Fever, Mucusitus, and Hopscotch

If you had seen Millie at a park near our house on Saturday afternoon, you'd never know she had just gotten home from 3 days of chemotherapy followed by long return visits to the doctor on Friday and Saturday. By Saturday afternoon she was running with her brother, swinging across the monkey bars, and playing hopscotch.

Cycle Five of Chemotherapy incorporated 3 drugs: Cytotoxin (i.e. mustard gas), Vidicristine, and Doxorubicin (interesting fact- Doxorubicin was discovered in the soil surrounding a 14th century Italian castle)

This was the drug combination that really threw Millie on her first round- and it got her again. The morning after we got home from the hospital, Millie developed a fever of 101.8. The fever dropped in the day, but the fact that it presented necessitated a doctor's visit and preventative flush of antibiotics.

I feel almost glad this happened, as we learned that there is a nurse in Millie's pediatrician's office here in Petaluma who has experience with pediatric oncology and specifically with administering medication through her Broviac line. It turned out to be a great chance for Millie's regular doctor to see her again, and we were thankful not to have to drive to Santa Rosa in a storm.

I am drafting a letter in my head to Kaiser Permenente praising the care we've received for Millie, and our experience this week is a great example. On Friday, we were swept into a clean room immediately upon arrival. The nurses fussed over Millie, giving her untouched books to read and bringing a tv into the examination room for Millie to watch a movie during her IV infusion of liquids and medications. They took care of all the registration and check in by just asking for her card from me once.

On Saturday, the Petaluma office was closed, and we had to get Millie's 2nd antibiotic dose in Santa Rosa. Usually on the weekends this must be done in the ER, but the Santa Rosa office opened the chemotherapy infusion clinic for Millie and let her go there. This clinic never handles kids, but the nurse who came in for Millie had experience at Childrens Hospital. Once again, I never had to wait, fill out paperwork, or have any hassle. The nurse, Diana, swept us in and put Millie into a waiting chair with warm blankets and pillows. Diana knew she was going to help Millie that morning, and had brought in a stuffed animal, pens, and bubbles as a little gift.

We love the care and ease of being in the Kaiser system- but sure wish the hospital had private rooms or at least an oncology ward.

Monday update - Millie evidently has "mucusitus", which causes ulcers in her digestive tract. She was throwing up blood this morning, which is shocking and scary to witness. This condition will not improve until her counts go up again, a week from now. Poor thing!