain which is now causing Harry to limp. (He needed crutches at school on Wednesday but then, as a typically forgetful teenager, left them there.) X-rays of Harry's hip and pelvis once again came back negative, but the therapist insisted that it was a joint problem, not a muscle one. So we await our Patron Saint of Medicine, Dr. Laura Tosi, who will return from Houston later this week and give us a consult.
Many of you did not know Harry was in the hospital. We neither gave advanced warning nor did we ask for visitors. Don't worry -- here's advanced notice: we'll be back in two weeks. With school back in session, Harry used Thursday and Friday to keep up by watching his classes online.
The nurses were simply baffled: most could not understand Harry voluntary reading Beowulf as teen patients tend to view hospital time as time off. But not Harry. He wants to keep up with his work: a very good thing as Mr. Patwardhan, his English teacher, came to visit! But fortunately there was no pop quiz. Mr. Patwardhan is the kind of teacher you remember your entire life. Part Robin Williams in "Dead Poet Society" by way of Bollywood (ok, really Mumbai, but who knows the difference) and great books (St. John's Santa Fe).
Linda made an appointment from Oakland to donate platelets but after two hours of giving, there was a glitch in the aphoresis kit and she was unable to complete it. This sometimes can happen due to a manufacturer error's. But it was incredibly nice of Linda to do this during her vacation here in DC. She is very California chill -- no New Yorker left in her blood stream -- she didn't even complain about wasting time or platelets!
Ken's Uncle Seli, who is 79 and feeling the effects of a stroke, also came down to visit for the third time since Harry's diagnosis. It is always nice to see Seli who serves in loco parentis on Ken's side of the family.
Harry's pediatrician, Dr. Michelle Barnes, came by to spend time with Harry. Dr. Barnes, you may recall, insisted back on May 19th that we get that little bruise on Harry's arm checked out. Glad we listened!
A number of Harry's friends came by. Saturday night was "poker night" with the JPDS boys. And even though no poker was played, Harry and his buddies had a great time catching up. On Sunday, Casey came back to hang out.
We had lots of good food this weekend. One new fun activity was the "make your own" Oreo bar, sponsored by Leslie Knibb. Sharing her love for Oreos, she bought Harry every flavor imaginable. Eden then took to creating new combinations, including peanut butter-mint and pumpkin-limeade.
I am still waiting for the tequila Oreos to hit the market. (Hey, Ted's Bulletin has bourbon milkshakes. Why not Oreos?)
Shabbat we were delivered a feast of Harry's favorites - schnitzel from the Schreier-Roses. Harry had pizza Saturday night thanks to Sarah Brooks (with an assist by the Eyl-Chanins) and returned home Sunday to dan-dan noodles imported from Rockville by Leah Odinec (with an assist by Mani).
And last a big thanks to the Weiss family who gave me a very lemony birthday. We had not planned anything for my birthday, as we have learned never to plan with an active chemo patient. But Eden mentioned it to her friend from birth, Rebecca, and Rebecca's mom Laura sought out every lemon cookie, tart, cake, flower and beauty appliance to help make my day. And it did!
Methotrexate, you see, is a potent chemo drug but one that can cause severe damage to the liver and kidney as well as painful sores on the lips. So nurses were coming day and night to refresh his saline drip to make sure he was fully hydrated.
After the infusion, Harry's first methotrexate level was .72 on Friday night. By Saturday morning, it was at .46. By Saturday evening, it dropped to .27. And Sunday morning, we got word that Harry would be able to leave at 7 p.m. that evening. This is considered quick processing!
In the hospital, Harry developed a bruise on his foot. This may be a side effect from another chemo drug he takes, vincristin. A physical therapist came to see Harry to examine the ongoing hip/groin pain which is now causing Harry to limp. (He needed crutches at school on Wednesday but then, as a typically forgetful teenager, left them there.) X-rays of Harry's hip and pelvis once again came back negative, but the therapist insisted that it was a joint problem, not a muscle one. So we await our Patron Saint of Medicine, Dr. Laura Tosi, who will return from Houston later this week and give us a consult.
 |
| Harry awaits X-rays with Kelly on Saturday night |
Many of you did not know Harry was in the hospital. We neither gave advanced warning nor did we ask for visitors. Don't worry -- here's advanced notice: we'll be back in two weeks. With school back in session, Harry used Thursday and Friday to keep up by watching his classes online.
The nurses were simply baffled: most could not understand Harry voluntary reading Beowulf as teen patients tend to view hospital time as time off. But not Harry. He wants to keep up with his work: a very good thing as Mr. Patwardhan, his English teacher, came to visit! But fortunately there was no pop quiz. Mr. Patwardhan is the kind of teacher you remember your entire life. Part Robin Williams in "Dead Poet Society" by way of Bollywood (ok, really Mumbai, but who knows the difference) and great books (St. John's Santa Fe).
 |
| Harry and his English teacher, Mr. Patwardhan |
Ken's Aunt Marilyn & Cousin Linda came in from California to visit. This was, if you remember, originally supposed to be Eden's Bat Mitzvah weekend. And though we delayed the bat mitzvah, they decided not to delay a visit. It was an even more special trip since it was the first time we saw them since Ken's Uncle Bob passed away.
Linda made an appointment from Oakland to donate platelets but after two hours of giving, there was a glitch in the aphoresis kit and she was unable to complete it. This sometimes can happen due to a manufacturer error's. But it was incredibly nice of Linda to do this during her vacation here in DC. She is very California chill -- no New Yorker left in her blood stream -- she didn't even complain about wasting time or platelets!
 |
| Aunt Marilyn, Harry and Cousin Linda |
Ken's Uncle Seli, who is 79 and feeling the effects of a stroke, also came down to visit for the third time since Harry's diagnosis. It is always nice to see Seli who serves in loco parentis on Ken's side of the family.
Harry's pediatrician, Dr. Michelle Barnes, came by to spend time with Harry. Dr. Barnes, you may recall, insisted back on May 19th that we get that little bruise on Harry's arm checked out. Glad we listened!
 |
| Harry with Dr. Michelle Barnes |
.JPG) |
| Another Sat night in Room 423 |
A number of Harry's friends came by. Saturday night was "poker night" with the JPDS boys. And even though no poker was played, Harry and his buddies had a great time catching up. On Sunday, Casey came back to hang out.
We had lots of good food this weekend. One new fun activity was the "make your own" Oreo bar, sponsored by Leslie Knibb. Sharing her love for Oreos, she bought Harry every flavor imaginable. Eden then took to creating new combinations, including peanut butter-mint and pumpkin-limeade.
I am still waiting for the tequila Oreos to hit the market. (Hey, Ted's Bulletin has bourbon milkshakes. Why not Oreos?)
Shabbat we were delivered a feast of Harry's favorites - schnitzel from the Schreier-Roses. Harry had pizza Saturday night thanks to Sarah Brooks (with an assist by the Eyl-Chanins) and returned home Sunday to dan-dan noodles imported from Rockville by Leah Odinec (with an assist by Mani).
And last a big thanks to the Weiss family who gave me a very lemony birthday. We had not planned anything for my birthday, as we have learned never to plan with an active chemo patient. But Eden mentioned it to her friend from birth, Rebecca, and Rebecca's mom Laura sought out every lemon cookie, tart, cake, flower and beauty appliance to help make my day. And it did!
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