[bochs4]

As excited and happy as i am today about the news we received from my brothers doctors, i dont want to celebrate here cause i know there are alot of you going through some pretty tough times. I am writing to share our experience because when my brother was sick it seemed as though there was no hope. I turned to this website daily to read about other peoples experinces and wanted to share his.

My brother(Jeff) has his ATG(horse) in Dec.2010. After going home he developed an infection in his arm and was in ICU for 3 weeks. At one point they were ready to amputate. It literally came down to a surgeons decision not to do it becasue he was sure he couldnt stop his bleeding when he didnt have any platlelets. It was up to Jeff and god to beat this thing. After concluding that his infection was ecoli and it was most likely coming from his own body they restarted an antibiotic that they were trying for 2 weeks that wasnt doing anything. They were giving him the anti fluid drug lasix to try and keep this fluid off that he was retaining. He gained 90 lbs in 6 days. Slowly day by day we started to see improvent. Over the next 6 days he lost all the weight he gained and about 20 more. The next 30 to 60 days after he got out of the hospital were brutal on him. They were trying to wein him off of the prednisone and his legs and joints were killing him. His was getting either platlets and hemoglobin everytime he went in which at the time was twice a week. After 60 days post ATG his numbers didnt seem to be be doing alot, his docs were confident that the ATG wasnt working.

We are now roughly 180 days post ATG. Today his numbers were platelets-102 hem-11.5 and whites 2.6 w/60% neutros. His platelets jumped 50,000 in two weeks. His docs were high-fiveing in the room. I know his fight is not any where near over nor will it ever be but at least he can lead a somewhat normal life.

I remember when we first found out and what was involved, i think i researched for 2 weeks straight. There were never enough answers. All i can tell you is this. THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE! Dont ever give up. Keep your faith and will to live. If there is any part of our experience that might help you please dont hesitate to ask. Keep Fighting everyone