Update on Jay

Sorry we've been out of the loop- it's been the week from hell!
Jay went through a good chemo session two weeks ago after he had his port put in.
He even went to accupunture the following Friday (2/29).

Somewhere after that it went a little downhill. His health was ok, but on Tuesday of last week we noticed some internal bleeding in his right breast- and he went into the ER to have it looked at. They checked for infection, and xrayed to see if the port was in place, and gave him the "all clear" to go home. The docs told him to keep an eye out for any pus coming from the incision place, fever, or any other symptoms indicating infection.

By Thursday (3/6) he was coughing up some blood (he still had a small cough from being ill from the last time), and when he blew his nose, blood as well. Still not much for the docs to get concerned about. He had noticed a small "pimple" on his leg earlier in the week, which he scratched at. By the Thursday it was a golf ball sized cyst and painful.

By Friday (3/7), he had fever and chills. His doc instructed him to go back to the ER.

The internal bleeding had not gotten any worse, but the original incision was letting off a little blood and looked a frightful mess. The cyst on his thigh was drawing conclusions of "staph infection" from the docs.

They say with a depressed immune system its common to pick up anything and everything, especially as staph is always on each and everyone one of us, no matter how "clean" we are. All it takes is an open wound and lack of immune system to really set it off. Jay being in and out of the ER and hospital in the course of a week, and laying in bed for three days did not do any favors...

The cyst was broken by the ER doc, and then a wick was put in to avoid the wound from closing and to let any infection out. Rounds of antiobiotics were given. They admitted him as they decided the port needed to come out, as for some reason his body was rejecting it, and causing further infection.

So, checked in Friday- pain under control, cyst/staph infection under control... port was removed Saturday, Fever and chills returned through Sunday.
Started to clear up Monday (today), however wick needed to be changed.
This was quite painful, as it was a wick made of gauze, which sticks to wounds. They had to over dose Jay on morphine for this, which left him quite sick for the rest of the day.

He's been in and out of sleep, can't eat, and is quite nauseated- and throwing up.
He probably will spend tomorrow if not Wednesday in the hospital to get him back up to speed for his Chemo Thursday.

As for the rest of the fam- the kids have had a couple healthy weeks, and I am just getting over a nasty round of bronchitis and double ear infection, which knocked me on my butt last week (and delayed getting an update to all of you).

Some silver lining- this Thursday marks the halfway point for Jay in his chemo treatment.
As his tumor has been noticeably shrinking, I am really really optimistic that the worst is behind him. I am not sure if they will be doing any evaluating after this chemo session, but we will keep you posted on any progress that comes about over the next week.

His Chemo sessions were slated for 4 cycles (4 months), with two sessions of chemo each cycle, for a total of 8, with radiation potentially happening after he completed his chemo. Let's hope he is well enough to get his 4th chemo session out of the way this week, and on to a speedier (and LESS COMPLICATED!!!) recovery.

Love from Bek and the boys.

PS- as Jay is still in the hospital, please do not call his cell phone!!
Feel free to email us, and I'll get the messages across, or give me a call.
He's mostly in and out of sleep, and not even up for 5 minute chats- and isn't getting much rest anyway, with the constant vital checks every two hours... and the whirring /beeping of all the devices in the hospital.