Dad had a reaction to the platelet transfusion, which is not unusual. Oddly, the platelets were of his exact blood type, which isn't even necessary in platelet transfusions. I guess the antibodies of the donor vary and can effect some people who receive the platelets.
Anyway, Dad started breaking out in hives and started itching so they stopped the transfusion and gave him some hydrocortisone (steroid) to counter the allergic reaction. He had to wait til all the itching and hives went away and then they started the transfusion again and he did fine. We didn't get out of there til almost 6:00.
Sandy called with the stem cell count and again...they are aiming to get a minimum of 1.5 and a maximum of 5. Dad's number of stem cells today was .8, which is not great, but it's over half-way to the minimum. So to try to boost up the stem cell count there's another shot that can be given...plerixofor...which helps mobilize the stem cells and helps the neupogen to push out the stem cells better.
So Dad has to go back this evening at 9:00 PM and get the shot. It has to be given 12 hours before the next harvest. So after the shot tonight, it's lights out. We are both so tired today. Then up tomorrow around 6:30 and off to get blood work done at 7:30 and then off to the harvesting at 8:30 for about 3 or so hours.
I will try to post more pictures tomorrow...I'm just too tired tonight to do anything else...and we need to head off to the hospital shortly.
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I would like to say, "thanks" to Linda for her coverage of all of this. You hear about stuff like this, but you never see exactly how it all works. It is a real eye opener and makes you stop and think. So, Thank You Linda, for taking the time to do this, as I know you must be exhausted yourself. Hang in there both of you. You have alot of us out here pulling for you....Love you guys...Lou Ann
ReplyDeleteyou guys hang in there. you're both doing a fantastic job, so keep it up. it reminds me of a quote: "It's not the load that weighs you down...it's the way you carry it." Keep carrying it positively.
ReplyDeleteSweet dreams tonight! Hopefully tomorrow's harvest will be a bit more bountiful. Please take a moment tomorrow to stop and feel all of us pulling for you.
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Thanks to all of your positive comments...you have no idea how much they mean to us!We just got back from the med center and the plerixofor shot and a half hour wait afterwards to make sure there was no reaction. The shot had to be given in his stomach, but he said it really wasn't so bad. We're back now....so goodnight to all.
ReplyDeleteWe just found out today that Landon will have his bone graft sometime next month and that this will probably be the last of his surgeries! They plan to harvest from his skull rather than his hip. I think that will be better, one less area to be sore. They think that once he has more bone around his eye his lid won't droop so much and he won't need anything further. This would be really awesome. Just think, both Leo and Landon will be ending their journeys this summer!
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