Day 23 - veno-occlusive disease

Ellen has been worse today. She has unfortunately developed the dreaded veno-occlusive disease (VOD). This has happened because the high dose chemotherapy has damaged her liver. As a consequence her liver and spleen are enlarged and she is retaining fluid on her abdomen. This happens in over 50% of children who have a bone marrow transplant. It can be either mild/moderate and treatable or severe and fatal. At present the doctors feel that she has mild VOD. She has been very sleepy today and obviously feels rotten. She is currently being treated with a whole hoard of medications and being closely monitored. We can only hope she improves over the next few days.