5/16 update

We had a pretty long discussion with a doctor from the Hematologist group last night and probably gained a little better understanding of Carissa'a situation right now. After talking with him, looking at some graphs of Carissa's counts of various blood components (I had no idea that there were so many specific components of blood), discussing more with a nurse practitioner today, doing some research on the internet, and staring at more of her numbers this morning, it seems that Carissa is having issues regulating her different blood components (my personal oversimplification). It is not a surprise this is the case with her severe anemia in the womb, her alloimmune thrombocytopenia diagnosis, all the blood that has been drawn for a multitude of tests, several rbc, platelet, and plasma transfusions...I could actually go on for a while.

The main problem right now, like I mentioned yesterday, is with the white blood cell count, specifically the neutrophils. A good sign is that Carissa's body is reacting to the low level and producing lots of new white blood cells that have not matured yet. The neutrophil count this morning was officially the same by the way they look at the numbers and still very very low. They seem to look at ranges and within a range seems to be considered basically the same reading. The absolute neutrophil count, ANC of course, was actually a little higher, but not so much that it can really be considered an improving trend yet (except by me, knowing that we and many of y'all were specifically praying for that).

The tests for infections, both of the blood and any sort of urinary infection, came back as negative and her liver function tests came back normal which we were very thankful for that. These are both good news and yet frustrating because any sort of infection could have helped describe at least part of Carissa's neutropenia issue.

The more you learn the more you realize you don't know and there seems to be a lot of that going around right now. As brilliant as the doctors are that we are dealing with and as much as they know, and it is crazy how much they know, only God can it be said about:
"For Thou didst form my inward parts; Thou dist weave m in my mother's womb." Psalm 139: 13

We are so blessed and thankful that our little Carissa is in the hands of some of the wisest, kindest, most patient, and diligent doctors, nurses, and other staff. We are even more thankful that she, and we, are in the hands of our Almighty God.

• Please thank God for His continued touch on Carissa's life and for how He has revealed Himself to us and to many of you (thank you for your reports of this) during these last 5 1/2 weeks.
• Please pray that the Great Physician will help Carissa's body produce and regulate the many components of the blood necessary for her to function normally.
• Please pray that Carissa will not have trouble keeping her milk down so that she can grow and get stronger which will help her so much with everything.
• Please thank God for the excellent doctors and staff and pray that they will know how best to help Carissa.
• Please continue to pray for Dante and his mom, Misty. (Dante was in level 3 NICU across from Carissa and his mom, Misty, has a heart that was only functioning at about 30% since his birth.
• Please pray that God will get the glory in Carissa's progress

Please know that we mean it when we thank you for interceding for Carissa and please keep praying for her.

Terry