Victoria Beckham & daddy long legs spiders

this post is courtesy of Andrea Long...

Michelle has been moved back to Scottsdale Healthcare Thompson Peak so that her doc can monitor her care more easily. She is doing much better since the surgery last Saturday.  Almost all the swelling has gone down from her legs and most of the back pain has subsided.

  Of course, not all is smooth.

  A couple of days ago the oxygen saturationof her blood fell to below 90% and seemed to stay that way unless she had oxygen on. Yesterday they did a contrast CT scan and found that she had 3 blood clots in her lungs.  Since she has had trouble with bleeding and her platelet count is down, giving her blood thinners to dissolve the clot was not an option.  So, they decided to put a filter in one of her veins.  It looks almost like a little daddy long legs spider.  

It is designed to catch any parts of the clots that might dislodge and keep them from getting to her brain or heart where they could cause lots of damage. Eventually the clots will disssolve, but the filter will protect her until they do.  It is permanent and will not be removed.  It was a pretty simple procedure, but for Michelle, it just felt like one more obstacle to her getting well.  

 
Her blood counts are down, so she will stay in the hospital until her white, red, and platelet counts are up to a safe level.  Not sure when that will be.  She is back eating an unrestricted diet, although she still does not have much of an appetite and only eats a few bites from each meal. She is up and walking around a few times a day, but because her red count is low, she tires very quickly.  The doctor would like her to try and get the count raised on her own, but if that doesn't happen, she will get another transfusion.  
 
Today is day 16 of this hospital stay.  Hopefully she will be able to go home soon.  She gets discouraged pretty easily.  Thank you again to all you girls for your thoughtfulness and encouragement.  As soon as Michelle is able we are going to hit up the wig stores.  I'm not sure when her hair will start falling out - probably within the next week or so.  I know I'm not looking forward to that - just another thing for her to have to deal with. 
 
I attached some pictures from her haircut.  She was really groggy that day, but Kristina did such a nice job on it.  It is really cute when it's all styled.   

looks almost like Victoria Beckham right?!

Love, Andrea (Michelle's mom)