Hi Everyone,

As you all know I was very excited that Jack had started on the ASP 2215 and we were doing pretty well, until two weeks before Christmas, he had an abscess which is not totally gone, but controlled. Anyways he was suddenly admitted back to UCLA during a routine check up day (two weeks ago) because he was febrile. His central line was also infected so that was removed. We were hoping it was a one -two day stay. Turns out that he has got a fungal lung infection. Amphotericin B, posoconozale, imiprenam and others are not helping. We received the somber news last Thursday. His oncologist basically said he only had one option which is granulocyte infusion therapy. The idea is that a donor takes two mild steroids and neupogen the night before then donates granulocytes through phoresis. On Friday and today I donated ,but I'm limited to only twice a week. I have been scrambling and begging friends to help. Because it is so very intrusive (going to UCLA the night before and then sitting for four hours the day of phoresis), it has not been easy finding people to accommodate.

Basically this is a last ditch effort so the donated granulocytes can fight off enough of the fungal infection so the meds can work since he is absolutely neutropenic. They will know in one to two weeks if this works. The infusions are four times a week.

Jack has said that he feels so strange about this hospitalization because he's febrile (100-103) which is expected because of the huge influx of white cells and he's a bit tired and coughing. He doesn't have any chills from the fever and doesn't feel terrible (compared with the last three hospital stays) He's still on the ASP2215 med. So overall he actually feels ok and yet the docs think he may not survive this. His docs have been extremely blunt.

I'd appreciate any knowledge or experience anyone can share regarding any similar experience.