So much has happened since the last post, I am not sure
where to begin.
Dad received some more donor marrow. After which, another biopsy was performed. It revealed that the Leukemia levels were
lower but the Drs. did not feel like they had dropped enough. They
decided it was time to help Dad’s new bone marrow start to fight. They gave him medication to initiate graft
versus host disease (GVH).
GVH targets many things including the organs, skin, mucous
membranes and gastrointestinal
tract. It is a gross understatement
to say patients get “sick” with GVH. Mom
tried to keep him at home for as long as she could but after a couple of bad
scares we knew it was time to take him back to the Huntsman where they could
monitor him better.
A few days ago he took a turn for the worse. We have since learned that there was a mess
up on some medication he was administered and this is what sent him downhill so
quickly.
At the first of this week they decided to do another bone
marrow biopsy. Good news, the levels are
very low and have decreased significantly.
They were pleased with the results.
Today he received some dialysis to help his kidneys flush
out some of the toxins. He will have another
round tomorrow. The plan is to start him on EPC therapy. This will slow down the
GVH and help his white blood cells to stop attacking.
They have warned us that this will be a long road ahead and
there will probably be some more speed bumps along the way. It will take some time before he starts to
feel better and he will be at the hospital for an extended period.
He is a fighter and after all that he has been through we
refuse to concede to this latest setback.
