To the surprise of Dr. Orchard (but not to the MD, PhD Fellow, Heather), Rafi’s WBC was .2 today. He was betting that the number would go back down to <.1. I like conservative doctors, so I had no problem with him not wanting us to get our hopes up. But La Di Da, take a look at that, 100% growth. Come on new cells, come out come out wherever you are, you’ve got lots of work to do.

There sure is a lot of work to do. Rafi threw up on three occasions today. She hates to vomit and will fight and fight with herself not to do it. This evening, she was saying “NO!” as I was getting her into position (on her side or face down) as quickly as I could before the inevitable. Heave number one ends and Rafi says, “I’m done” followed by heave number two, “I’m done”, and finally heave number three and this time she was right. Asleep on my shoulder three minutes later. Hopefully she stays asleep for awhile, she needs the downtime now.

Even though those white cells are starting to come in (can I get a HOORAY!) she continues to struggle through this. Her fevers just won’t let up, she continues to retain fluids, her skin is more affected and today she was unconscious more than she was conscious. This is the time in transplant that the kids do sleep a lot more and I am thankful for that. We increased her dose of fentanyl because we all think she is pretty uncomfortable. Hopefully that will help in her, and my, quest for rest.

Come on white cells, you got work to do. I can’t wait to have my child back. For right now, she is a shell of her former self. I want to see her run around the apartment and laugh the way she does in the Ball Player video. I want her bloating to subside so I can take a good luck at her face and not see a child who just went 5 rounds with Ali. I miss her voice. She doesn’t speak much and when she does it’s one or two words spoken very softly. I miss her laugh. I am glad we got a video camera, cause I can watch the videos over and over again and hear her laugh whenever I want. Although I appreciate them, I want her off the pain medications. I know all of this will happen soon enough. Rafi, version 2, coming into my home in the early spring of 2010. The one million dollar girl. I know, I am being a little impatient.

Patient # 9, McKensie Grey, is now in Minneapolis and had her hickman line placed today. I believe that she is scheduled to become an inpatient on our floor on the 12th of March. She will have a site on Caring Bridge, so please feel free to search the site for her story. We could end up having three EB kids here at the same time, as I know Sam Sheridan is heading back up here next week as well. We are going to have a big EB party. Please no stickers…….