Loving Taylor

Hello all - well, after a really long week, we have more "mixed news". I took Taylor back in today for another bone marrow aspiration. Last Monday her leukemia or blast counts were greater than eight percent. To be considered in remission, you must be less than five percent. Today, she came back as less than 6 percent. So...the question is what does this all mean? There is a not a great answer to this question. Like last week, it come mean one of two things....

First, it could mean that her leukemia has still relapsed and she is not responding. Or, it could mean that her bone marrow needs more time to recover. Like last week, there is a fifty/fifty percent chance. They explained that after a couple rounds of chemotherapy, it can take the bone marrow longer to recover. The cells that they are seeing under the microscope are "immature" cells, so it is difficult to tell if they are leukemia cells or not. I am trying to be positive and be glad that she went from greater than 8 percent to less than 6 percent but it is extremely difficult. They are not able to start chemotherapy until she is less than 5 percent, so we have another week of waiting. At least we are back at home!!

The waiting is so extremely difficult for us. This also means that Taylor will have to have another bone marrow aspiration next week...another "poke", another round of sedative medication, and the waiting!!! She is very nauseated today and threw up in the car coming home from the procedure. Her back (where they poke her) is hurting her so I will giving her pain meds tonight.

All I can say is this week is going to be VERY long (just like last week!).

Thanks for your prayers and support...think we will still be needing them!!

Love,
Kristen