Smurfing USA

Although our waves aren't nearly like those people in the East are struggling with, we had a bit of a ride today.

After another week without emergency bleeding events we went to the hospital today for Annie's blood test.  Her hemoglobin was 7.9 - just on the edge of transfusing, so we held off.  However her platelets were reported at 68,000!  I had to ask the nurse to repeat this to me three times.  Annie hasn't made that many platelets since getting aplastic anemia (except after her first transplant).  I had to conclude that the "smurfs" were doing their thing.

However, ten minutes later, we were told the lab reported a change and they counted 15,000 - 45,000 with some "large platelets."  This was all very unusual to me and I've read over 300 CBCs.  Apparently this was also rare for the nurse since she didn't know how to explain it.  To be fair, Annie is the first one on Eltrombopag at either of the hospitals we've been to so no one really knows what to expect.

After doing some research, it seems "large platelets" are immature ones that the bone marrow releases early when the body has extremely low levels of platelets.  Why this makes counting so imprecise I don't know.  But we're just grateful for her body to produce anything - especially when it keeps her from needing a platelet transfusion and keeps us from being awaken in the middle of the night.

We received a status report on the donor search.  Luckily the hospital was able to get a grant to conduct a search for a match.  We are told not to expect to hear anything for a month.  After being explained the process I must say I was filled with amazing pride for humanity.  To think there is this web of people working in concert to try to save the life of one little girl is amazing.  That there are people all over the globe making themselves available to save another person - that they don't know - really makes it feel like a small, connected world.

Next appointment scheduled for 11/8 - as always no news is good news.