Dr. Michelle Bennett (Pediatric Gynecologist) just called and informed us that the swab test that was done during Erin's visit came back positive for Pseudomonas Bacteria. She has sent the culture to the lab to get an Antibiotic Susceptibility Test done on the culture. We should get the results on Sunday or Monday.
The Antibiotic Susceptibility Test will help us to know if the medications she is taking are even working on her infection. The Meropenem that she is currently on should be fighting the Pseudomonas Bacteria, but maybe it's just not working in Erin's case.
Everything sort of hinges on how her Cellulitis is looking on Monday. We will do the CRP (inflammation in her blood test) and if those numbers are going down then we'll go ahead with Chemotherapy Round #5 on Wednesday.
In the backs of our minds all of our Doctors are still thinking it could possibly a Chloroma which is a little pocket of Leukemia cells.
IF things are not improving by Monday then we'll go ahead with a biopsy. She is already scheduled for the biopsy, 7:30am on Wednesday. Crazy! It is good that it's already scheduled, but it sort of makes me feel like we've already failed.
The biopsy isn't too big of a surgery, they just take two 3mm circles (like a cookie cutter) from her Cellulitis. They would send one circle to a Pathologist and one to the Microbiology Lab. From those results we would DEFINITELY know if it is a true Antibiotic Resistent Cellultis and what type of bacteria is lingering in the Cellulitis or if it is indeed a small mass of Leukemia cells.
Lots of prayer and lots of waiting!
On the upside, Erin's 3 daily bum baths, the Clindamycin, and the Steroid Cream seem to be doing something because the Cellulitis looks smaller and less swollen.
Thank you so much for your prayers and help! I hope these results makes sense. So much of what I am learning is waaaayyyy over my head and I'm always asking the doctors to spell these confusing words and explain it in detail to me. Then I get on the Internet and look for trusted information on the topics. I just told John that in my next life I'm going to be a Doctor! Although, it might just be easier to have been one for Halloween.
John and I are off to enjoy a DATE. YES! A DATE! I better go get all dolled up.
Hooray for good news - I'm glad to hear the sore is improving a little. And I'm glad you guys got to go on a date! A date! :) I hope it was a good break.
ReplyDeleteThanks for keeping us updated - you guys and Erin are in our thoughts often!