Thursday, October 9, 2008

No Hans for Now

Dori received six immunization shots this morning, and you could say she's feeling it. Shots for polio, chicken pox, influenza, pneumonia, tetanus and hepatitis B. She needs to go back in two months for four more shots.

Dori's blood counts improved. Red blood cell hit 42, the highest that's been since last year and in the normal range. Yabba Dabba Doo. Platetets rose slightly to 119, higher than last time but still below normal. Dori's bruises remain in places. Her white blood cell count rose to 5.5, which is excellent.

So all in all ... a very good day. We did learn for certain that Dori's donor, the young man we call Hans, gave his bone marrow at an international donor center. The wait time at that specific center - before the donor and recipient can have contact - is two years, not the usual one. We're sorry we have to wait, but Dori now has another goal this year.

Unfortunately, we've heard two situations this week where leukemia patients have died. One was a 12-year-old boy who was at our neighborhood pool. The second is the mother of one of Dori's best high school friends. Her friend's mom passed after a four-year battle with an aggressive form of CLL.

I felt the normal emotions when I heard of their deaths - sadness and some anger. It's not like I needed more resolve to run, but unfortunately I keep getting it.

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