Today we had a relatively quick hospital visit. We did have a little bit of entertainment in the waiting room in the form of a disgruntled patient loudly whispering to a couple near him about his long wait.
Joe's WBC and platelets are still low, although this time it was expected since he just had chemo last week...
Normal Ranges
WBC - [4.4-11.0] k/mcL
Platelet Count - [145-445] k/mcL
Joe's Counts
WBC - 0.5 k/mcL
Platelet Count - 18 g/dL
Joe was given a Neulasta (pegfilgrastim) injection today, which is esentially a longer-lasting form of Neupogen (filgrastim). Joe is not experiencing any bleeding or petechiae from his low platelet count. We figure each one of his platelets must be as strong as ten platelets from a "regular" person! We are going back to the hospital on Wednesday, so Joe was able to avoid a platelet transfusion today. It is very likely he'll need one on Wednesday, but who knows? We may experience a miracle. On Wednesday we'll also find out if Joe's blood draw from this morning is CMV negative or not. You can bet we are praying and praying and praying that it is negative. If it is positive then we'll be back in the hospital on Thursday for the six hour process of Cidofovir...and probably Ganciclovir as well.
Since Joe does not have a line anymore (and his platelet count is low) he is acquiring quite a number of lovely bruises from all the needles and IVs. The rash continues. It still has not reached the intensity that it did the last time, and we are praying that it won't. Today it does look a tiny bit lighter than yesterday. The doctor estimated that the rash is currently affecting about 54% of Joe's body.
That's about it. We are grateful that Joe's GVHD has stayed away from all of his internal organs. We are grateful that Joe still has a pretty healthy appetite. We are grateful that besides some (although sometimes a lot of) itchiness, symptomatically, Joe is feeling quite well. It is really a weird thing when you look at Joe, to realize that things are pretty chaotic on the inside.
For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
~Romans 8:24-25
2 comments:
Hey,
I have an idea. Someone told me that you are a musical specialist or something like that. Why don't you compose a humorous lyric as you did before. And carry your ukulele or that weird thing that your dear husband gave you into the waiting room every time. When some disgruntled patients are not patient. You play the song to entertain them. I bet you do a big favor to the doctor and nurse! Perhaps you may get your parking ticket free!
Inpatient patient
Joe and Karen
Our Pittsburgh Taiwanese Bible Class miss you and pray for you for a complete healing soon. We miss your piano accompany. We miss Karen's guitar and Joe's drum beat and singing. We miss your Christmas introduction of the good tidings to the kids. Get well and come back soon.
Pittsburgh Taiwanese Bible Class
(tbcpitt.blogspot.com)
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