Anna-Renee

We had our weekly appointment yesterday. In the last two weeks, she has managed to "maintain" her weight with the added calories to her diet. This is at least better than her rapid decline that she was having before the meds. Her white blood cell count was up, but that is to be expected. Dr. Irwin had told us last time that he expected her count to bounce between 75,000 to 110,000. Hers was approximately 112,000.....not an alarm. She has not gotten any more lumps on her leg, if she does it will need to be biopsied. If it turns out to be cancer cells, she will immediately go into transplant mode. But, like I said, there haven't been any more since her first appointment. Anna was asked many questions regarding any symptoms, new or old, and checked to see if her spleen has started to swell (a sign of CML), it has not.

The rest of the appointment was mainly spent on discussing the future plans of transplant. As of yesterday, Dr. Woolfrey had not sent over the overview of our appointment with her last week. So Dr. Irwin isn't completely sure of Dr. Woolfrey's thoughts on the future. At this point, Anna is being put on Gleevec to combat the cancer cells until the decision to go ahead with the transplant. This will be the bridge of action until the big "day". Gleevec will suppress the cancer cells, and in children has been shown to work well in the first couple of months, if we should have to wait. Gleevec, while suppressing the cancer, also will suppress Anna's immune system a bit. We asked if Anna must start wearing a mask, at this point that's a no, but Dr. Irwin said that we should be arriving a bit on the late side to church, sit in the back (away from people as much as possible), and leave soon after service is over. If sickness is running through the church in a big way, she is to stay home. Of course, all of this is with the obvious washing of hands like she has o.c. and/or using hand sanitizer like crazy! That's been something that has been a noticeable difference over regular doctors' offices~ You go to see your family physician, they come in, wash their hands, deal with the issues at hand, wash their hands, and then leave the room. At any given cancer treatment office, they come in, sanitize or wash their hands, shake your hands, sanitize, talk, sanitize, do any exam, sanitize, go through paper work, sanitize, sanitize, sanitize, sanitize. You get the picture~ they can't afford to get germs or pass germs!!

The end of the appointment was Anna getting her flu shot....and yes, more hand sanitizer. ;-) We are scheduled to see the doctor again next week. Until then, we are all continuing to keep our spirits high and trusting in our loving Saviour, who is also the Great Physician!


THIS JUST IN................

We received, in the mail today, a copy of the review sent to Dr. Irwin by Dr. Woolfrey concerning our consultation last week. It is the plan to have Anna take Gleevec, and this summer we will do the bone marrow transplant. The summer is an optimum time of year for BMTs as respiratory infections are less in the summer air. However, if Anna does not respond well to the Gleevec, either testing concludes progressive disease or resistance to the drug, it will result in moving quickly to BMT. We are thankful to finally have the plan of action laid out clearly for us. We are also thankful for great doctors who care for the patient and her family! This is still going to be a long road, but at least we now know what path we are starting out on! Anna will be closely monitored over the next months, with more bone marrow samples taken every 3 months until transplant. Thank you all for your prayers! Please keep them coming!!!! We are confident in the decisions of our doctors and most important, confident in the Great Physician and His leading!!!!