Welcome back to Billy's Page #40, There have been   visits to this page !

Welcome back to Billy's Page. Today is Day + 11 on Billy's BMT calendar. Todays counts are: WBC @ 0.05, RBC @ 2.82, Hemoglobin @ 8.0, and platelets are @ 23,000. I must admit, that I am just exhausted at this time, not for lack of sleep, or neglect. I am just a bit overcome with the events of today. I have so very much I want to share with all of you, but you'll have to allow me to gather myself before I can express myself. Billy is just fine, and is doing "fabulous", there is nothing wrong with the BMT process, please ease your minds, and allow me one day. I will have a lengthy update for you all tomorrow, so I ask for your patience *wink*. I will say though, to two wonderful souls, Debby and Eric, Thank you so very much for this Day, One we'll not soon forget.
Please Pray for Billy.................

Please excuse me for the delay in getting you all caught up on the Day's events. As I explained, the day was quite a long one, full of emotion. I needed to catch my breath before I could even "attempt" any sort of update, that would have made any sense to you at all *wink*. As you all are aware, Billy was to be visited today by His (and Our) Friends, Eric and Debby Horner. You can click the camera below to see a photo.
First of all, We would like to thank Billy's new Friend Kenneth, for the wonderful card, and Gift(s), Eric and Debby brought down with them for Billy. I must point out that Kenneth is 8 years old, and saved his allowance for Billy's Gift(s), and gave Billy his e-mail address so they can keep in touch. Also, Mrs. Rather, and her 2nd grade class, Please accept Our sincere gratitude for the beautiful cards that were hand made for Billy by each one of your Students. Billy was truly overcome with the thoughtfulness, and creativity of each and every one of them . Please give each, and every one of your students a Great Big{{{{HUG}}}}from Billy, Alicia and I. THANK YOU.

My Family and I, could never thank Eric and his Wife Debby enough (but I tried), for what they have brought into our Lives. Eric and Debby found "Billy's Page" on the internet a month or two ago, and have taken Billy into their hearts as so many others have in the past 18 months. Eric has also touched so many others with his gift of Song, and I am so very proud to say I am one. His voice, verse, and the power released in his music has captivated me like nothing I have ever experienced before in my Life. There hasn't been one, of the hundreds of songs Eric has written, and sung, that hasn't effected me, and my emotions in one way or another, and to present us with a song written for Billy, and all the other Children who fight their own"battles" in life, was just so very overwhelming, I was once again overcome with emotion, and still am as I tell all of you. Eric and Debby also presents Billy with a very Special Guitar today, that he also signed for him. This guitar was used By Eric while in his "quiet moments", while on vacation. I have never met in my life, anyone who can ease the pain, the parents of a very sick Child must endure daily, until now. His music has eased my pain, and warmed my Heart as I was, and still am, flooded with emotion. From the Kindness of their Hearts, and their Love for Our Son, they have given of themselves; mind, body, spirit, and song. How do you ever thank someone for this? I can assure you, that I will try for the rest of my Life, and beyond. On behalf of Billy, Alicia and I; Thank you both from the bottom of our Hearts, and PLEASE thank your Dear Friend Arnie, and those responsible, for making your trip possible.
 Billy with Eric, and Debby Horner
 Please click here to see the Beautiful Guitar Eric and Debby presented to Billy.
 Please hear for yourself Eric Horner's Music, and be as moved as We are.

Ama and Apa made it safely to St. Pete., and came to the Hospital in time to meet Eric and Debby as well. Although their meeting was short lived, they too were impressed by "very genuine" Love and thoughtfulness, and were so very proud to know, and meet them.
Billy allowed *wink* Alicia, her parents, and I to have an Hour or so to ourselves, and go out to "Applebees" to have some dinner, and a few quite moments. Of course the thing we all missed most, was that Billy wasn't with us. Dinner was good, and Ama volunteered to spend the night at the Hospital with Billy so that Alicia can spend her first night, in 18, days at home in her own bed. Thank you Ama.

Please take a moment at this time, and say a Prayer for Our little Friend, and brave young 7 year old Kaitlyn, who is now one of Gods Angels. She passed away this morning after her fight with her own "cancer Monster" was lost. She was a Beautiful little Girl, and will be deeply missed by us, and all the souls she has touched.

I will update you later this evening, as to todays developments................

Later it is ! Today is Day + 12 on Billy's BMT calendar. Todays counts are: WBC @ 0.05, RBC @ 3.71, Hemoglobin @ 10.9, and platelets @ 14,000. Billy had a transfusion of red blood last night, and was to receive platelets again today. Billy had a fairly good night last night, and Ama did as well *wink*. Dr. Petrovic's report today was another good one, again, in her words, Billy is doing "Fantastic". Billy did receive his 1st dose of G-CSF this morning, and we are hoping that this not only brings up his WBC, but stimulates his body into producing them on it's own. We will know what this will accomplish in the next few days (fingers crossed). Alicia and I had the chance to catch up on some things we very much need to do, for instance, we needed to pick out a new "WC", toilet, for one of our bathrooms that I was putting off for some time now. So, we can scratch that one off our list *wink*. Once again, I would like to thank those of you who have sent your gift(s) to Billy that were received today. Thank you to Gloria and Arturo M., from Miami, for the card Billy received today. Thank you as well to Miriam from Haifa, Israel for the Book and card Billy received today, and for being by his side in spirit and Prayer. Once again *wink*, thank you to Mary M. from the "Soo", and Family, for the card Billy received today. Eric and Debby, Billy received your card as well today !! Thank you again *wink*.
Please Pray for Billy, and the Soul of little Kaitlyn..........................

Welcome back to Billy's Page.Today is Day +13 on Billy's BMT calendar. Todays counts are: WBC @ 0.08, RBC @ 3.69, Hemoglobin @ 10.3, and platelets are @ 36,000. Billy's ALT is at 120, up from 50 yesterday & AST is at 70, up from 29 yesterday,(liver and kidney) they are quite elevated, and will have to be reduced to normal levels by fluid intake, to help in flushing Billy's system. As you can see, Billy's WBC hasn't really responded to the G-CSF (neupogen) yet, but did rise .03. That is something that will be monitored closely. Billy was very tired today, and slept well into the afternoon. This is very typical of someone with "0" counts (no blood counts). Billy did wake around 1:00pm, and was his own "up-beat self". Billy and I even threw the football back and forth to each other while the Physical therapist worked with Billy. Billy was in Great spirits throughout the rest of the day, and once again impressed Dr. Petrovic *wink*.
We would like to Thank Tio Luis, and Tia Tere, and Jackie and Rosie (Alicia's Uncle, Aunte and cousins from Pa.) for the wonderful Prayer Request card Billy received today, as well as the gift Ama and Apa brought down from you, Thank you so much. Thank you as well, to The Swycaffers for your extraordinary gift "of Light". Billy now has a Star named after him for his "New Birthday, 3-4-04" in the Pisces constellation named " Billy's Battling Blinker" (ISC 1855-67). For all of you Astronomers that follow Billy's Journey, the Astronomical position is :
Right Ascension 0H10M09.93S, Declination +1D20M52S, Magnitude 13.4
This star will forever be "Billy's very own". Thank you so much for your gift *wink*.
Please Pray for Billy......................

Welcome back to Billy's Page.Today is Day +14 on Billy's BMT calendar, two weeks after the transplant. Todays counts are: WBC @ 0.15, RBC @ 3.68, Hemoglobin @ 10.0, and platelets are @ 26,000. As you can see, Billy's White Blood Cells are responding to the G-CSF (neupogen) in a positive way. This is fantastic to see, and it indicates that there are healthy cells being created, and surviving. You can also notice that Billy's Red Blood cells only dropped by only .01, and his Hemoglobin by only .03. Dr. Petrovic and the transplant team are very pleased with what they see. We are still in a transitional stage, and things can change either way over night. Lets see what Billy's counts are like tomorrow. Not to add a dark cloud to Billy's sunny day, we did get some bad news in that, the donor who donated to Billy, tested positive for the CMV virus you can CLICK HERE to read all about our new concerns. Dr. Petrovic did ease our minds a bit by saying that this can be a "False Positive" because he was originally tested to be "negative" before the bone marrow donation. The the NBMD will request that the donor be re-tested to see if in fact, he is positive. The statistics show that over 60% of people are positive to have had contact with this virus, Please read about it, it is very interesting.

Billy woke earlier this morning and was in a fantastic mood all day long. He is still a bit weak, and will be for some time until his counts are all at the normal ranges, which are:

WBC: 4.0 - 10.5
RBC: 4.20 - 5.60
Hemoglobin: 12.5 - 16.1
Platelets: 150.000 - 450.000

So, you see, we still have quite a way to go *wink*. Alicia and I managed to get that new Comode (toilet) installed in the Master bath this morning, and I even managed to get the yard work done as well. Now if I can only get to the barber shop !!

CLICK HERE to see some great photo's Eric and Debby Horner took while here in Florida to see Billy, they are some very nice photo's, and a great presentation, as well. Good Job Deb *wink*.
Please Pray for Billy....................

Welcome back to Billy's Page.Today is Day +15 on Billy's BMT calendar. Today's counts are: WBC @ 0.40, RBC @ 3.25, Hemoglobin @ 9.1, Platelets @ 15,000. I want to report to you, that the CMV test that showed a positive result, was in fact, a false positive, and Billy should be clear of that possible danger at this time. Billy received a platelet transfusion this afternoon to boost them back up a bit. Billy's platelet production will be the last to respond to the BMT, and should start to show production on their own in a few weeks or so. The WBC are usually the first to respond, and as you can see, the WBC are up once again, and more than doubled from yesterday's counts. Of course this is being influenced by the G-CSF (neupogen), but it is a good sign to see a rise in WBC without evidence of a fever. Also, Yes, Billy does have hip and bone pain (discomfort) from the G-CSF (neupogen), because the bone marrow is put into "high gear" to produce white blood cells.{ Mary M. wanted to know !! }. Billy's temp's have stayed around 99.4°. Dr. Petrovic, and Dr. Grana were "all smiles" this morning when we saw them; they are so pleased to see Billy doing so well at this point in the BMT process. They were also very happy to hear that Billy even had a "burrito" for a snack last night !!

Dr. Anderson came to see Billy this afternoon, and they spent about 45 minutes together. She and Billy have "hit it off" pretty well, and Billy enjoys her company. For those of you who don't know, Dr. Anderson is Billy's psychologist.

There is a "New Link" I added to Billy's Page, and you can find it below. It is called, "A Hero In The Child", click on the text and have a look, and listen............enjoy*wink*
Please Pray for Billy.....................