Our immune system’s first line of defense are called neutrophils. If a bad germ enters our body, these guys are there to fight our battles. A healthy range is 2.5-6 and yesterday Mark’s count was 0.0. Our WBC (white blood count) should be 4.5-10.5 but yesterday his was 0.38. Who will fight his battles?

Labs were drawn on Wednesday and counts looked good. Following those 48 hours in bed I cannot remember if I mentioned that Mark had been up and working and feeling quite good for three days. On Friday he thought he would take his computer and work from bed… but in actuality he slept all day. When I checked on him around 4:00 he was very warm. His temperature was initially 102, and then stable at 101.4.

We have instructions to call the office if it is over 100.3 and to go to the ER if it reaches 102. Of course it was a Friday afternoon. Everything happens on Friday afternoon – but we had time to catch the nurse in the clinic. First, she confirmed that everything does happen on Friday afternoon… Because Mark had no symptoms of illness and his labs were good on Wednesday she said we could wait until the morning to take him to have new labs drawn. We had to drive an hour to the nearest UofU clinic. They told us the order was for STAT results so we would hear soon. He was feeling fine and we were a little confused with the fuss.

Well, the fuss caught right up to us when the results came in. The aforementioned labs tell the story. They asked that we drive to the Emergency Room at the University, a 90 minute drive. We ate some dinner and left around 5:00. It was a weekend and the ER was full. I went to the desk and told the receptionist that our oncologist had sent us due to low blood counts. Two people immediately told us to both put on a mask and we only waited about 30 seconds before being taken back to triage. After taking vitals and blood they told us that we were to remain in triage until we had a room available. We were at the top of the list. We were relieved to be in there and not out in the waiting room with all of those sick people. 

When we were taken to a room they had more blood drawn, EKG done, IV in and even a doctor visit completed within 5-10 minutes. Surely a record breaking time for us. Of course we waited for many hours while lab results came in and an oncologist was available for consult. Mark’s fever had returned but he still felt fine. IV antibiotics were administered. There was no sign of infection but we had to wait for lab results. 

They had taken four blood cultures – these take several days. The verdict was that he would be admitted to the Huntsman and kept there for 3-4 days until all results were in. We were none too thrilled but they had let us know several times that without an immune system it had become a life/death situation. By now it was 10:30 so Mark sent me home. I opened my garage door at precisely midnight. Simultaneously Mark texted that he had finally made it to his room.

This morning the doctor told him he was in for the most boring hospital day ever. This new doctor has also given us a ray of hope that Mark might be home as early as tomorrow (Monday) and simply be brought back if necessary. We are hoping this is the case.

Several months ago Mark went through the blood culture scenario because of his fevers. No infection was found and it was determined that the obnoxious tumor could wreak this type of havoc with him.  Now I am wondering if the cancer is once again to blame? However, with the chemo devastating his immune system it isn’t worth the risk of shrugging off the fever. For now, we are back to masks, hand sanitizer and thermometers. We’ve got battles to fight and win!!!