D+13 months - "Walk Of Life" *

Another Thursday, another clinic visit.  Mixed news, the haemoglobin has crept up to 126 thanks to the EPO injections.  130 is normal so 126 is OK.  The EPO has been reduced to once a week, they don't want my blood getting too thick because of the risk of a clot.

However my platelets which having been bobbing around at about 50 for a couple of months have fallen to 32 which explains why I bruise and bleed so easily. The normal range is 150-450.  No one seems to know why they've dropped though plenty of theories abound - GvHD, childhood immunisations, a viral infection, the immunosuppressants, EPO, inflammation etc etc - who knows!  So its back to clinic next week to recheck them.  The other treatments, ciclosporin and steroids, remain unchanged for the moment.  The GvHD is under control but only just!

On a cheerier note the weather looks set fair for the walk in the Derbyshire Dales this weekend, dry and not too warm although it is throwing it down as I write - Friday morning!  There are 24 people walking on Saturday and 17 on Sunday.  I am not able to do the whole walk, 11-12 miles each day is just too much, and so will dip in and out.  So far we've raised £1,140 for blood cancer research in Nottingham, £970 on the current page and £170 on the previously expired page. The JustGiving page will stay open until about 29th September.

                                                  Blood Sweat and Cures

A big thank you to everyone for your marvellous generosity.

* Dire Straits, "Brothers in Arms" track 3