1/20/09 - Update #1

Tuesday morning…
Alyssa continues to show improvement with her chemistry and hematology results, but still has no kidney function. Below are her numbers for those that understand such things. Debbie and Dave are learning on the fly what each represents.

Date HCT Platelet BUN Creatinine LDH
Normal Ranges 33-37 150 - 400 16 1.8 Below 200

Wednesday, January 14, 2009 15.6 72 156 19.2 2444
Thursday, January 15, 2009 17.5 63 159 19.3 n/a
Friday, January 16, 2009 21.8 57 108 13.1 1108
Saturday, January 17, 2009 25 58 56 9.1 855
Sunday, January 18, 2009 23 77 36 6 581
Monday, January 19, 2009 23.8 97 49 8.6 n/a
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 23.3 122 32 5.7 382

Alyssa has been moved from the ICU to a room on the third floor. We took this to be a positive sign, but were told later that this was more for logistical reasons then a response to her condition. She is in a private room as all rooms at Unity are private, so she doesn’t have to deal with any “roommate issues.”

She continues to receive plasma (apheresis http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apheresis) treatments on a daily basis. This is a two hour procedure where they remove her blood, clean it and return the healthy cells back to her body (a very simple explanation of an extremely complex procedure.) Before the existence of the apheresis machine/process, the mortality rate for patients with TTP was 100%. The “machine,” that two years ago we knew nothing about, has certainly played a key role in Alyssa and Dave’s lives. We are thankful for its existence!

Dialysis treatments are currently scheduled for three times week. As mentioned above, we have yet to see any positive movement toward her regaining any kidney function.

Tuesday afternoon, Alyssa will have a more permanent central line (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_venous_catheter) inserted in her chest to help facilitate her plasma and dialysis treatments. As this is a surgical procedure, she is rather anxious to get this over with.

Alyssa wants to thank her many friends and relatives that have come to visit her. She was especially happy to see her three year old nephew, Nicolas, who visited with his mom, Janelle and dad, Pete. Janelle just gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Bella, but Alyssa will have to wait a little longer to see her newest niece.

Alyssa has her computer with her and if the wind blows just right, she is able to p/u a wireless signal, so don’t be surprised if you find her on Facebook or AIM.

We have been told that Alyssa’s HCT and creatinine levels were among the worst that they have ever seen here. Her numbers continue to improve, but we have been cautioned that she is “not out of the woods” yet. Patience is the word that we have heard the most; but when it comes to our children, we have very little of it.

We’d like to know what caused this, but probably never will. We’d like to know what the future holds for Alyssa, but it’s too early to look beyond the current day. So for now we research, ask numerous questions and pray for a positive outcome.

dd