Day 39

     We discovered last night at 8:30 p.m. that Katie had a fever.  This is very dangerous for her for many reasons.  We called the doctor and were instructed to take her immediately to the emergency room.  We spent the night in the ER.  It was a very frustrating night - as Katie told me this morning - "you are frustrated".  (She has never said the word "frustrated" before, so I was surprised, but then realized I have been using that word a lot lately - so, not so surprising).  Anyway, long story short, It was a rough night.  They finally decided to admit us at 7:30 this morning, because they were unable to get Katie's heart rate lowered (we didn't get into a room until almost 10:00).  The doctor came in around 11:00 a.m. and told us that Katie's blood work came back and that she has some type of a bacterial infection.  Her ex-rays indicate possible phenomena.  (Of course it is the weekend and it is always hard to get definitive answers on the weekends).  
     The doctor told us we would be in the hospital for at least the next 48 hours.  They will be doing cultures to see what antibiotics work and will to continue to monitor her.  I don't know how she got sick...I thought I was so careful, and her neutropenic levels were high.  It doesn't matter, I guess, because she is sick.  Please keep Katie in your prayers.  Today I am glad things aren't worse than they are.  In the hospital room next to Katie's is a 13 year old girl who is also getting chemo treatments.  She was screaming off and on all day and throwing up.  When I asked the nurse what was wrong with her, she told me she was having chemo toxicity.  Which means her body got more chemo than her mind and body can take, and as the nurse put it, "she is nauseous and a little out of her mind".  My heart goes out to her and her parents.  I pray with all of my heart our sweet Katie will not have to endure something like that!  This poem is fitting my mind and heart today. 
"My spirit longs for Thee
Within my troubled breast,
Though I unworthy be
Of so divine a Guest.
Of so divine a Guest
Unworthy though I be,
Yet has my heart no rest
Unless it come from Thee.

Unless it come from Thee,
In vain I look around;
In all that I can see
No rest is to be found.
No rest is to be found
But in Thy blessed love:
O let my wish be crowned
And send it from above!"
(John Byrom)
P.S. Yesterday afternoon, I was trying to learn how to update Katie's blog and somehow a lot of her followers got deleted.  I apologize for that.  I don't know what happened.