
Today we went to the paediatrician.
Ivy has lost just over a kilo.
Her cortisol levels are out of wack.
Her iron stores are low.
Her chest x - ray looks better, the pneumonia is clearing.
Her kidney functions are still okay.
Her left ear is discharging, her other is infected.
Her white cell count still high.
She is still sick.
But
it’s time to move forward.
We are going back to the immunologist on the 22nd of July.
After that we are hopefully going to start IVIG or Intragam as it is commonly known.
Before she has her operation on the 7th of August.
What is IVIG?
It is a blood product, a plasma that is rich with antibodies. Ivy will have this infused into her body every four weeks. It will help to boost her own immune system and with any luck she will be able to have something of a normal life.
Sure, there are risks.
There are with any blood product
but
She might be able to go to pre school next year, without fear of catching every nasty bug under the sun.
She might be able to go to play group, go to a play centre, a shopping centre, a doctor’s office, visit friends and not walk out with some disease that might not have made the carrier sick but most certainly would Ivy.
It might mean less of the hospital and more of the sunshine.
I’ve never wanted anything other than to see her healthy.
I’ve never wanted anything more than this.
This is our chance, I think.
This is her chance.