Another tough day

Several issues here. Denise has had a fever for the better part of 24 hours or so. Additionally, she has not eaten anything since Thursday. Finally, she is having some breathing issues which are thought to be due to the amount of fluids they have been pumping into her. You can tell it was a bad day because she even skipped taking a shower, so you know how bad she felt.

Also just finished another bag of platelets (15 blood, 13 platelets) but am not clear how effective they will be this time, as Denise told me earlier a fever diminishes their effectiveness. They will be drawing blood shortly, so we shall see.

I also forgot to get back to the blog yesterday and post her blood counts after yesterdays transfusions. Platelets were at 14, WBCs were < 50, and hematocrit was 26.8...For reference, when hematocrit gets below 25, that triggers a blood transfusion; when platelets get below 10, that triggers a platelet transfusion.

I will post an update later this afternoon after we see how the day goes.

Factoid: The Barbie doll was invented on this date in 1959. Her full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts