Heather Update: Day 7

"This is the day the Lord has made.
    We will rejoice and be glad in it."  

Psalm 118:24

Today was a GOOD day - PRAISE THE LORD!!!!!

Our friend Sarah was up to visit Heather this morning and hit the doctor jackpot. We had so many questions about everything that is going on and we have been 'missing' doctors. So the fact that she was there when 2 of Heather's 3 doctors came in and when her care worker came it...cha ching! The information was very helpful and we feel like there is a light at the end of the tunnel! 

Heather's numbers today are good - her hemoglobin is up to 9.1. Whaa whoo! 

Her palettes are up to 128.

 LDH steady at 350 (up a few from yesterday but hematologist said this is normal)

Here is the good news!

Hematology said they anticipate her being in the 140s 150s for palettes tomorrow - she needs to stay in this range for 3 straight days (she will have the plasma transfer every day until they hit this 3 day mark) and then they will start a wean and do the plasma transfer every other day for at least 2 rounds and then they can talk discharge and outpatient plasmspherisis. After discharge she will go there every other day for a while and then continue to wean to 3 days a week for a bit - then 2 days a week and so on. So this is a long process and will probably continue for 6-8 weeks at least.

As for her Kidney function...we are hopeful!  Numbers are good but the nephrologists said that is because of dialysis and in between treatments they expect the number to go back up again. What will most determine when the kidneys "kick into gear" is how much urine output she has and now much fluid she is getting rid of. It was 180 ml yesterday and needs to be around 1,000 but today when I (Lisa) left it was already at 500! They believe that within 6 weeks they will know if this is going to turn into end stage kidney disease which would be indefinite dialysis or kidney transplant. (WE ARE CLAIMING THAT THIS WILL NOT BE THE CASE AND THE KIDNEYS WILL HEAL COMPLETELY!) For the time being we are planning on outpatient dialysis. The good news about this is they are working on getting her to be able to do this in Holland so that is really great.

Prayers that her hemoglobin keeps climbing and that tomorrows numbers come out strong!!

Thankful for THIS day - for the wonderful team of doctors that spent so much time with Heather & Sarah today and helped Heather feel so much peace.

** Italicized parts of this email was taken from an email I received from Sarah earlier today. Thank you Sarah for making my 'job' easy tonight. :) 

Heather & Ava yesterday 10/2/13

Also, to everyone reading this if you would please send up a prayer for my cousin's 5 year old daughter who was admitted to DeVos Children's Hospital yesterday with Steven Johnson Syndrome. She is in the ICU and in a lot of pain. Please pray for healing and comfort as well as peace for her mommy & daddy. Today is her 5th birthday. :(