February 10

We missed rounds this morning but were able to catch up with a couple of Oliver's Doctors and get some questions answered. The Dr from infectious disease said they have tested for almost everything they can think of in their department. There are three more tests he will order and after that the infectious disease team is pretty much on standby...

The other Doctor we spoke with let us know that another ultrasound and x-ray were ordered for Oliver today to check on his major organs. His liver and spleen continue to enlarge, which is making his belly quite big. The swelling organs are pressing against his diaphragm and lungs making Oliver work harder to breath. His body gets all the oxygen it needs from the air in the room but since he can't expand his chest completely to breath we have increased his oxygen level-I believe he is currently at 22%. The concern here is that the space in Oliver's chest cavity could get so limited that sometime down the road he may need a ventilator to help him breath. This would only be temporary and is not a sign of decreased lung function-it is just a precaution that would be taken if Oliver has to work too hard to breath.

Oliver's Doctors lowered the threshold for platelet transfusions to 10,000. If he tests above 10,000 platelets they won't give him a transfusion...this morning he didn't need one!

We were told the liver specialist is optimistic about Oliver's liver coming through all of this just fine. For starters the liver is wonderful at regenerating it's self, but also because Oliver's liver is continuing to do everything it is supposed to do. The only thing that his liver is struggling with is the bilirubin...which is what makes Oliver that lovely shade of yellow.

As frustrating as it is not knowing what's causing Oliver's low platelets and high bilirubin we have to remember that every day we are scratching something off the list, and the list of possibilities gets shorter and shorter...we have got to be close! Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers-we are so blessed to have such wonderful friends and family supporting us through this!