Blood Culture from Yesterday Tested Positive

The clinic visit yesterday, Erika had a blood cultures done to make sure she has no infections. Today the hospital called and said that one of her ports on her central line tested positive for gram-positive bacteria. She will be admitted back in to the hospital today to be monitored so it doesn't get any worse. They believe the pain she has been experiencing is related to this finding.

Post Clinic Visit

After the clinic visit and blood work, Dr. Asch and P.A. Schar, concluded that Erika will stay on the same taper but will be prescribed a slower dissolving pain medication to be taken a day before expected pains occur, commonly felt 5-6 days after first day of each cycle, to keep the pain from elevating. For now, Erika will have to tough through the pain with prescribed medication. She was offered to be admitted for the pain but Erika rejected for she would rather be at home. She was given a wheelchair, shower chair, and a walker to help assist with her mobility. Regarding her hip pains, they will continue to monitor it when she is off chemo next week, to see if the pain still exist to determine if it is caused by the steroids.

I failed to mentioned that Erika was able to meet up with a past patient who was also in the clinical trial and was able to share many experiences with each other. This helped out greatly, to be able to talk to someone who has been through almost an identical protocol of treatment. This person completed her treatment about two years ago and within those two years she gave birth to a baby. This is great news for both of us. This person got her hair back, looked vibrant, very caring and kind. Erika meet up with her about one month ago. Yet, today, after the clinic visit, Dr. Asch was given permission by this person to tell both of us some very sad news...she relapsed. This person will be back on treatment of induction and when she is back in remission, she will be begin doing a bone marrow transplant from her brother who is a match. The news took a toll on both of us. Our thoughts will be with her.

Erika does not have a match, like many others out there who don't as well, but can be saved. Please help out by registering to help save lives. http://bethematch.org/Join/Join_the_Registry.aspx

Consolidation 2 Cycle 4B Update

Today Erika is scheduled to have a clinic visit to follow up on her last chemo treatment, as usual. Yet, a new symptom Erika is feeling is pain in the hip. The chemo peg-aspariginase, which is the primary medication of the clinical trial, can cause degradation of the bone mass around the hip. They mentioned that she will probably get an MRI done to determine if that's the case. Aside from that, since late last night, Erika has been feeling extreme body pains from her lower back on down to her feet. She was in so much pain that she was unable to get any sleep. Again, this is most likely due to her being winged off of steroids. The past few times she was being tapered off, doctors were able to come up with a nice gradual decrease of steroids. It may be time for them to make another adjustment.

Consolidation 2 Cycle 4B

Today Erika will begin the second portion of Cycle 4 of Consolidation 2, since it was last split in two. Todays examination she failed a test. Her toes and the bottom of her feet are showing signs of possible nerve damage. When the PA bent her toes up, Erika couldnt tell. When her toes and the bottom of her feet were poked with a tooth pick Erika was unable to feel it. It is no wonder why when I try to tickle her at the bottom of her feet she doesnt respond.

One of the chemo she recieves, vincristine, which causes nerve damage, will be decreased in strength today. We do not know at this point if what she has is permanent.

Update On Intestinal Bug

Neither doctors or nurses have mentioned any test results about her second blood culture. They did say that Erika will be discharged today after she receives her scheduled dose of chemotherapy. So we can assume that her second culture is negative. Yayyy!!! Since Tuesday Erika has been feeling good and had shown no signs of a fever. The oils that were placed on her forehead this past Saturday must have finally kicked in when she received her anointing of the sick (and we thought those oils were expired since she got sick that day...they truly were time delayed...haha). She was low on red blood cells Wednesday so she had a blood transfusion. If it is possible, please help donate blood. Erika is very excited to leave the hospital today. 

For those who aren't friends with Erika on facebook, this is what she posted this Wednesday:

Erika Schragal Te

Wednesday

So Brendon Te and I have had a lot going on lately. Since I had been feeling better than usual we quickly planned and had our marriage blessed in the church and I had my anointment of the sick afterwards as well (which was AMAZING!) The oils from the priest may have been expired cuz I got sick that day and held it together as long as I could and ended up in the hospital.  (haha Bad joke I know). Check out my blog for more info erikate87.blogspot.com HOWEVER, on the upside I am feeling much better and am expected to go home Friday. Thank you for all the prayers, support, and love especially from my family who continues to sacrifice their daily lives to be with me and make my life extra special.

Thank you all for your support and prayers.

Intestinal Bug Causes Sickness

This past Saturday, Erika experienced feverish symptoms (vomiting, high temperature of 102.4+, body aches, etc.) and had to be admitted to the hospital. They ran blood cultures Sunday morning and the results came in early this Monday morning. Her blood has been infected with a G- (Gram-) bug. There is no specific name of this type, but it came from her intestinal line. The intestine has many different types of bugs to break down food, and at times, if these bug try to escape the intestine, white blood cells fight them off and keep them housed in the intestinal line. Erika's white counts have been at nothing for the past week due to her last dose of chemotherapy. So nothing could stop this infiltration of the bug from her intestine, causing her to get a blood infection. This is an example of how our "normal flora" will cause sickness when our immune system is compromised. The hospital has been giving her three different types of I.V. antibiotics to destroy these G- bugs. Her red blood count dropped dramatically this morning so she is now getting two to three bags of red blood. Please keep donating blood to red cross and thank you all for donating to help save lives. She will be in the hospital until Wednesday or Thursday.

Bottles with solution for culturing. A total of 12 containers used for culturing.

Getting blood from her central line.

Preparing blood for culturing.