LOVE THE HEMOGLOBIN

Yesterday we went to Renown for a transfusion and more chemo.. The lab results from earlier in the week showed that Kristin's hemoglobin was at 7.3. (these are the red blood cells that carry oxygen throughout the body) /when her levels are at 7, she needs a transfusion. Since we already had an appointment on Thursday for chemo, we decided to do the transfusion then also. By thursday, she was very low, weak, and extremely pale. Being this anemic also makes your nails, lips, and gums appear whitish. Getting a transfusion is like giving a wilted flower water. While we were there we visited with Charlie. She is and adorable eighteen month old and was diagnosed with A.L.L. on Thanksgiving day. We see her often on our clinic visits. There was another girl there who was about 10 or so who was not a cancer patient but had a blood disorder of some kind. Kristin was soundly asleep when she came in. They proceeded to draw her blood when she started kicking and screaming. It was absolutely horrible! She continued to throw a tantrum for about 20 minutes. I have to hand it to the nurse as she was very patient. Later, someone brought up a lunch for their child and the smell immediately made Kristin sick. I gathered her up and we went to another room where she ended up vomiting. Certain smells really get to her! We do not cook eggs, broccoli, garlic, and chicken nuggets. The latter is hard for the boys as that is their favorite snack!

Our hypnosis adventure has been pretty much successful except for when unsavory smells come up. She gained back two pounds and has been able to keep down every meal. Yea! We had another appointment this morning and worked on hospital anxiety and unpleasant situations. While she was under she ran and felt warm. She also laid down in a field of clover......there was much more, but she recalled these events. I need to do more reading because I find hypnosis intriguing and would like to learn more. It has benefited her greatly.

We go back to Oakland on the 25th for just a bone marrow biopsy so this will be a quick trip. In April we go every two weeks for five days at a time. We are trying to think nice thoughts!

Everyone else in the family is doing well. Cody and Wyatt have been gearing up for baseball, Eric's goggle tan is getting quite distinct, and Darren and I are celebrating being married for 21 years! Holy cow!

Love to you all and LIVE HAPPY!
Leslie



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Beginning

Image
Hello to all from Children's Hospital Oakland, California To it still difficult to grasp that we are actually here...hearing this news...living in this new world. Kristin's official diagnosis is ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKEMIA precursor b. This is very treatable form of cancer. She is enrolled in a cutting edge program for treating A.L.L.. All of us here are very optimistic. She is under the care of amazing Doctors and the recipient of the miracles of modern medicine. It will be a very rough 2 years or so, but she will survive. Thus far, we have been on the fast track. This is an amazing institution and we are very, very fortunate to be here. Nothing short of kindness and compassion have been shown to us from the very beginning. Upon our arrival on Monday, she has undergone a bone marrow biopsy, 2 lunbar punctures, echo cardiogram, chest x-ray, broviac cath . placement, and numerous pokes and prods. She received her first chemo treatment; injected into the spinal fluid, Wednes
Read more

GO GO SPECIAL K!

Our last bone marrow biopsy went great! It showed no leukemia cells. This shows that she is having a positive early response to the chemo which is a very, very good thing! All of her labs are coming back "smashing!" We are dealing with secondary complications such as situational diabetes. This is only tempoary and should resolve once we are off the strong steroids. Consequently she has to have blood sugars checked often, insulin injections, and follow a carb controlled diet. not fun! In trying to be supportive, I am counting carbs along with her. It is hard when someone has a birthday up here every other day and wants to share their cake. Keep the dang cake to yourselves! Kristin is getting very tired more often and is noticing that she can pull out clumps of hair....I am sad. Although I knew this was coming, I was taken back by the situation and caught off guard. Baldness goes hand in hand with leukemia and every parent up here would rather have a beautifully healthy, shini
Read more

UPDATE

Kristin is currenly in room 5330 getting two units of PRBC's. Her counts are on the way down and I am hoping that this is all the drama we will see. It has been a long, difficult...two months.....seems like forever.... especially as we approach the one year mark. Our daily excursions to Berkley have been uneventful. (I decided that if I had another life, I would like it to be in Berkley. I love this area!) We are going to Alta Bates Hospital. I am taken by the compassion, charity, and warmth that the patients are treated with here. It is the same spirit you feel when you walk onto the 5th floor here at CHO. Wonderful people who truly and compassionately love what they do. Back to her radiation.....Her radiation takes all of two minutes. I call it a "lick." Thankfully she is getting a very low dose so the side effects are pretty much nil. Kristin really looks forward to returning to school on a more regular basis. I cannot begin to tell you of the hardships Kristin has
Read more