Day 22

Good News, Great News, Jumping Up and Down News...



Karly arrived at 8:30 this morning and we were so very happy to have her spend the weekend with us. We had breakfast together and then off to the hospital. We arrived early, got our name on the dry wipe board in cancer land, and played the waiting game. Chemo injections went well, follow up with the nurse went well and off to see Dr. Bond. He had some wonderful news to share with us. Sam has less than 5% blast cells left. He has passed the target numbers the doctors hope for during induction. Sam qualifies as a rapid responder! Thanks for your specific prayers, to the chemo drugs, and most of all to God, Sam is responding well. At this three week mark, most of the leukemia cells have been killed and Sam is in remission. This does not mean, however, that Sam is cured.



In two weeks will begin the next phase of his protocol...consolidation. The new chemo drugs that he will receive will attack the leftover blast cells that survived induction. While induction, what we are in now, is kind of like learning how to throw, catch and bat, consolidation is like playing the actual baseball or softball game. From the first day that consolidation begins, he will be treated for the next 3 years. The doctor has prepared us to play hard because we have some really tough games to play in the next 7 - 8 months. His body will subjected to high level toxins, his counts will plummet, and new side effects will appear as new drugs are introduced in his protocol.



There are several complicating factors which are watched very carefully by the oncology team.



1. Anemia. Low red blood cell counts...blood transfusion is needed, like today.



2. Thrombocytopenia. Not enough platelets...platelet transfusion is needed, he's had some already.



3. Infections. The white blood cell count gets to low or the wbcs aren't working well enough to fight a bacterial infection. If this happen, which it commonly does with ALL kids, we quickly return to the hospital for several days to a week to receive antibiotics. Very few kids make it through the next 7 months without this happening. Wouldn't it be great if Sam was to be one of those rare kids to never get an infection? Let's pray for that!



It's scary and overwhelming, but I'm counting on the "Goertzen Team" which you are all officially a part of if you are reading this, to help coach us through the season ahead.



What we thought would be a 2 hour visit to the clinic turned into a 6 1/2 hours. Remember I wrote that Sam was resting a lot the last two days? It was because his hemoglobin was so low. We waited for the blood to arrive which was an hour and a half, and then the transfusion took another 2 hours, plus the wait times, his chemo therapy and meeting with Dr. Bond. It was great to have Karly with us to talk, watch a movie with while Sam was being transfused, and for her to see what his clinic life is like. It was good for her to meet our oncology team members at the hospital as well and to see first hand some of his treatments.



Grad weekend is here, and Ger has been very busy. He has a truely beautiful date, our daughter K8 to accoompany him. I was really looking forward to attending this years graduation ceremonies. Thirteen years ago, I taught the kindergarten class when the teacher had to take a leave. It was my first experience, besides subbing, to teach this grade. I had a wonderful time and the students were great! I have very fond memories of the students and their parents. I asked Mr. Goertzen to pass on my comments that I would have loved to have given in person. It did save me a few tears and you grads from some embarassing stories I could have elaborated upon! I hope you have a fabulous weekend celebrating your great success. Blessings to you all as you leave Cedars and carry on with the adventures, challlenges, and the many unknowns that lie ahead of you. Our lives are truely precious and live them well, with integrity, love, faith and hope!

Debbie

P.S. I thought I published this post already a couple days ago, but alas it didn't show up. I'm resending today, Sunday.