Blood Results

On Monday, December 5, 2011 I took Paxton in to get some blood work. She has had several fevers with no symptoms and a few bacterial infections. All the doctors kept telling me this is all normal kids just get sick. Well the fevers scare me. Fevers with boogers-great. High fevers with no symptoms-scary! Since they were doing a routine anemia test and a lead test, I pushed for a CBC (complete blood count). No biggie, this was going to come back normal. It was just for my piece of mind.

On Wednesday Pax got another fever again, no symptoms - 102.7. On Thursday, December 8th, we got a call from our pediatrician saying that Pax's blood work came back a little off. I fell to my knees. She told us that a type of her white blood cells, the neutrophils were almost nonexistent. She said that the overall counts look okay so she does not think it is leukemia. This could be from a virus or an antibiotic but she would refer us to a Hematologist/ Oncologist for further testing. I say, "Oncologist, but that means cancer!!!" She assured me it was just a title. She asked how Pax was doing and I tell her she has a fever. So she wanted us come in the next day to check her out.

I get off the phone and panic. I call Jud and can barely speak in between sobs. He comes home right away. We were so devastated. You think you understand things and how trials in life affect people, you may even think you can imagine what people feel. Until you are told that your child may be sick, REALLY SICK, you have no idea the feeling of sorrow a parent feels. I hope most of you have never been through that or never will.

We spent the night researching Neutropenia (when the neutrophils drop below normal). Then the next day we head to the pediatrician. Paxton's fever had broke but they had us do more blood work and she said she was going to consult with a Hematologist on what to do between that point and our appointment with the specialist. So that blood test done on Friday, December 9th, came back the same Paxton's neutrophil count was severely low. The pediatrician had also talked to the Hematologist/ Oncologist and if Paxton's temp gets to 101 we are to go to the ER for an antibiotic shot or IV. She also thinks Paxton's neturopenia is chronic. Meaning she has had it a long time (months). We were to call Texas Children's first thing Monday morning to schedule an appointment and to tell them that the doctor said it was urgent.

The weekend was hell. Not knowing. Knowing what little we did know. HELL.