Well, it worked!!! All your prayers and thoughts about good numbers must have helped, because we got some good news today. While Kinsey's red cells were down from 8.4 to 7, her platelets were 52,000, not too bad three days after a transfusion. And her neutrophils were at 3% (an absolute count of 100) after having been at zero for weeks. These are the cells that fight infection and while she should have about 2000, 3000 or so, 100 beats 0 in our book! This was the best news for us today, although the doctors caution not to celebrate as it's too early to tell a "blip" from a "trend." The best news for Kinsey was that they will start weaning her off her steroids and she will be done in 2 weeks. That means fewer pills every day! This probably means we won't feel like we're living with Linda Blair in the Exorcist; it means some of the swelling and additional hair growth might start to go away; and it means she will probably eat one famous Aunt Ann egg sandwich at a time instead of three.
She had a fever again this morning but a relatively low one. They did another blood culture to be sure. She's a little more tired than usual but that's more than understandable with such low red cells. She should definitely need a platelet transfusion on Monday and if the red cells drop or don't rise a little, probably another red cell transfusion soon.
More good news: Our good friends at New Mexico Bank and Trust, along with some great media friends are helping to make sure Kinsey's story gets out. We want to raise awareness about the importance of blood donations, platelet donations, and registering as a bone marrow donor. We also want to raise funds to help cover the medical and quality of life expenses. You all know by now the primary quality of life expense I am talking about is a SAFE playground for the backyard, along with a little grass and some cushy ground cover. Kinsey has picked one out (with all unsafe features removed such as sling swings, tire swings, and ladders; hers will have high-back swings and a ramp with rails) and we've ordered it. NOW we just figure out how to pay for it. It's about $10,000 (with the 10% discount and free installation). We've raised approximately $1500 and need between $49,000 and $150,000 total. I am trying to fight with the insurance folks every day, but it's hard to fight with someone who won't return your calls. My priority is the playground. Audrey's is the medical bills. None of you who knows us is surprised. My nephew Sean is doing the FORD plant fund raiser next Tuesday in Louisville and we're keeping our fingers crossed. We have some Tucson fund raising strategies in the works, and are looking at doing a couple of mailings here (thanks to our realtor Anna Reade). This is the kind of fund raising effort where $5 here and $20 there will make the difference in the long run. While it's not the kind of fund raising I'm most familiar with, the basics of telling the story and offering people the opportunity to help with a cause that may appeal to them is the same. And while I am being very careful to avoid any conflict of interest between my personal and professional fund raising efforts, I am very comforted by the fact that this is something I CAN DO. At a time like this when I feel so helpless, when I look into my daughter's dark-ringed eyes and see such sadness and fear and think THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO TO MAKE THIS HORRIBLE THING GO AWAY! I know there are a few things I can try to do to make it better. I told Audrey, "If a million dollars would fix this, I could sleep well tonight because I'd find it tomorrow one way or another." Several months ago Kinsey was selling pizzas for school, so I took the order form around the office sort of asking, "You don't want to buy one of these do you?" A few kind co-workers bought one or two, but I wasn't entirely comfortable. I wondered about that thinking, "I'm a professional fund raiser. What's wrong with me?" What I realized was that when the cause was personal and the goal was to not have my daughter's school mates show her up too much (and raise a few dollars for her school) it was hard to get motivated. At the Red Cross, I had such a strong case, such a compelling case: saving lives and giving hope, etc. Well, this is truly personal, but I am finding when it comes to saving Kinsey's life and improving the quality of that shattered little life as opposed to helping maintain low tuition costs or avoid embarrassment, it's a whole different game. And I don't feel so uncomfortable. I am telling strangers on the street about the coming website (which will explain so much more than I can on a flyer or in a few words). My boss and dear friend often tells me I need to learn to ask for what I want. I am learning. I am asking, everyone I talk to, DO ONE OR MORE OF THESE THINGS:
Donate blood
Donate platelets
Find out more about registering as a bone marrow donor
Give money to the Kinsey T. Morrison Fund or to the Children's Hospital Play Life Program
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