2005 Journal Entries
| June 23rd - Archie is admitted to the Hospital. |
| June 24th - Thanks for your e-mails and phone calls. |
| June 26th - Archie is improving. |
| June 27th - Archie is acting himself. |
| June 28th - Archie is doing well. |
| June 29th - Dr. Hayes scheduled a bone marrow aspiration. |
| June 30th - The bone marrow aspiration brought good news today. |
| July 1st - Archie was very much himself today. |
| July 11th - Archie was readmitted to the hospital tonight. |
| July 13th - I am exhausted. |
| July 14th - Archie started chemotherapy today. |
| July 17th - Archie started his fourth day of chemotherapy. |
| July 19th - Archie has been so pleasant the past few days. |
| July 21st - Little Man continues to be a maverick. |
| July 25th - Archie may get to come home tomorrow. |
| July 26th - We came home today. For about three hours. |
| July 27th - Good news today. |
| July 31st - Archie spiked a fever Saturday afternoon. |
| August 1st - Back to the operating room. |
| August 9th - Going to see Dr. Stroud today. |
| August 21st - The Blue Screen of Death. |
| August 29th - Archie is doing really well. |
| September 11th - Kit came home from the Hospital. |
| September 27th - Archie got home from the hospital Saturday morning. |
| January 27th, 2006 - Although each day drags by, each month passes so quickly. |
| April 25th, 2006 - Meyer Center for Special Children. |
| July 1st, 2006 - Archie isn’t a baby anymore. |
| I am exhausted |
| by Anne Moore 07/13/2005 |
I am exhausted, but I wanted to write quickly to update everyone on Archie’s condition. The doctors
confirmed that Archie has acute megakaryoblastic leukemia (AML-M7), a subset of acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
Dr. Stroud decided that Archie didn’t need to endure another bone marrow aspiration as Archie’s CBC and flow
cytometry was confirmation enough to make this diagnosis.
Today Archie had surgery to place a Broviac catheter in his chest. This is a central line placed in a large
vein that will be used to administer medication and blood products directly into Archie’s bloodstream, and
blood for labs can be withdrawn without repeatedly inserting a needle through the skin and into a vein. This
catheter can be left in place as long as Archie needs it.
Dr. Stroud also performed a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) during surgery to determine whether the leukemia cells
have infiltrated Archie’s spinal fluid. Although all of the results of the lumbar puncture haven’t returned from
the lab yet, the initial tests of the fluid indicate that the fluid’s clear of leukemia cells. During the
procedure Dr. Stroud also gave Archie a dose of ARA-C, a chemotherapy drug, to protect Archie’s brain from
leukemia cells.
We also opted to insert an NG tube in Archie’s nose while he was unconscious during surgery. His oral chemotherapy
drugs can easily be given through this tube.
Archie will begin his first round of chemotherapy tonight. We hope to see his blood counts decrease over the next
few days as this will indicate that the drugs are working. Archie’s spleen and liver should also decrease in size
over the next few days. Hopefully then the organs will stop compressing Archie’s lungs and will eliminate his need
for oxygen assistance.
Because Archie has begun chemotherapy, we can no longer allow visitors to see him. Chemotherapy will destroy Archie’s
immune system and he will be particularly susceptible to illnesses. We cannot risk Archie getting sick as even the
simplest cold could have very serious adverse affects on his health. John and I would love to see you all, but we’ll
have to visit outside of Archie’s hospital room.
Thank you again for all of your thoughts and prayers. Archie, John and I are all so fortunate to have such caring and
compassionate friends.