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.

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Day 117 -- (Day +9)

Saturday.  Riley continues to have fevers.  Ugh.  Because of the fevers, the doctor tested Riley's blood again this afternoon.  His platelet count from his early morning draw was 37.  Acceptable for our situation.  What the doctor explained is that fevers burn up your platelets.  They are sensitive little things.  So his afternoon platelet count was 22.  Unacceptable.  Riley needs a transfusion.  Because of his continued reactions to platelets, our doctor spoke to the blood bank again and they agreed to "volume reduce" his platelets today.  The bag is put in a machine that spins off the plasma from the actual platelets.  The plasma is where they believe his reaction is coming from.  It takes an hour to spin them and another hour sitting in a dark room to "relax" (again... sensitive, huh?)  Riley received the platelets this evening and believe it or not, still reacted!!  Not as severe as before, but he wheezed and crackled.  Again, he received steroids, breathing treatments and benadryl, along with an x-ray.  My poor boy.  He handles it very well.  Just a fact of life for him I guess.


After the evening with Riley settled down, I went home for the first time in almost 3 weeks.  The last several weeks, our house has had germy bugs.  Coughs and stomach flus.  I stayed away for fear I would get it and  1. Give it to Riley and  2. Not be able to be with Riley during the hardest part of this whole ordeal.  Thankfully our household felt better and I was able to see my kiddos for an unusual Easter.  Vince had to work until 11:30 at night, so we gathered then for an Easter Egg Hunt in the yard at midnight.  (Nana and Papa were helping for the weekend as Grandma and Grandpa had to return to Las Vegas for a few days.) 
We had a wonderful and crazy time together!  Good thing my kids are such night owls!!  We were up until after 1 AM!!  This is an unusual year.  Our kids are really amazing to handle it all with such sweet spirits!!  I am thankful to know that we all will be together again soon! 







Labs today:
White blood cells: .1  (normal 4.5 - 13.5)
Red Blood cells: 10.3 (normal 13.5 - 17.5)
Platelets:  AM 37   PM 22  (normal 150 - 425)
ANC: 0 ( < 500 = severely neutropenic) (normal 2,000 - 5,000)
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1 comment:

  1. LaDawnApril 15, 2012 at 5:36 PM

    Happy Easter Chrissie, Vince Riley, Preston, Wyatt, Brenna and Bryant! We really missed you guys this year. This is the first year we have not been with all of you on Easter. We were thinking of all of you. I hear Riley is coming home soon. That is the best news:)! Prayers are still coming daily for Riley and your family. xoxo

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