For those of you who know my mother, you’d know she is mama dukes around here, always putting everybody before herself and refusing to ask for help. I have been away from social media but I wanted to come and be transparent with friends and family about what’s been going on with my mother..
It started off with large dark purple, almost black bruises that would appear so easily and she was beginning to gain a collection of them. To me, I knew that wasn’t normal for her so I kept telling her that she should go to the doctor (I was beginning to sound like a broken record) I said “did you make a doctors appointment yet?” She goes “Yes TaishaI have one this afternoon. So I was relived.. the she called me crying saying that they drew her labs and they were at a critical level. are transporting her to the emergency room because she had 0-1,000 platelets. (Platelets are what allow your blood to clot to prevent internal bleeding or when you have an injury. Normal levels are 150,000-450,000) Once I got off the phone with her I tried to remain calm but then I began hyperventilating because my mom is my best friend and the worst was running through my head. I headed over to the hospital to be with her so they she wasn’t alone and she looked like she was in so much pain, it broke my heart. The nurses would blow her veins and the room was real small and uncomfortable (15+ ivs). They started a blood transfusion ($300/numerous rounds) and sent her up to a room, which was our new home for 10days. They did a session of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) which gives her antibodies (costing $5000-$10,000).. she’d had to have 12 to keep her levels steady and was put on steroids that made her body change, the steroids made my mom feel so awful and took a toll on her body. Her body wasn’t responds to the treatments, her platelets kept fluctuating. After all the testing they diagnosed her with Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura ( ITP for short). They then got the CT back and they found a mass on her spleen.. They put mom on Rituxan (a chemo drug to keep her body from attacking itself), then called for a bone biopsy. Mom got discharged and we closely monitored her. Mom lived in a fragile state.. She couldn’t drive, couldn’t shave, couldn’t use knifes (can’t cut herself) can’t cook we don’t want her to burn herself. We tried keeping her comfortable but I could tell that she was in despair and tired of the same go around.
Thankfully my sweet grandparents were a MAJOR help. During that time she was still bruising really easily. On another Tuesday I took her to her doctors appointment and they sent her back to the hospital because the platelets dropped below 10,000. This second stay at the hospital was for 4 days with the same treatments and the same results. They gave her Rhogam (antibodies), still stayed on ivig and received blood transfusions. Same go around, no results.
“By the second stay, emotionally and mentally it finally caught up to me and I would
have my days where I would cry, as strong as I tried to be.. it all caught up to me”
Then the third day of the 2nd hospital stay they decided to stop all treatments and go forth with a splenectomy. She had to get 4 immunizations to prepare her body to have the spleen removed. By removing that major organ, it compromises her immune system at fighting off infections, she’s more prone than the average person to getting infections.
The doctors then monitored her every week, platelets gone up a little bit leading up to the surgery.
Initially procedure took 2 1/2 hrs went good didn’t have to have an additional blood or platelet transfusion. Now they are trying to find out what that 3.4cm nodule is that was found on her spleen.
We are all grateful for our family and friends who have been checking on us giving us kind words, bringing scrumptious meals to the house.
As most of you may know, I refrain from telling my business but were human. And humans go through trials and tribulations, it’s what makes us normal.. As a family, this has financially taken a huge toll as she is the provider for our household, and as this occurred so suddenly. Mom has been out of work since July, my mom is a very private person, like I said and she refuses to ask for help. I figured I’d take matters into my own hands and open up a go fund me, which would be an immense help financially with medical expenses and treatments.
We appreciate all the help, support, thoughts and prayers that have been given, it truly means alot. Anything helps.
Thank you, we love you guys!❤️
