Humor, Blood transfusions, Church

To Charley’s Friends and Family,

Yesterday, Charley had his second visit at Jimmy Fund Clinic at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute this week besides one visit at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. Charley has been excited to be able to be in all parts of the waiting room, including the activity area and the food area. For months after his bone marrow transplant, Charley was not permitted to go into this area and had to go straight to a private room. Charley enjoys seeing and playing with other kids and their families. He continues to make people smile with his kind words and actions and laugh with his amazing sense of humor.

Most of Charley’s laboratory profile has been improving, particularly in liver and gall bladder functions, and his appetite is gradually coming back to a state where he is regularly eating dinner and selecting favorite foods. However, yesterday’s blood tests showed some potential instability. Charley’s hematocrit dropped from 26.5 to 21.7, so he received a major RBC transfusion in addition to platelet transfusion. This was the first day since discharge that it has dropped this low, but the doctor was not concerned since this is a result of Charley not having a RBC transfusion for 10 days. His bone marrow is still not recovering, but he is managing to live with that quite well with weekly RBC transfusion and 2-3 times platelet transfusions. Also, Charley’s WBC was not as good as it has been as his ANC dropped to 260.

Tomorrow, Charley will go to a healing service at a church in Mission Hill, Boston.

Prayer Requests:
* Please pray that Charley’s body follows his mind as he is determined to overcome the cancer that is “sleeping” inside of him.
* Please pray that Charley’s most recent fluctuations in blood test results will prove to not be a major issue in Charley’s treatment.
* Please pray for Charley’s doctors and other health care providers that they will be granted the knowledge to help Charley’s continued improvement.