Day 27 - Doctor visits today

Monday afternoon the doctor (Lancaster oncologist) called to say Adele's platelet counts are very low. He mentioned that if she is bleeding, or even a bad bruise, we should either get to the on-call doctor at the Cancer Center or right to the emergency room. She would not be able to stop bleeding with that low platelet count. He did say she will need a transfusion of platelets soon. When we were in JH, either as in or out patient, that would be an easy thing to do - they would just get the transfusion into her without any problem. Now in Lancaster it means a trip to the hospital probably - and about 3 to 5 hours time taken.

At 10 AM today we have an appointment with the oncologist, so he said he would go over everything during that time. She also needs a rituxan treatment this week (2nd of 4 weekly treatments) and that is normally at the Cancer Center and takes about 4 hours. Just because we are home - does not mean that we are finished with all the work and treatments.

Meals are coming every Monday, Wednesday and Friday and we are thankful for them. I need to email the team and give them the "What not to do or bring" list. It is long - but as I have said before - it is a necessary part of Adele's getting better. In fact, where we normally can laugh off a brief contact with someone with a cold, she is very susceptible to bad infections from such germs.

That infection could be a very bad thing for her to get, as her body's defences are just starting to get better. Sometime in 2010, her immune system should be almost normal and she will start getting all the immunization shots (yes, the childhood shots) all over again. Until then, she has to stay away from anyone that has had a "Live Virus" shot within 1 month, and anyone that has been sick in the last week or so. We are living with Purell, Lysol and Clorox wipes, paper towels to dry hands (cloth towels hold the germs), masks when she goes outside, masks for visitors and many more ways to stop germs from getting to her. I am sanitizing the kitchen every night, bathroom counters also every night, toilet bowls every day, etc. And of course, keeping my business running.

Pray for Somsavath, who got out of ICU Monday at 5 PM or so - Of course that is 5 AM Monday for us here in the Eastern time zone. Bills are mounting - 400,000 baht so far, more to come.

Pray for a "shield against germs" for Adele

Thanks to all who read this - Rick