Good news! David's blood test result today showed his total white count (i.e. no. of white blood cells) started increasing. The CD34 (stem cell marker) also indicated the presence of stem cells which are very young cells which mature and develop into red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets in his blood stream. Thus, the Dr made an urgent call to harvest his stem cells or what is called Peripheral Blood Stem Cells Harvesting. I know all these sounded pretty technical but it is definitely good news.
It is the desired outcome of the recent chemo treatment - to collect healthy stem cells which are free of any malignant cells. These good quality stem cells would then be stored as a backup for the transplant treatment. So, after a few days of harvesting and once the desired amount of stem cells are collected, David can be discharged for a couple of weeks before the stem cell transplant tentatively scheduled at the end of May.
Praise the Lord that David did not succumb to any infections or viruses when his blood count was low!
Praise the Lord that his blood count increases so quickly!
Praise the Lord for answering our prayers!
Praise the Lord for His lovingkindness and great tender mercies!
Thank you for all your prayers! We are very much encouraged by many of you who have been faithfully praying with us since the beginning and also the many more who have joined us subsequently - David's doctors, the potential platelet donors who were recently introduced to our blog, my boss' cell group and Joshua's kindergarten (Joshua said "my whole school prayed for Daddy you know! Not just my class, even the nursery and K2"). It is so wonderful to praise the Lord together for every answered prayer.
Please do continue to pray that many good healthy cells could be collected in the next couple of days. Also for good result in the next BMA. Let us praise the Lord together:
"Praise be to the Lord for he has heard my cry for mercy.
The Lord is my strength and my shield
my heart trusts in him and I am helped.
My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song."
- Psalm 28:6,7
The joy of the Lord is our strength! May you find strength and hope in the Lord in whatever difficult situation you may face. God bless you!
Rejoicing in Him,
Whee Ling
