very bad news indeed

I just got a call from my favorite Mother in law (even if I had more than one, I just KNOW she'd be my favorite). Brian was at the hospital having his weekly PLEX treatment and the kids were with Gramma. I've been hit by a nasty flu bug that's pretty much landed me flat on my back! I can't remember the last time I felt so miserable. Cold, then hot, sore throat, nauseated, headaches, body aches, fevers... But I digress...

Brian just picked the kids up from Gramma's house and they're on their way home. She phoned me because she wasn't sure Brian would tell me himself. He got bad news today (we've dealt with it before, but I'm nervous anyway) His platelet counts are 80 today. 80! To put it in perspective, again, platelets are supposed to be anywhere from 150 - 400. At about 60 you start to bleed out. Scary. So he's going to be going back to hospital Wednesday and Friday, she tells me. We're having a "blitz week" of PLEX treatments. I hate those kinds of weeks... The fact that he can't work 3 out of 5 days adds an extra stress. Money stress.

claw

What's new on our front? Well, good and bad (as usual!). Brian and I were just at the hospital today. We got a call last night that he was booked for a test - nice of them to give us notice! A dye had to be inserted into the veins in his arm to see if he can have surgery to create a fistula in the near future. We haven't spoken to the specialist but we already know the bad news - his veins are just too small! They may still be able to do a fistula in his upper arm, but it requires much more work and much more time off to heal! So I'm praying something miraculous happens in the meantime.

We have also been waiting to hear about the genetic testing. It was done months ago. There is a very good chance his type of Atypical HUS is genetic, and could be passed down to my kids. First they'd test his siblings, if he tests positive for the genetic code, to see if any of them carry the same trait. THEN my kids would get tested. I have been waiting on pins and needles to hear those results. They were supposed to come in last Friday, but we've heard nothing.

I've made this post long enough after weeks (months?) of silence. Thanks for being "out there".