Gardner Strong

Good news and good spirits this morning.

They drew a blood culture and so far nothing has grown — no bacteria. Gardner still sounds awful, but it’s looking viral. He’s on an antibiotic to help clear up the pneumonia, and if he continues to hold steady we should be able to go home soon and come back Monday.

For anyone following along who wonders why they treat every fever and respiratory illness so aggressively: children with leukemia are at very high risk for sepsis. Chemotherapy knocks down the white blood cells that normally fight infection, so even a common virus or bacterial infection can move fast and become life-threatening. That’s why blood cultures, early antibiotics, and close monitoring are non-negotiable — even when it turns out to be viral.
We’re grateful the culture is negative so far and hopeful we’ll get to sleep in our own beds again soon.

— Kate Kesterson (Gardner’s Birthday Cake) & family

How can I tell him no?

We were so hopeful that Gardner would be well enough to take part in some of the start-of-school traditions with his friends.

Unfortunately, we have all been hit hard with an upper respiratory virus. Grace is on day 7, I am on day 5, and Gardner is on day 4. We’re praying we clear it in time to make counts on Friday for his last high-dose methotrexate this cycle.

I am really sad he isn’t joining his friends for the first day. I’ve sat with that feeling a lot these past few days — mostly because when you’re sick there’s not much else to do. I’m hoping we are all well enough tomorrow for a short special adventure, even if it’s just a few hours.

In the middle of everything, I have been working with the director of curriculum, Grace’s past principal, her therapist, and Gardner’s doctors to create a plan so she can still have the most fulfilling school experience possible during this season.

Cancer has stolen a season of normalcy from us, but it has also gifted us a deeper understanding and compassion that we hope to pass on to others. We are paving our new normal. It isn’t for everyone to see or understand, and that’s okay.

The Lord has worked in mysterious ways in our lives. This season, as hard as it is, has been a gift of time together, spiritual growth, and learning to trust Him more fully.

Thank you for walking this journey with us. I’m sorry I have been quiet — I have been very sick since we came home from the hospital. We are monitoring closely for fever. Grace and I both ran fevers earlier in this virus, and if Gardner spikes one we will have to go back.
One day at a time.

— Kate Kesterson (Gardner’s Birthday Cake) & family