ER..again

On Saturday night, Nate had to go to the ER.  He just felt miserable this past week and then he developed bruises and was fatigued.  We had a hunch his platelets were low.  On Saturday evening we had Julia's 8th Birthday party at Bam- lots of craziness with bowling and laser tag.  When we got home Nate noticed small, red blood spots (petechiae) on his hands and feet.  He called the on call oncologist who said go to the ER and get a blood draw.  Thankfully my parents were in town for Julia's party and could spend the night.

The ER doctor said they rarely see petechiae and asked if he could bring some interns in to see Nate.  And they rarely order platelets for anyone, so we joked how "special" Nate is.  Nate's platelet count was 6- a new record for him. When he had influenza 6 weeks ago and was admitted to the hospital his platelet count was 9.  Anything under 10 and you could start bleeding spontaneously.  (Normal platelet counts are 150-400.) The nurse and Nate had a weird sense of humor going. The nurse said he's never seen someone with a platelet count of 6- who was alive.  Nate laughed, me- not so much.  I don't think we truly understood the seriousness of his platelet count until the nurse put the fear in us- which was hard to hear, but necessary.  He explained Nate was extremely fragile, if he bumped his head he could bleed internally and they would not be able to stop it.  So the ER ordered platelets for Nate. Platelets are a fragile blood product and not kept on site, they have to drive them in from Lansing.  We settled in for the night in the ER.  Thankfully platelets were brought in super fast from Muskegon.  This is the second time Nate has received platelets.  We are thankful for people who donate blood and for the blood bank that coordinates getting blood products out so quickly.

Our oncologist called in and told the ER to give Nate platelets and then discharge him.  Nate is neutropenic again, meaning his immune system is very weak.  The oncologist did not want him admitted to the hospital where he could be exposed to illnesses there.  The doctor said, go home and keep your sick kids away.  Mmm, you mean our kids with colds that have been all over him this week?  Never mind the masses of people he was with at Bam?  Aghh!

Nate was discharged and we arrived home around 3 am.  Nate has to take it easy and will see his oncologist on Monday to check his blood levels again.

While this is all happening, Nate and I can joke and do what needs to be done.  Today, the emotional fall out and stress hit me.  Last night was a reminder of the very fine edge Nate is riding.  If Nate had bumped his head during laser tag or something- I can't even go there.  How do we live like life is fragile, but also live "normal" family life?  I'm not sure there is an answer.