Monkey Wrench

***A note to Dr. W's mother is below***

Today should have been a routine day at the Jude.  Our schedule should have gone something like this:
Assessment/Triage at 9:00, PT at 9:30, Dr W. at 10 and then RT at 12.  Instead it took a left turn early on and we are hanging out in the medicine room trying to get Lucy back on track.  As I mentioned before, her vomiting is out of control.  As a result she has become dehydrated.  Her sodium is very low, her blood pressure had started to drop and her potassium is out of whack.  So...we are receiving lots of fluids and potassium in the medicine room. 

The medicine room is really sort of neat.  Its a great little outpatient room kids come to receive medicines that they can't get at home, but don't need to be inpatient for.  There are a few rooms set up just like a mini hospital room.  Lucy is in the bed and she has a Wii and a TV/DVD to keep her entertained.  Not that she feels up to that right now.  She is sleeping soundly while I catch up on computer work.  RT has been postponed until late afternoon, so we will be here until late tonight.  Oh,well.  Its better than having to add a make up day next week.  After today only 6 more treatments!

Please say a quick prayer that Lucy will bounce back quickly.  We've just got to get her to eat.  Its been 7 days since she has had food.  TPN will keep her stable, but she really needs the food to thrive.  We'll start working on that once we get this other under control. 

Dr. W's Mother:
I heard that somehow you stumbled across my blog all the way up in Pennsylvia.  I am so glad that you have taken the time to read it.  I know that Dr. W makes it a point to not read her patients updates and I can totally appreciate and respect that.  There has to be some point at which a doctor has to seperate herself from her job.  Anyway, I wanted to say that you should be very proud of your daugther.  She is a wonderful doctor and is so very smart.  She is a great oncologist, but she is also very compassionate and caring.  Not all doctors have the ability to connect with families the way Dr. W has.  She treats my Lucy like she is her only patient and I truly believe that God set her apart to be Lucy's doctor years before Lucy was even born.  Thank you for raising a wonderful daughter.  She has touched so many lives and helped change the lives of so many children.  You should be so proud. 

Sincerly,