8/1: Going Strong

Regardless whether Leo looks like a little water baloon, he's going strong. Clearly this is a difficult ordeal for him, but he's tough and still fighting. The sheer quantity of liquid is a mixed blessing. While Leo is very bloated, almost constantly thirsty, and pees like a water cannon, he doesn't seem to be constipated anymore and doesn't gorge himself. The thirst, if that's all it can be called, consistently starts about 45 minutes or so after each dose starts, so at least we know when we are going to be woken-up and can be "prepared." Roughly 500-750mL of liquid has been required so far to quench that thirst. That's something like 1-1.5 pints or so...for a 3 year-old...6 times a day.

Yesterday's blood tests came back good, with sodium at 134 and potassium at 4.1-4.2, which we're told is good; blood counts are fine, too. Today his dose of antineoplaston A10 was increased to 135mL and AS2-1 to 12.5mL. Dr. Weaver mentioned that A10 will max-out for Leo at about 200mL and AS2-1 at about 18mL, so we're more than half-way there!

If the whole computer thing doesn't work out, I think I can soon become a nurse, or at least an assistant. Do they get benefits? :) Seriously, I'm becoming an expert in preparing the bags of antineoplastons and connecting the tubing. I'm also getting better at changing the bags before all 6 treatments. The math works like this: 6 treatments of about 200mL each, for a total of 1.2L. The largest bag is 1L, so there will need to be a bag switch, but not a tubing switch, and a slight retiming of the pump. Having done this twice now at The Clinic, tomorrow will be my first attempt in our room at the hotel. I'm a little nervous, but have instructions that Marina started, so I should be ok.

Thanks again to everyone that has donated to Leo's Treatment Fund and sent us their prayers, thoughts, and emails -- all are needed, so thank you!