Update & Request for Prayer: September 7, 2009

I received my fourth IV of the antifungal Micafungin today. I continue to chill and I become very cold during each infusion and for twenty minutes or so after it finishes.

The doctor will check my labs tomorrow. These are being closely monitored since Micafungin can decrease white counts, red counts, and platelets. Yesterday, after only three IV's, my white count had declined by almost 50%. My hemoglobin fell by almost an entire point. And my platelets decreased by 20,000. Since most of my counts are in the process of recovering from this summer's treatment, it is important that we quickly detect and address any serious blood count declines. We are most concerned about neutropenia. In the presence of a fungal lung infection, neutropenia can be critical.

My cough was worse overnight and my temperature has been higher today. I continue to have problems with the Micafungin making me sick to my stomach. Please pray that the sensitivities (tests to show what drugs this fungi best responds to) will become available quickly for us. The next drug that will be added is most likely AmBisome (www.drugs.com/ambisome.html). I pray I do not have to make this switch because AmBisome is a very difficult drug to take and will most likely require hospitalization.

The timing was uncanny - the wife of a fellow leukemia warrior notified our support group that he died of lung complications. That touched too close to home and saddened me greatly. Statistics show that over 50% of deaths of patients with this type of leukemia are killed by infections - mainly pulmonary (lung) infections.

I am walking in very deep water and pray that as I "pass through the waters, God will be with me; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow me. When I walk through the fire, I shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch me" Isaiah 43:2.