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.

Friday, December 30, 2011

Day 18

Friday.  Overnight Riley spiked a fever.  It started about midnight and has lasted all day.  They immediately took a culture to see if anything would "grow" in the lab.  They started two broad and heavy hitting antibiotics, just in case the fever is due to an infection.  Now we wait.  Even with medication, Riley's temp reached 104 degrees for awhile today.  It has been scary.
I sit here and wait and pray. 

Labs today:
White blood cells: 0.4 (normal 4.5 - 13.5)
Red Blood cells: 9.9 (normal 13.5 - 17.5)
Platelets: 24 (normal 150 - 425) (one unit transfused)
ANC: 8 ( < 500 = severely neutropenic)

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