Update

Well, we got through the hospital stay OK. Madelyn came home on Friday and her upper respiratory symptoms have persisted a little bit, but we manage that with Benadryl. Her counts have recovered as of 4/24, so we will most likely begin the 4th (hopefully final) round of chemotherapy 5/1-5/3. This should be done as outpatient as the others have been.

Madelyn will receive Neupogen during this next round. As you have read, Madelyn's white blood cell counts got down to 0 last time, and this will hopefully prevent that this time. Her red cell count took a big hit as well, but Neupogen will not help with that. We are trying to line up a directed donation from me to her should she need blood products during the next round.

About 3 weeks after the final round, we will repeat EVERY diagnostic test we've ever performed to determine the status if her disease.

On the good stuff, she is doing well and developing normally. She is a character. During her hospital stay, she would break out her little fake cough when hospital personnel would come into the room. She loves The Backyardigans program. I never thought that at 7 months she could watch it so intensely, but she knows what she is looking at, and by the way, if you walk in front of the TV she does whatever is necessary to look around you.

She is eating well and is building some upper body strength so hopefully she can start crawling within a month or so.

That's it for now. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers. We think of you often.
The Bell Family