we're at Hershey Medical Center

Here we are, sitting in Hershey, amidst a pretty bad ice storm.  John has an appointment tomorrow.  We need to find out why his immune system is so compromised.  I doubt we will though.  His physicians have been trying to figure it out for months.  Next month will be two years since John had his bone marrow transplant, and he shouldn't be having such a compromised immune system.  Dr. Claxton, John's oncologist, said there are a few patients that do have this happen, though.  They end up with a very weakened, almost non-existent immune system.  And it can continue for several years after the bone marrow transplant.  But the oncologists don't know the reason why their patients can't maintain a normal immune system.  Remember, this is important because the patient without an immune system is more likely to catch an illness, and then has a harder time fighting it off, which can be a life threatening matter.

So hopefully we will get some answers and maybe John will get some treatment.  Maybe while John is down here he can see the infectious disease specialist also.  John went to him a few months back. He gave several explanations, or possibilities, of what it could be that was causing the problem of the low white blood count and low ANC.  But he wasn't sure.  We were not too thrilled with any of the possibilities.  They were frightening.  I won't rehash all of that, b/c they were only possibilities, and no reason getting scared if they are not definite right now.  If anything pans out I'll let you know.

I was also reading yesterday on the web about what causes Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia.  Rembember that?  John was getting seven bags of bood a day.  Then a little less, but constant bags of blood a day or every day.  So many of you were giving blood because of him, and I was so touched I was in tears really, and so was he.  Shhh, don't tell him I told you, LOL, b/c men don't tear up, now do they, LOL?  

Anyway, the causes for Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia were listed as: viral infections, lymphoma, and certain drugs (not street drugs, LOL).  John had all of those before his he got the AIHA.  He is going to mention this to Dr. Claxton.  Only b/c he wants to make sure his lymphoma is not coming back.  The lymphoma he had before he had the bone marrow cancer.  Some of you don't know this, but John has had two cancers in his lifetime.  Perhaps it is really ridiculous to be concerned that the lymphoma could make a comeback, but when you have had the big "C" you get a little concerned sometimes.  But we are not counting on anything like that.  So please don't worry.     

John also wants to discuss the fact with Dr. Claxton that he had a viral infection right before the AIHA.  Maybe it is the viral infection that is keeping John's immune system down.  I don't know if he does have a viral infection if there is anything the doctors will be able to do for him to help his immune system anyway, except artificially stimulate it.  Does anybody know?  Help me out here Guido or Pam!  Can you answer this one?  Or is there nothing you can do with a viral infection?

Oh gee, it could have been anything.  He was taking three of the meds the medical article on the web said not to take before he got the AIHA.  And still still continues to take them.  Don't the doctors know he is not supposed to?  Sigh.  I guess we better tell them tomorrow at the appointment.  I guess I better print the medical article out tonight.  I think it was from a medical paper or a journal or something, it looked legit.

Okay, this has gotten more medical than I had planned.  I meant to talk about the ice storm, LOL.  The lights almost went out a minute ago.  The whole thing made a surging sound.  I grabbed John's arm.  I don't want the power to go out.  It will be freezing, and the food will spoiling.  Maybe we will have no water.  I think power is going out all around the East Coast.  It is horrible.  On the other hand, it is beautiful.  But branches are falling off the trees.  A car almost got hit in the parking lot from the biggest branch I have ever seen fall off of a tree in my life.  A very near miss.  Two giant, I mean giant portions of trees, no three, have fallen to the ground, already.

If it stops sleeting, and the ground isn't too slippery, maybe I can go out and snap a few pictures.  We'll see. 

Okay, gotta run.  John is getting bored, LOL.

Love you lots and lots,  Krissy :)  

Tags: Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia, Hemolytic Anemia, immune system, viral infection, lymphoma, cancer, ice storm