Research

I love research. Someday when life has settled down I would love to go back to school and work in a lab. Maybe in 5 years I'll get there. For all of you who love research too, I have some terms for you that describe Fiona's condition. If you have no interest in research skip to the last paragraph.:) Here they are: inverted cd3 to cd4 ratio, ideopathic cd4 lymphocytopenia, hypogammaglobulinemia, and combined immune deficiency.

Some things don't fit exactly: it's not just her cd4 cells that are low, it's all of her t-cells, she makes b-cells, there isn't really a combined immune deficiency, an inverted cd3 to cd4 ratio is the hallmark of AIDS, but she doesn't have AIDS, none of her deficiencies are due to viral suppression, she has a thymus and it seems to be normal, we've ruled out most genetic kinds of SCID, and there is no possibility that she has transient hypogammaglobulinemia of infancy as her low igg level was 109. Let me know if you come up with something or have any questions.

As much as trying to find a diagnosis is hard on me, it's much harder on Christian. He is really struggling. In an effort to pay for Fiona's medical expenses he is teaching a class at IUPUI. He works a full day and then comes home to work another 4 hours, and all weekend. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers. We are watching our baby suffer things we never imagined possible.

Fiona's fundraiser