Ongoing Infections

Dear Friends,

We had a care meeting with our medical team today regarding Liam’s current condition and criteria for going home. As usual, our departure date from the hospital continues to get pushed back. Liam’s case is extremely complex, and it is often difficult to make these types of decisions. There is no clear risk-free path for him.

Liam’s typhlitis (gut infection) is slowly healing. He is still on TPN (IV calories) during the night, and he’s been able to tolerate some food and formula during the day. However, the only way he’s been able to manage food intake is with continual tylenol and ibuprofen. Without them, Liam has his IRIS fevers (overactive immune response), and therefore doesn’t feel well enough to eat. However, continual ibuprofen is harsh on the kidneys and cannot be administered alongside chemotherapy, so it’s not a sustainable long-term solution. Tonight, Liam will begin to wean off of the ibuprofen and we will see what his fevers do over the next several days. 

Another factor in all of this is Liam’s ongoing fungal infection. The last two CT scans that were done in response to the typhlitis showed the lesions on his liver increasing in size. One theory is that this was caused by the return of his blood counts after the last round of chemo. They could just be fighting the infection. However, it’s possible that the lesions have turned into larger abscesses that may need to be drained. From now on, Liam will get monthly ultrasounds to monitor the lesions. Please pray that he could avoid surgery and that the fungal infection does not spread.

In light of all of this, Liam is just pretty up and down. Sometimes he feels well, sometimes not. His tummy still hurts about fifty percent of the time. He is weak, and it has been difficult to motivate him to walk or stay active.

Liam also has chemotherapy on Thursday. No matter how sick he gets, we have to keep treating the cancer. He just can’t catch a break.

Please pray for continual healing for the fungal infection, typhlitis, IRIS, and cancer. Please pray that Liam would have strength to walk and eat more. Pray that his fevers would go away. Pray that he would have joy in the midst of his suffering. Pray for our other children to be strengthened while we continue to be separated as a family.