run4peach1,
It is always advisable to get a second opinion when dealing with a serious medical condition such as your father has. The rapid swings in his platelet count and recent instability of his hemoglobin are certainly unusual, but don't necessarily mean that the MDS diagnosis is wrong--only that it should be questioned. MDS has been known to co-exist with other diseases.
I think you are fairly close to two Centers of Excellence in the treatment of MDS: the
University of Pittsburgh Cancer Center and
The Western Pennsylvania Cancer Institute. Either one should be able to give you valuable insights into your father's condition and help you evaluate treatment options. You might also consider going to NIH in Bethesda, if it's not too far.
It sounds like you father will need some time to recover before any further treatments can take place. I hope you can use that time to arrange a second (or even a third) opinion.
Regards,
Ruth Cuadra