Lliam’s Chronicles

You know you’re nearing the end of a battle when you are running out of things to say, so I will keep this update very brief.

The results of Lliam’s blood tests yesterday confirmed that Lliam is in the final recovery phase, and that it is very likely that he will make a full recovery without the need for further treatment. Most children prescribed the same treatment regime for Aplastic Anemia only really respond well after two sets; so we are extremely fortunate that Lliam is doing so so well following one.

Lliam’s hemoglobin count is up 4 points to 124, which is firmly in the normal range. The white blood cell count came back at 4.2 and neutrophils at 1.6. Again, both are regarded to be in the normal range and nothing to worry about. Lliam’s platelets dropped slightly from 91 to 90, so effectively remained stable. Whilst his platelets are still below the lower normal range of 150 for his age we are not concerned. We know that platelets are the last to recover and that it may take some time to do so. As expected the MCV and the hemoglobin F (Hb F) counts are still showing downward trends. At the time of diagnosis Lliam’s Hb F was 4.2%. This reduced to 1.9% in March 2009 and we expect it to be even lower when the results of the latest test becomes available in about a week’s time. An Hb F score of less than 1% is regarded as normal.
Click on the thumbnail to see the latest Blood Work Graph (14 Jul ‘09).

Lliam is very excited as Dr Juliana said that there is absolutely no reason to hold him back from any activities on account of his blood counts; and that he can do anything a normal 12 year old boy can do. He took great satisfaction in telling me “I told you so” because we were still too paranoid to let him go on his Scout troop’s 70km bush bike hike recently. His fitness levels are starting to climb, and he should not have any problems reaching the same levels of fitness as his peers. Lliam’s immune system is also strong enough to fight most viruses successfully, including swine flu.

Great news – next update in 4 months’ time.