Blood Counts Drive Treatment
Since leaving the hospital, Logan has had several blood tests. These tests measure blood counts to determine whether his body has recovered enough to start round 5 of chemotherapy. It has not. Logan’s last blood test on Monday showed again that his absolute neutrophil count (ANC) was not high enough. Neutrophils are a type of white blood cells which kill bacteria. And the ANC is an estimate of the body’s ability to fight bacterial infections. So, we wait.
Logan’s little body has been battered by 4 rounds of chemotherapy to kill leukemia cells. The good news is that the chemotherapy has worked. Logan has been in remission since after the first round. But the leukemia treatment protocol advises 5 chemo rounds. Some of the chemicals are the same each round. Some are different and seek out and attack the leukemia in different ways and in different areas of the body – think in the brain, for example. The 5-round chemo protocol has been learned through both research and through the treatment of all the leukemia patients that have come before Logan.
Next Admission
Of course, the chemotherapy kills much more than that leukemia cells. It kills normal blood cells, blood cells like ANC which fight infection. Each round of chemo further harms Logan’s body and makes his successive recovery more difficult and take longer. Hence the wait for round 5 to begin. Right now Logan has an appointment for Monday, February 21 to be admitted for the last round of chemo to begin.
With each day of recovery away from the hospital Logan gets stronger and happier, and that makes us happy. The joyful picture above is from Logan’s stay at his Aunt Casey’s and Uncle Chris’ home. Donna and I see strength and personality improve via FaceTime calls and Facebook posts. We miss Logan and Austin and Amanda, and are plotting our safe return to be with them. It will be when Logan is in the hospital during round 5. And while we do not look forward to seeing the treatment’s impact on Logan, we long to hold him.
My prayers are with Logan and all of his wonderful family
Please God, protect, guide and bless the whole Beatty family, especially Logan, with good health of mind and body.