We are learning that dealing with the "Asshat" there are going to be good days and not so good days. This was one of the not so good ones. Luke had clinic at 7:30. He woke up with a bad headache and for the first time nausea.
His blood was taken upon arrival at MDA. The lab results showed the cytarabine is taking it's toll. His hemoglobin was down to 6.3 (14-18 is normal) and as a result he got two units of blood, he also got methotrexate intrathecal (spinal) and the first of four days of cytarabine. With his hemoglobin so low he spent most of the day sleeping while being transfused.
Cytarabine's effect on the blood counts will max out between days 7-14. Because he gets cytarabine again this week, Luke will likely need blood again next week and possibly the week after.
Matt Frazier and Greg Balhoff stopped by yesterday afternoon and stayed for dinner. Enid and Terrance made it in from Miami and arrived late last night. Luke fell asleep before 10 pm and left for MDA at 6:15 am, so he did not see Enid and Terrance until he got back from MDA around 7 pm.
Luke is doing a better this evening, his headache and nausea are under control. His energy picked up enough with the blood to want chips and salsa from the Del. We will need to watch things for the next few weeks. Along with a low hemoglobin, his white cell count is low (1.5 vs. 4-11 being normal) which makes him very susceptible to infection.
Everyone take care.
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Honey, you can and will do this! I know it in my heart. Ask those who know me really well, I am usually right. Seriously. You have always been one-of-a-kind -- when you were three, you jumped out of the window (ground floor, of course) at the "old" house in Houston -- you yelled, "I'm free, I'm free." Who knew? I love you and urge you on in the road to regaining your health.
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Love you mucho,
Aunt Jaquita
Luke, keep kicking the asshat, with all the people pulling for you, you will beat this. Munch those M&M's with reckless abandon and let us know when more are required (although next round we might have to throw in some KSU purple not just U of M colors!). Make sure Kate is spoiling you during her visit. Keep up the fight; we are SO PROUD OF YOU!
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PJ and the gang (sounds like a bad late 70’s rock group, gota change that).
Hi Luke ~ I work with PJ and he shared this blog site with me this morning when I asked about you. Just want you to know that there are many here who are cheering you on in this battle. Go Luke!
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