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!

Still waiting to be released, 11/9

Wow. What was supposed to be just a routine stop at the hospital last Saturday night for a blood transfusion has turned into almost a week of aggravation, frustration, and pushing the limits of patience.

I learned this afternoon that Stefan will have to remain in the hospital yet another 24 hours for observation and treatment. A blood culture taken this morning showed that his white blood count hasn't moved at all - meaning it's still real low, down in dangerous territory. His initial 4 week hospital stay required a white blood count of over 1000 for him to be released, with no fever, good platelet count, and whatever other good numbers he needs.

And that's what he hasn't succeeded with this week. His platelets are half of what they need to be. His hemoglobin is low enough that they give him daily transfusions. His fever seems to creep back during the night, thought it's really a low-numbered fever (hasn't gone over 100.5 during this stay). But the worst of it all is his white blood count (wbc). Even though he's been getting Leukine injections, which are supposed to help his body build up the white blood cells, his wbc is still dangerously low - below 300.

Various members of the oncology team have stopped by this week to see Stefan. Today, Dr. Olga told him the earliest he could expect to go home would be on Friday, if things improve.

So for now, he's aggravated, frustrated, and almost out of patience. His response today was "Fine. Whatever. Keep me here, or don't." He doesn't want books or other reading material; music; and he's not much in the mood for company. I hope there are positive changes headed his way, so that he can go home before this weekend. It's not so great to feel utterly useless... whether you're the patient, or the patient's family.

Prayers and positive thoughts are definitely needed. Before things spiral out of control...