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Thank you all for the outpouring of support and information. I've also joined the Facebook group and have found an immense amount of support there as well and wonderful positive stories of healing!
I took my mom to my appointment with the aplastic anemia specialist. She gave the absolutely best response to the doctor. "People don't die from anemia! They just need to take iron and eat right!" Uuhhhh... She has no understanding what aplastic anemia is, even after he tried to explain it to her. She has no clue what bond marrow is, T-Cells, or anything like that. Then she got scared and hostile and started crying. So all in all a typical mother-daughter interaction for us.
I've been getting platelets transfused. The nurses and staff have been so wonderful. They're my mini counselors for the diagnosis and the other issues in my life, especially since I'm going in alone.
My RBCs are falling again and my ANC falling. I wanted another RBC transfusion since I felt really good not being anemic but the specialist said it is better to get less transfusions if bone marrow transplant is the treatment we go for.
If I get matched for a bone marrow (my sister still won't consider seeing if she matches), I have to decide transplant versus ATG/ciclo therapy. On Facebook I asked which option everyone would go for given my situation and everyone split. But the benefit of transplant is I wouldn't have to worry about ATG failing years later and me needing a transplant? I don't know. It's less invasive though and I have such a lack of emotional support I don't know how I could handle a transplant right now.
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