Ups and Downs - Great Ups!!!!!

Mason had to go to the hospital last Friday to receive hemoglobin for four hours. Then at noon on Sunday he had to be admitted to the hospital. He had developed a high fever and was admitted to begin receiving antibiotics through his chest “port”. His white blood cell count was very low. By Monday he was feeling much better and his last high temperature was during the night. His average blood count (AGC) was still too low to count. Jade and Mason watched a lot of TV and Mason made a box for his rock collection. Auntie Bev came by for a visit in the evening.


On Tuesday, Mason had a CT scan in the morning. Dr. Brindel, the surgeon, paid a visit in the evening. She didn’t know that Mason was in the hospital but she saw his name on a register and took the time, after her long day, to drop by and see how Mason was doing. She also didn’t know that Mason had the CT scan in the morning. After checking the computer at the nurses station, (there’s also a computer outside every room), she invited Jade to have a look. They both celebrated the reduction in the size of the tumors! Dr. Brindel said that the tumor on the right side is now only about the size of the small tumor that they removed in October. They couldn’t even see the tumor on the left side, but the radiologist report had not been completed yet. I can’t explain the relief that I felt in Jades voice when she told me. We are so grateful for Dr. Brindel. She is so calm and understanding. Jade feels good just seeing her.

We don’t know yet what the doctors will decide for the next step. We continue to have faith that God will choose to have our dear little boy come home and live life to the fullest.

Cousin Ashley Slade came for a visit on Tuesday afternoon. She had flown in from Saskatoon and they had a great visit. Ashley has a wonderful presence and Mason loves to see her.

Mason found a tricycle in the hallway and even though his knees almost hit the handlebars he had a lot of fun scooting up and down the halls. He practiced his parallel parking and played on it until long after the lights were turned out!!

Today, Wednesday, Mason has been discharged from the hospital and he and Jade are back at Uncle Rick and Aunt Bev's. Jade says that Mason is feeling great!! They are planning to go out to supper with Ashley and Uncle Collin.

On Monday, Masons AGC was too low to count. On Tuesday his AGC was up to 220. Today it is over 2000!!! An AGC below 500 is considered neutropenic (very low immunity). His white blood cell count has come up from 1.1 to 4.2. Normal white count is between 4 & 5!! Way to go Mason!!!

The pictures are: Kale and Mason at Lake Louise, Easter 2006 - Kale and Mason posing with Darryl Sutter at the 2010 World Junior Championship Game, Saskatoon, Jan. 2nd, 2010.

The hospital is scheduled to call Jade tomorrow with news of what comes next. We’ll do our best to keep you updated. In the meantime, we thank you for keeping Mason in your thoughts and prayers. It is very comforting to know that our friends and family are there for Mason and for all of us. Thank you.