Update Transplant Day 25

Friday was a rough day. Luke was heavily sedated due to pain in the abdomen and back from fluid build up. Around 6 pm they withdrew 2 liters of fluid from his abdomen. The catheter used to withdraw fluids was left in the event fluids continue to accumulate and need to be withdrawn. Hopefully getting the fluid out will relieve some of the pain. MDA has contacted insurance and Methodist Hospital on doing the treatment to dissolve the clots in his liver. Insurance is going to require a liver biopsy. The MDA protocol does not allow a liver biopsy unless platelets are at least 20 (normal is +240). Luke's platelets started the day at 8 and after two bags of platelets they were only able to get him up to 18. With the weekend a biopsy is now scheduled for Monday. One of his liver enzymes that affect clotting is out of range so he is going to get meds to raise the enzyme level. Will see if that works. The kid looks pretty beat up. Good news is temperature has not spiked, white count look good and with getting his Tarco down the headaches have lessened. Platelets and red cells recovery is slower than white cells. Until his marrow starts to produce platelets and red cells transfusions will be daily. With all that it's amazing the number of issues he has requiring treatment; skin rash, dry eyes, fluid retention, liver, stomach and low blood counts.