Ok the previous post is so I don't have to read through pages and pages of info and upset myself with the "other" stuff!

As I was saying, Dr McCreary thinks Eric has Auto Immune Hemolytic Anemia.  And it is very serious.  The are trying to identify the antibody that is destroying the red blood cells.  She said even the fresh blood cells are being destroyed as they come out of the bone marrow.   The treatment is steroids but they don't want to give them yet because steroids can mask other diseases.  They are going to do a bone marrow biopsy and lumbar puncture tomorrow to rule out anything else.  Well, specifically making sure he has not relapsed.  (Which they don't think he has.)  So that didn't go over well.  At all.  Can't blame him.

His hemoglobin today dropped from 7.2 to 6.6.  He just finished blood transfusion #3 and she just hung transfusion #4.  They want the hemoglobin to be at least an 8 before they do the bone marrow.  They will do another blood draw 4 hours after this one finishes at about 1:30am, so blood draw around 5:30 am.   Maybe I should sleep?  Forget that, my stomach is in a knot, not going to happen right now anyway :)

In addition to the Bone Marrow, etc they ordered a CT with contrast of the neck and chest.  Why not, the rest of his body has been scanned or taken a picture of or ultra sound (ed.)

Early today our regular Oncologist, Dr Succente (whom we love) came in to visit with us for about 25 minutes.  That's pretty good for her, she is an on the go woman!  She said she does not think the Keflex caused the blood breakdown.  She looked back thru Eric's chart and she's prescribed antibiotics in the same family as Keflex and he didn't have a problem with them.  She is of a mind that there is some type of immune issue with Eric's blood.  She said after we get this all figured out she would be interested in getting the Immunology department involved in his case.  She went on to say his SED rate baseline is 8.  Right now it is greater than 73.  SED rate determines the amount of inflammation in your body.  There are just a lot of unknowns going on.  Honestly in Eric's words he is just "DONE."  Unfortunately we can't be just yet.

Eric hasn't been eating much but he did have a blueberry muffin and a granola bar and some water around noon.   About 12:55 it all came back up.  Fortunately he was in the bathroom.  I mean, what a kid huh?!!  So then we went with Shasta's version of Sprite and crackers.  Then we had a 4 hour wait for the CT scan, which was actually good because they didn't want him to eat or drink anything 3 hours before it.  They had issues with his IV leaking during the CT scan and again he is Over it.  Got back to the room and started feeling nauseous again.  Have a sweet nurse who told him when she had a CT scan the contrast made her sick too.  We finally got  Zofran for it.  About an hour later he said "Mom, I'm going to be sick."  We made it to the bathroom, again, what a kid!  Yep the contrast did it.   A little while later I gave him some Ramen noodles and clear broth.  He did fine with that and shortly after they pre-medicated with IV Benedryl and Tylenol for the blood transfusion (2 more bags) and he was out.  That stuff just hits you hard!'

Right now my boys are sleeping and night owl is still up.  I like to be awake when they are transfusing to be available to Eric and the nurse.

My boy really needs your prayers.  It's very taxing on him mentally and spiritually.  Please please pray for healing, resolution to this issue and prayers for Eric.  He is such a great kid and the last 3 days have been so trying.....on all of us.

More tomorrow...............:)