The blood count showed a hemaglobin and rbc count in good ranges, but at a point where they had no doubt dropped from levels soon after the transfusion. The platelet count was up over 100k on their own for the first time. That is still a little low but they have been trending up for several weeks and the low platelet issue, thrombocytepenia, seems to be resolving. The neutrophil count is also still in a good range and looks like that problem is in the past as well. If you have been reading these from the beginning you may remember Dr. Johnson who was Pamela's doctor starting on the night of 4/8 when she checked into St. Lukes. He checked on us this week just to see how we, and specifically Carissa, are doing. I told him I hope I never have to spell thrombocytopenia or neutropenia again-openia...actually I left the suffix humor off for Dr. Johnson.
Carissa has some really big appointments over the next 10 days and we request your continued prayers for her. We go back to the hematologist Friday and then go to the pulmanologist for the OCRG test (Our Carissa Respirates Good is what I think that stands for) on 7/28. We have been counting the days until the 28th for quite a while and are honestly both hopeful and anxious about that day. The timing is a little tricky because if trends hold Carissa may be getting lower on rbc's by Friday's appointment but maybe not low enough for a transfusion. The OCRG test on the following Tuesday is all about her oxygen saturation so that will be a challenge to do well and get off oxygen if her rbc and hemaglobin counts are not high. We really hope that Carissa will be able to do well and be able to be off oxygen support for the first time except for a few hours while she was in the NICU. Conventional wisdom says that this could be lined up for a perfect storm where Carissa's counts aren't low enough for a transfusion, then her OCRG test does not go well due to low rbc's, and then she needs another transfusion shortly after the OCRG test. We thank God that He is not restrained to operating in the realm of conventional wisdom! Carissa has had great physicians but she is ultimately in the hands of the Great Physician!
- Please thank God for Carissa's progress and for her 6 1/2 weeks home when she was once thought to never leave the delivery room, let alone get to leave the hospital!
- Please thank God for Carissa's steady improvement in platelet and neutrophil counts and pray that she will improve on producing and maintaining her red blood cells.
- Please pray that Carissa's lungs and breathing will continue to develop and mature and that she will do well on the OCRG test on the 28th and get to get off oxygen support for the first time ever other than for a few hours in the NICU.
- Please pray that God will continue to get the credit for Carissa's progress.
Please continue to pray regularly for Carissa. She still has several areas that need your intercession and God's intervention.
Yours and His,
Terry
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