Edward and I took Keith back to CHEO yesterday morning for his first outpatient blood draw at the Medical Day Unit (MDU), which is divided into Oncology, Dialysis and Hematology clinics. It was very sobering to take Keith into that waiting room, and I spent my entire time in there feeling supremely grateful that we are not known there by name, like some of the other children. I saw a man I was in Air Cadets with 20 years ago. He was there with his 9 year old son, who is battling leukemia. The waiting room is filled with toys, puzzles, games, a big screen TV and even a classroom for kids missing school due to treatment. Keith was in his element playing with a box full of Matchbox cars.
Of course, Keith's itty bitty veins caused even these very experienced nurses a ton of trouble, and it took them four tries to get the needle in for the draw, but to no avail. By then, Keith had screamed himself hoarse. For the fifth try, they brought in a special nurse who was able to complete the blood work in about two minutes, much to everyone's relief.
The pain was worth the gain, however, because Keith's blood results were really good. His neutrophil levels were a whopping 1.6, and his platelet counts were normal. His liver enzymes had only recovered a smidge, but she told us that can take time. We're supposed to do a repeat blood test next Friday, as well as a repeat ultrasound to make sure his liver and spleen are no longer enlarged. Very good news, and hopefully after next Friday, we will be lucky enough to never have to see the inside of the MDU ever again!
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