Transplant 2 Day 32

This is Karen, posting for my parents tonight.

Today has been a fight, probably the toughest day Dad has had yet in this journey of leukemia.  He spiked with fever throughout the night and was very restless and agitated.  Throughout the night and early morning, his oxygen saturation levels were low and he was not doing well.  Dad's oncologist was here fairly early in the morning and called the critical care unit team to come in (a doctor, nurse, and respiratory nurse from the ICU).  They examined him and gave recommendations for his care.  That doctor prescribed a steroid that is an anti-inflammatory to help with swelling in Dad's lungs.  They also upped his oxygen levels, and he was put on a mask.  He is still retaining fluid and is bloated, as his kidneys are not functioning well.  The doctors hope that with the steroid helping with swelling in the lungs, continued medication to help with kidney function (to hopefully remove some fluid), and neupogen to speed up the production of neutrophils (to fight the pneumonia), they will be able to get a grip on the pneumonia and turn the corner.  The next few days are critical here.

By mid-morning, Dad was doing a bit better on the mask, though he was starting to spike with fever again.  Fever makes him incredibly weak and restless.  He is also very confused, seeing things that aren't there and his talking sometimes makes no sense.  He finds the oxygen mask incredibly irritating and in his confusion, tries to pull it off.  By early afternoon, the fever finally broke with Tylenol and Dad was able to settle a bit more.  However, this has been a pattern over the past few days; fever comes and goes.  We hope that tonight will be a calmer night -- that his oxygen levels will be stable and the fever stays at bay.

Dad's numbers for the day were 2 for whites, 86 for hemoglobin, and <10 for platelets.  He received a platelet transfusion this morning, though not HLA matched.

Please pray with us for peaceful rest for Dad tonight and for healing in his kidneys, lungs, blood.    Pray also for strength and courage for Mom, as she cares for him day by day.

Psalm 18:28-32
"You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.  With your help, I can advance against a troop; with my God, I can scale a wall.  As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless.  He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him.  For who is God besides the LORD?  And who is the Rock except our God?  It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect."