A Friend Has Had Increasing White Blood Cell Count. He

A friend has had increasing white blood cell count. He had an emergency appendectomy approx. 2 weeks ago. Soon he returned to the hospital (VA in Phoenix) with severe pain. He was then diagnosed with unspecified blockage. After another 7-10 days in hospital he was able to eat and move his bowels. Just prior to his release, they said his WBC count was elevated. They did CT scan for potential abscesses, sepsis, etc. Nothing was found. Since then (2 days ago) his WBC count continues to rise. The doctors are 'baffled'.