Music to our ears..........to + 58

I'm writing this entry from our local hospital as Saff has a blood "top-up". Everything continues to go really well.

We were at GOSH yesterday and saw Paul Veys - he's the "grand fromage" of the BMT unit and was really delighted with Saff's progress to date. He confirmed his belief that Saff's falling Hb levels are caused by immature marrow saying the red blood cells are typically the last to stabilise post transplant. He did however test another couple of possibilities to exclude them. The first is caused by the ciclosporin attacking the cells, they're left looking like they've had a huge bite taken from them. Treatment is simply to withdraw the ciclosporin. The second could be Saffy's original B cells attacking the donor's AB cells - this can occur because B blood cells contain A antibodies. If this is occuring they simply wait until all Saffy's residual B cells disappear and she takes on the donor's AB blood group.

Today's transfusion is to boost her levels closer to normal and then watch to see how long it takes to fall. Paul Veys says even if this process (i.e. transfusion followed by falling Hb) continues for a number of months he will remain unconcerned.

We left GOSH and travelled to the local hospital for the transfusion (obviously!). As Saffy had had blood taken 7 times in the last 10 days it stands to reason more would need to be taken to establish what blood should be ordered!! We arrived at 2.30pm, had blood taken at 3pm, and were told at 6.45pm that although the blood had arrived it was the wrong type. Words failed me - well actually they didn't but I think the nurse who had to tell me this wished they had.

So here we are this morning - I'm considerably calmer now the process is almost over. We're going home so Saffy and her nursery teacher Natalie can have fun. Tuesday's "lesson" involved a fantastic shaving foam fight. It's a pleasure to hear them at work!

More soon

Sonja

P.S. All blood results for the tests above were negative - brilliant