Update from Elaine

Well it's not been the best of days...in Kate's words, "it's been a rough day". As anticipated Kate's hemoglobin dropped a bit more and she received two units of RBC's. Because of an allergic reaction to blood products in the past Kate is always pre-medicated with benedryl and tylenol. The benedryl knocks her out for a few hours and leaves her pretty sluggish the rest of the day. Her potasium level had also dropped so she received some of that as well. The toughest thing today was a splitting headache that came on suddenly when she recieved a normal saline flush between bags of blood. Kate rated the pain a 10 and was given a dose of morphine to get some immediate relief. A later dose of tylenol finally took away the residual pain of the headache.

The doctors told us today if we can get the nausea under control they would like to send us home. Instead of continuous IV flow of nausea medication, Kate is now receiving a dose once every 8 hours - which we can continue at home as needed. Kate is trying her best to eat a few bites at each meal, but eating is still quite a chore.

~We are thankful that Kate is not throwing up, but always feeling nauseas can be just as hard. Please ask that the nausea quiet and appetite return.
~Each day we get closer to the drop in Kate's WBC count. Please continue praying that she will be protected from infection during this time of low counts.
~Please pray that God's perfect timing will be realized in the day we can go home - not sooner that it should be, but also knowing we are ready to be reunited on a daily basis with Maggie and back in our own beds and home.

Thank you for praying us through tough days like today.

Holding on to grace,
Elaine