Unfortunately the improvement in Ryan didn't last longer than 24 hours; the nausea and headaches returned the next morning and he continued to feel exhausted.  The levels of the immunosuppresent drug present in the blood are now less than half of what they were and so the doctors informed us that the symptoms are probably due to the low levels of sodium in the blood.  Several other levels are also low such as magnesium and phosphate but sodium is the most effected.  Ryan had been taking tablets to supplement his sodium but these were not enough to raise the levels.  The exact cause of these low levels are not known but it is listed as a side effect of the immunosuppresent drug…..

And so on Saturday he was started on a continuous infusion of sodium which has slowly been increasing the levels in his blood.  By Sunday the difference in Ryan was noticeable, the nausea had gone and he was much brighter in himself.  He started eating, albeit very small amounts, but at least that is better than nothing and a step in the right direction.

Another piece of positive news is that yesterday Ryan's platelets incremented, without a transfusion, for the first time since October.  They were 34 on saturday and today they are 66.  Still a long way to go until they hit normal ranges (150-600) but a positive sign that the stem cell boost that was infused 19 days ago has grafted and his body is trying to produce new cells. His HB seems stable but his white blood cells are still being suppressed by the steroids and immunosuppresent medication.

And finally we would like to wish my lovely niece Chloe, who is 18 today, a very Happy Birthday.  We are all sad to be missing her birthday celebrations but hope that she enjoys her special day.