Finally here

After months of anxiety, lots of praying, waiting, and about 50 cans of various Lysol products, we have finally been admitted to the Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) Unit. We got clearance last Friday to be admitted. Bridger no longer has the Rhino Virus! I didn't dare blog before we were actually for fear of jinxing us. Bridger has been doing great. You would have thought we just arrived at Disney Land. I'm almost positive it was all nervous excitement, but he was bouncing off the walls, talking a mile a minute and telling everyone everything. After he ran out of things to say he started asking questions. He was climbing in and out of cupboards, on and off his bed, and running all around the room. And he is full of so much sweet love he has already told two nurses he Loves them. We have also explorer the floor and Bridger's favorite places are the video game room and the toy/play room.

The staff haven't wasted any time in getting things in motion. He is already hooked up to his IV, which will be a permanent attachment until we leave the BMT unit. His first medication was Keppra, which is an anti-seizure medication and he gets his first dose of chemotherapy tomorrow. They say Bridger may lose his hair as early as two days. They printed out a schedule for a typical day so that we would know what to expect ... wow. Its really non stop around the clock administering medications and checking vitals. I'm afraid there isn't going to be much privacy. I hope none of us does anything crazy in our sleep because I'm afraid we'll be on show.


The nurses are all very nice and we have already had some visitors. A family brought by a tote bag with things for Bridger. Their daughter had a bone marrow transplant, so they have a good idea what we are going through and what things may come in handy. The tote had a few toys, but also had an extra toothbrush, plastic silverware and a large, soft, fluffy bath towel. I'm sure the toys will be the least used of all the items. Thank heaven for good people that are in a position to show true empathy. One day we will be able to do the same.

Its really hard to imagine that we are finally here. Pray for us.



Saturday early evening we went to the Houston Temple. I thought it was gorgeous. It was so peaceful and comforting. We walked around and enjoyed the grounds for a couple of hours. It was by far the funnest and most comforting thing we could have done as a family at this time.


For this photo, Bridger composed the shot and set the timer all by himself. He was so proud.





This is one of Bridger's friends who came to wish us good luck one last time. They just happened to be wearing the same thing! She is so sweet and kind. Bridger will use the hat he was given often I am sure.

Back Home

Well things change day to day around here. We just found out a couple of things.

1. Bridger is very allergic to the clear hospital tape. He had a bad reaction and a rash anywhere the Central line bandage and the steri strips were placed. It also involved the cleaning solution they used to clean his chest and lower back. They fixed the problem around his central line by giving him fake skin. It sticks to him with a different kind of glue made for sensitive skin. All the tape will stick to the fake skin instead of his real skin. So we know what the rash is from and now that they have changed all the bandages he is not scratching himself to death.

2. Bridger has tested positive twice in the last week for the Rhino Virus. It is a very common virus. They asked me if we had been around anyone who was sick? I said we have been in the hospital for four days! Bridger still has a dry cough and a little stuffy nose. Our Dr. thought it best if we put everything on hold until his symptoms are gone. The doctors has told us they will move forward as soon as his visible symptoms are one, even if his bloodwork comes back positive for the virus.

So we made it home today around 11:30 this morning. Bridger is very happy to be playing in his house. We are glad the doctors are being so cautious with him and need your prayers that he will get well soon. We are going back on Friday and hope to be admitted on Sunday. Our admittance has to be on a Sunday or Tuesday because of special testing that has to be done that can only be done on Mondays or Wednesdays.

Having a little fun

We have been having some fun this weekend. Yesterday, Blake got in to town and his Mom and Dad left. We decide to go out to eat at the Downtown Aquarium. The food was good, but the main reason for going was to ride the Ferris wheel. Bridger absolutely loved it. He was so excited we had to endure the heat of the day, wait in a long line and postpone dinner and it was worth it. I got lots of cute pics of his ride. He put his hands in the air and said "wohoo". When we got off you would have thought we just road the biggest roller coaster in the world. Bridger was hoopen' and hollering "woohoo ... Yah, that was great, woohoo..." It was so cute the entire line that was waiting to go on the ride next were smiling and giggling.

Today we watched a conference talk in our hotel room, played "little people" with his toys and had a water fight with the syringes we used to flush Bridger's central line. I guess adaptation We ran all around the hotel hiding and squirting each other. It has been a nice relaxing two days. Bridger's temperature hasn't gone above 99.4 so that is a relief.

Don't forget to say PLEASE

Yesterday we lounged around all morning. It was a nice break. In the afternoon we drove out to look at an RV trailer that was donated by a family who lost their little girl due to Leukemia. They have started a nonprofit foundation called Big Love. They donated the RV they used to any families that need a place to stay while they are dealing with a child undergoing hospital treatments. It is very nice RV park. The RV center is very well kept and is enclosed with a fence and codded gate. There is a swimming pool that we can only dream of using and a nice recreational building with games and a laundry room. It's also in close proximity to a state park that has lots of playgrounds and places to run and bike. I love the area and it will provide a lot of privacy. Who could ask for more than that. After seeing the RV, we grabbed some stuff from target :) and had to get back to the hotel in time for the home health care team to come teach me how to flush Bridger's Lines. By early evening, Bridger had developed a low grade fever, so I called the BMT Unit. While we waited to get a call back, we decide to go and get a good meal at Olive Garden ... my favorite! On the way to the restaurant we picked up some Benadryl because Bridger will not quit scratching at is bandages. We got to the restaurant and Bridger had had an accident. Before we left, I had tried to get him to use the bathroom. He wouldn't go, so I asked him why and he said, "because you didn't say please". Believe me I have learned my lesson on the importance of asking please. We no sooner had gotten Bridger cleaned up and some soup in him when the BMT unit decided we needed to Bring him to the ER. He had a 100.8 fever that broke on its own, so I thought they would just call in an antibiotic or X-ray and send us on our way. A few labs, cultures and an IV antibiotic later and we finally got released. We got back to the hotel and fell right to sleep.

Very Very sore

Today was a long day. Bridger woke up around 4:00 am and he had wet clear through all the bedding and soaked his bandages. They pumped so much fluid into him yesterday that we really had no chance, even though we were constantly taking him to the bathroom. His eyes were even a bit swollen and puffy. He was also running a fever of 100.1 F, so I decide to call the night nurse and we ended up going in to the ER. They changed his bandages and sent us home. We came back to the hotel, ate a meal and Bridger and Grandma played little people and helicopters while I made insurance phone calls and set up some more appointments. Then after such a long night, we all took a nap. Later we went back to the BMT unit to have Bridger's labs drawn and have a few more tests run. Bridger has been very, very sore today. He hurts a lot in his lower back area where they took out his bone marrow and close to his collar bone where they inserted his central line. The pain has caused him to hunch his head forward, tuck his hips in, and shuffle his feet. We named his new walk the "Bridger shuffle". I had given him two doses of pain medicine by the time we got to the BMT unit and we noticed a Rash had started to spread all over his body. It has raised, pin point, red dots all over. The doctors can't isolate the cause. It could be the medicine, the stuff they used in surgery to clean his body, or a viral rash. He took benedryl and we are giving him plain Tylenol as he needs it. I think his funny for the day was when he tried to pick up a toy spaceship and he said, "It's to heavy for my poor arm". I hope he feels better in the morning.

Central Line

We got to sleep in a little bit this morning which was good for Bridger because he was NPO(no food or water) until after his surgery. Even with the sleep he was a little cranky, I think he was nervous about the day. We said a prayer together and we both felt better and he calmed down. It is amazing what the spirit can do for us. He got to play Video games and watch cartoons while we cheeked in and did paper work talked to the surgeon, the anesthesiologist, and the Dr. from the BMT team who did the bone marrow harvesting, and last but not least the insurance to make sure all of the above were covered and in network. Everything went great Bridger had a little trouble keeping his oxygen level up, mostly due to pain. They where concerned that maybe the central line had punctured his lung. But we didn't find this out until after the x-ray had been read. After he finished telling the nurses all about his dog Chester and his shock collar we have to control his barking he settled in for a short nap. When he looked good they sent us out the door it was about 5:30. Bridger has been doing great the rest of the night. We played with his little people and he has walked and bent down and is moving great. He hasn't complained or acted like he is having pain at all. He keeps looking at his Central line because it come out in the center of his chest his first expression of it was "this is cool" in a questioning tone of voice. I told him it was kind of like Ironman, we'll call you Bridgerman. He is so tough I can't believe it.
Hospital "jamies"


They start up by the colorbone to and end in the middle of the chest he has two ports, one for the meds and one to draw blood. Horay no more pokes!

This is were they drew the bone marrow from. The Dr. said he will only have two punctrer sites on the sikin but if you could see the hip bones you would see many.

Welcom to Houston

Today I got up at 3:30 AM to shower finish packing(the last minute stuff) and get Bridger in the car, prayers, and goodbye's done and driving by 4:00 AM. OK, if you know me we rely didn't get out until 4:20. I am so glad my Mother in law Doyleen came With us. She was Great help company and I don't think Bridger would have had it any other way. We made great time and to our first appointment the Cat Scan witch Bridger was so brave. When they gave him his poke he didn't cry and he held out his arm and said "if you use this arm it will make the blood go threw the tubes faster". The nurse said you have to be older than five your so brave. He said "I am the Bravest boy in the whole world". He loved the actual Cat Scan when it was done and he got off the table he said "I love Cat scans". Then we sat in the BMT Unit for five hours. Every thing is a go for tomorrow at this point. when we got to our hotel room we had some fun goofing around to unwind.




this is the first time Bridger has even seen a swimming pool this summer so we had to let our toes in.


This adorable magic wand and cape was a present the night before we left and he loves it! He likes to make things disappear.