KESJ: 12 October 2009

Monday, October 12, 2009

12 October 2009

T+27

Jeremy's cough and sniffle have almost disappeared, and the doctors are not as concerned that he might have a respiratory illness. Thanks to all who prayed about this for us!

The doctors are now focusing their attention on his rash, and have asked the dermatologist to come and have a look at it. But otherwise, the doctors are pleased that he is clinically well.

It's curious, but Jeremy has those tiny white spots on his nose and cheeks just like a newborn baby!

Jeremy spent a long time with the play therapist today, and then had a fun drum session with the music therapist. He also enjoyed spending time with Stephanie, before he was drugged out with Phenergan (his pre-medication) for his platelet transfusion. Tonight he had a red blood cell transfusion.

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Definitions

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) - a rapidly progressing cancer of the blood and bone marrow. ALL affects the type of developing white blood cells known as lymphocytes. It is the most common form of childhood leukaemia, and the most common type of childhood cancer. It also occurs in adults.

Blast cells - immature blood cells normally found in the bone marrow. Blast cells normally constitute up to 5% of all bone marrow cells. These cells divide and replenish all the normal blood cells in the marrow and circulating blood. Acute leukaemia is characterised by an accumulation of abnormal blast cells that take over the marrow and spill out into the blood stream.

Bone marrow transplant - the process of replacing bone marrow cells (stem cells) that are unhealthy, with stem cells that are healthy. The healthy stem cells are re-infused intravenously through the central line, after very strong chemotherapy and/or radiation to kill unhealthy stem cells. The re-infusion of healthy stem cells essentially rescues the patient from the chemotherapy and/or radiation, by enabling his or her bone marrow to start producing new blood cells.