November 8, 1999 - Andy went in today for his last admission and last chemotherapy treatment. His blood counts qre good. The only problem is that he still throws up every couple days for no reason. The oncologist isn't sure what to make of it. He doesn't think it is still the virus. He suggested it could be a delayed psychological reaction to chemo. Sometimes when you have been sick certain things can trigger nausea. It happens to me when I see maternity clothes. The only problem with this theory is that Andy never got sick from chemo. The doctors don't seem too concerned because Andy is not losing weight and has not lost his appetite.
November 11, 1999 - Andy officially finished his chemo. As he was leaving the hospital for the last time he yelled BYE-BYE to everyone, the doctors, the nurses, the other patients, the janitors, the people in the elevator, the people at the information desk, the people in the parking lot. He said it with a big smile and a large parade style wave. It was funny because he did this before. He is more aware than we think. Shortly after getting home he threw up again. He threw up in the hospital too. He still doesn't seem to feel sick. In the evening I got on the Internet and started to read stories of other kids with cancer. I noticed that one of the first symptoms parents of kids with brain tumors notice is vomiting without other signs of illness. This is scary.
November 14, 1999 - Andy threw up several more times over the weekend. I called the oncologist on Friday and he was away. He called me back on Saturday and we talked about my brain tumor theory. He said Andy's vomiting is most likely due to reflux. Andy does not have any other neurological symptoms. He thinks Andy may have temporarily damaged or weakened his esophagus when he had the virus. Andy has an MRI scheduled in 2 weeks and it can't be moved up unless it is determined to be an emergency. 'Mom's in a panic' is not an emergency. The oncologist had me bring Andy in and he checked him for other neurological symptoms and could find none. No headaches, no vision or balance problems. I feel somewhat better. We got a prescription for Reglan and were told to start it the next time Andy vomits.
November 15, 1999 - Andy vomited in the morning and we started the reglan.
November 22, 1999 - We went to the clinic for counts and they are all good. Andy has not vomited since we started the Reglan. I will still be happier when the scans are done.
November 30, 1999 - All the scans are clear. Andy earned 2 more 'I pitched a fit' stickers. The oncologist called us just a couple hours after the last test was finished. He told us there are no tumors but the skeletal survey revealed a broken right wrist. They x-rayed it twice and did the bone scan and are certain it is not cancer related. I immediately thought of the fall off the slide in August. They don't think the break is that old, they think maybe 2 weeks. Andy is not having any pain or problems using the arm. I am beginning to think he doesn't feel pain. We have to take Andy to an orthopedic surgeon.
December 6, 1999 - We went to the orthopedic surgeon and he said Andy's wrist is healed. He said 'this little guy has been through enough'. He also said the break is at least 3 months old, not 2 weeks. This means that it most likely was from the fall off the slide. I am glad because the break is from the acrobatics of a normal 2 year old boy and not from weak bones.