Tuesday +34 (Morning Update)

Just a quick note. I am posting from the hospital. They have detected a very low level of the CMV (cytomegalovirus) virus in Jackie's blood. It was at the lowest level of detectability by their equipment (for Stanley L. a PCR test). To combat the virus, which if left untreated , can be very serious they will begin a twice-a-day regimen of IV antiviral treatment. Until this issue is cleared up we will not be graduating to clinic visits. The IV treatments will last at least one week and possibly two. They want to have two PCR-negative tests. They seem confident the antiviral being used will be quite effective as a treatment.

The CMV-positive test likely explains the decrease in recent blood counts. For today they are: RBC (Hgl)9.9 (up slightly). WBC count 2.5 (down from 2.8 yesterday). Platelets 62 (also down significantly). Neutrophils 1.33. Decreases could also be due to some GvHD that is not being presented in standard forms of skin rashes but rather in the stomach or gut.

So today we will spend much of the day in the hospital. She is receiving a unit of magnesium. A unit of fluids. And a unit of antiviral. Tonight we will return for another 1 hour unit of antiviral.

Speaking with the nurses they feel it is par for the course at this point in the transplant process.

Will update later,

Bruce and Jackie
From Rochester, MN