We may come home.

It looks like this is going to be a short hospitalization for John. He just got to the hospital on Monday and they are already talking about discharging him today (Thursday).  Either today or tomorrow. 

Dr. Claxton has decided that John will get chemo for four to eight weeks, probably eight, to try to help the Hemolytic Anemia.  And he figured there was no reason John couldn't get the chemo where we live, as well as the blood John will need, so he decided John could be sent home soon.  Then the doctor doing the rotations made the decision yesterday that John could come home today.

I hope it is not too soon, but John is looking so much better than when he came in.  Like a different person.  And he can get the blood and chemo where we live.  Mitzi, Dr. Claxton's nurse, has set it up so that John's blood will be available where we live, twice a week, no matter what, so that if he needs it, it will be there, instead of him having to wait days like before.  So that will be a new and excellent thing.

So anyway, it was Dr. A. that decided John should go home today.  I know that Dr. Claxton wants John to get treated at home, but I am not sure when he wanted him to leave.  But I feel ok about John leaving now.  Oh, there has already been one diagnostic test, and John's Hemolytic Anemia has improved!  After one treatment of Rituxin (chemo).  So I am excited.

But I remember this happening once before, and thinking he was going to be cured by the chemo, so I asked Dr. A. if the chemo would really cure John, and he answered that it hadn't in the past, and that Dr. Claxton thought it probably wouldn't.  So Dr. Claxton will in the future most likely take out John's spleen.  Does anybody know if a spleen is an important thing to keep?  To me this is scary.  I keep hearing opposing opinions on this.  Well you see, maybe it is important to keep one's spleen, but if you are going to die from something else if you leave it in, maybe you have to get it out.  John is requiring four bags of blood every week now, and with each bag of blood, it is becomming harder and harder to find a match, because each bag adds new antibodies, and makes the next bag have to be rarer.  Eventually, they may not be able to find blood for John.  There is a possibility that he got a bag of blood that was not a match for him at one time - somebody made a mistake.  That's what one of the docs said.

At any rate, if it is alright healthwise for John to be at home, I am really excited about being there.  John and I will be able to do things in our own little nest!  It will feel so good to be at home.  John will be able to get the blood and chemo at the local hospital there.  We will have as normal a life as possible.  I am feeling positive. 

Okay, I have to go now and see John at the hospital.  I love you all.  I will get back to you and let you know whether or not we came home or stayed in Hershey.  Krissy :)