Clinic Visit - what's next?

So we just got back from our first clinic day aftr the new chemo.  Gracie's counts are low, but this is to be expected.  Lock down and hand cleaner are the order in this house from here on in.  However she has big energy which is a good sign.  So we are home for the weekend and then back up on Monday and Tuesday mornings to do blood counts, if these counts are good then we are admitted on Wednesday and will have the stem cell harvest on Thursday, if they get enough which would be about 5 million per kg, then we can go home Thursday night barring any other setbacks.  If they don't get enough then we will stay overnight again on Thursday and do it again on Friday.  Then home for the weekend - yeah!   The following week we will be in for another round of chemo starting on the 24th so we will be in hospital from the 24th to the 27th.  And of course this is all if we have no delays and dependant on counts.  Well at least we get somewhat of a schedule for two weeks!  I will take what I can get.

In regards to my last post Gracie will need transfusions and alot of them apparently, also they will need blood to prep the stem cell harvest machine.  Gracie's friend Charlotte has needed over 30 blood/platelet transfusions this year alone.  So PLEASE dontate, this is the single best thing anyone can do to help us right now.  For all of you who donate regularly or who have already donated I am forever grateful.....because Gracie could be one of those kids sent home delayed if they don't have enough blood.

Allison, I stole this from your blog, thank you for posting on yours as well.  And I am glad you are at home!

Here are some interesting blood donation tidbits:



Click on the chart to make it a bit bigger.


One blood donation could save three lives.

Blood is perishable, and has a 42-day "best before" date. That means we can't stockpile it for future use, and why we continuously need blood donors. While 42 days is the maximum shelf life, most donated blood in Canada is sent to hospitals within a week. Platelets only have a 5-day shelf life, and make them a constant challenge to supply, particularly after a long weekend.