Although Skylar has been feeling pretty miserable, today brought some encouraging signs of progress. On Day +9, she began showing the first signs of engraftment—a major milestone in her transplant journey. Her ANC (absolute neutrophil count) is starting to rise, which means her new immune system is beginning to take hold.
The medical team is watching closely, and once her ANC stays above 500 for three consecutive days, she’ll officially be considered “engrafted”—a huge step forward and confirmation that the transplant is working.
Another sign of engraftment (though not a comfortable one) is the rash that’s spread across her body, along with off-and-on fevers. These symptoms are tough, but they’re also typical at this stage and show that her new cells are waking up and doing their job.
Today also brought a much-needed emotional boost: Nate came into town again, and Skylar was so happy to see him. Having Dad there lifted her spirits in a way that medicine just can’t.
She also started losing her hair—by the handfuls. To save her from the mess and discomfort, Nate gave her a buzz cut that night. She was definitely not thrilled with us in the moment, but honestly, she doesn’t seem to care much about having no hair. If anything, she’s relieved she no longer has to deal with me pestering her to brush it!
Even with all the discomfort and emotions, today feels like a turning point. We’re holding tight to the hope in these small but significant signs that her body is healing.
