Thanks for words of support
 

Some have caught on that my wife and I have been worried sick over our son Michael's health recently. His platelet levels are low (45,000-60,000 vs. normal range of 150,000-450,000). Last week the doctor examining him at a children's hospital felt that his spleen was enlarged and a second doctor examined him and agreed. Although the doctor didn't believe something such as cancer was likely, my other died nearly five years ago after having cancer found in her spleen (without cancer detected elsewhere, this was unheard of and got attention internationally among researchers).

Today Michael had a ultrasound of his spleen and it appeared completely normal! :D

The most likely cause now appears to be this:

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), a condition in which your immune system mistakenly identifies platelets as a threat and forms antibodies that attack them.

We're not out of the woods yet, but greatly relieved.

Thanks again,

Harvey

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Thanks for the update Harvey, Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

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Harvey, while you said you're not out of the woods yet, the results to date are extremely encouraging. My thoughts and prayers are for all of you. Please keep us posted if it's not too intrusive. Thanks.

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We will remember your son and your family in our prayers, and especially at Mass we'll remember you all in our special intentions.

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Harv, we are all with you.

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Harvey thank you for sharing that with us my hart goes out to you and your family i will pray for your sons speedy recovery don't dishearten there are many new treatments for all sorts of autoimmune disorders thees days
take care
Paul

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Harvey,

Our prayers are with you...

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Very nice that you have some good news! So sorry that you and your family have been through so much loss and hardships...I'll pray for you.

Frank

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Harvey, I hope your son's health will be 100% very soon. I'm glad that you got encouraging news. We'll be thinking about you and your family during this difficult time.

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Thoughts & prayers coming your way Harvey.
How old is your son?

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Hope your son gets to feeling better soon Harvey, and glad to hear it wasn't cancer!

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Michael is 11.

The phlebotomist gave Michael a bag of toys, etc. yesterday and his favorite was a wind-up car, though I thought it was pretty cool that he got a sheet of stickers of banana plants, monkeys, and bunches of bananas! :D Of course, I thought of you guys when I saw that!

Thanks,

Harvey

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Everything is going to be just fine!
Chins up Harvey!
You will be in our prayers.

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Harveyc,

May God watch over and protect your family and especially your son. Your prayers are being answered, in the name of the Lion of Judah.

You and your family will be in our prayers!

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Harvey, I am praying for your sons recovery and for strength to you and your family. May God's blessings be with your family at this time of uncertainty.

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Update: Michael went back to Children's Hospital on Wednesday and his platelet level increased to 97,000! :) I had told the doctor back on 3/12 about my plans to try having Michael eat Chinese black bean soup, something Tog had recommended to me (and supported by a local Chinese immigrant last night when I mentioned it to her) and the doctor had said "go for it". She also had said that there was some anecdotal evidence that vitamin C might help so we starting giving that to Michael as well. The nurses and doctors were all pleased to see the increase in platelets and I got the feeling we've got them talking about Chinese black bean soup! LOL Michael also had a bone marrow sample (taken under anesthesia) at 11:30 and preliminary results are all normal (the only way to diagnose ITP is to rule out other possibilities). Michael was discharged at about 1pm and we then drove to Point Reyes and started our backpacking trip, hitting the trail at 4pm and hiking 4.6 miles to set up camp. (The doctors had given this their okay.) We hiked about 9 miles yesterday. We had a blast! :D I'll try to post photos in another thread later when I get time. Hopefully, my old cheapie camera worked okay.

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Bravo!!
:woohoonaner:

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Great to hear things are well. It will get better Harv! I had my sisters to ask their friends to do a run on the Chinese web(we don't read Chinese) and all came back with the positive belief of the effect of Chinese black beans in soup. All the best!

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Harvey,

Your son is in good hands at Childrens Hospital. When my son was attacked by a siberian husky at age 5, he was taken to Childrens Hospital in Cincinnati. They were very attentive to Derek's needs and to ours as traumatized parents. One of the nurses even took my wifes clothes that were soaked in blood and cleaned them. They were incredible with Derek, today he is a very happy seventeen year old who is about to graduate next school year, the scars are so faint that you can't see them. I have nothing but good things to say about Childrens. I will pray for your son Michael that he will continue to be able to grow up as if nothing was ever wrong in his young life. May the Lord have his hands on you and your family.

Michael

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Glad to hear the good news Harvey. Thanks for the update.