3X's

When one unsettling issue gets under control another problem shines in my face, and it’s generally accompanied with a little uneasiness. Throughout the entire bone marrow transplant process, there have always been concerning health problems being addressed which is why she’s still in the hospital. There are quite a few issues we are currently dealing with. Ongoing, I can’t wait for her to get off the antiviral medication Cidofovir so we can really start focusing on kidney recovery which will improve her potassium wasting and fluid retention problems. Most recently I’m on edge with my observation that Ashtyn’s speech is definitely slurred and her thought process is notably slow. Last night we played the games “Sets” and “Heads Up!”. She even noticed her brain wasn’t able to process or speak very quickly. It seems like everyone else is talking, thinking, and speaking triple the speed she is. I’m not sure how concerning these findings are. Her brain MRI and CT scan were normal. Today she’s going to get a routine BMT Day 80 bone marrow aspirate and biopsy procedure to check for cellularity and leukemia in the bone marrow. At the same time she’s going to get a lumbar puncture to check for viruses that might be affecting her brain. The most pressing prayers for the day is: 1. No leukemia. 2. A healthy recovering marrow. 3. No viruses in her cerebral spinal fluid. 4. Improved kidneys. 5. Resolved slurred speech and quickened thought process. 6. Ability to steadily walk.

With this being Ashtyn’s third BMT, the recovery is certainly 3X’s as slow, 3X’s as complicated, 3X’s as difficult, 3X’s as heart wrenching, 3X’s as miraculous, and I’m 3X’s as grateful. 3X’s the Charm for this girl.