Adios August

Harry's last week of August was spent in what has become normal fashion for him: an infusion and three shots of Erwinia three times a week. As a reminder, part of Harry's chemotherapy is a drug called Erwinia which can only be administered by three simultaneous injections in the upper arms or thigh muscles. Remember how much that tetanus shot hurt?  Imagine three tetanus shots at the same time, three times a week, for two weeks per month.

Platelets & hemoglobin counts were on a downward slope last week.  And there was discussion of blood & platelet transfusions on Friday.  But Harry was feeling good and had Chinese practice scheduled at 4 p.m.
A transfusion would keep us there until 7 p.m.  So he decided to risk it until next week, promising us lots of rest. And he honored his promise, as he slept in until almost 1 p.m. on Saturday.

Normal                     Harry 6/18       6/24        7/1      7/21.     7/23    7/25       8/1      8/11   8/18    8/29
Hemoglobin  12-16      14.1                13.3.     13.2       8.7          7.4    7.7        7.3    10.6     8.9      6.9
Platelets 150-350        235                 174.       168        89          65      78         370   309     169     40
WBC  5000-10000     8750              6300.      6200     2006       1005  1420     640   3390   1930      1850
ANC.    Above 1500.                       4700.      2770      1150       270    480         50    1620  880       1210

On Wednesday at CNMC, Harry had some company.  Esther Kimmelman-Block was at the clinic for her appointment and came by to hang out.  Esther is a JPDS classmate of Harry's who was diagnosed with leukemia two years ago.  Her medical protocol is almost identical to Harry's.  So, Esther has been a wonderful source of what comes next, and what we need to check out (Camp Sunshine).

We mentioned last week that an eye exam was on the to-do list.  And that leads to...new glasses.  Ta-da:  

And many thanks to the Weiss family (and Miguel) for a fun (and early) Shabbat dinner!