3/6/03 A Miss Diagnosis

It started last Tuesday when Nick wasn't feeling
good at his therapy session. He had a little bit
of a fever and complained that his neck hurt........

A doctor visit resulted in a Dx of a virus and
sore neck muscles from therapy.

Nicks fever continued through the week, not high,
but clinging. And his neck pain didnt go away..

Friday nite brought me home from work with the
worst sore throat I'd ever had in my life....

Saturday I called into work and was considering
a trip to the med center when Nick's dad Bob
said "We need to bring Nick in, his neck and
fever are getting Worse - not better.
Well, I wasnt in any shape to go too so I stayed
put by the phone and waited......
Finally Bob called to say they were doing a MRI
with contrast dye to check out his neck. And
hours later, they came up with the same Dx,
a virus and muscle strain!

The next morning, (Sunday the 2nd) I drove myself
to the med center and was Dx with strep throat
and told I would be contagious for 48 hours. So
Bob continued being Mr Mom, and I was banished to
the basement family room.

By late Monday morning, Nick's neck had swollen
up a great deal on one side and his fever was
going up! Bob brought him back to the doctor
and this time we got to see the doctor and not
the assistant. The doc said Nick had an
infection in his neck and to get him back to E.R.
right away!!! AAAHHHH!!

So, back to the E.R. where Nick got poked AGAIN
and the docs there informed Bob that the radiologist
had MISS- READ the results when they were in
Saturday and yes, Nick had an infection and would
have to be admitted! I can not tell you how I was
feeling then - at home - not able to be with Nick
and not being able to rip some doctors up one side
and the other after I heard this!!!

It seems what started out as a virus and sore throat
for Nick, somehow got INTO his neck and set up house
and had a big old infection party! So, they gave
him pain med. because by now the poor baby was really
stiff and hurting. And some major antibiotics thru
his I.V. from Monday afternoon, till Wednesday
afternoon. Bob stayed with him there at the hospital
Monday nite, and I was able to finally be there and
with my baby Tuesday till we brought him home
Wednesday afternoon.

He is doing fine now, but we have to keep a close eye
on his neck to ensure it keeps going down, and he will
be on antibiotics for the next two weeks. Hopefully it
will go away completely by its self, but there is a
chance that a "pus pocket" will remain. If this is the
case, it will have to be removed surgically. We pray
this will not be the case for our little cancer warrior
has had enough surgery already to last a life time!!
But, he is in good spirits and recovering nicely so far.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We want to send out a major big THANKS to Hugs and Hope
for sending the balloons to the hospital for Nick.
He got such a kick out of those and was so suprised!

We thank you all for the many emails and ecards full of
good thoughts, hugs, gifs and prayers while Nick was in
the hospital. He loves them all and sends big hugs back!

And most importantly Thank you all for the prayer power!
Our Lord is listening and granting them all!! We can't
thank you enough!



3/23/03 Thank you all so much for the many get well
wishes and prayers! The infection in Nick's neck is
completely healed and he will need NO surgery to
remove any lingering abscess. Wow! What a relief!!!

Nick had a very wonderful Birthday celebration this
weekend, and sends big hugs and thank yous to you
all for all the many cards, gifts and birthday wishes
he received. I will post pics on the next update and
go into more detail - We just wanted to post this
quick to let you all know that our little warrior has
won another battle and is doing just fine!

Thank you Angel GreenEyes and all the angels from
Simply Enchanting Angels for all the love and support
you've sent our way! You are all truely a blessing!

And again, thank you to everyone who support Nick,
and his family in prayer. You all mean more than we
could ever say.

God Bless ~Pam, Bob, &Nick