Patient network difficulties made it impossible to post for about a 24-hour period. However, the news that's been awaiting the restoration of the network access is good: Richie's white blood cell count is now in normal range. Thursday he was at 0.2, Friday he was at 2.9, and now he's at 6.6. Normal is between 4 and 11.
The last thing he needs to do is to get back the ability to eat real food again. He has been being maintained on what can only be described as an intravenous "formula" which includes amino acids, vitamins, minerals, dextrose and electrolytes. He's eaten some things, but he's not been eating 3 normal-sized meals or six small but substantial meals. He must get to that point before he can be discharged, no matter what his white blood cell count says.
Yesterday was his birthday. I owe him dinner at Coco's. Now that he's 55 years old, he can order from the Senior menu. w00t.
