Another Unexpected Doctor's Visit

As if Travis didn't have enough going on already, Thursday morning at breakfast he was saying his mouth and tongue hurt while not wanting to eat.  Breakfast is his favorite meal of the day.  When we were still in Cheyenne I took him to the pediatrician's office so they could check for mouth sores, a side effect of the rapamycin.  They didn't see any mouth sores then, so we figured his mouth was more sensitive due to the rapamycin. 

I checked in his mouth on Thursday morning, not the easiest thing to do, and I saw something that looked like a mouth sore.  Since he's part of a clinical trial, everything that may have the possibility to be related to the medicine has to be reported to the research coordinator.  So, I sent her an email about the suspected mouth sore.  She emailed me back and said that Dr. Viskochil would like to see Travis that afternoon.  Dr. Viskochil wanted to see if the sore was a side effect sore or one that can come from a cold or virus.

Fortunately, we already had plans for the older boys to go play at the neighbor's house that afternoon.  Nolan and Barrett had more fun there than sitting in the research coordinator's office.  Travis and I arrived at the coordinator's office and she let Dr. Viskochil know we were there.  Even before he checked out Travis, he was interacting with him asking about T's cast and even signed the cast...twice per Travis' request.  More so, he signed the cast we had for "Britches" (T's penguin) before he signed T's cast.  Seriously, there are so many great things he does above and beyond the basic medical care that are a natural interaction.  In fact, Dr. Viskochil is watching "Cars" to better relate to Travis (the research coordinator let him borrow her copy of the movie).  Wow!  Of course the research coordinator also signed the cast.

Dr Viskochil signed T's cast.  He also wrote "Travis the Puck Master", but some of that was on part of the medical tape we had out to make Britches' cast and T wanted some on his cast too.

The research coordinator signed near his toes where he can see the letters.  "Travis Rocks!", her name and a smiley face.

T with his new, green cast.

Travis was a little nervous having the anyone look in his mouth again, so Dr. Viskochil showed Travis what he was going to do on Britches.  Britches wouldn't open his beak, go figure.  ;)  That put Travis at ease some and Dr. Viskochil was able to get a great look in Travis' mouth.  He confirmed a mouth sore (inside of his lip on the right side) as one from the rapamycin and took some pictures to add to the file.  If the mouth sores show up as a side effect with this trial, it is usually around when the patient starts the drug and not almost 9 courses in.

Dr. Viskochil and the research coordinator talked and contacted the study headquarter to see what was done with other trial patients that had mouth sores.  While waiting for that answer, he contacted the local oncology office to see what they do with their patients.  That office recommends magic mouthwash for their patients.  Once we heard back from the headquarters, Dr. Viskochil called in the prescription for Travis at Primary Children's pharmacy next door.  In addition to signing Travis' cast, Dr. Viskochil also played along with T when Travis wanted to give Dr V "pokes" (pretend of course) while we were waiting.

We talked about Wednesday's visit to Shriners and Dr. Viskochil wanted to look over the medical notes from that visit.  The fax came in while we were still there and I got to learn more medical info.  I'm guessing that the computer system is back working at Shriners and they could compare x-rays and notes.  T's team at Shriners is thinking that T has a calcified / calcifying hematoma on the upper part of his tibia.  The best guess is that he got a deep bruise there when he fell and this is a body's natural reaction to the bruise.  This will be followed closely, but should go away over time.  T's fracture on the lower part of his tibia is healing.

While the mouth sores aren't fun for Travis, the medicine appears to be helping.  T keeps asking to see Dr.V again, he thinks Dr. V can take out the mouth sore.  He will see Dr. Viskochil for the end of course 9 exam in under 2 weeks.

Otherwise, T continues to do great and tolerates all that is happening.  We decided tonight to switch his bed and Barrett's.  T had the bottom bunk and B was in the captain's bed and it was getting hard to get T into and out of bed.  This temporary switch should help.

Thank you for all your continued prayers and support.  While we miss our friends in Cheyenne, we are glad to be down the road from T's medical team and grateful these issues came up after we moved here.  Another instance of God watching out for T and the rest of us.