Beginning Week 4

We've made it through 3 weeks. One in the hospital, one out, and one in again. We took Liam in last Sunday night because he had a fever. Low, 100 degrees, but for a child without an immune system that indicates a possible serious danger. Wihen Liam gets a fever that lasts 100.5 for an hour, or if it ever is 101 or higher we have to take him straight to the emergency room to have him admitted. They begin antibiotics right away and keep him for at least 48 hours. In 48 hours they can tell from a blood culture whether or not he has a bacterial infection or if its just a virus. If the temperature goes down and all looks well he can go home. Liam's blood cultures were negative for bacterial infections, but his fever persisted. He has to go 24 hours without a fever before they can send him home. It has been going up and down all week with no indication of why. The nurses and doctors don't act worried about this. They just say that all kids react differently. Its frustrating when they say that to answer almost all of our questions. Yesterday Liam made it 22 hours then spiked a fever. Today he woke up grumpy. He has been getting crankier each day. I like the feistiness. It proves he has some heart in him and that he cares. His first week in the hospital he grew despondent. It was awful and heartbreaking to hear him say "no" to any and every suggestion. He didn't want to play, he didn't want to color, or read, he eventually didn't even want to watch t.v. and at the last he didn't even want me to cuddle him anymore. My heart broke for his little broken spirit.