About eight weeks ago, after playing in the yard with his cousins and uncle, we noticed that AJ was bruising very easily and was overly tired. The following morning we took AJ to the doctor and found that his platelet count was extremely low. 22,000 when normal is 150,000. It turned out he also had a strep infection and AJ's doctor was hopeful that the low platelets were secondary to the strep infection. After a few days of antibiotics, the strep infection was cleared. However, the platelet count did not go up.
A few days later we traveled with AJ to Vanderbilt Children's Hospital in Nashville. Some tests were run and a bone marrow biopsy was conducted. AJ was very brave.
After the biopsy procedure the anesthesia medications left him a little wooooozy..
So on the way home we got a BIG lunch at Buca. And AJ got his strength back!
The journey back and forth to Nashville is a bit long, so AJ was very happy when he was back in sweet home Alabama.
.
A few days later we learned that AJ's bone marrow was lacking megakaryocytes (the cells that make platelets) and was starting to show decreases in other counts as well. The doctors diagnosed him with Aplastic Anemia, a condition where the bone marrow, or as we call it with AJ, the blood factories, just aren't working right.
.
They have continued to try to look for the cause of the condition but have told us that most often it is an auto immune condition and no definitive cause is found. We were advised that AJ would need a bone marrow transplant. The whole family returned to Nashville so that we could each have HLA typing to determine if any of us were a marrow match for AJ.
After more days of waiting, we learned that Austin was a match for AJ. (Austin does not know this yet and we do not plan on telling him until just before the procedure).
AJ has had four transfusions of platelets over the past several weeks and will continue to receive a transfusion every 7-10 days. We have some time before the transplant, but it is not certain exactly when it will take place. Or for that matter where, as we are talking to doctors in both Nashville and Seattle.
.
We will be using this blog to post updates on AJ's progress. This site will also serve as a place where AJ can share his story with his family and friends. And where family and friends can comment back to AJ and the family directly.
We have always told the boys that brothers take care of brothers. This adventure of ours will give great roles and responsibilities to each of the boys and to both of us. Not roles that were sought, but as is often the case in life, ones that were bestowed. We will stick it out, see it through, and emerge victorious and stronger having endured. We are heartened and strengthened by the overwhelming number of family, friends, acquaintances and strangers who have stepped up and joined us in this journey.
Thank you for being part of our family's team!
-Greg and Cindy
Teamwork makes the dream work!
