First Day Pass (or 3 hour pass)

Today the Kids Cancer Care Foundation or Alberta had a coffee time in the Edwards Sunshine room on the Oncology Unit.  It was a nice chance to talk to a few other parents and let the kids play together.  Talking to other parents and hearing what they are going through if very therapeutic (at least I think it helps).  They also have a social worker in there and they are always helpful to talk with.


This morning they also decided they wanted to challenge Karlee's supposed Penicillin allergy.  Earlier this year she had a reaction while taking a cousin of Penicillin and they wanted to ensure they wouldn't have any issues if they had to give her Penicillin.  They wanted to be able to use their standard antibiotic drug cocktail and it is their standard and it is the most efficient.  They gave her 4 doses of progressively more Penicillin  over about a 2 hour period.  They had 2 doctors and a nurse in the room during each dose to ensure there was no reaction.  Thankfully they got all 4 doses in and nothing happened so Karlee will be able to have the standard antibiotic cocktail they like to use.


Unfortunately this testing delayed her final chemo treatment of this round until later in the afternoon. This one was an injection into the large muscle of her leg.  They finally administered the shot around 5pm when they had been hoping to do it closer to 11am.  The plan this morning was the get the chemotherapy at 11, do the drug test around noon or 12:30 and then send us home on a 6 hour pass about 3pm.  Due to the change in the order of the drugs and delays in getting everything started we ended up with a pass starting just after 6 with us having to return by 9 for blood work.


We decided that even a short break out of the hospital would be better than nothing and Karlee was really looking forward to getting off the Oncology unit.  We drove down to Grandma's house to pick up Ryley and even the drive seemed to tire her out.  Once she got home she again perked up and enjoyed seeing the animals and spending a little time at home.  We arrived back at the hospital just after 9pm and got her checked back in and hooked up to the IV.


With a little luck they should be out of the hospital tomorrow afternoon and we should be free until we have to return to the clinic on Tuesday for another round of chemo and a bone marrow asperite.  This will hopefully be a 4 or 5 hour day and then we will be home again.


Thank you everyone for your prayers and well wishes.