Every now and then go away, have a little relaxation, for when you come back to your work your judgment will be surer. Go some distance away because then the work appears smaller and more of it can be taken in at a glance and a lack of harmony and proportion is more readily seen.--Leonardo Da Vinci
Now is the time that we begin watching the counts - right now Jack has no white blood cells to fight any type of infection. He does take 3 different type of antibiotics daily but I have to take his temperature several times a night to make sure he has no fever. He has to wear a mask anywhere other than the clinic or apartment and hand sanitizer is going by the gallons!
His white blood cell numbers today were <.02 ( normal range is 4.0 - 11.0) Last year's numbers on Day +5 (5 days after stem cell reinfusion) were the same as they are now.
Red blood cell count today was 3.76 (normal range is 4.6 - 6.2). Last year's count was 3.38.
The platelets today were also critically low 19 (normal range 150 - 400). Last year's number was 142. The platelets are what help the blood to clot so if Jack had a cut or sore that started bleeding it would be a major issue. He got 2 bags of platelets today in the clinic before they sent him on his way so he should be in better shape now. This should show when we do the labs again tomorrow.
Before he got the platelets, they did give him some Benedryl to help in case he got an allergic reaction to the platelets - so he is sleeping. He has been doing a lot of that this week. Between the piles of drugs that I give him daily and what they give him at the clinic, he has been sleeping , fairly incoherent and definitely not talkative so he has not been near his phone and is not up to conversations. Answering yes or no questions is about the extent of his conversations these days and those sometime need to be repeated before he feels it is necessary to answer. ( I may take up talking to myself!) Anyway, don't take it personally if you have called him and he has not returned the call. Next week his drugs should be reduced and his counts should start rebounding and the doctors will start bugging him to get more active so maybe by then he will start to reconnect!
3 comments:
Hey Uncle Jack and Aunt Cheryl it seems everything is going pretty well for you so far. Sorry I haven't been able to post until now school and work are keeping my hands tied. Everything is going well with me so far my World Civ teacher is really difficult though so I'm stressing out about that a little. Joe is doing well also just school and work for us. My mom said your house is amazing so I cant wait till you feel better enough to show it off to me:) Cheryl, Mom told me how amazing your kitchen was so we need to cook a fabulous meal for Uncle Jack soon. I love cooking so maybe you can show me a few of your tricks. We can exchange recipes and what not:) Any way you guys are in my prayers and always on my mind. Good Luck with the upcoming events.
The old saying "you snooze, you lose." Well in Jack's case he's a winner every time cause he's got Cheryl ther navigating the ship. Jackmon never was the sharpest knife in the drawer except when it came to finding Cheryl, and he was razor sharp then. Cheryl, take advantaage of these one sided conversations, if he starts talking back he may not agree with you. You can probably get to knod yes to being a Pats fan. Like I said before, keep the good news coming and we'll keep praying. We love you guys and can't wait till this blog is a thing of the distant past. Ya mon. Cami and Tedmon.
HELLO!!!
It seems like my Dad is into his snoring :))
but thats good right about now i can't wait until next week...expect a call :))
i pray every night, Love: Jackie
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