Day +13 - Plans for home!

The nurses normally have needed meds and supplies all laid out when Deb arrives

Editorial Note: Occasionally when writing this blog a fat finger will prematurely post the blog. So, if you read a partial posting, or one with serious need of editing, be sure to come back later after I've had a chance to have a final look at it. Often I'm writing in between caring for Deb, doing dishes, the wash, or fixing a meal. Deb is number one, blogging after that.

Today was one of the best days for Deb in over three weeks. Deb had modest fevers last night. In clinic she needed IVs and platelets. We got out just after lunch and headed back to the condo where Deb has slept most of the afternoon.

This morning Dr van Rhee's assistant, APN Kristen, spent a half hour with us. She stays in communications with the doctor even while he is in Holland. Deb's labs are still of great interest to him and he is tracking Deb very carefully.

Kristen talked to us about going home. Those are words to cheer over!  She estimates that Deb's 'graduation labs' and line removal will be between days 27-30. That translates on my calendar to Oct 31-Nov 3. We would get 30 days at home. Then back for a few days of labs about day 60-Dec 3. WOW!!!!

Friday Deb gets a third stem cell transplant without any chemo. Kristen told us that Deb has four bags of stems cells frozen. A bag containing about 4 million stem cells will be selected for Friday's infusion.

Have you noticed how often news about stem cells is showing up on the news? It seems like an everyday occurrence . Well, now you can tell friends you know someone who has had three transplants!

Tomorrow has an early morning MRI and a bone marrow procedure as well as clinic.

Blessings!


White Count-below 2 is neutrapenic and indicates Deb's vulnerability for infection.
Platelets -a whitish colored component of blood. Low platelets=higher Woozy factor!
CRP -An indicator of relative health. Lower is better. When the number creeps up, Deb could be getting sick.
Day  White Count  Platelets  CRP

0         0.04               29              12.8
1         0.07               15              77.0
2         0.03               42            140.3
3         0.07               27            144.1
4         0.23               52            206.0
5         1.21               33            168.2
6         2.32               26            214.0
7         2.29               11            209.3
8         2.84               25            230.2
9         2.32               12            234.1
10       2.66               24            220.1
11       2.50               15            196.0
12       2.54               28            186.0
13       1.98               18            not available yet