We arrived at the hospital and Kelly was admitted for testing. We settled in and waited. They started him on antibiotics and he was getting pain medicine for his headaches.
On Monday they did blood work and a CT scan. His WBC was still high but his CT came back normal. Because of his leg pain they were thinking he had polio. They came in late Monday evening and told us they would be doing more testing of blood work, another CT, and a spinal tap.
Tuesday morning they told us that his spinal tap was clear and the antibiotics were helping with the infection. He wasn't running a fever and his headaches were getting better.
I went home late Tuesday night to get some rest in my own bed, not that I slept well but better than sleeping in a recliner. Who really gets rest in a hospital?
I picked up my mother-in-law on Wednesday morning. She was expressing how concerned she was. I told her I didn't know for sure what was wrong but that I knew it was something serious. I also knew everything would be okay. I knew we had a long road ahead of us but ultimately, we would make it through.
I tend to be a worrier. I tend to process all the what-ifs and wrestle with peace about various situations, BUT this time was different. The Bible reminds us in Philippians 4:7 "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Jesus had done just that. This peace is so indescribably beautiful. I am so thankful God allowed me to experience this because He knew that the road ahead would not be easy but it was also a reminder that He would never leave me.
When the doctors rounded Wednesday morning they informed us the bloodwork was normalizing but they suspected Kelly had meningitis. They put an isolation protocol in place. Since I had been with him they were concerned that I was susceptible to infection as well.
I was allowed to stay but had to gown up. They closely monitored Kelly for organ failure and cultured his blood to find antibiotic specificity. They ran test after test: another spinal tap, more blood work, another CT scan.
Thursday morning when the doctor rounded he said all the tests were coming back normal. He said they ruled out polio, meningitis, and other suspected diseases. He stated they would do another spinal tap in the morning and if it was clear we could go home and let his body fight the infection but it would take a little time.
Thursday afternoon the nurse came in to check Kelly's vitals. She asked how he was feeling and started to take his blood pressure. Kelly said he was feeling better but that he must have slept on his face wrong because one side by his mouth was numb. The nurse questioned him about the numbness and walked out of the room. We thought that was strange but didn't think anymore about it.
Friday morning when the doctor came by he reminded Kelly that he would have a spinal tap and they were also going to do a bone marrow biopsy but he expected that everything would be clear and Kelly would be discharged in the evening.
Late Friday afternoon, the doctor came by with the results. He said, "I have good news and bad news. What do you want to hear first?" Kelly said, "The bad news." The doctor said, "The good news is we finally figured out what it is. The bad news is what it is. You have Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Any questions?"
My mind swirled with uncertainty and confusion as I tried to figure out what the doctor was saying. Then Kelly asked, "Am I going to die?" The doctor dismissed the question and told us an oncologist would be by later to discuss the diagnosis and treatment.
So, that is what we were left with.
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