Day + 29

This morning at 2:30am, Dianna went back to the Pediatric ICU...
She started to have blood in her stool Wednesday around dinner.
It just got worse during the evening.
About 1:30am, Dianna got up to potty then began passing a lot of blood and got sick at her stomach.
As the nurse and I tried to get her back in to her bed- she almost passed out- she went totally limp! :-(
Her doctor order a Platelet Transfusion and Blood Transfusion; then wanted her moved to the PICU.
He wanted to be sure the bleeding was under control and no other complications.
Thankfully- after the transfusions, Dianna did not have any more bleeding. (so far today)
Dianna was able to return to her room on the Transplant Floor today around 12:30pm.
Dianna is NOT happy because the doctors do not want her to eat till tomorrow- Friday around noon.
They want to be sure her gut is healed, if that is were the bleeding came from.
The Doctors do not believe that this was caused by Graft vs. Host Disease, but just more side effects from the chemo, steroids & cyclosporine.

Day + 27

Blood work for 10/28/08-
white blood cells: 4.6, red blood cells: 3.79, HGB: 11.2, platelets: 236, ABS Neut. #: 3.910
Today- Dianna did have a Platelet Transfusion (the reason her platelets look so good).
This morning Dianna had an MRI. (no report yet)
She may have another EEG. (?)
Her sugar levels are still high, so she is still needing to be checked about 5 times a day and usually 2 to 3 times requires an insulin shot. :-(
Dianna's blood pressure is still high- still on medication for it. :-(
The past three days- her magnesium level has been low, so this means yet another medication that Dianna must take. :-(
Good News- Yesterday, Dianna was able to have her catheter removed. :-)
Dianna is beginning to switch from IV medications to Oral medications.
The doctors are reducing her steroids; so hopefully the problems that Dianna's having will also begin to be reduced.
Today, her doctor reported that Dianna is now en grafted with her brother's cells.
Now her body should begin making it's own cells and platelets. :-)

Day + 24

Sorry that I have not updated we had a few bad days...
TUESDAY: Doctors decided to insert a catheter- to help Dianna get some sleep (she is up every 30 minutes to potty)
She woke up once during the night crying from a blood clot in the catheter. :-(
WEDNESDAY: Dianna is getting more sleep, but still having a lot of problems with blood clots.
Still waking up in pain during the night- screaming and crying. :-(
THURSDAY: The catheter came out.
I helped Dianna take a shower and she almost passed out & got sick at her stomach.
Finally, got her back in bed.
Next, the nurses came in to put in a new catheter-
Just as they got the catheter in Dianna began to have a SEIZURE!!!
I was calling her name, but NO RESPONSE!
Other nurse came in the room & the doctors were called.
She had two more- one with Dr. Lenarsky in the room.
They decided to more her to the Ped. ICU for testing and to be watched over night.
Dianna had a CT Scan and lots of blood work and many doctors checking her.
FRIDAY: Dianna was doing much better this morning- so the doctors decided to more her back to the Transplant Floor.
Still more testing to be sure Dianna is OK.
Dianna had an EEG.
**SEE PICTURE- ABOVE**
She is still having pain from the catheter due to blood clots and bladder spasms- I hope that she will be able to have it removed soon!
SATURDAY: Dianna seems to feel better today. :-)
She is still having the pain, but her urine does not have as much blood in it today. :-)
I hope this means that her bladder is beginning to heal!

Day + 19

Blood work for 10/17/08-
white blood cells: 4.4, red blood cells: 3.10, HGB: 9.2, Platelets: 6, ABS Neut #: 4.136

Blood work for 10/18/08-
white blood cells: 6.6, red blood cells: 2.63, HGB: 7.8, Platelets: 77, ABS Neut #: 5.742

Blood work for 10/19/08-
white blood cells: 8.6, red blood cells: 4.06, HGB: 11.9, Platelets: 7, ABS Neut #: 7.912

Friday:
The doctors wanted to try something different- to help her kidneys & with her high sugar.
Dr. Sher (Pediatric Endocrinology)- wanted to try replacing 1/2 of all the fluids output in her urine.
She thought that it might help with Dianna getting up to potty every hour to hour & a half.
This was in addition to all the other fluids she was receiving.
Dianna received a Platelet transfusion today.

Saturday:
It did NOT work...
Dianna was up every 30 minutes to potty!
ALL NIGHT!!!
And it continued through the day.
She is exhausted! :-(
*So am I! :-(

Sunday:
Still more of the same...
Dianna's getting up every 30 minutes to potty!
Just about the time Dianna gets back into bed and falls asleep, then she wakes up again to go potty.
Poor Baby! I feel so bad for her.
Dianna is so tired that she is not wanting to eat or drink.
Dianna received a Platelet transfusion today.

Pray that the doctors are able to resolve this issue SOON!

Day + 15

Pictures:

Dianna going for her walk around the nurse's station

and

Dianna & Mom

and

Dianna, Mom & "Cody"

(below pictures- post about today...)

Blood work for 10/16/08-

White blood cells: 4.1, Red blood cells: 3.36, HGB: 10.2, Platelets: 82, ABS Neut #: 3.690



**Dianna's White blood count is in the "normal range"!**

YEA!!!

Her doctors are very pleased with this.

She did have a Platelet Transfusion yesterday- that is why her platelets seem so good.



Today Dr. Lenarsky removed her TPN (IV Food & Insulin).

So now we must watch what & how much she eats.

Dianna's sugar levels are still very high due to the medications she is taking-

so she had to begin the finger pokes and Insulin Shots again. :-(

Day + 14

Dianna's Labs-
White blood count: 3.8, Red blood count: 3.74, HGB: 11.2, Platelets: 9, ABS Neut. #: 3.344

Today- when the Dr. Lenarsky came in he said that her White blood count is up to where Nurses & Visitors do not have to wear masks in her room now. YEA!
Also, the Sonogram on her liver yesterday did not show any signs of damage. YEA! YEA!
He feels that the negative test results from the liver are due to all the medications.
He has reduced some medications and will closely watch the next few tests.

The Kidney Specialist also was here today- He is still closely monitoring her kidneys.
He feels things are going OK, but she is still needing to use the rest room about every hour- even during the night :-(

Dianna seems to feel much better today!
She has not complained about her stomach hurting. :-)

Day + 13

**Monday-- Melanie Nichols- brought Dianna an autographed picture of Cody Linley "Jake Ryan- Hannah Montana's Boyfriend on her show" & He is currently on "Dancing with the Stars"**

Dianna was sooo excited!!! :-)

Thanks Melanie!

Monday, 10/13/08- Labs: red blood count: 2.60, white blood counts: 1.3, HGB: 7.3, platelets: 6, ABS Neut. #: 1.066

Tuesday, 10/14/08- Labs: red blood counts: 4.05, white blood counts: 2.2, HGB: 12.4, platelets: 90, ABS Neut. #: 2.064

As you can see Dianna received a Platelet Transfusion and a Blood Transfusion on Monday afternoon...

Today, the doctors were worried about an issue with her liver, so they ordered an Ultrasound on her liver. (I have not heard any news yet)

Dianna had a good day today- Her mouth is much better and her stomach does not hurt as much. :-)

Dianna has started doing school work! :-)

Day + 12

**THANKS to Teresa Clifton, for helping me set up Dianna's NEW Blog.**
(This way we are not limited to the number of pictures on Dianna's site.)

Yesterday- Sunday, was about the same for Dianna.
Not much different, but the sores in her mouth are beginning to heal. :-)
She still seems to be having a lot of pain from the sores in her stomach.

Day 9 + 10

(Day 9) & (Day 10)

Dianna's Labs- Friday, 10/10/08:
white blood count: 2.0, red blood count: 3.42, HGB: 9.8, platelets: 5, Neut #: 1.460

Friday (Day 9)-

The doctors are very pleased with Dianna's blood counts. :-)
You can see that she is beginning to make her own white blood cells!!!
(This is the start of building back her immune system.)
It is great to hear good news!
Today, he said that Dianna would not need to have her sugar checked or insulin shots.
YEA!
No more pokes in the fingers and back of her arm. :-)

Dianna is still having problems with kidneys and high blood pressure, but it is due to the steriods that she is taking.
She is still on medications to help with her kidneys and high blood pressure.

Saturday (Day 10)-

Today is about the same as Friday...
Dianna is still having the problems with her kidneys and high blood pressure, but the doctors are still pleased with how she is doing.

I am just praying that her body continues to heal itself and Nicolaus' stem cells continue to grow.

Day 8

Today, began about the same...

Dianna is still on medication to help control her high blood pressure & high sugar.
Also, the doctors believe that the sores in her mouth are also in her stomach.
(The reason she has been complaining of stomach pains for the past week.)
The pain medication seems to help with this most of the time.

TODAY-
Dianna wanted to shave off the rest of her hair.
It has been coming out and was beginning to really bother her.

SO...
The Guys deceided to join Dianna in shaving their heads, as a show of support!
It was great!!!
Today was the first day Dianna has laughed in two weeks! :-)
Everyone had a GREAT TIME!
They had a pool to determine who had the best looking head and Dianna was the judge.
She picked Ryan as the winner. :-)

Thanks to the guys for making Dianna laugh!!!!!!

(click to see larger)


**Bret Foster (Daddy Bret), Doug Foster (Uncle Doug), Ryan Foster (Big Brother "step-brother") & Pat Kempf (CEO of Moroch & Friend of Bret)**

Day +6

Dianna labs- 10/05/08:
white blood count: 0.2, red blood count: 2.47, HGB: 8.0, platelets: 8, Neut #: 0.100

The past few days have been about the same...
Dianna is still having problems with her kidneys, high blood pressure and high sugar.
The medications she is on seems to be helping.

Sunday- She received a platelet transfusion.

Monday- She received a blood transusion.
Also, she has started to loss her hair. :-(

Tuesday- She began to get a sore in her mouth from the chemo.

Day +2

The past two nights Dianna has had a problem with her blood pressure and sugar levels being very high.
She has had to begin medication for high blood pressure and insulin.
Also, her kidneys are having problems keeping up with all the medications.
She is not happy with all the pokes testing her sugar levels and giving insulin.
Today her blood pressure went so high that she said she was seeing double. :-(
Her doctor called in a Kidney Specialist- hoping he can help with her kidneys and the high blood pressure.
He ordered an Ultra Sound for her... we are still waiting on the results.

Day 0 - Transplant Day!!!

(click photo to see it larger)

This morning Dianna was given more medication to help prevent problems with the transplant.
She had a reaction to one of the medications it caused a fever and her blood pressure went up.
She was given more medication for the fever and blood pressure medication.

Nicolaus had to be at the surgery area at 6:00am.
He was taken back for the stem cell harvest around 7:30am.
The doctors said everything went very well with the procedure. :-)
We finally got to see Nicolaus aroung 10:30am.
He was in pain, so he received medication for the pain.

Nicolaus finally felt well enough to visit Dianna around 5:30pm.
They brought him up in a wheelchair.

Poor Nicolaus got sick leaving the hospital. :-(

*The hospital sent Dianna a Birthday Cake tonight.*

**Now Dianna will get to have TWO Birthdays.**