October 30, 2015, Back in Durham

On October 30, 2015 by Michelle Love

We’re back in Durham, arriving late last night to the Ronald McDonald House. BJ’s port has been leaking blood since being de-accessed yesterday for his platelet infusion. He’s had a port in his upper right chest since Sept 2012 when he was first diagnosed with Leukemia. ((Just a little description of what a port is…it’s a central IV line, and allows quick and repeated access to a major vein for drawing blood, giving medications and for chemotherapy infusions. The line from the port is threaded under the skin and into a major vein over his heart.)) In December 2013, BJ’s original port became clogged, and he had surgery to replace the old port with a new one. That surgery was 2 days after Christmas. He has continued to have this port under the skin in his chest. To protect his port while playing football and basketball over the past 3 years, he has worn a heart-guard (usually marketed for baseball) in a sewed-in pocket inside an Under Armor compression shirt.

This morning, BJ woke up to a lot of blood in his mouth. His gums were bleeding pretty bad. The 4 x 4 gauze over his port that we put on last night was soaked through with blood. We got over to the clinic about 8:30 this morning. After a quick exam, he was given an ointment to put on his gums to help stop the bleeding. His platelet count today was 5k. ((A normal platelet count is 150k-450k.)) No wonder he was bleeding!! In the 3 years of this hell called cancer, his platelet count has never been that low.

His white blood cell count was 1.3 today. He started a 4-day chemo cycle today that will drop his white blood cell count. He also has received a unit of platelets. Hopefully this will give him the boost he needs, and last a little longer than yesterday’s platelet transfusion. He has a very long day here, as he won’t be finished with post-hydration until 6:30 tonight. Then we’re back here in the morning to spend the day, and all day on Sunday and Monday too.

If you would, please share and invite your friends to like his page. We’d love to gather up a Navy full of prayer warriors! BJ needs those prayers. Thank you!!

Cure For BJ Round 2