We just arrived home from Oscar's visit and I have a quick minute to update you. Bloods have improved:
Hb: 12
WCC: 3.0 (target for maintenance is between 2 - 3)
Neut: 1.6
Plts: 229
Dr Margaret was happy, as always, to see us and does not want Oscar having any surgery until after he has completed chemo and recovered from it (a minimum of 2 months after completion). There is too much risk of infection and with his suppressed immune system they would only allow surgery if it was critical.
It has also been explained to me many times that it takes about 6 months for recovery from chemo - for the taste buds to return to normal, the bloods to adjust etc. So, my gut feeling is we should wait until 6 months after he finishes chemo in June this year, have a chemo-free, care-free Xmas and then do it early next year. That's the thought I will be sending out to the universe so feel free to join me. In the mean time, I need to go back to the Paediatric Urologist to tell him and get the other tests done to check how his kidneys are coping.
All in all it was a good visit. We are changing back to Wednesday visits which means Auden will be in Pre School. Dr Margaret was sad and said I absolutely have to bring Auden sometimes as she loves seeing him growing up. Bless her.
Thanks again for checking in on us and I hope you are all travelling well on your own journeys. Take care of each other - love heals - and take care of yourselves too. x
Showing posts with label Blood results. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blood results. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Sunday, January 15, 2012
5th Jan 2012 Clinic Visit
We visited clinic on 5th January and Oscar's bloods had gone up. For those interested in the numbers:
Hb: 129
WCC: 4.4 (target on maintenance is between 2 and 3)
Neut: 2.5
Plts: 170
We aren't sure why they went up but have increased his chemo to get them back down towards the desired target. All is well.
We also visited the Paediatric Urologist on 12th Jan, who confirmed that Oscar will need to have a circumcision and a nuclear test to check how his kidneys are doing. Recent studies show that ongoing antibiotic treatment only reduces the incident of urine infection by 6%, whereas circumcision is almost always successful at eliminating them. In the past we did not want to go down this road and perhaps that wrong decision has contributed to his journey so far so we are going to move forward and get it done. There is a 1 in 20 chance that he will need a second operation because his penis may open as a result of the circumcision and this would mean he would wee over the toilet at a funny angle so they would operate to remedy that if it occurred, which we doubt. Finally, he may need another operation down the track, once we have identified if his reflux has fixed itself. If the valve in his urinary system is still not healed they may need to do a further, more invasive surgery to remedy that - again, we will cross that bridge if it presents itself along the pathway that is his journey.
It is an exciting year for Oscar as he starts Pre-School and he will also finish his chemo treatment in about June or July - both important milestones for him. He is certainly growing up by the minute and making a mark for himself in all that he says, does and shares with all of us. Auden is excited that his brother is going to be at Pre-School with him and can't wait to get back there. All in all 2012 is likely to be a fantastic journey for both of them.
I took the boys away for a holiday at a friends house and only just arrived back yesterday and it was a wonderful gift of kindness and generosity of spirit that really helped me and the boys had so much fun playing with the big boys, staying up very late and generally enjoying the freedom of new adventures. Thank you to the special person who made it happen and gave me a feeling of safety and sanctuary when I needed it.
Life is good. May 2012 bring you the healing, love, light and the listening, respectful heart of fellow travellers on this journey of life. We are all human, full of frailty, faults and fears as well as strength, courage and compassion - may we accept this truth, respect our differences, listen to each others stories, hold each others hand and unite in the knowledge that we are all one.
Thanks for checking in on us. x
Hb: 129
WCC: 4.4 (target on maintenance is between 2 and 3)
Neut: 2.5
Plts: 170
We aren't sure why they went up but have increased his chemo to get them back down towards the desired target. All is well.
We also visited the Paediatric Urologist on 12th Jan, who confirmed that Oscar will need to have a circumcision and a nuclear test to check how his kidneys are doing. Recent studies show that ongoing antibiotic treatment only reduces the incident of urine infection by 6%, whereas circumcision is almost always successful at eliminating them. In the past we did not want to go down this road and perhaps that wrong decision has contributed to his journey so far so we are going to move forward and get it done. There is a 1 in 20 chance that he will need a second operation because his penis may open as a result of the circumcision and this would mean he would wee over the toilet at a funny angle so they would operate to remedy that if it occurred, which we doubt. Finally, he may need another operation down the track, once we have identified if his reflux has fixed itself. If the valve in his urinary system is still not healed they may need to do a further, more invasive surgery to remedy that - again, we will cross that bridge if it presents itself along the pathway that is his journey.
It is an exciting year for Oscar as he starts Pre-School and he will also finish his chemo treatment in about June or July - both important milestones for him. He is certainly growing up by the minute and making a mark for himself in all that he says, does and shares with all of us. Auden is excited that his brother is going to be at Pre-School with him and can't wait to get back there. All in all 2012 is likely to be a fantastic journey for both of them.
I took the boys away for a holiday at a friends house and only just arrived back yesterday and it was a wonderful gift of kindness and generosity of spirit that really helped me and the boys had so much fun playing with the big boys, staying up very late and generally enjoying the freedom of new adventures. Thank you to the special person who made it happen and gave me a feeling of safety and sanctuary when I needed it.
Life is good. May 2012 bring you the healing, love, light and the listening, respectful heart of fellow travellers on this journey of life. We are all human, full of frailty, faults and fears as well as strength, courage and compassion - may we accept this truth, respect our differences, listen to each others stories, hold each others hand and unite in the knowledge that we are all one.
Thanks for checking in on us. x
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Tuesday Sept 7th Clinic Visit
Oscar had a great day in clinic today. His blood results were good and we go again Friday to have them checked. Also, his kidney function test showed he is within normal range, although on the lower end of normal range. This is good considering his kidney reflux condition.
Next Wednesday 15th Sept Oscar has the big important bone marrow biopsy. This is the one they send to the U.S. to find out what risk level he is and what treatment protocol he will continue on. Please send out the positive thoughts and prayers that he is within the standard risk. Whatever the statistic, we know he's going to be just fine.
Today Pete took Oscar to clinic and I took Auden down to Long Reef headland. Ah, it was so good to go back to a place where I feel such belonging. The ocean (which Auden calls, 'big water') was a great reminder of how small I am in the big universe and how much energy and power there is out there in the world beyond my own confused brain. Then we stopped in at Ingrid's for a visit which was pure magic. Thank you Ingrid and thanks for all the food too.
OK, big positive vibes for next Wednesday and here are the blood results from today:
Haemoglobin: 117 (Friday's blood transfusion has lifted these to within almost normal range)
White cell count: 0.9 (they were non existent last week)
Neutrophils: (still non existent but they take longer to recover)
Platelets: 236 (normal is 150-300 and they have been staying steady so far for the past week)
Next Wednesday 15th Sept Oscar has the big important bone marrow biopsy. This is the one they send to the U.S. to find out what risk level he is and what treatment protocol he will continue on. Please send out the positive thoughts and prayers that he is within the standard risk. Whatever the statistic, we know he's going to be just fine.
Today Pete took Oscar to clinic and I took Auden down to Long Reef headland. Ah, it was so good to go back to a place where I feel such belonging. The ocean (which Auden calls, 'big water') was a great reminder of how small I am in the big universe and how much energy and power there is out there in the world beyond my own confused brain. Then we stopped in at Ingrid's for a visit which was pure magic. Thank you Ingrid and thanks for all the food too.
OK, big positive vibes for next Wednesday and here are the blood results from today:
Haemoglobin: 117 (Friday's blood transfusion has lifted these to within almost normal range)
White cell count: 0.9 (they were non existent last week)
Neutrophils: (still non existent but they take longer to recover)
Platelets: 236 (normal is 150-300 and they have been staying steady so far for the past week)
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