(If
you've been here before, you might "Reload" to insure that you're getting
the latest Update.
This
was last Updated on January 10, 2001), therefore you might click on that
date below.
| Main Menu | August 21, 2000 | August 28 | September 11 | September 24 | October 8 | October 16 | Nov2 | Nov7 | Nov13 | Dec 10 | Jan 5 | Jan 10 |
It is late at night, or 1:50 a.m., August 18, 2000. Jan and I have just returned from San Francisco and the home of our daughter Michelle, her husband Phil Galvin, and both boys: Zachary - 3 months old and growing like a weed, and Tyler who has the problem with ITP. Great reason for the abbreviation. Right?
This is the blood condition in which the platelet count had dropped to a dangerously low 5,000 per cubic centimeter. Normal range is 200,000 to 300,000 per cc. This is an auto immune problem, in which a virus in the bloodstream is fought by white blood cells, until it is gone, then they arbitrarily begin fighting something else, in this case the platelets.
"Bleeding" can occur, and hemorrhaging of internal organs or intercraniel hemorrhaging is feared for little ones.
Monday (August 14) saw Tyler admitted to the University of California Medical School in San Francisco, where to our delight the doctor in charge was none other than a William Mentzer, M.D., Professor and Director of the Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco.
After treating his condition three times with the normal efforts including intravenous application of gamma globulin, his platelet count had only escalated to 24,000 per cc. It had been hoped that it would rise substantially higher than that. Initially, we were told that unless his count reached 30 to 35 thousand, he would not be released.
However, today, Dr Mentzer told us that due to his very recent evaluation of Tyler's blood sample, he had deemed it permissible to release him because the platelets he viewed were so large and healthy as to "essentially equal" a count of almost double what Tyler actually possessed, i.e., approximately 40 to 50 thousand.
Tyler's blood will be evaluated on Monday morning (August 21) to determine what his count is after permitting his own body to do its own process of building up the platelets.
He still presents many bruises, and the tiny single cell appearance of broken blood vessels, on various parts of his body. He only vomited once today and seems to be in a much better position regarding his sense of feeling well.
His folks and we all appreciate the prayers which have been offered on his behalf. Jan and I were with them at UCSF Med School on Monday evening/night, and Wednesday and Thursday of this week.
I'll try to keep my update's a bit more brief in the future, but sense that I need to at least keep you somewhat posted as I've tried to keep you apprised for prayer purposes.
Yours, In Christ,
tim (jan's already asleep)
A delightful phone call from Michelle just a few minutes ago.
Tyler's doctor called her with the latest update on the platelet count: 64,000 per cc! Yeah!!! 'n PRAISE GOD!
Therefore, the previously scheduled bone marrow test of tomorrow is canceled, and the doctor says that Tyler's body is doing the work itself.
Methinks . . . or Wethinks that the Lord has answered prayer, and has intervened. The earlier word given her was not encouraging, but finally the actual count was phoned to Michelle by Dr. Mentzer. So, the Phil Galvins, the Arensmeiers, et al., are rejoicing. Do please pray with us that Tyler will continue to mend as God intended the body to mend.
An afterthought: The Body has also worked the way It ought. Don't forget to thank God for that, too.
Rejoicing, In Christ,
tim 'n jan (for the whole crew!)
Michelle just phoned and gave some rather unsettling news of Tyler's platelet count dropping to 41,000 per cubit centimeter. The doctor is accepting of this as a truly normal ITP run which could take up to six months before Tyler's platelet count returns to and remains normal.
At the moment, the doctor is reluctant to give either prednisone or any further invasive procedures. The fluctuation is also apparently normal for this situation. Tyler is feeling fairly well and is still at home, though he is a little lethargic, and not sleeping too well.
Obviously, we'd all appreciate your continued prayers.
Still rejoicing, In Christ,
tim (again, for the whole Galvin/Arensmeier crew)
Semi-late in the evening: I just phoned Michelle, and the good news is that the platelet count in little Tyler is up to 84,000 per cubic centimeter. While not out of the woodwork yet, there is progress, and the highest count since the onslaught of this strange phenomenon.
Your prayers will still be appreciated. One source has told us that this may fluctuate up and down with a progression up for the next six months or so.
We are rejoicing, and Tyler appears better, and is not as lethargic.
Again, we're rejoicing, and still trusting God for progress on into truly good health for this little guy,
tim (still for the whole crew)
Latest word from Michelle is that Tyler's count is down to 77,000.
The doctor doesn't see any concern, so we're praying that the process will continue to turn around and head back up again. At last consult, the doc still is comfortable that Tyler is going to see his own body work its own thing (we think that the Lord will do it!) and he'll eventually see it overcome and stabilized at normal healthy ranges.
We're still rejoicing. I Thessalonians 5:18
instructs the believer in Jesus Christ to "Give
thanks in everything, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning
you." Not necessarily is the event, or set of circumstances
the will of God, as much as the giving of thanks in
everything is manifestly the will of God for
us. So, we're doing it!
We were just in San Francisco, Friday evening and Saturday for a celebration of birthdays . . . when Michelle told us that Friday morning Tyler's platelet count was Up to 147,000!!! Big Praise! He was carrying a fever ranging from around 101.5 to 99.8 during most of Saturday, so things are not totally out of the woods yet, but the big spike up is a blessing! Thank you for your prayers, and we'd request them continually until he stabilizes.
Again, we rejoice in the God of our Salvation, and Praise Him for
this jump in little Tyler's health.
A phone call from Michelle revealed that once again, our prayers are being answered. Tyler's platelet count was up again, and is currently holding at 164,000! For that, we're delighted, and it appears that there is a steady increase.
Unless I hear otherwise, I'll probably not be sending out more Updates
for at least until it reaches the acceptable level of between 200,000 and
300,000 per cubic centimeter. This has been a learning and growing
experience for all of us, including mom Michelle, and dad Phil. That
a few grand parents have learned a bit more about trust in our Heavenly
Father is a detail . . . a wonderful one!
Ooops! In a phone call from Michelle this evening, we learned that Tyler has had a reversal. His platelet count was DOWN to 30,000 per cubic centimeter.
In the morning, Tyler had complained of a "stuffy nose." When Michelle looked at him, it was bleeding and she had a difficult time getting it to stop. She also noticed a proliferation of petechia (a minute reddish or purplish spot containing blood that appears in skin). She took Tyler to the doctor, who stuck a needle in his little arm, again, and they discovered that his platelet count was indeed down!
Talk of steroids is going on. But, Michelle will have to take Tyler back to the doctor on Monday, if not before. He is not at a critical stage at this juncture, but he, he parents 'n grand parents would appreciate your prayers for him.
Michelle called this noon, while I was at a Madera Ministerial Assembly meeting at our local Madera Community Hospital. Tyler's platelet count is down to 27,000 per cubic centimeter.
His doctor doesn't seem too worried at this juncture, as this is viewed as a relatively normal process of the platelet count fluctuation. It still is a bother to Tyler, his parents and entire family. We have learned in other circumstances to not "ride the roller coaster" of someone's emotions, but this is hard. To realize that this little guy is truly suffering and to not be able to do anything about it is a challenge.
Michelle told us that just last week, before the above (November 2) discovery, she and Tyler had talked for between eight and 10 minutes (quite a conversation for a little 2 1/2 year old!) about his previous stay in the hospital and all of the things that frightened him, including being stuck with the needles, etc., and to now be going in that direction again, is truly a difficult thing for his parents (and grand parents!) to be going through.
Your prayers are obviously still needed, and appreciated.
Yours, In Christ,
tim (for the combined Galvin & Arensmeier families)
In a voice mail message I just retrieved from Michelle, little Tyler's platelet count is up to
We're obviously ecstatic! The doctor seems to feel that his little body has finally kicked in and is working the way it is supposed to.
Of course, we're pleasantly comfortable that God has touched the little guy and helped his bod do what the Creator of the universe designed it to do.
We'll keep praising the Lord, and Michelle indicated that the doc didn't need to see Tyler for a couple of weeks. We'll trust our Heavenly Father that his system will have stabilized and be normal at that time. Until we have word to the contrary, we'll trust that this chapter in his life will be safely closed, and not impose upon you to do any more that keep him in your prayers as he comes into your minds (as the Spirit of God brings him into your consciousness).
Thank you, for your interest, intercession and love!
For the entire Galvin/Arensmeier crew,
tim
Jan and I visited Sonoma over the weekend of 9/10 Decmeber. I was preaching at a little church there, where I might Interim come January, having resigned from my position in Madera at the Fourth Street Church of God.
On the return trip, we stopped in San Francisco, and Michelle told us that she had just received word that Tyler's latest platelet count was 248,000. That's well within the range of normal, and we're truly grateful to the Lord that while it is down, it was not dramatically down again. I'm hoping to figure out how to put the numbers on a graph for more visable comprehension of the route this little guy has taken.
We're rejoicing! And wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Christ-centered New Year!
Yours, In Christ,
tim 'n jan
Fast update on Tyler: Just yesterday, his mom took him to the doctor, and his platelete count has again dropped to a dangerously low 26,000! Monday, the doctor will let us all know what procedure, if any he is going to perform.
Obviously, we'd appreciate your continued prayers for Tyler, his family and larger family as we all trust the Lord that this will eventually stabilize.
Still rejoicing, In Christ,
tim 'n jan
Praise the Lord!! Again!!!
It appears that little Tyler's platelet count has once again climbed to 164,000! After the earlier drop to 26,000 per cubic centimeter, his doctor is of the opinion that he needs not return for another month. Apparently, this is the norm with "ITP" and until it goes away, or he grows out of it, he will experience drops when he has an infection or virus in his system. Eventually, he will, the Lord willing, develop a normal capacity for his white blood cells to do their "thing" without going nuts and eating up platelets in the process.
We're all rejoicing, and invite you to do that with us.
Love, In Christ,
tim 'n jan (Bumpa 'n Oma)
A couple of pictures of Tyler and his family may be viewed at: http://www.tjameier.com/tylfam.html
A picture of Tyler and his only girl cousin may be viewed at: http://www.tjameier.com/JanTy.html