We met with Dr. Harris, Michael’s hematologist in Cincinnati and also a specialist on SDS. He is starting him on voriconazole (an anti fungal medication) and azithromycin (antibiotic) two months before and two months after the surgery, we are continuing the IVIG, and we will probably be going to daily GCSF shots a few days before and after the surgery as well. They are doing everything they can to bolster his mess of an immune system. They took labs and while we were on our way home Theresa (Dr. H’s incredible coordinator) called with bad news on his counts, she hasn’t emailed them yet so I don’t have the full workup, but his white count was only 1.2 and his ANC (absolute neutrophil count) was only 220…220! And this on on GCSF every other day, he has never been that low on GCSF shots. I remember once he was at 150 but that was off GCSF. Anyway, that is very discouraging, she is consulting with Dr. Harris to see what he wants to do.

So, that wraps up this trip to Cincinnati and despite having to have the PICC line placed and the horrid counts which are giving me a stomach ache thinking about–I am, as ever, grateful to the doctors in Cincinnati who are being so thorough and careful to try and think of every way they can to give him any edge possible going into this. We truly are aware of how lucky we are to be working with them and that we have them in Michael’s corner.

Coming up we will be heading back to Cincinnati in the next week to have the PICC line placed, start the IV nutrition through the night, and stay a couple days to keep an eye on things and get trained in care. Next month we have a slew of appointments to start the next phase of pre-op things.