I’m just going to jump right in today. I mentioned previously that the latest PET scan showed decreased activity in my lymph nodes. This is good news! We had a bone marrow biopsy, but it was done before any signs of recovery following this last treatment cycle. When they look in the marrow, they are looking for both healthy cells and leukemia cells. The sample that was sent to Washington University, had limited overall cells. (Due to no recovery yet.) Meaning we need another bone marrow biopsy with my marrow having recovered a bit.
I’ll share with you that the first bone marrow biopsy showed NO EVIDENCE OF DESEASE. While we can absolutely celebrate this, I want to be cautious that this may be a false negative based on lack of recovery and available cells at time of collection.
While at home last week, I was feeling especially crummy. I went to clinic on Monday for a platelet transfusion. They wanted to do a blood transfusion also, but I was over being at clinic after five hours. I convinced them that I would be fine until my next visit on Friday. Well, I was in fact not fine. I spiked a fever on Tuesday and wound up in the emergency room. My hemoglobin dropped from 8 on Monday to 4.9 on Tuesday. (Normal range is 12-16.) They ran several labs including blood cultures, and I was admitted.
My blood cultures were positive for bacteria growth. Meaning I was septic. Things were going well with treatment until, they weren’t. I wound up in the ICU. Luckily, I was much better the following day and was sent back to the oncology floor. (This is a much longer, much scarier story.) Not only did I have bacteria in my blood, I also had (bad) bacteria in my GI tract.
Based on the type of bacteria in my blood, my port is going to have to be removed. The bacteria can cling to plastic and cause more problems down the road. We are unsure what type of access we will replace it with. I will go at least several days without any central access.
We are looking to be scheduled for port removal and a second bone marrow biopsy late this week. Followed by at least another three days of IV antibiotics before I can even consider being discharged. This bone marrow result will determine, type of new access to be placed, and next steps for treatment. There is a lot riding on the results of this biopsy.
Please keep praying. Pray for peace, healing, good results, no complications, limited side effects, mental health, and clarity.
~Elizabeth
Let There be Fight 
Praying for you and your family.
I pray ever day god would find away to put u in remission and send u
home to beautiful family I pray for u to have comfort god bless u special young Bless ur family as well prayers daily love Nina
Praying along with you for all of these listed, and any more that God knows that we don’t. Praying for peace, because I believe it’s so important in the overall healing process. 🙏❤️😊
Only you could use the word ‘crummy’ to describe the horrors you are enduring. I am so amazed by you and encouraged to see my own difficulties in light of your example. As I watch my younger brother enter the journey you are on with his own body, I have hope that in the midst of the great suffering much good may be done. You are living proof to that fact. Thank you. Praying with and for you.
Praying daily E. Asking Jesus to pray for you as well. May He see you, the drs., techs, meds, procedures and healing, through this season. Jesus, we give it to you for your precious daughter, caretakers as well as her family. I bathe you in prayer, sweetie!
Big Hugs 🙂
Praying for you and quick healing.