Interesting Flu Study

One interesting note about Gracie's recent hospitalization to share. While we were in the ER, someone came in to ask if we wanted to participate in a study. They are tracking the level of a certain protein in the blood stream and following up on the patient outcome to see if the level of this protein is a marker for the severity of the resultant flu and the eventual patient outcome. It required exactly one drop of Gracie's blood. They were able to take that drop of blood from the blood in the lines when they took Gracie's blood for other blood work - basically blood that had no other use and was about to be disposed of.

The protein in question is the Lactate protein. The theory is that the higher this level is in the blood stream the more severe the flu will be. If I remember correctly, it is something about the body's reaction to the flu virus, produces this protein. Thus the more severe the flu; the more of this protein that will be produced. It sounds like an interesting theory.

CHOP is the regional children's hospital handling the majority of the flu cases during this pandemic. They are seeing many, many children a day with the flu. I was impressed that someone was ready with this study. This may be one very good thing that comes out of all the negatives of this flu. We were happy to be able to participate. This may actually be something that helps Grace out in a few years if she gets the flu again. It would be really handy to know at the onset how severe things are going to get.

Thanks for checking back in on us!