Wed, 11/9 morning numbers... still too low

Just in case you were interested...

I'm posting Stefan's numbers from his blood cultures this morning. In parentheses, I'm putting the numbers as they were on Saturday morning - the low numbers that flagged the doctors' attention when they saw the results, which is why the nurse called Stefan to ask him to come in.

White Blood Count (wbc) - 0.3, meaning 300 (Sat 0.2, or 200)
Red Blood Count - 2.81 (Sat 2.77)
Platelets - 20, down from 25 two days ago after a transfusion (Sat 5)
Hemoglobin - 8.6 (8.7)
Hematocrit - 24.3 (Sat 24.0)

Since Saturday, when Stefan's numbers were very low, there hasn't been enough overall improvement for the doctors to be comfortable releasing him. Coupled with the fever he came with on Saturday, it's easy to understand why the oncology team is hesitant to let him go home.

Even though he went through a different chemo program the second time (just two weeks ago), I'm assuming that his wbc has to be over 1.0 (meaning 1000) for them to let him go home. So far, all his wbc has done was go up .1, drop .1, and go back up .1 - not satisfactory at all. It's got to UP from 0.3 to 1.0... a jump of 0.7.

Since blood is drawn in the mornings for testing, that's when his numbers have to be up in order for the doctors to see he's making progress, at which point they can give the order for him to go home. He's already staying tonight, through Thursday. Dr. Olga did not sound very confident that Stefan's wbc would even be up over 1.0 by Friday morning, but that's what we're hoping for. Of course, the team could very easily decide to keep him for 24 hours after his wbc goes up to/past 1.0, just to make sure that it doesn't drop again.

This is the same fight he had last time... why his stay at NMH lasted 4 weeks instead of just over 3. His wbc was fluctuating, instead of steadily increasing. Well, last time I asked for everyone to think 1000, and the power of positive thoughts brought his numbers up a lot quicker than he was doing on his own.

So I'm asking again... Positive thoughts, everyone! Send them Stefan's way! Think 1000! Think nice weather! Think he's home again! Think up, Up, UP! (Okay, maybe that sounds a bit perverted...) BUT... Whatever your positive thoughts are, send some good mojo up his way. Lord knows he needs it...

Thanks for reading. Thanks for keeping him in your prayers. Thanks for your support. Please send positive, happy thoughts his way, as often as you can... the more, the merrier!