We had Isla's check-up scheduled at our house for Monday, April 7. But the week before her appointment, she started to have a harder time walking again and was in a lot of pain. I called the oncologist and they said it's around this time that levels can drop after the first round of chemo, so they wanted us to go into Primary Children's to have her bloodwork done. They said if her levels were too low, she would need a blood transfusion. We went to Primary Children's on Friday, April 4.
The nurses on the Oncology floor are starting to recognize Isla. Surprisingly, Isla loves the attention. She used to be very uncomfortable around people she didn't know, but I think all her hospital visits are making her more social. They took us to our room and we waited. Isla stood by the windows and waved to every nurse that would look her way. It was so cute.
Drawing her blood this time was different than any time before. Three nurses came in as I was picking up Isla to put her in my lap. One of the nurses turned the lights off and another nurse had flashy toys to distract Isla. They put a little bit of numbing spray on her hand and then the nurse put the needle in. Isla didn't even flinch.
They had to leave it in her hand just in case she needed a blood transfusion, so Isla got the little hand board again to keep it straight. We waited anxiously for her blood results.
Isla tried to get out of the room multiple times. She got the attention of one of the nurses we've seen a couple of times in oncology. The nurse walked over to us to talk to Isla. Isla then grabbed the nurse's hand with her free hand and led her toward the toys she could see from the room we were in. The nurse let her pick something to play with. Of course, Isla picked the princess car.
I don't remember how long it took to hear the results. What even is time anymore? But the nurse came in and said that Isla's levels looked good, so no transfusion was needed. What a relief. They let Isla sit in the princess car as they took out her IV.
As they were taking out her IV, I remember wondering why she still had so much pain. I knew one round of chemo wouldn't cure her, but she seems just as bad as before she started. Even though she was incredibly nauseous in her first round, I could tell that it helped with her physical pain. I never thought we would be counting down the days until her next round of chemo, but here we are.
Her next round is the day after Easter. Thank you for being here for Isla's journey with Langerhans Cellular Histiocytosis.
Love, Megan
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