Hosptial Update

Day 2 was long and boring and tonight will probably (keeping fingers crossed here) be our last night. Today we saw our pediatrician, a hematologist, a team from Infectious Disease, several residents, all our nurses and lots of Care Partners. Good thing Clare is social.

So the update is that the Neutrophils (the body's first line of defense - they rush to the site of any infection, damage or inflammation and battle it out) in Clare's white blood cells are gone. A person is considered Neutropenic (when your immune system is compromised and you are are a severe risk of infection due to a low level of neutrophils) if they have a level below 2000. Clare doesn't have a single neutrophil in her blood at all. Entirely gone. This scares people here, alot. However, the great news is that they regenerate quickly and if whatever's causing them to disapear can be fixed, she'll make more in a few days time. So... that leaves us trying desperately to figure out why her little body's not making them. After all the consluting today and endless tests, the smart money is on a wicked, nasty virus that just used them all up. If that's the case, and we're so hoping that it is, as the alternatives are unthinkable, then we get to go home tomorrow, because you can't treat a virus, and then we just have to be super, duper, extra, super, super careful w/ our little Clarabelle until her neutrophil levels are back to normal.
Our wonderful bishop came over tonight and he and daddy gave her a blessing and we feel good. My heart is so full tonight. I'm so grateful for the amazing friends and family who have been so willing and eager to drop whatever they're doing to help a friend in need. Thank you so much for all your comments, your love, prayers, support, well wishes, dinners and kid and husband watching. :-) Your love means the world!
More updates soon. I gotta break out that awesome sleeper chair now. :-)