Steve Rome & Family - Medical & Financial Support
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I am going to try to relay information as accurately as possible. ~Kristy (sister-in-law)
At the beginning of March, Steve came down sick with bronchitis and hasn't been the same since. On March 20th Steve began to have swelling in his left eye so he went to see a doctor and found out his platelet count was extremely low. He was scheduled to see a Hematologist March 26th, however his eye was getting worse so on March 24th he went to Urgent Care and they sent him to Harris Downtown. The hospital admitted him and this is where his story actually begins.
On March 25th a bone marrow biopsy was completed, his platelet count was 3,000 (normal count ranges from 150,000 to 450,000), red blood cells were low, white blood cells were off and his B12 was low. They started Steve on an antibiotic for his eye until test results came back. On March 27th, Steve was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and began two (2) different chemotherapy treatments immediately. By this time the doctors' realized the antibiotic was not helping his eye so they switched to a different antibiotic and did a spinal chemo injection. On April 2nd his eye still was not any better so they called in an Ophthalmologist and an MRI was ordered. The MRI showed some type of spot so they increased the antibiotic. On April 6th doctors' began thinking the infection in his eye was fungal so they started him on an anti-fungal medication and gave him platelets because his level had dropped so much. On April 9th another bone marrow biopsy was completed and it was determined the first round of chemo treatments had not helped at all, so on April 10th he began a different chemo treatment. On April 11th doctors' did a Uncinectomy procedure (clean out the sinus cavity) and decided to do a biopsy. The results showed the infection was defiantly a fungal infection so they added more anti-fungal medication, or a new one (i don't remember). By April 15th Steve's eye was not getting any better so he was transferred to Medical City Dallas to see an Orbital Specialist. It was determined the fungal infection is Aspergillus Hyphae (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspergillosis).
Because of his weakened immune system, due to the AML, his body was not able to fight off the fungal infection and when he began chemo treatments the fungus fed off the treatments and spread rapidly. It was determined yesterday (April 16th) that Steve's eye (left) will need to be removed because it will not get better as he needs the chemotherapy to fight the AML. However, an MRI last night (April 16th) showed the fungus has created a hole in part of his cranium; exposing his brain. A neurosurgeon was going to do cranium surgery to flush out as much of the fungus as possible but Steve's platelet count is below 100 today and the surgeon wants the level above that.
As of right now (April 17th @ 1:30pm), I am still waiting on word from Sharla, or the girls (Aly & Taylor), as to what the ENT has decided regarding the removal of Steve's eye.
As you can understand by reading this story, this family (my BIL, sister & nieces) has gone through a lot in the past month and still have not made it to the healing or recovery stage. If it is within your ability to help this family financially, they (and I) would be extremely grateful.
Sharla has taken off work several times to be with Steve and be available to speak with the doctors' and Steve will be out of work for at least 3 months; if not much longer than that. With the unknown cost of medical bills and still trying to manage to pay everyday bills, any little bit of financial help will truly help this family.
~Kristy
At the beginning of March, Steve came down sick with bronchitis and hasn't been the same since. On March 20th Steve began to have swelling in his left eye so he went to see a doctor and found out his platelet count was extremely low. He was scheduled to see a Hematologist March 26th, however his eye was getting worse so on March 24th he went to Urgent Care and they sent him to Harris Downtown. The hospital admitted him and this is where his story actually begins.
On March 25th a bone marrow biopsy was completed, his platelet count was 3,000 (normal count ranges from 150,000 to 450,000), red blood cells were low, white blood cells were off and his B12 was low. They started Steve on an antibiotic for his eye until test results came back. On March 27th, Steve was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and began two (2) different chemotherapy treatments immediately. By this time the doctors' realized the antibiotic was not helping his eye so they switched to a different antibiotic and did a spinal chemo injection. On April 2nd his eye still was not any better so they called in an Ophthalmologist and an MRI was ordered. The MRI showed some type of spot so they increased the antibiotic. On April 6th doctors' began thinking the infection in his eye was fungal so they started him on an anti-fungal medication and gave him platelets because his level had dropped so much. On April 9th another bone marrow biopsy was completed and it was determined the first round of chemo treatments had not helped at all, so on April 10th he began a different chemo treatment. On April 11th doctors' did a Uncinectomy procedure (clean out the sinus cavity) and decided to do a biopsy. The results showed the infection was defiantly a fungal infection so they added more anti-fungal medication, or a new one (i don't remember). By April 15th Steve's eye was not getting any better so he was transferred to Medical City Dallas to see an Orbital Specialist. It was determined the fungal infection is Aspergillus Hyphae (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspergillosis).
Because of his weakened immune system, due to the AML, his body was not able to fight off the fungal infection and when he began chemo treatments the fungus fed off the treatments and spread rapidly. It was determined yesterday (April 16th) that Steve's eye (left) will need to be removed because it will not get better as he needs the chemotherapy to fight the AML. However, an MRI last night (April 16th) showed the fungus has created a hole in part of his cranium; exposing his brain. A neurosurgeon was going to do cranium surgery to flush out as much of the fungus as possible but Steve's platelet count is below 100 today and the surgeon wants the level above that.
As of right now (April 17th @ 1:30pm), I am still waiting on word from Sharla, or the girls (Aly & Taylor), as to what the ENT has decided regarding the removal of Steve's eye.
As you can understand by reading this story, this family (my BIL, sister & nieces) has gone through a lot in the past month and still have not made it to the healing or recovery stage. If it is within your ability to help this family financially, they (and I) would be extremely grateful.
Sharla has taken off work several times to be with Steve and be available to speak with the doctors' and Steve will be out of work for at least 3 months; if not much longer than that. With the unknown cost of medical bills and still trying to manage to pay everyday bills, any little bit of financial help will truly help this family.
~Kristy
Organizer and beneficiary
Kristy Daniells
Organizer
Weatherford, TX
Sharla Rome
Beneficiary
