Would you like to know what's going on? So would we!

Our apologies for the lack of updates recently on Faye.  Truth is we're not sure what to say.  We have been waiting for her ANC (a measure of infection fighting white blood cells) to be above 500 for 3 consecutive days.  Once that happens they declare 'engraftment' of the marrow transplant.  She hit 690 on Monday, dropped to 530 on Tuesday and hasn't been above 500 since.  No one is quite sure why.  It could be nothing and it is just taking its sweet time or it could be a problem. 

Two current theories are:

1. When they harvested Nixon's marrow they took all they could from him for it to be safe for him.  However, it was on the low end of what they would have liked to be given to Faye.  It could just be that it is taking more time because there weren't enough cells.  If we get to day 40 or so and we still haven't engrafted they may take more from Nixon and top her off. 
2. They tested for all sort of viruses thinking if she had one it could be causing some immune suppression. Results showed positive for one but the levels were such that it could be the cause of her being slow to engraft or could not. 
3. There could be a host of other things also. 

 She will be getting a bone marrow aspirate and biopsy done on Monday to test the cell levels in the marrow, to see how much of them are Nixon, and look for any residual leukemia.  So for now we continue to wait and hope for the best.  Keep those prayers coming to help Faye demonstrate once again that miracles happen everyday.  We love you all and are sincerely grateful for you. 

Nick & Stacey.