No trip to Syracuse again this week...

Jeff took Michael first thing this morning to have his lab work done for this week. Dr. Kennedy called this afternoon, after receiving a copy of the test results, and said Michael's ANC counts are still too low to receive chemo. She said Michael's platelets are up to 268 from a low of 21 a couple of weeks ago (which is great) but his ANC only went from 412 to just over 600 (and the minimum to receive treatments is 1,000). She said he has plenty of "new" monocytes, so his total neutrophil count should be good next week. Dr. Kennedy thinks that Michael has been fighting some sort of strong viral infection that didn't manifest any symptoms and that that is why his counts are so screwy. So, it looks like we get another week off.

I will admit though that I am starting to panic (just a little). I am afraid that by not receiving chemo for 6 weeks, that the remaining tumor in Michael's head will start to grow again and we will get bad news when Michael has his next MRI (which is scheduled for July 10th). Dr. Kennedy said that Michael's tumor is a slow growing tumor so she hopes that there are enough chemo drugs still in his system to deter the tumor from growing until we can resume treatments. She also said that Michael will only receive a dose of Carboplatin at 75% of the strength he has been receiving for the next maintenance phase (4 weeks). If his counts are good after that, he will go back up to 100% with the following round.

Overall, Michael is doing well these days. And, I am happy to report that he is almost bruise free!! He has been sleeping a little more than usual but has plenty of energy to do his favorite things when he is awake.

Like playing outside and driving his tractor around the yard...


And playing t-ball...

And he had a ball at Family Fun Day at school last Friday. When I got there, the younger kids were in the gym (where it was cooler) playing with the parachutes and having a great time...

(That's Michael in the plaid shirt and blue shorts.)

And he's is still talking about the giant slide they had for the kids...

I'm so glad he didn't have to miss out on the day with his friends. And tomorrow is the last Friday of the school year, so I am happy Michael gets to go to school tomorrow (since he can't have chemo). Graduation is next Tuesday, so be sure to check back Tuesday night to see pictures of our little graduate. Until then, please keep Michael in your thoughts and prayers, JoAnne