The second patient is doing well, but just two months out of transplant, doctors say it is too early to make predictions. Right now, Craig's white and red blood cell counts are a flat zero. A normal white cell count is between 4,000 and 10,000. The red count should be 12 to 14. It will take two to three weeks for the cells to begin producing.
White cells appear first after a bone marrow transplant.
The great anticipation in Craig's case is the appearance of red cells, signaling a cure from Blackfan Diamond. The next few weeks will be most critical, and probably most difficult. Craig is only beginning to feel the side-effects of the chemotherapy he received last week to kill his sick marrow and make way for the new. Right now, the early signs of mouth sores only mean eating his favorite shrimp without the sweet sauce. But the pain will probably get worse.