Day + 37 - Another Slow Day

Deb had an up and down night as the strong IV's have done a number on her gut. The doc this morning was pleased at her progress and made a slight adjustment in her antibiotics. Deb is very weak and if today is like yesterday she will sleep most of the day. I wish I could report exciting progress but it seems that it is, well....day 37 since the Killer cells infused and 18 days in hospital where time moves on a glacial scale.

Our night nurse

Our morning doc

The view out the window is about all that seems to change. We have been here looking out the seventh floor window long enough to have seen the leaves on the nearby hill go through their fall color-dance. It reminds me of a calendar scene from New England with all the trees and steeples on the ridge. My little iPhone camera just doesn't do it justice.

Our youngest son Stephen is attempting a trip out for several days. We will be glad to see him!

We are delighted to enjoy the international flavor of being at UAMS here in Little Rock, Arkansas.
It's hard to imagine the great diversity of staff and their international back grounds.  I would have never dreamed that one could assemble such a staff in a small town like Little Rock, but they have done it!

We are served by folks from Ireland, Syria, India, Pakistan, England, Australia, Scotland, Germany, Africa, Nigeria, Wales, Holland, Alabama, and Texas! ;)  Plus many more we don't know about!
The service is consistently professional yet warm and friendly. People that you'd like to have over for dinner or be friends with. For each of them it has been a joy to experience the flavor they have brought into our lives.

Remember to pray that these stem cells would all find comfy homes in Deb's marrow at just the right spots. We are eager to be out of the dangers of a zero immune system. The anti-virals, anti-fungals, and antibiotics have taken a toll on Deb's gut and flesh. The rashes continue but are better. The sloughing off of her gut from end to end is not pleasant.

Finally, our email addresses are at top right if you care to communicate with us.  You can also make comments using the tool below. Contrary to some comments,  we are not overwhelmed with calls, emails, or mail. In fact, it reminds me a lot of what jail must be like.

Blessings!

Platelets -(Normal range 150-500) a whitish colored component of blood. Low platelets=higher Woozy factor!
CRP -(Normal range = 0.0-10) 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            181.0
14       1.22               28            199.9
15       0.95               20            138.6
Stem Cells on Day 15
16       0.83               32            129.4

17       0.86               22            121.4

18       0.70               12            110.3 

19       0.55                9             159.2

20       0.75              14             162.9
Admitted to hospital Day 20

21       0.36              26             127.9

22       0.53              13              86.2

23       0.34              28              59.6 

24       0.29              14              95.8 

25       0.38              28            114.5

26       0.40              17            129.1

27       0.37              29              87.0 

28       0.41              24              72.6 

29       0.35              12              73.3 

30       0.59              30              95.4

31       0.37              17              84.5

32       0.19              35              80.5

33       0.25              25              94.3 

34       0.05              24            117.0
Stem Cells on Day 34 

35       0.17              20            109.5 

36       0.16              10            102.9 

37       0.18              28            111.5