Transplant 2 Day 26

This is Karen, posting for my parents tonight.

Dad has had a tough day.  Early Saturday morning, he started with a slightly elevated temperature (not quite fever level but not normal either) and low energy.  Even though his hemoglobin and platelet levels dropped, they were not low enough for transfusions and the doctors thought it was important that Dad have the chance to go home and see his family.  We had a wonderful day together!  While Dad was tired, he felt fairly good last night before he went to bed.

Early in the morning today, Dad started with severe chest pain.  The nurses immediately called for a EKG and chest x-ray, which were done in his room.  They also took some blood for blood tests.  Two doctors were in to see Dad throughout the day and the nurses closely monitored.  They finally gave him morphine to help him with the pain, as he was very uncomfortable.  They originally thought that there was fluid buildup around his lungs from the extra fluids Dad has been receiving for his kidneys, but there is no fluid buildup at all.  The EKG and x-ray came back clear and normal, and his heart/lungs are fine.  There is no sign of infection anywhere either as the fever has not returned.  So at this time, the pain is unexplained and the doctors are taking a "wait-and-see" approach to it, while making sure the pain is managed well.  They ended up giving him another painkiller, dilotin, later this afternoon as the pain was not under control yet.

Dad has also been struggling with nausea this afternoon but the pain medication has allowed him to rest a bit better.  There were no signs of engraftment today again, and Dad received two units of blood.  His platelets were low but they hope to give him a HLA matched bag of platelets tomorrow.

A few of us were able to be together at the hospital today with Mom and Dad, and we were able to pray together around Dad's hospital bed.  We continue to come before God, pleading for healing, grace, and strength to face the unknown.  This week is another critical week, as it will mark four weeks since transplant, and we are unsure of the next steps.  Dad continues to encourage us to rest each day in the shelter of our Father's wings and we all pray for continued strength and trust in our Sovereign God's plan.

Psalm 121
"I lift up my eyes to the hills.  From where does my help come?  My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.  He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.  Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.  The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand.  The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.  The LORD will keep you from all evil;  He will keep your life.  The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore."