"Just the Facts"-- Frustrating night of no sleep, topped off with 2 bags of blood and then 2 bags of platelets. Tired, but still walking and trying to eat.
Well B's platelet levels didn't hold as well as hoped. They were at 14 yesterday and went down to 13, then over night went down to 7, that is dangerously low, so he got platelets in the morning and then they went up to 11, but by afternoon they were back down to 9, so he got another bag. He is getting what is called a 5 pack. That is a group of 5 individual donors platelets mixed together that have been cross typed for similar antigens as B's. Unlike red blood cells, platelets are a kind of yellow opaque fluid and come in a much bigger bag than blood. It takes longer to donate platelets as they pull the blood, then spin the platelets out and then give you your blood back. Otherwise they would end up taking too much blood from the donor to get enough platelets. If you become a platelet donor, they continue to call you for follow ups as the need is very specific. So just like being a blood donor is great, so is being a platelet donor. People who donate any type of blood product are hero's! Even though he was really tired from a lake of sleep, the blood infusion gave him a boost. It is always great to see him feeling OK enough to walk, watch a movie or play chess.
We are on Day +12, and that in and of itself is amazing. We are looking forward to seeing some of the numbers start to move. It could happen any day. Once that begins, they just go up and up. Once they hit certain levels, then B can go home. Also his pain will start to decrease, which indicates that the super cells have settled in and started to produce. We continue to watch for GVH disease, and so far nothing. This is all very good. We thank you all for the concern and prayer that continues to go up on our behalf. Many of you have blessed us so, using your own unique gifts of thoughtfulness, generosity, encouragement, selflessness. We had a pie delivered to us the other day. And today a happy,"we are thinking of you" card showed up to bless us. I say thank you to each and every one of you for your kindness. We feel so blessed by all the care.
Until next time,
Hopeful Believer
No comments:
Post a Comment