November 21, 2010

Just a quick update on Bonnie since the last post on Thursday November 18th. This past Friday, we were able to get into the hospital for a blood transfusion for the purpose of increasing Bonnie’s hemoglobin to give her some needed energy. Two units of blood take almost an entire day to transfuse, however Bonnie had energy within an hour of the first unit. It really was amazing as her color changed and she wasn’t sleepy, even with the pretreatment of Benadryl and Tylenol.

We thought this might give her the boost and jump start she needed and additional strength to endure the sores in her mouth and under her tongue. The multiple canker type sores under her tongue are equivalent in size to a large kidney bean and inside her cheeks similar in size to a quarter. Along with the sores on the inside of her lips is quite a bit of swelling. All of this is attributable to the reduction of the steroids and immune suppressant meds to increase the graft versus host disease to fight the leukemia due.

We just arrived home from the hospital where they did additional blood labs and met with the doctors in radiation therapy. Bonnie’s white blood cell (WBC) count has fallen to 600 (again, normal range is 4,000 to 12,000) and the neutrophils (the WBCs that fight infection) are 10 (normal being 2,000 to 10,000).

So for now, Bonnie is extremely immune compromised. We don’t know why her numbers have fallen. Radiation therapy says that the type of radiation she is receiving would not cause the WBC number to go down like it has. Bonnie’s BMT doctors were leaning more towards radiation causing it, so for now we wait and see.

We did find some leftover magic mouthwash from when Bonnie received her BMT as that process also has mouth sores of a different type. The mouthwash is giving her temporary relief for 25 or 30 minutes, but that doesn’t help during the night for sleep. Thanks for praying. Please continue to pray that the WBCs will increase on their own, that she can get much needed rest and have healing in her mouth.

I’m sure many of you know or have memorized the following verse from the book of James 1:2-4:

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

Pray that we will have joy in the midst of this trial, that our faith will be strengthened, and that we will persevere to the end. We know Bonnie will at some point be made “perfect and lacking in nothing” in God’s timing, whenever He decides. Thank you for your love and support.

Steve and Bonnie