Transplant + 21

I had a better night sleep, which always helps the next day.  Thank you Lord for sweet sleep!  I got carted down to the basement to ultrasound first thing this morning.  They wanted to take a look at my organs: liver, kidneys, spleen, bladder and bowels.  Late today the doctor came in with a good report on the test.  So good to hear.  Liver and kidney numbers showed some improvement for today.

My blood numbers today are 1.4 for WBC up .4, and hemoglobin 92 a 9 point drop with anything below 90 requiring transfusions, and platelets dropped from 12 to 11 with transfusion required at 10.  An interesting mix of numbers, with the Nuepogen seeming to work well for the whites and everything else taking it's time.  They will start to count neutrophils probably tomorrow.  They are the main infection fighters and are a component of the total WBC number.

With the increase in WBC and the difficulty they are having balancing the anti rejection drugs, they are taking me off my anti viral, fungal, and antibiotics.  They are hoping this will help with the balance and take some pressure off my liver.  I have the common, I believe, mixed feelings about it.  Losing the protection while counting on the new system to do some work is moving forward yet somewhat scary.  They will be monitoring closely.  So from last week needing more branches on my IV, to today being mostly unhooked from IV, and a pill reduction.  Thankful for progression!

Barb came today and had been in the grocery stores and looking at labels and trying to determine a diet that will work for me.  She bought some Ezekiel 4:9 cereal.  "And you, take wheat and barley, beans and lentils, millet and emmer, and put them in a single vessel and make your bread from them. During the number of days that you lie on your side, 390 days, you shall eat it".  Sounds like a concoction my father in law would like.  I told Barb if she eats it, I will, what's good for the goose is good for the gander :)

Tried to clean up my head with the electric shaver today, a no go.  Need stubble for those things.  Need the platelets to go up before I can get permission to shave it right.  Its looking like dead trees in a swamp.

Prayer requests
1.  Give thanks for a God that never leaves us but carries our burdens.
2.  Give thanks for good ultrasound report and improved numbers for organ function.
3.  Thanks for progression in blood numbers and moving forward on medications.
4.  Pray that my immune system may handle the challenges that will come, and that I may be able to steer clear of infectious agents.
5.  For balancing of anti rejection drugs and improvements in organ function.

Isaiah 40:28-31  ESV
Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God, 
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint,,
and to him who had no might he increases strength.
Even youths shall faint and be weary,
and young men shall fall exhausted;
but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.