The Art of Neutrophils

Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cells and form an essential part of the immune system.  You see, as I understand it, we have two arms of our immune system, an innate immune system and an adaptive immune system.  There’s a lot of technical mumbo jumbo about the functions of the different immune systems, but in the “idiot’s guide” terms I can understand, the neutrophils and your innate immune system is what give you the first line of defense against all things new and old and the adaptive immune system is your immune systems memory bank and and provides the arsenal for things that you’ve dealt with before.

Does your head hurt?  Mine does sometimes when I try to wrap my brain about these things.

Anyway, I’ve talked in the past about Gabriel’s immune system and his ANC (absolute neutrophil count) levels and how those impact what he can do.  The ANC is a mathematical calculation looking at his innate immune systems ability to combat infection.

Gabriel’s ANC levels tell us whether he has the ability to fight infection and to what extent.  Basically, it’s our litmus test on what activities we can reasonably let him do.

Yesterday, Gabriel went back down to Oakland Children’s Hospital for another physical examination and his final bone marrow aspiration for the induction phase of his treatment.  He also had a lumbar puncture and intrathecial chemotherapy treatment.  During Gabriel’s physical exam, Chet was informed that Gabe’s ANC count from Monday was over 2000.  That was awesome news for us, it meant that Gabriel’s immune system was rebounding very well (he was still under 250 when we left Oakland two weeks prior) even after his last chemotherapy treatment.

When Chet told me this, I was just so happy.  I knew it meant that Gabriel would be able to do more things around the house.  It also meant that the physicians were comfortable giving Gabriel the all clear to go horseback riding, spend some time working in the yard and garden, and to do whittling.  Things we’ve been having to say “no” to lately.

After Gabe’s procedures, Chet was given the results from yesterday’s blood tests (he gets blood tests twice a week right now) and his ANC level was over 4000.  That’s just awesome and absolutely the power of answered prayers.

With and ANC count of over 4000, we don’t have to be confined home.  Gabriel was able to walk around and leave the hospital without wearing a mask.  It just is awesome to not feel as though you’re walking on egg shells with him afraid you might be carrying an errant germ that is sticking around somewhere.

In celebration, we’re going to head to the mineral store tomorrow.  Gabriel has a couple special purchases he would like to make.  With the news, I’m just so filled with joy and amazement at how well his body has tolerated the treatment so far.  He’s just been so blessed by the caring thoughts and prayers of everyone.  Thank you so much, we truly appreciate your support and love.

Unfortunately, Chet didn’t take too many pictures, so I don’t really have any to share (the three he has are on his phone and well, I didn’t get them transferred).  But, with such awesome news as this, who needs pictures?

Next week we head back to Oakland for a consultation with the Radiation Oncologist and Gabriel will begin his next round of treatment – the consolidation phase.  We’ll find out next week which treatment plan he gets randomized to.  It will either be an overnight admission or a five-day admission.

However, in the meantime we’ve got fun plans including horseback riding (hopefully), mineral shopping, movie watching and snowshoeing.  What a great weekend to look forward to.

We have been blessed with such an amazing kid who providing many opportunities to learn new things.  Don’t believe me?  You now know a whole lot more about neutrophils than you did before this all happened, don’t ‘cha.