Riding out our first relapse...

[Crystal Ferreira]

As I sit beside Christopher, staring at all the familiar nursing faces, I think back at how little we know about his illness and how we took each day of the past four and a half months one step at a time. As I mentioned in our initial story, the "calm before the storm" was back in December when they took Christopher off his blood pressure medication.

Christopher is now in the midst of his first relapse. He was admitted February 4th, but this time I've felt that we've had the upper hand. Wednesday night he kept telling me how hungry he was and asking when dinner would be done. When I did finally serve him dinner, he just wasn't hungry anymore and complained of feeling warm (although his temp was reading 96.6) and a tummy ache. I instinctively asked him what color his urine was (as he had just gone) and he replied, "it was good mommy, a little yellow, but good." A few minutes would go by before he jumped up and started chasing his little sister around the house. I was glad to see he was feeling ok but kept it in the back of my mind.

The next morning, daddy got him ready for school, he thought Christopher looked sad but when he asked, Christopher said he was fine, so off to school they went. Just a half hour later I got called to pick him up...he had vomited in class. Before leaving work to get him I scheduled him to see his pediatrician. In the hour we waited to see the doctor, Christopher's urine became tinged and he vomited two more times. When his doctor came in I told him I knew what he would say, despite him not having yet examined Christopher.

Since December I had carried a lab order for Christopher that was to be done today, Feb. 12th. This would give the lab and doctors a week before his next follow up on the 19th. So I gave it to his pediatrician and asked that he write "STAT". We left his office and headed to the lab. I notified his nephrologist to be on the "look-out" for his results and we would await her direction. Meanwhile I packed our bag and picked up around the house. Four hours later we would be on our way and admitted to ICU.

It's been a week. Christopher was admitted with a platelet count of 105, BUN of 104, and Creatinine at 3.3. His PD cathetar was placed last Friday and dialysis was started Saturday. His doctor just came by to confirm that his platelet count is now 115, BUN is 80, and Creatinine is 2.1. Compared to our last stay, these results have been amazing.

The nurses have been great, but then again they were last time too. Before he was hospitalized in August, my sister and I had planned on taking the kids to Disneyland, and just when we thought we'd have to cancel the trip, Christopher was discharged and the doctors said he could go on the condition I draw daily labs. A small price for a wonderful trip. This time our goal is not to spend his birthday (Feb. 24th) in the hospital. But in reality its that he pull through for another birthday...his 7th.

Thank you to everyone who's sent caring messages and prayers. This site is unbelievably comforting!

[Jessica Olivia Frysz]

Have fun on your trip, I'm sure you will have a good time :) Christopher's birthday is the day after mine :) Except, I am older WAY older than he is lol. I am officially turning 22 years old on the 23, and have been living with this disease m entire life, been on dialysis for 21 years. Have fun on the airplane, I've been on several airplanes, I LOVE flying.

[Heather Still]

Thinking of you and your family. Such a roller coaster. I know the feeling all too well of going for lab work and calling the nephrologist and coming home to pack already knowing what the results would be. Hoping he is able to be home and feeling better for his birthday. Best wishes.

[Svetlana Finley]

OOO, very sorry, i hope he will get better soon and be home for his birthday!!!

[lisa ann peterson]

my prayers will be with you guys and your beautiful boy..my lil miss has relapsed 4 times and everytime she starts vomiting which she does often i feel sick to my stomach.. i agree with amy the moms on this site really do know how you feel.. this disease is so hard and we need sanity and comfort and thats what i find great about this website. god bless your family

[Amy Swarbrick]

Man, my heart goes out to Christopher and your family. One thing comforting about this site is that we can say I know just how you feel and mean it. God bless you guys.