One Month Anniversary

Today is the one month anniversary since Sylvie's fateful trip to see Dr. Castillo followed by the Emergency Room and then admission to the Pediatic Oncology wing of Hackensack University Medical Center. Since then, she's been in the hospital for 28 days not including 22 hours home, completed one round of chemotherapy, eaten less than 3 meals total, swapped her long locks for a little bob, had one real bath, brushed her teeth once, watched and read Sleeping Beauty over 100 times each, . I've eaten about 15 Kozy Shack Vanilla Puddings, slept home 5 nights total, practiced over 150 downward dogs, read at least 3 Sookie Stackhouse books, 20 pages of the Ramayana and become deaf to the bells, alarms and whistles that sound all day and night. Michael and I continue to debate the nature of Sylvie's cancer, play the "what's worse than Sylvie's cancer?" game and stay up to date on all the household thing that need to be done and ultimately, paid for.

We've been nourished by our friends' incredible cooking, Sylvie's also been nourished by their A+ blood and platelets. Prayers and prayer groups from every single faith I can think of except maybe Jehovah's Witness have flooded the ethers with well wishes for Sylvie. Despite drawing the short straw when it comes to Sylvie having a rare freakish cancer, we are pretty lucky to have such wonderful friends and family.

Ann dropped by with bagels this morning and then Dr. Rosen came for a visit. Dare I say, Sylvie was pretty, dare I say, nice. I think if Dr. Rosen was wearing a stethoscope, it would have been a different story! My mom dropped by later and I sat in amazement as she gave Sylvie a container of rainbow sprinkles and a Ziplock baggie filled with pretzels which she devoured. It was the first solid food she's eaten in 10 days. If Sylvie wanted gummy bears at this point, I would give them to her.

Nurse Katie just came in wearing her crazy chemo repellent apparel which means that any second the Doxo will start running through her veins. It's a 15 minute "push" through the IV. After that comes the fun... Cisplatin which is known for colossal vomiting. Let the games begin! Sylvie already had the anti-nausea medicine which I guess helps a little?

Sylvie is back eating more sprinkles. This is going to be interesting. Michael is going to have FUN tonight when Sylvie becomes the missing member of GWAR and projectile vomits sprinkles. Lovely. Sylvie did not get sick at all from the Cisplatin last time and I'm obviously hoping for the same. I don't want to make light of the situation, am thrilled she's eating ANYTHING and secretly happy that I get to sleep at home tonight. I neglected to mention another curious side effect from the chemo-- hyperpigmentation of the skin. Sylvie's hands are dark-- as in they look a little dirty! I scrubbed them just in case they really were filthy (see first paragraph about hygeine) but Dr Steele said it's common and will go away.

Sylvie is super chatty right now, gobbling pretzels and picking out the pink sprinkles with her Pop Pop by her side. Katie and I are amazed at how vibrant and talkative Sylvie is.

Dr. Steele thinks Sylvie may even go home as soon as Thursday which I think is cautiously optimistic especially since it's nearly 5 pm and they just began chemo. That means Thursday's chemo will not start before 4:45 either so the liklihood that we are discharged at 7 pm Thursday night is pretty slim.