Neutropenic No More!

When Woody's lab reports came in this morning...the neutrophil absolute level had risen enough to make him no longer neutropenic. If he stays at that level or higher then going home will start to be considered. Not being neutropenic isn't the only thing that the doctors are looking at that will allow him to go home. Now what is stopping him is his platelet count. They still aren't rising...yesterday they were up a bit...but he had received platelets the day before. Today the platelet count was lower than yesterday and the doctor did mention that he might have to have more platelets to boost what he has. The platelets are usually the last to recover after this type of procedure. His WBC is rising (good!), his RBC fell slightly from yesterday. So still lots of ups and downs in his recovery. Looking at things as they are today, the doctor said that perhaps he might be able to leave the hospital Wednesday or Thursday...time will tell...or as Woody would say, "The good Lord willin'." For the nurses and others interested: Neutrophil Absolute: 2.14 [1.78-5.38]; WBC: 3.45 [4.23-9.07]; RBC: 2.86 [4.63-6.08]; platelet count 22 [161-347]. The brackets are the range that the counts should fall in.

Woody definitely has felt better today than he has in some time. He said that he was able to sleep 8 hours (in snatches) last night. He got up early and did laps around the unit that totalled 1 mile...then before I left tonight we walked laps that equaled 1/2 mile. He doesn't have to wear a mask when he goes out of the room now. He ate better today, too...he's still not thrilled with food...but today he managed to eat well at all three meals. And, he did say that some things tasted better today than they have lately.

He entered the hospital three weeks ago today.