Day +8

 Today's counts:

WBC: 1.2 (down)

ANC: 350 (down)

Hemoglobin: 6.9 (down)

Platelets: 39 (down)

Normally ZiLong gets a transfusion when his hemoglobin goes between 9.5 and 10.5, which has been every 3 weeks. In the hospital, they will not tranfuse until he drops below 7.  A normal hemoglobin level for boys is upwards of 11-13, so 7 is quite low. Since he was below 7 today, he was given blood.  He receives washed blood because he has developed an allergy to red blood cells.  Most likely its the preservative in them, but regardless, they "wash" his blood and since we started that, no more reactions!

Since he already has a central line (his Hickman catheter), it was literally "just another bag" on his pole and we really barely noticed it was happening! 

ZiLong did some school online today and a bunch of Math, and we were excited to have Hania and Ahbi come to visit! 

Since ZiLong has received his transplant, he is not allowed to touch Ahbi again until his counts go up.  Hania brought ZiLong a "little" Ahbi (a stuffy) who he named "Wasaabi" - Ahbi's full name.  He asked Hania if he could pet Ahbi with gloves, and she said that would be possible, so he was able to get a bit closer to Ahbi and just had to wash his hands afterwards. 

Overall it was a good day. ZiLong still is able to eat, though he has more mouth sores than yesterday, they are still just "uncomfortable" and not "painful".  We tried tyelonol today as a first stab to see if it would improve the discomfort.  He didn't really say that it helped, but he also did not complain about it.  We also had a delivery of several amazon packages from lots of family and friends!  

Thank you everyone! He is working his way (very slowly) through thank you notes, but the games and activities are so appreciated! Special thanks today to Margie & Amity, Jon & Monica, Aunt Mary and David, Mom, Ken & Debbie, Kerri & Tony and family, Edie and family, and the Carlsons!