Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Day +27

Neutrophil count was over 700 today! The PA tried to tell us that Zoe was engrafted, but the attending corrected her and said the numbers were really a reflection of "cheating."

The growth factor is really what has boosted the count; the real test will be whether the numbers hold after they take her off of the growth factor. It's expected to see some sort of a drop, according to the doc, but just how far the drop goes is the question. Today was the last dose for now, then they'll see what the numbers do.

Yee haw.

But! It's been good to relax a bit again in the last couple days. Zoe's personality has taken an interesting jag--she's been a little precocious spit-fire. She jibber jabbers and screams just for the hell of it--and then cries bloody murder if someone touches her against her will.

Much of this new side of her is due to the steroids that they put her on this morning. With the increase of the neutrophil count has been a flare of an angry red, very itchy rash they are attributing to GVH. Expected, expected they assure us, but they want to stop it before it progresses: hence the steroids.

Heard of "'Roid rage"? Well, we are seeing a bit of that in Zoe. It mostly makes us laugh when she gets inordinately pissed off because she's just so dang cute. I'm sure she doesn't appreciate us chuckling at her tizzies, but it really can't be helped.

Later this afternoon I took a basketball from the play yard, walked to a waterfront pocket park in the nearby neighborhood, and shot baskets in the setting sun while listening to luscious music on my little ipod shuffle. The UW rowing team made beautiful silhouettes skimming across the water, ducks wandered at the shore, and for 20 minutes I was in blissful Perfection.

What was I worried about...?

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well I enjoyed the heck out of that laugh. Think I will laugh about it all day...just to let the Universe know that I support laughing, shooting hoops, being part of peace and beauty, Roid rage and hospitals that have people and equipment that can help us manage sickness and fear.

You go Zoe... I love your style!
miss brooke

Laura said...

A little uppity-ness once in a while is perfect for what ails you, even if it's a tad roid-influenced. I'm sure it does a ZENparent's heart good to see the fire flare, too. We're all lol-ing with you! :)