HAIR LOSS AND MORE TRANSFUSIONS

 

 From a physical standpoint, hair loss is one of the more minor side effects of Chemo.  From an emotional standpoint, it’s one of the more major.  Chemo ravages the body.  In an effort to ‘kill the cancer’ Chemo devastates the body and hair loss is a glaring visual reminder of the indignities of both the disease and the treatment for it.  It sucks.  Big time.

The hair started to fall out on Thursday.  It’s a process and Ba and Brian came over to cut it to shoulder length as an interim style (note the sloop tavern burgee on the wall).  As the hair fell away they both had a moment neither wanted.

All of this is bittersweet as once again Kristina loses her hair.  As she says, ‘this isn’t my first rodeo’ but at the same time it doesn’t really make it any easier.  It’s just another in a string of poignant moments.

The new look.  Still Bold.

Adding insult to injury, more transfusions have been needed (O+, her third blood type in her life).  Her blood pressure is still low, but as long as it’s mapping above 60, it’s OK.  She’s ‘mapping’ between 62 and 72.  There’s an ongoing rash which is still be diagnosed. 

Her white blood cell count, which had climbed, retreated last night and neutrophil count is still zero.  Last time her neutrophil counts struggled to come back, so for now, not a huge concern, but something to monitor.  It does need to get to 500 before discharge.  Her risk of infection remains high.

Kristina did want to include this shot of her G-Clam regimen for other transplant patients seeking first hand information.  The names of the 'cocktail', times, and check marks that it's been administered.

Hearing from you or seeing you would brighten her day!  Use the calendar to the right to schedule time.  And if you are reading this on a mobile device, scroll to the bottom and switch to the ‘web version’.  Then the button for calendar will appear above Kristina’s picture.