Week 1

Gramps if it starts to get too bad, I'm calling you!

So we began treatment plan number 2 yesterday.

Weekly blood draws

100mls of blood every week

Our purpose: Trying to lower Henry's iron levels

After transplant in August 2009 Henry had to have almost daily blood transfusions because his bone marrow couldn't produce enough.  It took him body a while to reboot, but it did and that's all that mattered.  Now we are dealing with the after math... lots of transfusions leads to LOTS of iron and his body just couldn't get rid of it fast enough.  When your body has too much iron the body starts to "store" it in your liver and heart and spleen and other organs.  I totally understand, when I have excess "stuff'" on my counters I just start storing them in drawers.. makes sense.  :)

Well anyways, Henry's only has iron in his liver at this point, which is better than having it in your heart. (Part of your liver can die and you can still lead a normal life... part of your heart dieing.. doesn't do much good.)  

So our plan is to suck him dry and hope that his body can then start to get rid of all that excess iron.

This plan has the potential for fewer side effects than the pill, Exjade, that helps the body break down iron.  Too many possible side effects that can be very harmful. (Like Kidney failure...one organ problem at a time please!)

Yesterday went really well, put in an IV, drew blood every 15 minutes, checked blood pressure and made sure he didn't get too sick or dizzy.  If he can tolerate it, they will draw it out faster, but for now we are going slow. 

Even doing blood draws every month Henry's poor vein looks like a drug addicts arm, big purple bruised veins.  We aren't sure his arms will tolerate the weekly thing, so after the first month or so we'll know if he needs a permanent line in place.  (Not really looking forward to that, but I guess if it's easier on Henry's veins... we can manage, we've done it before)

I don't know how long it will take, I don't know if it will work the way we want it to, and I don't know how Henry will tolerate it, but I have HOPE. We trust in the Lord and count our blessings every day that H is still with us, and mostly HEALTHY. 

Didn't take pictures, forgot.... L and P were keeping me busy. Next week I will be sure to document.  But for this week we are reminiscing days past.