how Quantell is

[Guest guest]

OK, here's (as Harvey would say) -- the rest of the story

Quantell (and I) had a totally delightful series of holidays. Q made a video

as a present for the grandparents -- and we watched it twice before sending,

with him laughing harder each time. Santa brought the requested bulldozer,

along with a construction CD-ROM that also replaced the keyboard with a

bulldozer control panel (complete with air horn). Q took over the Kwanzaa

candle-lighting ceremonies for the first time (while I tried not to lunge

for the fire extinguisher). And although the weather canceled a New Year's

visit from a contingent of family members, we gathered a small group of

local friends and made pizza (with Q wearing one of his favorite presents --

a chef's hat and apron -- and throwing the dough back and forth).

Clinically, there's not much change. The hospital is still saying he's No. 1

in his blood type on their list and we're still waiting. His PT/PTT continue

to rise and the vitamin K shots no longer work. (Even his classmates are

getting nonchalant about Q starting to bleed for no apparent reason.)

Itching is increasing, although his bili is staying under 4. And fatigue

remains a constant companion. He averaged 16 hours a day during his

Christmas vacation (how many other kids slept through Christmas morning?)

and after returning to school Wednesday was only out of bed for four hours

(combined total) last weekend. But he's not really sick, so he's cheerful

when he is awake.

Meanwhile, we're about to learn everything there is to know about sea

otters -- Q's assigned animal for a class unit on Alaska. (Although Q told

me this morning that he thought Alaska was too cold and snowy like Chicago,

so he wanted to hear about Kenya instead.)

Pam (mom to Quantell, 10, dx '96; listed '99; beeper status since May)