Transplant 2 Day 30

This is Karen, posting for my parents tonight.

Dad had a rough night of fever and it reached high enough that the nurses took blood cultures again.  The doctors are checking to see what bacteria is in the blood causing infection, so that they can verify that Dad is on the correct antibiotic and to also ensure that there is no new infection in his body.  They also want to make sure that his Hickman (central  line) is clean.  This will take a few days for results.  The doctors are fairly certain that the fever is from the pneumonia but they want to make sure.

This morning, Dad's white blood cell count was 0.6 (down 0.1), hemoglobin was 71, and platelets were <10.  Dad received a transfusion of HLA matched platelets and in the post-transfusion blood test, they saw that the platelets jumped to 18 (a good response!).  However, his hemoglobin had dropped to 66 due to his fever.  So they also gave him two units of blood throughout the day.

It was a rough day for Dad.  He continues to spike with fever, which burns up his platelets quickly and saps energy.  He remains on strong painkillers and high doses of the anti-fungal drug which cause drowsiness, and so he spent a lot of the day in and out of sleep.  In the early afternoon, Dad's oxygen saturation levels dropped to the high 80s.  Oxygen saturation measures the amount of oxygen in your blood and anything over 92 is acceptable.  Normally, Dad's levels have been around 97.   The doctors put him on oxygen and his rates are now back to normal (98).  The doctors explained that this is from the pneumonia.

The medical team had a discussion with Dad and Mom today about the drug, neupogen, which boosts the growth and production of white blood cells (neutrophils).  The doctors want to give Dad this shot so that his white blood cell count will jump and start fighting the fungal pneumonia.  The best fighters against pneumonia are Dad's new white blood cells!  They are better at this than any drug the doctors can give him.  The neupogen shot will encourage the maturing stem cells to release neutrophils as fast as they can.  Dad needs an immune system to help him fight, and the neupogen will give it a kickstart.  He received this shot around 5 this afternoon.

Please pray for Dad's white blood cells to grow and begin their work of attacking the pneumonia, and that Dad will experience some relief from fever and pain.  We continue to rest in our Lord's care and know that He is near even in all of this!

Psalm 91:1-3
"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."  Surely He will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence.  He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings, you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart."