DOT +9

Dad again... As anticipated Patrick needed an infusion of platelets today. This takes about an hour once the platelets arrive from the main hospital blood bank. Then there will be some post infusion labs before we are able to leave. We are checking the UNC/Georgia Tech score and UNC is winning 13-0 right now. We hope that holds up.

Patrick has decided to go ahead and have his hair cut off. It started to fall out in the shower this morning so he wants to have his head shaved in the clinic tomorrow. There is a lady available who does it for those patients who can't have contact with the public.

Patrick's cousin Burns Blackwell came down to visit today. He attended his one year anniversary reception marking his successful transplant last year. That is so remarkable. We can't thank him enough for his support and first hand knowledge/advice during this process.

I think sister Mary also plans to come by. The few visitors Patrick gets are usually on the weekends just because people typically have to work during the week. He can have visitors as long as he feels up to it but just can't be in public around a lot of people. Visitors have to wash there hands well as a precautionary measure against germs... there is lots of hand santizer around the apartment. 

Mom just stopped by the clinic with a few sandwiches for lunch. Later today when we get back from the clinic we will probably watch golf and football.

Thank you for all your prayers and support.

Dan

Labs from today:

Test	Patrick	Normal Range
White Blood Cell Count	<0.10	3.2-9.8 (this will go to zero)
Hemoglobin	11.9	13.7-17.3 (they try and keep it above 8.0)
Platelet Count	4	150-450 (they try and keep it above 10)

DOT +8

This is dad taking over for a few days. I think Patrick has settled into a good routine with his daily visits to the ABMT clinic. Today his visit went well and all he needed was an oral potassium supplement. His platelets were boarder line low so he'll probably need an infusion of platelets tomorrow. He's taking it one day at a time. His appetite continues to be strong which is a very good thing considering most food doesn't taste normal. Probably helps that he watches several hours of the food network every day.

Patrick is very thankful to everyone who has sent him letters, packages, cards, and prayers. One of the difficult parts of this process is that he has very limited contact with people. He misses all of his friends and family and looks forward to seeing everyone when he can.

Dan

Labs from today:

Test	Patrick	Normal Range
White Blood Cell Count	<0.10	3.2-9.8 (this will go to zero)
Hemoglobin	12.1	13.7-17.3 (they try and keep it above 8.0)
Platelet Count	20	150-450 (they try and keep it above 10)

DOT +7

Hey everyone!! I cannot believe it has been a whole week since Patrick received his 7.31 MILLION stem cells!! God is good! Mom is finally back in Durham, she was so happy to see him. Patrick had another good day today. His potassium was a little low, so he had another IV. His platelets are continuing to fall, but they will not give him any until they are less than 10. His appetite is pretty good but food is not tasty and very metallic. Patrick is still tired, but he took a stroll around the apartment grounds and did great! Hopefully each day he will stroll further as it is very important to exercise to get his blood flowing and things moving around. Hair is still around… yippee!! They say he will lose it about 2 weeks after chemo, which is approaching. This will be the one time Mom will ever let him have a Mohawk… ha!

We are lucky to have a great PA that we have seen almost every day, his name is Brent. He always has plenty of time for questions and describes everything to a tee, which Mom loves. Patrick humors the clinic staff with his array of Hawaiian shirts. They vary from pink flamingos, its five o’clock somewhere, Hawaiian flowers, to beautiful bright fish. The shirts are quite a conversation piece. 

We are truly grateful that Patrick continues to have good days. We know that there will be some not so good days in the future, so each good day we have is a gift. For the next 2 weeks or so, we are in the waiting period. When Patrick’s white count starts to rise, this will hopefully mean the donor cells are moving in!

I would like to share a story by Anne Lamott that Ms. Bradbury, the Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Student Life at Saint Mary’s, told me at the beginning of the year. It is very inspiring and helps me get through things one step at a time.

"Years ago my older brother, who was ten years old, was trying to finish a written report on birds. He was given three months to write it, and it was now due the next day. He was sitting at the kitchen table close to tears, surrounded by paper, pencils, and unopened books on birds. My father sat down beside him, put his arm around my brother’s shoulder, and said ‘Bird by bird, buddy. Just take it bird by bird."

Patrick,

Bird by bird, buddy. Just take it bird by bird! I love you!

-Mary

Labs from today:

Test	Patrick	Normal Range
White Blood Cell Count	<0.10	3.2-9.8 (this will go to zero)
Hemoglobin	12.7	13.7-17.3 (they try and keep it above 8.0)
Platelet Count	41	150-450 (they try and keep it above 10)

Patrick and Brent (a little blurry!!)

DOT +6

Hey everyone! Today was another good day for Patrick. He and Taylor went to the clinic this morning to get daily lab work and meet Dad. Patrick’s potassium was a little low, so he had an IV for about an hour. He is feeling pretty good but pretty tired. Mom says she is about to jump out of her skin because she wants to see him!! She was feeling a lot better today and is hoping she will head back to Durham tomorrow.

Labs from today:

Test	Patrick	Normal Range
White Blood Cell Count	<0.10	3.2-9.8 (this will go to zero)
Hemoglobin	13.0	13.7-17.3 (they try and keep it above 8.0)
Platelet Count	48	150-450 (they try and keep it above 10)

Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers!!

-Mary

DOT +5

Hey Everyone! 

I can not believe that 5 days have gone by and Patrick is still doing great. He is amazing the staff at the clinic!! Today was another quick day at the clinic. Patrick was in and out in an hour! 

Labs from today:

Test	Patrick	Normal Range
White Blood Cell Count	<.10	3.2-9.8 (this will go to zero)
Hemoglobin	13.0	13.7-17.3 (they try and keep it above 8.0)
Platelet Count	75	150-450 (they try and keep it above 10)

Dad has been with Patrick since Saturday and I met them at the clinic. Dad has gone to Charlotte for the night to see Steely Dan. Unfortunately Mom had a fever this morning and so she can not be around Patrick until she feels better. We have to be very careful because Patrick's white blood cell count is below .1 therefore he has no immune system! His white blood count will stay here for about a week before it starts going up again.

Mary, John and I stepped in this afternoon to help. John just left and it is just P and I for the night! 

Mom is SO sad that she can not be with Patrick....she has been resting today and we hope that she will feel better in the morning! We are missing her at the apartment!! Hope you feel better Mom :) 

Mom is trying her best to make sure Patrick has lots of options for food since he basically has no appetite. She made some of his favorites yesterday: vegetable soup, chicken pie, raspberry salad. Unfortunately we had to throw most of it away because our freezer stopped working!! We still have plenty of treats though!!!! 

Thank you everyone for keeping us in your prayers!! This has been an amazing experience so far!! 

XOXO Taylor 

DOT +4

Hey everyone, another quick post! Things went very well today, and Patrick did not need anything. Dad is in Durham for one more night, and Mom will come back tomorrow. I am planning on making a trip to Durham tomorrow and cannot wait to see Patrick!!

Labs from today:

Test	Patrick	Normal Range
White Blood Cell Count	0.2	3.2-9.8 (this will go to zero)
Hemoglobin	13.4	13.7-17.3 (they try and keep it above 8.0)
Platelet Count	100	150-450 (they try and keep it above 10)

If the Lord delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.

Psalm 37:23-24

Thank you for the prayers and support!

-Mary

DOT +3

Quick post! Today was another good day. Patrick’s labs were good, and he did not need anything. His white count is about to bottom out!

Labs from today:

Test	Patrick	Normal Range
White Blood Cell Count	0.7	3.2-9.8 (this will go to zero)
Hemoglobin	13.1	13.7-17.3 (they try and keep it above 8.0)
Platelet Count	128	150-450 (they try and keep it above 10)

“Choosing to be positive and having a grateful attitude is going to determine how you’re going to live your life.” – Joel Osteen

Thanks for all the support, and please continue to pray for Patrick!

-Mary