DOT +18

Patrick enjoyed having Dad around this past weekend. He said goodbye to him this morning and looks forward to seeing him again on Saturday!

Our daily clinic trip brought some good and bad news. The bad news is that the blood counts decided to drop with the white count back at the bottom. The good news is that the doctors are not alarmed with this at all, it is a very fickle process. A little increase on the white count would be a nice mood booster!! Grow cells, grow!!

We learned today that the IV antibiotics, which Patrick has been receiving since his fever last Tuesday, will continue until the counts increase. No more quick trips to the clinic until then!

Today was chocked full of visitors! Derry stopped by on her way back to Greensboro, Pat came for a visit and brought some yummy food for this week, and Carole Garvey came and brought us a delicious dinner. Carole also brought Patrick a soft comfy throw, her timing could not be more perfect because I just threw ours away… it was shedding all over the apartment! Thank you all!

Patrick continues to have some back pain, which may be related to the white cells moving in. Back pain is a possible side effect with grafting. His appetite has been steady and he has been a little tired. He walked a mile tonight and his spirits continue to stay high. God is good!

Thank you for all your continued prayers.

xoxo. caroline

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

- Philippians 4:6

Labs from today:

Test	Patrick	Normal Range
White Blood Cell Count	<0.10	3.2-9.8 (this will go to zero)
Hemoglobin	10.1	13.7-17.3 (they try and keep it above 8.0)
Platelet Count	19	150-450 (they try and keep it above 10)

DOT +17

Dad again...hello from Durham. Today our clinic visit was scheduled for 11:00 a.m. After the usual scrub up before entering the clinic Patrick checked in for lab work. His labs were drawn and 2 antibiotics were hung for infusion. While the antibiotics were being infused Patrick's labs came back. All of his labs were steady which meant he would not need any blood products or vitamin supplements today. This is always good news. Shortly past 2 o'clock the antibiotics finished pumping and we left the clinic.

Patrick's back was hurting him today and the nurse instructed him to take some of his pain medicine when he got home. On the way we grabbed Firehouse Subs for lunch. As usual Patrick had to remain in the car while I grabbed a takeout order. He can't be in public spaces around any crowds because of the germ risk. After lunch Patrick took some pain medicine and soon he was taking a long nap.

Patrick still has a little pain in his back tonight but he says it is much better. We just walked around the apartment complex foot path twice which is about 1 mile. Exercise is very important and something we try to do daily. I guess we'll settle in to watch the Falcons/Patriots game tonight before starting another week. Mom will take over tomorrow while I head back to Florida for work.

Thank you all for caring. Patrick has an incredibly positive resolve and a "let's get it done" attitude at a really uncomfortable time for him. He's getting through this in part with your help.

-Dan

I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

-          Psalm 27:13-14

DOT +16

Patrick and mom made their daily visit to the clinic for labs and a medical provider visit. After the labs were analyzed they indicated Patrick needed antibiotics and more potassium supplements. These all had to be pump infused so it took over 3 hours. His blood rates were stable from yesterday to today so we are continually hopeful the blood levels will increase going forward.

I arrived today to give mom a break. I will stay until Monday. Neither one of our football teams did well today. UNC and Ole Miss both lost.

Thanks everyone for your continued support and prayers.

-Dan

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

-          Psalm 139: 14 

DOT +15

Today was a good day… no double decker pump!! Patrick only needed antibiotics and potassium. His platelets went up to 25 on their own and white count is still 0.1. We were lucky to have our favorite nurse, Katie, for the entire week. Katie went to UNC which makes her an even better nurse!!

I went to Durham this afternoon and hung out with Patrick while mom ran some errands. Mom and John are now out to dinner while Taylor and Bennett are at the apartment making dinner for Patrick. Patrick loves having Bennett there to hangout so they can play Xbox… learned this afternoon that’s something I can’t do!

Patrick goes in tomorrow at 11, so hopefully he will be back at the apartment in time to watch football. Dad is back in town and coming tomorrow for the rest of the weekend.

Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers!!

Xoxo,
Mary

But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

-          Isaiah 40:31

DOT +14

Mom and Patrick arrived at the clinic today and went through the normal routine. After the labs were taken, the PA came by to discuss the results. She told them that both Patrick’s white count and platelets had slipped slightly. She was a little surprised but this is the nature of the beast!

Taylor got a chance to visit the clinic and brought Mom and Patrick lunch, thanks to Taylor! I am so upset I haven’t been able to get over to Durham this week, I am hoping I will make a trip over there this weekend!!

Patrick had so many infusions today that he had a double decker pump. He received three different antibiotics (protocol since fever Tuesday), magnesium, and potassium all at once. We are thankful that they could be synced, if not, Mom and Patrick could still be at the clinic!

Ever since we started this process, the clinic has more than stressed how important it is for the patient not to fall, as falls can be devastating with such a weakened system. There is a bulletin board about falls and a calendar noting the last fall. If a patient falls, they receive a bright yellow wrist band and have to be transported everywhere via wheelchair. Today Mom hit a patch of water and slid down the hall like heading to first base... thank goodness it was Mom and not Patrick. She didn't have to ride in a wheelchair, wear a yellow wrist band, or get posted on the board, but she was humiliated when they had to file an accident report. Patrick has had fun teasing her tonight!! 

Mom and Patrick are back at the apartment, they have had a quiet night. After dinner they walked around the apartment grounds and were humored when they saw a neighbor walking her cat on a leash. This made the walk a little more bearable for Patrick.

Our family cannot thank you enough for your support. Patrick really appreciates the cards. It is a treat to have “real mail”!

Xoxo,

Mary

For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear; I will help you. 

-                 Isaiah 41:13

L    Labs from today: 

Test	Patrick	Normal Range
White Blood Cell Count	0.1	3.2-9.8 (this will go to zero)
Hemoglobin	10.5	13.7-17.3 (they try and keep it above 8.0)
Platelet Count	24	150-450 (they try and keep it above 10)

DOT +13

We received some great news today, they think Patrick is engrafting!! Looks like 13 isn't so unlucky after all. We asked Patrick how today went and he said “Well my white count went up to .2 so that’s really good. Today was just a lot better… I’m not as tired, my back doesn't hurt, and I haven’t had any fever.” The symptoms that Patrick had yesterday were probably due to the cells engrafting. They thought that he would need platelets today, but they went up on their own. 

It was a long day at the clinic, Patrick received more antibiotics and potassium. Our dear friend Suzanne came by for a visit and humored Patrick with her wittiness! John joined mom and Patrick for taco salads tonight. Mom and Patrick are both very tired, they did not get back from the hospital till 2:40 AM. We are cautiously optimistic during these next few weeks, we are hoping for more good news tomorrow!!

xoxo,

Mary and Taylor

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

- Philippians 4:4 

Labs from today:

Test	Patrick	Normal Range
White Blood Cell Count	0.2	3.2-9.8 (this will go to zero)
Hemoglobin	9.9	13.7-17.3 (they try and keep it above 8.0)
Platelet Count	27	150-450 (they try and keep it above 10)

DOT +12

Hey! It's mom again... things are continuing to move along here in Durham County.  As The Shirelles sang many years ago "Mama Said There'd Be Days Like This"

Patrick woke up this morning and said "I am so tired and my back hurts, but just don't know why"... that is what I call having your glass half full.  Soon after we headed to the clinic where we were greeted by one of our favorite nurses, Katie. She reassured us that the tiredness is very normal for this stage of the transplant and also made us feel better about the backache when she told us it could be caused by the new cells... those words made the back pain much easier to handle!

We spent about 4 hours at the clinic, Patrick needed both magnesium and potassium. Other labs were about the same as yesterday which is good. The white count could start to rise any time now but as we notice every day, each patient is different, so we wait patiently and try not to analyze too much... not an easy task for me! Grandmother Pat stopped by for a visit and helped us pass the time by making us giggle on her mini tour of the Duke campus before finding the clinic!

We arrived back at the apartment and Patrick dozed off while watching TV. After he woke up, he had fever and chills. We called the after hours number and were instructed to head that way, so we wheeled into the emergency room and were promptly ushered to a room in the bone marrow unit. John came by to check on us but I made him head back to Chapel Hill after learning we would be here for more than a couple of hours...thank you, John!

It is now close to midnight and Patrick is receiving the first of three antibiotics they are giving for the next three days as a precaution. They are also doing blood cultures but err on the safe side until the cultures come back! We hope to be back at the apartment by 1:00.

So mama said there will be days like this, and Patrick is taking them one day at a time, which is teaching me to do the same. Thank you, Patrick.  You are not just my rock, you are my boulder!

xoxo

Pray continually.

- 1 Thessalonians 5:17