SPECIAL REQUEST

Dear friends and family,

I am asking you to come along side of us and ask very specifically for the increased release of stem cells in Kate's blood.

We went to Children's this morning for blood work to check Kate's counts in general and specifically the production level of the stem cells. We were tentatively anticipating that the stem cell harvest would occur tomorrow(Tuesday). Kate's stem cell count came back at 1 and she must be at 4 or 5 to begin a harvest. So we must continue to check counts each day and wait until they reach that level. Thus, we are asking you to pray with us that the stem cells would multiply and begin blood flowing plentifully in the blood. Each person is different and that count can hover low for several days and then jump, or it can climb slowly.
Please ask that the stem cells would be produced in volume and be readily available in the blood for collection. We will go again tomorrow to Children's to check this count.

Kate was symptomatic of low hemoglobin today and recieved 2 units of RBC. We also discovered this morning when Kate's gums were bleeding and she had a few spots of piticia (tiny broken blood vessels on the surface of the skin) that Kate's platelet count had taken a nose dive. She dropped to a 6 and after the transfusion had moved up to a 13. She must be at 50 for any type of procedure to be done due to the risk of bleeding when platelets are low. She will recieve another transfusion of platelets tomorrow when we go for counts.

Neither of us were too discouraged by the fact that the stem cell harvest cannot occur tomorrow. We know we must trust Father to orchestrate this harvest in his perfect timing. While I know this in my heart my mind is at the same time anxious knowing that there is a window of time in which this needs to occur that is influenced by by so many factors. Thanks for joining us in asking that Kate's stem cell harvest will indeed happen and that the harvest will be sufficient.

Thanks for interceding,
Elaine