Update from Elaine
The most encouraging news of our Sunday was the wonderful news that Kate's WBC count was 1.5 today!!! You'll remember that the WBC count was at .02 on Friday and then Saturday it moved to .5 (yesterday I mistakenly placed the decimal at .05 - oops). So today's WBC count of 1.5 was fantastic!! Thank you for praying those counts up!
With the WBC count at that level we can now get a measure on the ANC (infection fighting WBC) and that was up to 1,270. As the counts continue to climb Kate's body can begin fighting the infection on its own again.
Platelets are one of the last counts to rebound and so today Kate had another transfusion of platelets when her count was low again at 16.
Today we continued to work on getting the right balance of pain medication (for the mouth sores and discomfort of the skin rash) and tailor the antibiotics to the bacterial infection with respect to Kate's newest drug allergies.
The bright spot in our day was another visit from Maggie with Kate's cousins and aunt and uncle. It was a lazy afternoon with Kate fading in and out of little cat naps - at one point we looked in the room and all the girls were fast asleep! Aunt Adele specially prepared wedding soup at Kate's request and I was thrilled this evening when Kate after four days of not eating requested a little bowl of soup and ate it all and kept it down! That's a victory and answer to lots of prayer.
Maggie brought a true smile to Kate's face today when she brought Kate a special gift from Grace. Maggie brought Kate kisses from Grace (she let Grace lick a piece of paper) and a lock of Grace's fur so Kate could pet Grace:) That's our Maggie - thoughtful and creative.
Kate's oncologist visited tonight. She agreed that the turn in the WBC count will help Kate feel better each day. She did say she would be making some adjustments to Kate's chemo dose for the next time, so as to hopefully reduce the recurrence of mouth sores and some of the factors that may have brought on the intestinal bacteria. She also indicated that Kate's next admission (Jan. 29th) will most likely be delayed until we get her feeling better and stronger. She said the delay in time would not negatively impact the chemo protocol.
We have not yet been told a tentative day to go home, but we are encouraged that in the last 24 hours Kate has not registered a fever. We do know that Kate will go home on IV antibiotics as the bacterial infection must be treated for 14 days.
Please continue to pray Kate around this bend in the road. Ask that the WBC count climb and that tomorrow will be a day of significant improvement of pain, with the sores in Kate's throat healing, with the rash and skin tenderness and itchiness fading and that Kate would truly begin to feel better all over.
Tonight Kate told Dr. J that while it had been long, hard week, she felt blessed as she knows she could feel a lot worse. Thank you God for giving my sweet Kate a sensitive spirit, one that can still feel compassion and concern for others on the journey in the midst of her own discomfort. Kate's grace, courage and strength has amazed the medical team caring for her, her family and friends and me, as I watch her walk through each day with a sweetness, peace and light in her eyes that could only come from God.
Leaning on His grace,
Elaine
With the WBC count at that level we can now get a measure on the ANC (infection fighting WBC) and that was up to 1,270. As the counts continue to climb Kate's body can begin fighting the infection on its own again.
Platelets are one of the last counts to rebound and so today Kate had another transfusion of platelets when her count was low again at 16.
Today we continued to work on getting the right balance of pain medication (for the mouth sores and discomfort of the skin rash) and tailor the antibiotics to the bacterial infection with respect to Kate's newest drug allergies.
The bright spot in our day was another visit from Maggie with Kate's cousins and aunt and uncle. It was a lazy afternoon with Kate fading in and out of little cat naps - at one point we looked in the room and all the girls were fast asleep! Aunt Adele specially prepared wedding soup at Kate's request and I was thrilled this evening when Kate after four days of not eating requested a little bowl of soup and ate it all and kept it down! That's a victory and answer to lots of prayer.
Maggie brought a true smile to Kate's face today when she brought Kate a special gift from Grace. Maggie brought Kate kisses from Grace (she let Grace lick a piece of paper) and a lock of Grace's fur so Kate could pet Grace:) That's our Maggie - thoughtful and creative.
Kate's oncologist visited tonight. She agreed that the turn in the WBC count will help Kate feel better each day. She did say she would be making some adjustments to Kate's chemo dose for the next time, so as to hopefully reduce the recurrence of mouth sores and some of the factors that may have brought on the intestinal bacteria. She also indicated that Kate's next admission (Jan. 29th) will most likely be delayed until we get her feeling better and stronger. She said the delay in time would not negatively impact the chemo protocol.
We have not yet been told a tentative day to go home, but we are encouraged that in the last 24 hours Kate has not registered a fever. We do know that Kate will go home on IV antibiotics as the bacterial infection must be treated for 14 days.
Please continue to pray Kate around this bend in the road. Ask that the WBC count climb and that tomorrow will be a day of significant improvement of pain, with the sores in Kate's throat healing, with the rash and skin tenderness and itchiness fading and that Kate would truly begin to feel better all over.
Tonight Kate told Dr. J that while it had been long, hard week, she felt blessed as she knows she could feel a lot worse. Thank you God for giving my sweet Kate a sensitive spirit, one that can still feel compassion and concern for others on the journey in the midst of her own discomfort. Kate's grace, courage and strength has amazed the medical team caring for her, her family and friends and me, as I watch her walk through each day with a sweetness, peace and light in her eyes that could only come from God.
Leaning on His grace,
Elaine
posted by Tracy @ 7:30 AM
4 Comments:
At 9:59 AM,
Anonymous said…
We're praying that you're soon reunited at home. We're thankful for your strength of spirit.
At 2:43 PM,
Anonymous said…
Kate,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you. I'm happy to hear that you were able to eat and hold it down,,,,a true sign that you are on the road to recovery. Just walk in God's footsteps as he guides you out of the troubled seas.
Elaine,
You are an inspriration to all of us with your amazing strength and faith that you have taught 2 beautiful girls. If there is anything you need we are just a phone call away.
Maggie,
That was a very creative and thoughtful way to bring Gracie to your sister. Although she is your big sister you are her rock in her troubled times. Keep your strength and she will soon be home with you.
We feel blessed to have become acquainted with such an extra ordinary family that you are.
We feel God's love when we are around you.
The feeling of God's love was greatly felt at the prayer service at Concord Church. After the service was over the best way I could sum this feeling up would be with the statement "Here Comes A Miracle!"
In God's blessings,
Jim, Debbie, & Cory
At 5:24 PM,
Anonymous said…
Now, Elaine, If I could just remember how to spell "HALLELUAH" correctly...but as you can see....I don't think I got it right....but you girls know what I mean when I say reading today's news was WONDERFUL! Maggie , you are a girl after my own heart with the "Grace visit" idea to Kate! You just keep that active mind going and you will be able to keep everybody's spirits uplifted!You have a terrific set of girls there, Elaine! What a pair! Maybe someday we will see each other in person and I can give all of you hugs. Love, Sandra K.
At 6:49 PM,
Anonymous said…
I am reminded over and over again of the Footprints poem that reads:
"My precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering when you only see one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you."
He indeed is carrying Kate and will never leave her.
PB
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