It has been awhile since I have made an entry but not much has changed. The stem cells still are not working and I have to get platelets and blood each week. By the end of the week, the platelet numbers are between 11,000 and 13,000 and my hemoglobin numbers are between 6.7 and 8.0. While I was in the hospital today receiving platelets and blood, another person was there getting platelets and was saying her platelets were low at 45,000. I must say when mine reach 45,000 and stay, I will do a victory dance….I know they need to be higher but 45,000 would be a great start. My local oncologist and the nephrologist at the dialysis center both wanted to know when I would be going back to Houston to see Dr. Anderlini and I told them his office had called wanting to know how I am doing. I called back today and knew what they would say, come back to Houston. I am waiting for them to give me the appointment time. I told them I had been ”hiding” from them. They want to do another bone marrow biopsy and I am not sure what else. Not sure what they can do to jump start the stem cells but guess I will find out. Most of what they do for me is experimental anyway.

Last Wednesday I had my counts taken and my platelets showed to be 32,000 per microliter and that was encouraging but they wanted to take the counts again on Friday. In less than 48 hours, my numbers had dropped to 12,000 per microliter. I was told to go to the hospital and they would have them ready for me at 8:00 on Saturday morning. I said I had a meeting in Dallas on Saturday and requested they be given on Monday. They said that would not be possible because the risk was too great to wait over the weekend. Back to the hospital on Saturday morning for 10 units of platelets. The normal life of platelets is about five to seven days and this decreases when I am not making my own platelets and receiving them from someone else to about three to five days. Again, thanks to those dear souls who gave the platelets.

Went to dialysis today, as usual, the rest of the day has been one of resting and knowing that tomorrow will be better. It is hot here and that takes a toll on me but as long as I stay out of the sun, I do o.k.

Not a great deal has changed I am still on dialysis MWF and receiving ten units of platelets each week and two units of blood every other week because my stem cells still have not started working. I asked my local oncologist, Dr. Ray Page, what would happen if the stem cells do not become active. He said they would but we do not know the timeline they will choose. The doctors all tell me that about four months from the time you receive your stem cells is an average for them to become active. They say with me having several problems that mine could easily take longer such as six to eight months. The four-month period since I received my stem cells is up on the 22nd of June. I asked him what happens until they do start working and he said we would continue doing what we are doing now and that is for me to continue receiving platelets and blood. Not a wonderful thought but one I can live with as long as needed.

I have become more and more appreciative of people who will take the time to donate blood and platelets. They have certainly saved many lives and I am able to continue living somewhat of a normal life because of their generosity. Blood takes less time to give and has a longer shelf life than platelets. Donating platelets takes about 90 minutes and they have a shelf life of about five days. Platelets can be given more often than blood because they are taken from the blood. You are connected to a machine that receives the blood and removes the platelets and the remainder of the blood is returned to you. People with low platelet counts should be very careful because they must always be aware that their clotting ability is very restricted. When we cut or injure ourselves in someway, we can bleed quite freely.

I am gaining strength and am able to work in my beloved gardens. I gathered a beautiful arrangement of hydrangeas today for us to enjoy. Nothing can compare to being in the garden and listening to the birds, seeing the squirrels romp and play and watching the butterflies flit from flower to flower. I must work when it is early in the morning and quit when it becomes too hot because of the sun. I take blood pressure medication and when the sun hits my skin, it feels like little pin pricks all over. My yards are very shady and this helps when I am outside.