Chemo #6

Tiffany's doing her sixth chemotherapy treatment. She's staying at Children's Hospital/ Los Angeles for the week, and will continue to get her radiation at the same time.

This will be her last chemo at CHLA - from now on she'll be back at CHOC.

Feeding Tube

Tiffany is back in the hospital. Over the weekend she went in to CHOC late at night because she was running a fever of almost 101 (remember, her body can't fight off infections, and a fever says her body has a bug - she needs to go to the hospital pronto). Her Los Angeles doctors transferred her to CHLA at 2:00 AM - she had a very long night. While at CHLA and getting antibiotics for her fever, her esophagus has gotten worse, to the point now where the doctors inserted a feeding tube through her nose.

The feeding tube is uncomfortable, but at least it gives her the nourishment and hydration she needs. She's not feeling very well, and would have liked to have been home for Thanksgiving. The doctors tell us that she may be discharged early next week.

Tough Time Swallowing

Tiffany's poor throat is sensitive now, and it hurts - especially when swallowing. The radiation treatments are being aimed as precisely as possible at her tumor site, which is right next to her esophagus. The way things are laid out, I think it would be impossible to not get some radiation hitting her esophagus. The radiation is irritating the cells in the esophagus, and less mucous is being made to coat everything, so it hurts Tiffany.

Her doctors want to make sure that she's eating and drinking enough - if she can't nourish herself enough, she'll have to be fed some different way, like a feeding tube. So keep thinking good thoughts or praying for her to be strong!

P.S. No, the doctors can't change much to help Tiffany feel better about this. She needs the radiation, and they're already shooting it right where it should be. They've given her something to soothe her, but basically it's up to Tiffany to be strong for the next few weeks of radiation.

Tiffany's Home!

Tiffany is back from chemotherapy! This time was tougher - she felt nauseated more. She's still doing radiation every weekday. Welcome home, Tiffany!

Chemo #5

Tiffany is receiving chemotherapy again, this time in Los Angeles because she's still getting radiation there. They're skipping one of the drugs in her usual mix because it reacts badly with radiation (she would get a really bad sunburn at the radiation site). Good luck Tiffany!

Trick or Treat!

Tiffany got to go trick or treating! Because her immune system is weaker, we weren't sure if she would be OK to go. The day before Halloween, her oncologist ran a blood test on her and her white blood cell count was in the 800s, and they told her she was good to go! Tiffany dressed up as a Karate expert.

SIDE NOTE: A healthy, nono-chemotherapy person would have a WBC count of between 4,500 - 10,000 - so Tiffany definitely needs to be very careful about being exposed to germs Just something to keep in mind if you plan to visit her - anyone who is sick is absolutely not allowed to be around her!