Normal blood counts

                                  WBC (4.0-12.0)             RBC (4.00-5.30)         Platelets (150-450)    RDW (11.5-15.0)   MPV (6.0-9.5)

                  Hemoglobin (11.5-14.5)        Hematocrit (33.0-43.0)    MCV (76-90)     MCH (25.0-31.0)    MCHC (32.0-36.0) 

                                                              Joshua is now 36 months off treatment!

                                                                        Next Clinic Visit    05/28/08                                                             

• 10/20/07- Sorry for the long delay in updating.  This has been a very rough year for our family.  In May my uncle past away from lung cancer.  His diagnoses to death was 2 weeks.  Both my mother and uncle died one month after their 61st birthday's.  (my mother past away in February of 2005)  Joshua's last clinic visit was great, his CBC was all within the normal limits.  Joshua has had a lot of problems with legs this summer.  Through out his 3 1/2 years of chemotherapy treatment he has had problems with weakness but he never had any of the outlined signs from the chemo, so his Dr. sent him to see the rheumatologist on September 19th, 2007.  She found no signs of arthritis (thank God), but wants to run some other tests.  She also said he needed to see a neurologist for damage to his central nervous system due to chemotherapy and wanted him to go back and see the physical therapist on September 21st, 2007 for another evaluation.  Joshua will be going to physical therapy 4 times a week starting next week.  On his next oncology visit 11/07/07 the rheumatologist will be adding blood test to his regular lab work.  Joshua will see the rheumatologist again on 12/03/07.  Will update again soon.  New photo's have been added to the photo gallery.  Thanks for checking on Josh.            

• 12/29/06- Joshua is feeling better.  His fever is gone and so is his headache.   He still isn't eating or drinking much.  The doctor said that his eating habits would slowly return, well he has been off treatment now for 22 months and they are pretty much the same.  Joshua ate some chicken while we were at camp sunshine in October and this was the first time in 4 years that he ate any meat.  He has not had any since we've been home.  His daily foods seem to be fruit snacks, pop tarts (only brown sugar & cinnamon) and of course his chocolate milk.  He is maintaining his weight he weighs 60 pounds right now.

   

• 12/23/06- Joshua is not feeling very well today.  He has a temp of 101.0 and has a very bad headache and his feet, legs and left arm are hurting.  He hasn't been eating much lately. He has only had 1 glass of chocolate milk today.  Josh keeps telling me that he don't want to be sick on Christmas.

   

• 11/18/06-  Please pray our friend Eric from Camp Sunshine he has relapses again.  There is a link to his page in the drop down menu on the main page.

• 11/16/06- No Relapse Joshua's lymph nodes are back to normal size.  Thank God.  Josh see his oncologist again on January 11th.

• 11/14/06- Today at school during music class Joshua either fell asleep or passed out for a few minutes.  When they woke him he stood up and then dropped right down on his knees.  Thank God he didn't get hurt.  He was taken to the office to lay down for a little while and then he just got up and went back to class as if nothing happened.  He never lets this illness get the best of him, he is a true fighter. He is my HERO! When I asked Josh about what happened he really didn't remember much.  I asked him if he was tired before he went to music and he said no.  So I'm not sure what is going on.  Joshua has always had some problems with his legs hurting and being very tired.  Some days it's very hard to walk.  We will see how tomorrow goes, if this problem continues I will call the doctor.

• 11/11/06- Joshua's blood counts were wonderful, his WBC was 7.8 his RBC 4.80 and platelets were 327.  His lymph nodes are back to normal size.  They did do some other blood tests, we won't know the results of them until sometime next week.  The tests are only run on Tuesdays and they drew the blood on Wednesday.   Joshua's clinic visits will be on Thursday's instead of Wednesdays now.  Dr. Browning is taking over for Dr. Camitta who is retiring.  Joshua is happy about the day changing, because he won't miss the school store which is open on Wednesdays.

• 10/25/06- Joshua seen Dr. Browning today to recheck  his lymph nodes.  They are still enlarged, they haven't gotten any larger or smaller.  His doctor wants to see him again in two weeks on November 8th @9:00am.  He will be having some blood work done.  A CBC with manual diff, EBV, CMV and a LDH.  Please pray for continued remission.  The waiting and not knowing is the hardest part.

• 10/11/06- Joshua had his clinic checkup today.  His doctor found some enlarged lymph nodes and wants to see him again on October 25th.  Josh's blood counts were all within the normal range.  WBC 6.8, RBC 4.99, Hemoglobin 14.0, Hematocrit 40.6 and Platelets 347.  Please pray for continued remission.  We are getting ready to leave for Camp Sunshine in a few days.  We are leaving on the 15th.  The kids are counting the days down.  They love it there.  Joshua made a sun out of clay to give to John and Alyssa.

• 08/18/06- Josh is feeling much better today.  He is fever free so far.  He has no pain.  His throat is still a little red, but he says it doesn't hurt.  I sure am glad whatever bug he had went away just as fast as it came.

• 08/17/06- Things are the same with Josh this afternoon.  His temp is 100.3 as of 4:30pm.  He ate a pop-tart for lunch and had a glass of chocolate milk.   I looked in his mouth and there are little tiny red dots everywhere and his glands are swollen.  I gave him a oral anesthetic but he didn't like the taste, so he is back on Tylenol for his fever, legs, feet and throat. 

• Josh did get up and eat some breakfast this morning.  He still is feeling a little warm. He has a temp of 100.9 as of 9:00am.  He hasn't had any Tylenol since last night.  He has a very sore throat.

• 08/16/06- Joshua's temperature is 102.9 as of 10:00pm he did get out of bed earlier and eat a few bites of pizza tonight, then he tried playing a video game with his brother but that didn't last too long.  He has a headache and is having pain in his feet and legs.  I gave him another dose of Tylenol so in about an hour he should be able to get some more rest.  We will recheck his temp in another 4 hours.  I sure hope this fever breaks soon.  

• Joshua's temperature is now 104.2 at 3:30pm.  I gave him another dose of Tylenol.  We will recheck his temp again in 4 hours.  Please say a prayer for Joshua's fever to break.

• As of 11:30am Josh's temp is at 103.1 and now he is throwing up.  I'm praying it's just the flu.

• Joshua isn't feeling very well today.  His temperature was 102.8 as of 8:00am this morning.  I did manage to get him up and dressed for school registration and pictures.  What a day to have your picture taken when your sick.

• Clinic Visit -  08/09/06  Joshua had his clinic visit today.  Everything went great.  All counts in within normal range.  His WBC (white blood count) was 5.1 his RBC (red blood count) was 4.73, hemoglobin 13.0, hematocrit 37.9, platelets 295

• Next Clinic Visit - 05/28/08