DAY 107

Dear all,

It seems like an eternity since I posted anything. I'm surprised to see that only three days have elapsed since the last communication. This absence of information is due to the fact that we have had to move apartment. The difficulty with short term fully furnished rentals in Paris is that the lease always has to be signed for a definitive period of time, and specific dates may be booked up to a year in advance. To really make this situation work effectively, it is important to know in advance the exact stay of time required. As you may have understood by now, the post transplant recovery period is quite indefinite and really is anyone's guess. This is how we found ourselves in a situation where, with new tenants for our place waiting in the wings, our lease ran out, leaving us with very few other rental options. So, we have now moved right across Paris to the 16th arrondissement, near the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe, to a smaller and much less convenient location (for hospital access), but, at least we have a roof over our heads! We will stay here until the end of October, when we will move back nearer the hospital to a bigger place. I tell you, 'the fun never stops' here!!

Since last Tuesday, Steven has been fine, really. He had an MRI scan to look more closely at the back pain issue on Wednesday and nothing was found amiss. All of the blood cultures for bacterial infection were returned negative – no sign of infection. His temperature remained stable and everyone was confident he was en route for home today – until this morning, when his temperature once again rose to nearly 40˚, with high blood pressure and 'lowish' oxygen. All plans for discharge were rapidly abandoned leaving Steven and us, very, very disappointed. To use a Stevenism - "What can you do?"

Doctors Bergeron and Nguyen seemed very puzzled by the situation when we saw them this afternoon. They cannot identify any sign of infection and bizarrely Steven feels quite well with no specific symptoms or complaints. They decided that he needs to remain in hospital for monitoring at least until Monday. Yet another scan has been ordered just to be sure there is nothing new evolving in the lungs. Apparently, a temperature rise could also signal the beginning of graft versus host disease (something we really, and I stress really, really don't need!) but Steven has absolutely no sign of this apart from his lividly red palms, which never improved.

I spent the afternoon with Steven. Dr. Robin (from haematology) arrived towards six o' clock. She examined Steven and was very sympathetic. She also explained that it is 'unusual' that a patient who is so far post transplant, with reasonable white cell counts, presents with a high temperature which cannot be linked to a specific problem.

At this point, Steven feels he is being kept in hospital for 'no good reason' as there appears to be nothing wrong with him! The doctors would see this differently as their methods are all about maintaining stability and preventing the onset of major problems. We all agree that it was best he had his temperature this morning – there would be nothing more frustrating than being released, then having to return the following day with a soaring temperature.

That's all the news for now.

Love to all,
Evelyn, Matthew and Steven