Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML)
is a fast-growing cancer of the blood and bone marrow. In AML, the bone marrow makes many unformed cells called blasts. Blasts normally develop into white blood cells that fight infection. However, the blasts are abnormal in AML. They do not develop and cannot fight infections. The bone marrow may also make abnormal red blood cells and platelets. The number of abnormal cells (or leukemia cells) grows quickly. They crowd out the normal red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets the body needs.

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Day 15

Tuesday.  Riley received platelets today.  I knew he would be out for awhile and I needed to do a few errands and get some laundry done, so it worked out well.  He snoozed and I scurried around town.  I picked up his new glasses at Walmart.  Bought a few snacks for our room.  Ran home and put in our laundry.  Downloaded music on his new ipod. Tried to "clean up" Christmas at our house.  It was a busy afternoon.  I don't feel like I can relax at home.  I just needed to hurry and get done whatever it was that had me there, and then hustle back to be with Riley.  Vince and the kids are in Las Vegas this week for the traditional Gibson Christmas / New Years.  If they were home, I of course would have stuck around.  ...  It just felt weird... Our house was so empty.  Our life has just changed.  We are different.  Still getting used to that.

Picture on my way out today.  This is where we are...

Labs today:
White blood cells: 0.6 (normal 4.5 - 13.5)
Red Blood cells: 8.2 (normal 13.5 - 17.5)

Platelets: 13 (normal 150 - 425)  (received 1 bag transfused)
ANC: 42   ( < 500 = severely neutropenic)

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