Thrombocytopenia and The Log Bed

What does a log bed have to do with thrombocytopenia? This unlikely pair collided Wednesday night. My husband, Michael Dunaway, who is dealing with extremely low platelets, somehow hit his head on the headboard of our bed. He woke up to a blood-soaked pillow and a head that looked like Jesus with the crown of thorns on him . Head injuries always bleed profusely but this was extreme. I was afraid he could have been bleeding inside and needed stitches. We went to RGH, just in case.

Ever since Michael's CAR T-cell transplant, his platelets have never recovered. It is a battle he has been fighting weekly for over a year. The normal range of platelets is between 159,000 and 450,000 platelets per microliter of blood. Michael's is 7. Thrombocytopenia means the blood's clotting ability is weakened and may cause spontaneous bleeding, sometimes without any visible injuries.

He didn't need stitches, but he did require an infusion of platelets. RGH didn't have what he needed so he got the pleasant experience of riding in the medical transport van on 64 to Richmond. In addition to having low platelets, he was also neutropenic. His absolute neutrophils were less than 1--meaning he had no immune system. That has been the reason we have been so isolated this decade. We can't take the chance on him being around anyone sick.

So why does Michael have thrombocytopenia? Multiple myeloma, cancer of the bone marrow, is the main bully. His treatments also contribute to this condition. It's a balancing act for the doctors--give him enough immunotherapy to kill the cancer without killing him. We have been so blessed to have caring and innovative doctors. Infusions of platelets and plasma are part of the plan. No carfilzomib until we see his oncologist next Monday. In the meantime, he may need to stay clear of his axes that he restores. I'm hoping the log bed will play nice from now on. Prayers for this most recent challenge would be greatly appreciated.