Still Pottering Along

Last weeks clinic was interesting. 
The doctors want Brett to try and stay off steroids because there's an order to which the drugs can be removed and reduced and they cant start reducing the other drugs until the steroids are finished which would mean the GVHD has gone.

it stands to common sense really - the next drug to be slowly reduced would be the transplant anti-rejection drug, and the doctors aren't going to reduce that until their happy the GVHD is under control.

Just to recap, GVHD is when Brett's old cells and the donor cells fight, we need the donor cells to have won before the doctors reduce the anti rejection drugs.

We think the donor cells have not only won, but are marching at speed through Brett's body. 
He has new hair growth which is much darker than his previous hair colour, he has his old finger nails being pushed out by his new finger nails. That is driving Brett mad actually. 
Its similar to when you knock a nail badly and it wants to fall off and often does. 
We don't want his old nails to fall off yet because they're not far enough up his fingers and it would be an infection risk and we certainly don't need infection risks at this stage.
Brett is also shedding his skin in great volume. 
Again, it is freaky to look at his skin and see shiny new skin under his flaking body - Its like a sci-fi movie that gives you the creeps.

Brett's feeling slightly better in himself, which is great. 
We are living the quiet life, we've had some visitors but a lot have cancelled. I don't complain at all because I think that's very caring of them.
If someone wakes up feeling a little under the weather, its far better they cancel a visit to us then risk Brett catching anything.
His immune system remains gone - he is having his first T-cell test this week, the day before Valentines Day - Ahhh!

I hope for his sake he has some T-cells but they have to be over 3 before normal life can resume. 
Another teenager who attends the same closed clinic as Brett, had his transplant in September and his T-cell level is still only 0.09.
It does and doesn't matter, if you know what I mean.
Yes, T-cells and a full and active life back for Brett and all of us would be great and is going to happen soon, but for now, its great spending time with each other, no sickness no hospital stays, just watching the telly and having a giggle together as a family.

Its all good in the hood. X