Friday, July 9, 2010

Friday evening

Just got home and Deb is whipped!

Deb is now Neutropenic.

Wikepedia says:

Neutropenia (adjective neutropenic), from Latin prefix neutro- (neither, for neutral staining) and Greek suffix -πενία (deficiency) is a hematological disorder characterized by an abnormally low number of neutrophils, the most important type of white blood cell, in the blood. Neutrophils usually make up 50-70% of circulating white blood cells and serve as the primary defense against infections by destroying bacteria in the blood. Hence, patients with neutropenia are more susceptible to bacterial infections and, without prompt medical attention, the condition may become life-threatening (neutropenic sepsis).

Neutropenia can be acute or chronic depending on the duration of the illness. A patient has chronic neutropenia if the condition lasts for longer than 3 months. It is sometimes used interchangeably with the term leukopenia ("deficit in the number of white blood cells"), as neutrophils are the most abundant leukocytes, but neutropenia is more properly considered a subset of leukopenia as a whole.

There are numerous causes of neutropenia that can roughly be divided between either problems in the production of the cells by the bone marrow and destruction of the cells elsewhere in the body. Treatment depends on the nature of the cause, and emphasis is placed on the prevention and treatment of infection.


I gave Deb a bowl of watermelon. That seems to appeal to her. I also had to hook up an infuser of magnesium into her port.

We shared a room with a couple we had not met before. They have been coming here for over two years. The caregiver was extremely knowledgeable about the meds and cancer treatments.

Have a great weekend. Ours will be more of the same with Deb declining further for the
next week or so.

Our ears are listening for a call from Jon and Amanda concerning a certain expected granddaughter who could come a-calling at any time now!

Today-July 9th is my late brother Terry's,my Uncle Kenneth's, and my sister Kay's daughter Amberley's son Noah's 11th birthday. How's that for a mouthful! Probably should have consulted an editor for such a phrase!

What are you doing this weekend? We'd love to hear about it! It's very quiet and boring out here! This is just a few steps above prison life!

Blessings all!

Vern

6 comments:

  1. Hello Deb, it's Lisa Collins. My mom and dad are coming to visit for a few days. They live in VA. I'm going to take my mom to the Southern Living home in Senoia. My parents want to see the college Kyle will be attending in the Fall, so we are going to UGA on Monday. We also may take a trip to Warm Springs.

    I'm praying for you Deb. Take care.

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  2. Ok...what are we doing? Ed is going to a Gideon general mtg about 2 1/2 hrs for us tomorrow. So we hit the road again. We have been traveling three weeks in a row for work. But we are well aware that we are thankful that we are healthy enough to travel!

    Hope Deb got our card...just wanted to give her a quick smile in the midst of unspeakable challenges.

    Hugs Y

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  3. Dear Friend,
    Just returned from the lake for a much needed(David especially) vacation. Thought about you a lot. Read all the posts I could as we got in an hour ago. Will continue in prayer for Amanda and Jon and YOU and VERN!
    Love
    Chawol

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  4. Deb & Vern,
    Mia and I thinking about the two of you and praying for your quick return home to Peachtree City. It's hot, here, though. Really hot! We went to the Swingin' Medallions concert last Friday night. Always a good time. Then parades and fireworks on Saturday. So Sunday the 4th was actually quiet and Monday even quieter.

    We are getting quite a thunderstorm right now (Friday @ 9:00 PM). We are going to see Boz Scaggs on Saturday at the Fred and hoping we dodge the forecasted afternoon-and-evening-thunder-showers.

    Anderson returned home last Friday from two weeks at Camp Winshape. He is in the outdoor adventure group there and loves it. He turns 16 next week and keeps bugging me about his pilot's license.

    Amanda is home for a few days from her job as a counsellor at Camp Glisson in Dahlonega. She is headed to Paris in August to study abroad. Hayley is working this summer at Camp Juliette Low in Cloudland, GA, and will be transferring to Ga. College and State Univ. in the Fall (where Amanda will be a rising SENIOR!!!)

    Mia is selling Pampered Chef in her "spare time" and headed to Chicago on Sunday for a conference.

    I'm doing well in my job selling airborne network hardware and am planning to work the air show this year. I look forward to seeing both of you there!

    Take care. You are both in our prayers.

    Bill & Mia Kendrick

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  5. Hi Vern & Deb,
    How exciting to be awaiting the call of the arrival of your 2nd grandchild. What joy they bring! We just celebrated my grandson William's 8th b'day last night - so July 9th is an important date for us as well. It was just family with both sets of grandparents and Heather's family. Alex asked how Mrs. Darley was doing, she asks frequently as does Daniel. Daniel is a lifeguard this summer at the local pool and looking forward to his senior year (can that be?). Sydney will be entering McIntosh next year and cheering on the JV squad. So I will have 3 grandchildren in high school next year!! Syd could use Deb's help in Math as the other's have ;-)
    We are all praying for you and know you are in God's hands. Keep up the faith.
    Love,
    mickey

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  6. Deb and Vern,

    We continue to pray for you and think of you often. God bless and keep up the good fight. You both have a lot of guts, and I admire you for that.

    Kerry

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