Sawyer is feeling good today - had a hearty breakfast and is pretty perky. Spending time reading this morning and will work with the tutor this afternoon.
Every night they take a blood sample to test his "count" - the white blood cells, the red blood cells and platelets. The nurse this morning showed us the daily report that they run on the blood and explained the various terms and measurements. He was borderline on one of his levels and he will be receiving a blood transfusion shortly. This is very normal and totally expected. The chemo drugs are doing their job in knocking things out (the good cells have to go with the bad since the drugs can't tell the difference). The transfusion will just help his body build some of the red blood cells back up (it's not whole blood that's given, just the reds). It's done in the room through his chest IV and isn't any different from how he's received other medicines; it will just take a little longer (2-3 hours) since they infuse the blood fairly slowly. They warm it so that he doesn't get a stream of cold liquid going in!
So for everyone who supports the American Cancer Society by giving blood, you have helped patients like Sawyer! Keep up the good work.
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