02/29/2004:
For those of you who don't know, Ethan was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) on 02/13/04 (yep, that was a Friday the 13th). We spent a week in the hospital (Brenner Children's Hospital in Winston-Salem, NC). During our stay, Ethan received two red blood transfusions and two platelet transfusions. He was also put on some pretty hefty antibiotics. He also started his chemotherapy during that week. We were discharged from the hospital and Ethan was so happy! Scott and I took him over to my work for a few minutes and he was passing out hugs and smiles like candy! So precious...

We have had to come back to the hospital for his routine chemo. He received more platelets this past Thursday. Ethan hasn't really been himself, but we really didn't expect him to be considering what his little body is going through.

This past Friday, Ethan was not eating or drinking much and he was having a nasty bit of diarrhea. His poor little bottom is raw. He was in a lot of pain, couldn't sleep, he was starting to get a fever, and he was shaky. I called his oncologist who then told us to come into the ER and that he would let them know we were coming and to bring a bag because we were getting admitted again.

When we got to the ER it was about 12:30 am and they accessed his port, took some blood, hooked up the fluids and antibiotics. It was about 4am by the time we were settled in our new room. Ethan was given morphine to help him rest without the pain. Both Ethan and I slept most of the day away yesterday!!! :-) We needed it...

I found out this morning that Ethan has a blood infection. Not good...Because his immune system is so susceptible for infection, a nasty bug got into his bloodstream, probably from the nasty rash on his bottom. So now we are going to be in the hospital for at least ten days.

Ethan is doing pretty well considering what he is fighting. He doesn't understand what's going on with him and why Mommy and Daddy have to hold him down to give him such nasty medicines (Decadron, a steroid - Zantac, to help his tummy - Diflucan, to help heal the rash that was also a yeast infection & Bactrum, to prevent him from getting pneumonia). Scott and I of course want to see our smiling son again. He smiled the day we left the hospital but not much since.

Thank you for your prayers. We accept all of them! We have a tough road ahead, but in the end I know that Ethan will be cured! The doctors are very optimistic of that as well.