It's Bone Marrow Day...

I had been dreading this day for quite some time.  So much so that I didn't sleep one single second last night.  I was nervous.  I did laundry at midnight.  I vacuumed the house at 3am.  Cleaned the bathrooms and the kitchen at 4:15am and other small chores in between.  I just couldn't keep my mind off of today.  I'm not really sure why because we have gone through this before so I knew what to expect.  I know it was a little more difficult for me because my little Zekey-Pants was staying the night at his daddy's house.  I couldn't go in and check on him and kiss his cheeks whenever I wanted. 

I arrived at the hospital around 7:40am.  I sat in the parking garage waiting on Zeke and Kofi to get there.  Kofi finally let me know that they were stuck in traffic and running late.  So I went into Dr. K's office a little before 8am to let them know that Zeke would be coming but he was just running a few minutes late.  When I walked in the door my parents were already in the waiting room.  It was nice walking in and seeing them, especially since I was a little anxious and Zeke wasn't there yet.  Shortly after 8am they arrived.  I was pretty good at documenting times and what took place today...along with pictures, of course, to share.

I took this picture of the hospital as I pulled into the parking lot

 

8:12am Marqetta called us back into the office.  She put Zeke on the scale, check his height and blood pressure. 

 He weighs a whopping 42.3 lbs.

 

 He is currently 44 inches tall

 

I was filling out paperwork for this, so I missed his blood pressure.

 

 

8:19am We were sent into the playroom until Dr. Mohamed was ready to see Zeke.

 



8:21am We were sent to room 1 to see Dr. Mohamad. 
8:24am-8:32am Dr. Mohamad arrived in the room to look over Zeke.  He introduced himself to Zeke.  Z was a little unsure about him.  He doesn't like change and couldn't figure out who this guy was.  Dr. Mohamad asked him how he had been feeling and told him a little bit about what was going to happen today.  Zeke was a little nervous because he didn't have the cream on his arms so he wouldn't feel the poke.  I assured him he didn't need the cream today, but he didn't understand why not.  Dr. Mohamad looked Zeke over.  Before he left he told us that Dr. K would be doing his bone marrow today (yay!) since I had made that request.

 
8:37am They moved us back over to the playroom.  We played around and tried not to worry about what was going to happen with Zeke today.

8:50 A staff member, who we didn't know, came in and gave me his orders for the bone marrow to take downstairs.  We do not have a follow-up appointment until we have the results back.  They will call us to inform us of our next appointment at a later time.  As we walked out, Zeke grabbed a toy out of the toy box and we checked out.

 He digs and digs until he finds the perfect toy.

 

 This pool table was the lucky toy of the day to go home with Zeke.  Before I could even check out he had it opened up and was playing with it on the waiting room floor.

 

 Headed out the door to go downstairs.

 

 On our way to Level AA for his bone marrow.

 

8:57am We arrived at level AA and got all checked in.  Zeke had his bracelet put on his arm then played with a train set for a while before getting called back.

9:06am We were called back and put in room 3...the same room we were in last time.  As soon as Zeke walked in the room, he jumped on the bed and laid there stiff as a board.  He was getting more nervous at this point.  I gave him his Oh Baby (blanket) and his shark Chomp.  He always likes to guess what color of a shirt Dr. K is wearing that day.  He guessed blue and white stripes...then changed his mind to green and white stripes.  That conversation always helps take his mind off of things so he won't be so nervous.  Kofi ended up getting on the bed with him and held him for a little while.

 He's a little nervous and not exactly sure what is about to happen.  He doesn't remember going through this before.

 

 Oh Baby and Chomp help make it a little better for Zeke.

 

9:10am Nurse Ann, who we only saw this one time, and Nurse Stacie came in.  They turned on Dora the Explorer and was going to begin Zeke's IV.  Before anything happened Zeke was being Zeke, cracking jokes and making everyone laugh.  Then they pulled out the needle.  Actually it wasn't a needle but numbing cream.  He was nervous and didn't understand that this would numb the area.  Once he heard the 'rocket' sound,  he could tell it wasn't a needle.  However he didn't like it!  They were unsuccessful with his iv the first try in his left hand, which I personally thought was not the best place for it...she had a hard time finding a vein she could see well.  So then she tried again in Zeke's right arm.  If this didn't work I just knew Kofi was going to say something.  Being a paramedic, he is good at finding veins.  It was hard sitting there watching her stick the needle in his little hand and then moving it all around trying to find the vein.  Ouch!!  Zeke's mood quickly changed at this point.  Now he was pretty grumpy.  He didn't want to be touched or even looked at. :(  I get grumpy when people are poking me with needles too.

 Zeke cracking jokes with Nurse Ann

 

 Attempting to put an iv in his left hand.

 

Numbing his skin...

 

 Trying to find his vein.

 

 Still trying...

 

 ...then realizing they need to try again.  :(

 

Zeke was nervous at this point, he didn't want another poke.  She was letting him know it would be ok. Thank goodness she was successful this time.

 

 

9:22am Nurse Ann sent his blood to the lab.

9:23 am Nurse Stacie attached his iv.

 

 

We sat around and waited for what seemed like forever after this.  Zeke was somewhat cranky.  He was tired, didn't want to be touched, and was ready to go home.  He was getting upset with Kofi for messing with him.  He was not in a good mood.

 



 

 

10:07am Dr. Barnes, the Anesthesiologist, and Dr. K came into the room.  Dr. K was wearing a green, blue, and white striped shirt.  Gosh, Zeke gets it right every single time!  Zeke has had some behavior issues at school since we came back from winter break.  I couldn't figure out why all of a sudden he would go from being a good student to begin having problems in the classroom.  I created a theory about this and called Dr. K about it a couple of weeks ago...when his platelets are elevated his behavior seems to be out of control.  When his platelets lower, he is much better behaved.  As soon as Dr. K came into the room he said that he liked the theory that I came up with about his behavior and platelets having a relationship.  He said he could see how that could very much so be a possibility.  The high serotonin levels when the platelets are high could cause this, but he is not sure he would be able to prove it medically.  He does have one other patient with high platelets.  When he platelets are elevated, she does not have good behavior.  When they lower, she is better behaved.  Very interesting!  Anyway, he informed me if the results come back negative again this time he is going to consult with another platelet doctor about possibilities of what could be going on.    Dr. K informed us that he would be doing a bone marrow biopsy and aspiration today.  They were also going to do genetic testing, like they did last year. 

 

 Dr. Barnes

 

 Dr. K coming in to say hi to Zeke.  He had been crying and very emotional.  He was ready to get the heck out of there.

Dr. K pretty much letting me know that I am brilliant for the theory I came up with...I kid, I kid...kinda!  :)

 

10:14am Dr. Barnes is getting ready to give Zeke his 'milk.'  Kofi moves down off the bed and away they go...

 

 Dr. Barnes is ready to go.

 

 Kofi moving down off the bed.

 

 Zekey getting his 'milk'

 

 He's almost out...laying him back.

 

Big yawn...

 

And he's out.  Dr. K is rolling him over to begin the bone marrow. 

 

 

10:15am We were sent out into the lobby to wait until the procedure was over.  Kofi didn't leave the room.  I had a feeling he would stay.  I didn't mind...I kinda was interested in getting the scoop of what happens while we are away in the lobby.  As we waited, I couldn't help but pace back and forth.  Luckily my parents seemed to be pretty calm.  We were out there waiting about 20 minutes...which felt like an eternity. 

 

10:37am Nurse Stacie came into the lobby to get us.  She said that they had been done for a while but needed to move him to a different room which took a few minutes.  She said Zeke did great.  He woke up briefly one time but fell back asleep.  When we arrived in room 6, he was out like a light, sleeping really well.  Dr. K was standing just outside of his room.  He told me that Zeke did great.  He put some Neosporin on his wound and told me if his Band-Aid began to come off to replace it with a clean one tonight.  He needed to wear his Band-Aid for 24 hours without getting it wet.  Dr. K told Kofi based on what they find will determine if they put him on a platelet lowering medicine called Anagrelide.  I'm not so sure this is the route they are wanting to take though. 

 

 My little Zekey-Pants sound asleep.

 



 

 

10:47am Nurse Stacie thought it would be a good idea, and so did we, to take his IV out while Zeke was asleep.  He was so emotional about getting it put in and anyone touching it that we thought this would be best.

 

 

 

10:50am  As Nurse Stacie was finishing up getting him all unhooked, he woke up.  He seemed to be doing pretty good.  He didn't appear to be in any pain at this time.  He wanted to get all of the sticky wires off of his chest and was ready for his orange popsicle!!

 

 

 He was starving and chowed down.

 

Yummy!

 

He was still really hungry after eating his orange popsicle, so he got a blue one too.

 

 

 

10:57am Zeke's lab results came back.  His platelets are at 995,000. 

Zeke seems to be doing pretty good.  He isn't really complaining about anything.  He's just ready to go.

 

 

 

11:09am Dr. Barnes came in to check on Zeke and make sure that he was doing okay after waking up. 

11:11am Nurse Stacie came in to tell us that we could go home.  Yay!  :)

This is the face of a boy who is ready to go home!!

 

 Kissing his Nana bye.

 

...and his Papa.

 

 

As soon as we walked to the lower level of the parking garage and put Zeke in my car he began crying that he was in pain.  I asked him where he was hurting and he pointed to the right side of his back where they did his bone marrow.  He cried so much that I talked to the office about what we could do for the pain.  He didn't complain of any pain last year when he had this done.  He rarely complains of being in pain, so I was worried.  He was given some Tylenol but still complained of pain.  Once it was manageable, we headed home.  On our way home he wanted something sweet to eat, so I stopped at Merritt's to get him a cookie.  When we were inside he was crying that he was in pain still.  My heart hurts for him.  :(  I got him his cookie and we headed home.

 

 

When we got home we were both worn out.  I put on Wreck-It Ralph and we cuddled up on the couch and both fell fast asleep.  When we woke up a couple of hours later, he was still in pain.  I'm hoping this doesn't last long.  He has been given more Tylenol.  He has been playing...and relaxing.  We should have his test results within a week.  Thank you all so very much for your thoughts and prayers.  We greatly appreciate them!!  I will update once we have results.  :)

 

Until next time,