Day +17

Today is day +17. Please forgive the delinquent posting! We have juggled between Children's, S.C.C.A., and home...needless to say, I am exhausted! Yesterday I came home from Children's and crashed on the couch, today I came home from S.C.C.A. and discovered a few errands I needed to run, so no crashing but a quick post will do! Grandpa is doing considerably well as he hasn't needed any blood transfusions since getting here. He has had several appointments and is going to be a part of a research study for his treatment of AML MDS. His spirit is good and I think he is enjoying getting to be around these grandchildren and getting acquainted with them. Selah, bless her heart, calls him, "MeeMaw"! Zeke follows him around like his shadow and all of the children like to "take Grandpa for a walk"! We are very much enjoying our time with...."MeeMaw?"...ahem. Speaking of AML MDS...we just received word that Grandpa does NOT have AML...not yet anyway. He has MDS which is the precursor to AML. This means that he will end up with AML in the future but that could take a year!!! We had originally been told that he had 40% blast cells (considered similar to a stage 4 cancer) and after his bone marrow aspiration discovered that he only has 8%!!! We are rejoicing in some good news for Grandpa!! His prognosis wasn't looking good but now it seems we have more time to enjoy Grandpa than expected! Of course we KNOW that each of our lives is in God's hands and He knows the day and hour in which He will call His children home, but humanly speaking, we are taking a collective sigh of relief! So now, he no longer even qualifies for the research study! His treatment plan is looking much different than it did just moments ago!

Anna is doing considerably well for being on day +17. To date, she STILL has had NO red cell transfusions!!!!! The nurses and doctors are all amazed! This is very unusual, but then again, we do serve a God who does things His way and not always the "usual" way!! It seems her red cells are dying at the same rate that the new ones are thriving! The nurses said if she doesn't need a red cell transfusion, she will be the first they know of to go through this type of treatment without one! She has had two platelet transfusions, but her numbers were still looking pretty good. Anna's ANC (neutraphil) is at 208 today! We praise the Lord! Those numbers have fluctuated a bit each day which is totally normal, but are steadily increasing. You may remember that she must have a number of 500 for two days straight before being considered grafted.  Anna is still astonishing the team with her jogging and jumping jacks, and now her laps around the 8th floor. The other day Anna did 100 jumping jacks! The P.A., Darren, has challenged her to a jumping jack competition for when she is preparing to go home. This has spurred her on! (as if she needed a challenge!)

The 8th floor is looking pretty empty these days. Since Monday, there have been 13 discharges total from the 7th and 8th floors. That leaves our floor with just six patients and an over abundance of nurses. Because of this, we have had short shifts as nurses are sent home. (at least for them it's during an amazing week weather wise!!!)

On the home front, Daniel decided to get into the spirit of supporting Anna.....by shaving his head! Yes, you read that correctly!

And yes, we had a little fun with it. Hope you do too! He may not be too happy with me for sharing these....but it's all in fun! Enjoy! And please, if you all live in the NorthWest, ENJOY the SUNSHINE!!!! Yes! It's true! Seattle DOES get sun and even warmth!! At 79 today, we could get comfortably toasty! May God bless each of you this beautiful day!!!

The finished product!