Transplant + 139

Tomorrow will be 3 weeks since I last posted an update.  Our lives have been stable for the most part, following my list of do's and don'ts.  I get out of the house fairly regularly running errands which is good for me.  We still try to avoid the big and close crowds to try to prevent the passing of the various bugs which are out there.  I did have a slight cold, nothing to severe with mild symptoms.  Barb has had a good bout with the cold and even developed strep throat.  She is doing much better now and we are very thankful that I have been able to avoid that nasty illness.  Family members and especially the young kids have had their bouts during January and that has limited how much we have seen each other.

Symptom wise I have made progress.  Nausea seems to mostly be a thing of the past and that is a relief. My eating habits remain constant as is my weight.  I have had no signs of Graft versus Host Disease which is hard to believe and for which we are extremely thankful.  My hair is coming back and seems to have opted for a "lighter" shade, at least for now.  Coming in nice and thick which helps with heat loss.  We are still waiting for the big improvement in energy levels.

On January 29 went in to the hospital to have my central line removed.  After discussion with the doctor we ran a CBC blood test, to make sure my platelet levels were high enough.  Test came back that my platelet level had dropped back in to the 40's so removal of line was cancelled as levels are below minimum for procedure.  After discussion with my hematologist/oncologist the plan was to have a platelet transfusion on Thursday and then remove the line.  I questioned about just waiting until my platelets are high enough to do without transfusion.  My oncologist is not sure how long that will take but in the meantime wants the line out as it a possible entry point for infection.  This was all done last Thursday.  Blood tests also showed that my hemoglobin dropped a bit into the 70's now.  The good news was that my white count had a good jump to 3.0   There was no test for neutrophils.

 I am down to 20% of my anti rejection drugs!  Hopefully this continues to help my kidney function as well as taking the handcuffs off my white blood cells allowing them to work harder and really fire up my immune system.  We continue to pray that this will not cause some GVHD as we move forward. My next appointment with the oncologist is on Feb. 12

When treatments were many and change was the norm, we needed the assurance to live day by day resting in God's daily care of us.  How much more now when each day seems the same, while we wait for improvement, that we need the reminder to REST in the Lord's care.  Deuteronomy 33:25b "and as your days, so shall your strength be."

Prayer requests
1. Thanks for good daily health free of infection, flu, GVHD
2. For improving blood counts and the confidence that would bring
3. For daily rest in the Lord.