Halfway Point Through First Round

Wednesday Visit

The past few days have been a bit up and down.  Dad is still at the lowest of the low in terms of his blood numbers, particularly his white blood cell count - 0.1.  Normal range for this is 4-11.  White blood cells fight off infection.  He has to come up to at least 1.0 to be able to walk outside of his room - the four walls he has been looking at for the past 2 1/2 weeks are getting really old, really fast....BUT he and mom are making the best of it.  He isn't fully up and active yet - still weak, tired, and sick.  He is taking upwards of 10 or so different IV drips/medicines on a daily basis.    However, considering he is going through re-induction therapy he is doing pretty well! This round is particularly lengthy and painful because he has relapsed AML so the therapy is stronger and modified for this reason.

The good news is (which we've posted previously) that his sister Char is a PERFECT bone marrow match.  A blessing so assuring and miraculous I don't think I can comprehend it quite yet.

Next huge step for him is to get into remission based upon the drugs given in this round. A bone marrow biopsy will be performed in the next coming week or two to see if he's there.  He cannot go forward with the transplant until his marrow tests clear of any leukemic cells.

In other good news, dad has had some visitors come this week - Dylan and I came Wed for a great visit. We attended a mass at the hospital and the priest came up to his room and prayed with us afterwards. Thursday his good friend Tony Marion drove down - thank you Tony!! Much appreciated!!  Today (Saturday) his sister and brother-in-law Char and Cliff will drive all the way from Fresno.  His cousin Steve and his dad Bill are driving down tomorrow. His cousins Ron and Linda Salinas will travel on Monday from Fresno.

Thank you all for your continued prayers! We are SO grateful and feel your love and support.  Continue to comment and send love his way.  :) :)

  This was at Avila Barn on a beach trip we took together right before treatment began.  I love how happy everyone looks - particularly Dad...so I thought I'd post!