Some have caught on that my wife and I have been worried sick over our son Michael's health recently. His platelet levels are low (45,000-60,000 vs. normal range of 150,000-450,000). Last week the doctor examining him at a children's hospital felt that his spleen was enlarged and a second doctor examined him and agreed. Although the doctor didn't believe something such as cancer was likely, my other died nearly five years ago after having cancer found in her spleen (without cancer detected elsewhere, this was unheard of and got attention internationally among researchers).
Today Michael had a ultrasound of his spleen and it appeared completely normal!
The most likely cause now appears to be this:
Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), a condition in which your immune system mistakenly identifies platelets as a threat and forms antibodies that attack them.
We're not out of the woods yet, but greatly relieved.
Thanks again,
Harvey