Monday, July 18, 2005: I am happy to report that there have been no ill effects from the fifth cycle of chemo. Contrary to expectations it even looks like some of her hair is growing back. A blood test on Friday indicated that Leela's immune system is suppressed, but that goes with the territory. Leela is probably now past the worst of it for this cycle. The last cycle is schedule for August 4th and 5th.

The weather has turned very hot here in Washington. One of our favorite ways of keeping cool in the heat is to go to the pool. However, for Leela swimming is mostly not allowed. Swimming in natural bodies of water such as streams, lakes, and oceans are forbidden. We are told that chlorinated pools are OK as long as the catheter site is kept out of the water if not dry-a difficult task for the parents of a four year old. The risk is that the site where the catheter exits the body will get infected. (In some of the posted photographs you can see the catheter, the white tubing hanging from Leela's chest.) The catheter makes the administration of IV medications (like the chemo drugs) and blood draws extremely easy on Leela, but it does limit some of her summertime activities. Leela's oncologist, Dr. Lawlor, will probably request its removal a few weeks after the last cycle of chemo, but it's likely to be well into September before the procedure can be fit into the busy surgical schedule. Hopefully the weather will still be warm enough for a long weekend at the beach.