2005 Journal Entries

Wanted to let you know that Archie was admitted to the Children’s Hospital at Greenville Memorial Thursday afternoon.

I took Archie to see his pediatrician last Friday because he was running a low-grade fever and wasn’t acting like himself. When we got there, the fever was gone and the pediatrician told me Archie looked great physically. Even still, Archie continued to run a very low fever and act unlike himself all weekend. He began, too, to cut back on the amount of food and formula he was willing to accept.

I kept Archie home from school Monday morning because he still had a low-grade temperature. By Monday evening Archie’s temperature was slightly higher and he was significantly fussier. He also was coughing and congested, just like I’ve been for the past two weeks. Thinking something was definitely brewing now, I took Archie to his pediatrician’s office Tuesday morning. The doctor suspected Archie had an ear infection, but because his ear canals are so tiny and difficult to visualize the doctor sent us to the hospital to see Archie’s ENT. The ENT said that Archie’s ears looked great and definitely weren’t infected. Although Archie was still running a low-grade fever he seemed fine, just fussy with cough and congestion, so we went forward, hoping Archie would feel better soon.

On Wednesday Archie’s temperature was higher still and he was more agitated than he’d been, so I called the pediatrician to see what I should do. The doctor suggested a few over-the-counter medications for Archie’s symptoms and told me to bring him in if his temperature exceeded 101 degrees. By Wednesday night I knew we were in trouble. Archie had only eaten a few bites of food over the course of the week and was now decreasing the amount of formula he’d drink. He would suck from his bottle for a few seconds and then spit, suck and spit. His lips were chapped and peeling and I knew he was dehydrated or soon would be. He whimpered constantly and his temperature was fluctuating, up and down, up and down. We could tell, too, that his heart rate was increased and Archie seemed to be breathing more quickly than he normally does. After a sleepless Wednesday night we took Archie to the pediatrician’s office Thursday morning for the third time in seven days. He had a 102.7 degree fever and was lethargic and miserable. He just lay on the doctor’s exam table and submitted to the doctor’s poking and prodding, something completely out-of-character for Archie. The pediatrician said it was “time to go fishing” (a wonderful phrase to use with a pregnant woman) and sent us to the hospital for a urine culture, chest x-ray, CBC and electrolyte count. The doctor didn’t think Archie was dehydrated because his mouth was moist and he had a slightly wet diaper, and suggested we go home and try putting water in Archie’s mouth with a syringe. I explained to him that Archie will not let us do such a thing no matter how poorly he feels, and that I knew my child was dehydrated and I wished he’d do something about it.

The urine culture revealed Archie has a urinary tract infection, the chest x-ray was clear, the electrolyte count indicated that Archie was “more dehydrated than [the pediatrician] thought,” and the CBC … Archie’s blast count (the number of immature cells Archie will always have in his blood because he was diagnosed with transient leukemia at birth) was significantly elevated, as was his white blood cell and platelet counts, but his hematocrit was very low.

Because of his test results Archie was admitted to the hematology/oncology unit at the hospital. He’s got an i.v. of fluids to treat his dehydration, and is receiving an antibiotic through his i.v., too, to treat his infection. He’s also receiving a blood transfusion to correct his hematocrit imbalance and stabilize his heart rate and blood pressure. Since there is some question as to whether all of Archie’s blasts are really blasts or immature white blood cells, they’re putting some sort of stain on the slide tonight that will enable the doctors to read it more accurately tomorrow morning. Pending the results of the stained slide, Archie may or may not have a bone marrow biopsy late tomorrow morning.

Dr. Hayes, Archie’s hematologist/oncologist and the doctor who admitted him this afternoon, feels that the unusual blood counts are more indicative of Archie’s infection than they are of leukemia. He is looking at Archie’s elevated platelet count as a positive sign (a decreased platelet count, not an increased platelet count, usually indicates leukemia), but the doctor still wants to act conservatively and cover all his basis.

When I left the hospital tonight Archie was still fussy and miserable, but he was getting color back in his lips and face and was regaining some of his fight. My father is spending the night with Archie. John, who has been up all night, every night with Archie all week, came home with me to get some rest. Dr. Hayes wouldn’t allow me to spend the night and told me to go home and take care of myself and Archie’s little brother and sister.

I’ll write again tomorrow to let you all know how Archie is doing, and also to update you on Archie’s bone marrow biopsy should be receive one. I expect he’ll be in the hospital over the weekend as he’s been prescribed a four-day course of intravenous antibiotics and is unable to eat/drink due to his congestion. Please keep Archie in your thoughts and prayers tonight and tomorrow as you go about your day.