T Plus 6 and Counting

No, this isn’t a blotched NASA launch but it might as well be if I’m piloting T’s blog. It’s B here again filling in the blanks since T’s last post five days ago.

As of T’s last post (Day +1) she was full of energy and in good health despite being well on her way to a non-existent immune system.  Since then she has had two blood transfusions and one platelet transfusion. Logistically, there was nothing to the three additional transplants with the help her Hickman Line. However, emotionally it required wrapping her mind around the thought that it wasn’t her own.

From Day +3 to Day +5, T’s white blood cells have continued plummet resulting in the growth of increasingly painful sores in her throat and mouth. After responding 8 to the question “On a scale of 1 to 10 what is your pain,” after every dose of painkiller wore off the team at 6b installed T’s very own PCA that delivers a morphine like drug at the touch of a button. On top of that the itching caused by the blisters that keep developing under her Hickman dressing are enough to drive someone mad.

I wish we were counting down but it seems more like we are now counting up until her white blood cells blast off.

For your viewing pleasure I have graphed the indicators of T’s immune system.

WBC – White Blood Cells

            The lack of a high WBC count is the biggest factor in the 
            development of her sores and pain.

HCT – Hematocrit

            The portion of the blood that is occupied by red blood cells.

            HCT levels less than 26 require blood transfusions

            Excuse the Gap.

PLT – Platelets

            PLT levels below 10,000 require platelet transfusions

            Table Shown in thousands (000s)

Key

* Blood Transfusion Days

+ Platelet Transfusion Days