Day + 14 and +15 - The Road That Leads Home

Shelly’s blood levels are changing.  Here are the counts for the last few days.

	2/13/12	2/14/12	2/15/12	2/16/12
White Blood Count	.11	.29	.47	.74
Hemoglobin	10.1	9.5	9.7	9.5
Platelets	47	42	72	116
ANC	0	.2	.3	.4

ANC stands for Absolute Neutrophile Count.  This number needs to be at .50 for 2 days to be considered total engraftment.  Her platelets definitely have engrafted and all the other numbers are looking good.

Yesterday Shelly was feeling a bit improved with energy.  She pedaled on her bicycle for a few minutes and she went for a walk down the hall and back all on her own.  The intake of food has been a bit more of a challenge.  Yesterday she had a half a popsicle.  The goal is to increase the food intake.

Goals for today are a bit more exercise.  I don’t foresee that being a problem.  Eating food.  Hmm…nurse Camille suggested to Shelly today that she order one of everything, try a bite, if she absolutely couldn’t eat it, then throw it away.  She needs to try a bite of something every time she received anti-nausea medicine.  That would be four bites more than yesterday.  At breakfast this morning Shelly ordered an English muffin and scrambled eggs.  I was so proud of her!  Before I left the hospital for work she had eaten ALL of her English muffin and had taken about five bites of the scrambled eggs.  I’m anxious to check in to see how the rest of the day has gone.  Nevertheless, she has accomplished great things today. 

Release from the hospital is on the horizon.  There are just a few things that need to take place before she can move back home.  1)  No fever, so far she has not had one, and probably won’t get one so this is not to much of a concern.  2) Swallow pills on her own, she’s working on that.  3) Eat about 500 calories.  You and I may think that seems like not a big deal, but this is probably her biggest obstacle.  4) Her ANC level needs to come up to .5 and remain there for 2 days.  Dr. Wei is sure she’ll hit that tomorrow, so again, this is not a problem.  There are also things that need to be taken care of at home to ready the house for her.  It needs to be completely dusted from top to bottom and sanitized.  We’re working on this one as well.  I can’t believe Shelly is getting to the point of looking towards home.  She has done hard things and is on her way to recovery.  The road ahead will still be slow, but it is possible!



Dr. Wei and Michelle



Shelly eating breakfast this morning!