Merry Christmas, Everyone. We are celebrating here in our temporary burrow at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia in between winter storms. It is a White Christmas in eastern PA.
After our walk we had a little gift exchange and John got something he wanted more than almost anything else right now - a clementine and a perfectly ripe pear (thanks Bob and Sue!) Neutropenic diet restrictions have changed. According the the head of the transplant unit, published research shows well washed, peeled fresh fruit is fine although John can't keep it in his room or peel it himself. A very nice Christmas morning. We'll continue our gastronomic Christmas with a Pu Pu platter this afternoon. John's medical staff approves it and Philaelphia's Chinatown is only a couple of blocks away.
The catheter was inserted in John's neck and the skin biopsy was performed without any problems yesterday. The rash is pretty pronounced today. The results of the skin biopsy will show if it is gvhd (which is the most likely cause). Photopheresis begins tomorrow and has a good track record of being an effective treatment against gvhd. CMV numbers are still on the rise so as soon as the photopheresis impacts the gvhd, the steroids can be tapered off some more and John's own lymphocytes can begin to knock down the CMV. Keep your fingers crossed and say a prayer for us.
The blood counts are falling again so that probably means more transfusions soon. For our medical friends, the wbc are 1.8, hemoglobin 9.5, platelets 40,000.
John's doc cautions to restrict contact during the viral season which is intense this year; she says viruses can aggravate gvhd. Isolation isn't difficult right now on the bone marrow transplant unit but the season extends until April. Have a wonderful Christmas however you celebrate. We are thinking of all of you.
Dear John, I am getting quite a medical education reading your blog. I am stunned as to what you have had to go through. It is truly humbling how well you take everything that is handed to you and I complain about the pain in my back. You have taught me some very valuable lessons about perspective. I can't wait until you are well enough to visit. I also look forward to meeting your wife who has been such a trooper through all of this. WIth love and sending you all the positive energy I have.
ReplyDeleteSuzanne