After dialysis yesterday, I went to Dr. Page’s office to check my numbers and the hemoglobin was 9.3, which is not bad, but my nephrologist wants it to stay above 10.0. My platelets dropped from 19 to 17 and that was a disappointment but they still do not want to give me platelets unless they drop further. My white count is very low so I will self-inject three times with Neupogen. I then went to the hospital for typing and crosschecking but when I arrived home, I had a message from The Center for Blood and Cancer Disorders. I returned the call and was told not to go in for blood on Thursday because there is a national shortage on Type O Positive and Negative blood and I am to wait until next week.

This is why I have always been so thankful to people who will take their time to give blood and platelets. The blood has been there for me and this is my first experience of being told there is no blood for me. I am sure it will be there next week and I understand the need to keep the reserve for emergences.