Thursday, May 22, 2008

John doesn't need blood transfusions right now!

I forgot to tell you all how John was doing.  

He got his lab results back yesterday. 

First let me say that a couple of weeks ago, he got a shot of Aranesp to help raise his red blood cell count (his hemoglobin and hematocrit).  The shot was to make sure he wouldn't need any blood transfusions any time soon.  

Well, his scores came back great yesterday!  The Aranesp shot raised his red blood cell count!  What this means is, that for now, he won't be needing blood transfusions!  Not right now anyway!  Yayyyyyy!  I hope this trend continues!  I just wanted to let you all know!  Those transfusions that he used to have to get (over 100 of them) used to  take a big toll on him.     

Everything else is going pretty well with John also.  He's not in the normal range of things yet, but for him, he is doing very well! 

I won't bore you with a full medical report, but we are very pleased, that John is doing as well as he is, for being a person who has some health issues.  He does most everything a "normal healthy" person does, LOL.  Except he has to sleep more.

Oh, one more thing, I don't know if I mentioned he goes to Physical Therapy three times a week for his neck.  At a different therapy place than me.  Now why did he choose to go somewhere different?  I haven't the foggyist.  Now working out a schedule will be much harder, LOL!

Okay, I just wanted you all to know he is okay and doesn't need blood.  And this he is trying to get through the injury on his neck by working in physical therapy three times a week.  Probably for two or three months.  He will make it though!  Thanks for the emails asking about him. :)

*****By the way, if you are a new reader, and don't understand this entry too much, John got a bone marrow transplant (stem cell transplant) a little over two years ago.  He needed the bone marrow transplant because he had twocancers:  Non Hodgkins Lympyoma, and MDS ( bone marrow cancer).  MDS can turn into AML (leukemia) in a few short months if left untreated, so if John hadn't chosen to do the bone marrow transplant he would have, well, passed away by now, must likely.  So all things considered, he is doing quite well.  

Well, getting back to John needing frequent blood transfusions at different times since the transplant, he had/has a disease called Hemolytic Anemia.  Hemolytic Anemia is when your blood cells can destruct in as fast as a day.  That is why the person who has an advanced case of Hemolytic Anemia needs constant blood transfusions. 

Now if you are wondering how John got the Hemolytic Anemia (that has caused him to get over 100 transfusions so far in 2 years), his oncologists don't even know.

But the oncologists do have two theories.  The first is John could be having an adverse reaction to a medication he took after the bone marrow transplant.  This medication was one that causes John's body from rejecting his donor - and was quite necessary perhaps!

The other thing that could have caused the Hemalytic Anemia, therefore causing John to need so many transfusions, was a mismatched bag of blood.  Yes, you heard me correctly.  Sometimes if the recipient of the blood is not matched correctly with the right type of blood this can happen.  I don't know who messed up, the blood bank or the nurse or who.  Tell you what.  We are not even going to think about it.  We thought all along it was the meds and now we find out it might be mis matched blood.  What a nightmare, Ughhhh.

We are still VERY much into receiving and giving blood of course.  Without those hundreds of bags of blood that John received, he was saved from death.  And for all of you who donated blood, many were saved from death also.  Thank you so much!!!! :)       

Okay, so I am going to go to Chinese with John now!    

Love you all, and take care of yourself,

Krissy :)

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19 comments:

  1. I am glad that John doesn't have to have any more blood at this time. I hope the PT will help his neck a lot. Helen

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  2. Thanks and praises to our good Lord once more.  John has been so blessed by all of this.  Enjoy that Chinese!  Celebrate !  'On Ya' - ma

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  3. Krissy, whenever I see that you have written in your journal I say "Oh, no, I hope all is well" and it is today.  I am excited about his red blood cells being so good.
    And with therapy his neck will soon be better and so will your shoulder. You both are the most wonderful, toughest, determined people I have ever known.  Go do Chinese and celebrate........love and hugs and prayers always.....

    Myke

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  4.     Very happy to hear your news. Take care and enjoy your Chinese. It's my favorite.
    Jude
    http://journals.aol.com/jmorancoyle/MyWay

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  5. Krissy, thanks for this good news about John!  What is his blog named again?  How are YOU doing?  Love you, Merry

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  6. I am so glad the med worked for John.  He seems to have so little luck with those those meds.  Anyway, great news and I hop you 2 can get a PT schedule that works without wearing you out.  hugs,  Bethe

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  7. thanking the Lord for the news about John!! I've been praying his counts will go up and I'm also glad to hear that he's doing relatively good with his neck/physical therapy, another answer to prayer, thank you Lord!!

    and so glad you guys had a chance to go out and do something fun like Chinese food, another prayer answered, LOL, thank you Lord! I prayed that you guys would have a chance to do some fun things, like BBQ or a walk in the park, but Chinese sounds just as good :)

    thanks Lord!!

    betty

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  8. I am thrilled to hear this wonderful news!!!!  God is so good!!!  Yayyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!
    Lisa

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  9. How great!!! I was praying for you both....

    Tawnya

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  10. I am so glad things are getting better for john I will continue to keep you both in my prayers
    hugs
    Sherry

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  11. So happy he doesn't need the transfustion!!!

    ~Rosemary

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  12. ... well darn ..!  This IS a lot for a newbie such as myself ..!  But the spirit is hopeful, and I hope things goes the way you envision them ..!

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  13. Krissy great news about John, so glad he's doing good.  Hope the PT is helping you, sure has helped my hubby Jerr with the pinch nerve in his back/shoulder area.  You enjoy the chinese and have a wonderful holiday.  Arlene (AJ)

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  14. Yay! Great news about John. I am so pleased. Please give him a big hug from me. Have a great meal. Love Pam xx

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  15. That is such good news!!! I am so happy for you two!! My mother has leukemia. She is in remission now and has been for 20 years. The doctors say that there is little change it will come back. I will keep you and John in my prayers....love ya, Christine

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  16. That's good news. I am happy for him! (((Hugs))) -Missy http://journals.aol.com/ma24179/MISSYZSTUFF

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  17. Woo Hoo!!!!
    Linda :)

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  18. HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND!!!!!


    PAtty

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  19. Good news.   Enjoy your Chinese.          Dawn

    http://journals.aol.com/adlessor/ACoupleofNomads/

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