|
Updates
Day 1
Well among the many trials there is good news as well.
Today Gabriel began his 3rd phase of treatment. We expected
a spinal tap and bone marrow biopsy, but instead, Gabriel
just received his normal chemo treatment (Vincristine
injected through his chest port). The spinal tap will
not come until Treatment Day 29 of this phase and Day
1 of the next. His blood work came back great, and everything
seems to be going very well.
His treatments for this phase began today with his
regular chemo treatments with an additional medication
of Dexamethasone, Methotrexate, Mercaptopurine, and
Septra. When the nurses and doctors told us we would
be Gabriel's primary care takers, they weren't kidding.
We have spend hours reading and studying the proper
administration of these medications and what they
can and can't be mixed with. But the stakes are high
and we are all aware of that.
Thank you for all your prayers and
financial support. It is comforting to know that
you are all there with us. God bless you.
Good night...
-Tom
"Whenever my enemy
provokes me to combat, I try to behave like a soldier."
St. Therese, the Little Flower
Back to Top
|
|
Day 15
Another very good day for Gabriel. Although he
did not like having his blood taken today, he received
some more good news. His next visit to the doctor (providing
all things remain equal) will not be until August 2nd.
He is responding so well and the side effects to the
medications are minimal to none. (Side effects include,
low blood counts, mouth sores, skin rashes, mild nausea,
abnormal liver function tests and other less common
side effects). His blood counts today came back almost
completely normal.
People have asked me if he does well, can he stop
the medications, the answer is no he can't. There
are two things the doctors are trying to do, first
to kill the Leukemia, and second to train the body
to adapt away from producing the Leukemia cells. This
takes time and is why he is on a 3 year and 3 months
regiment. The goal is at the end of that period, he
will be free of Leukemia and his body will have learned
not to produce the Leukemia cells. This is of course
the hope.
On August 9th, Gabriel will go back on Steroids,
get a spinal tap and have Methotrexate injected into
his spine, receive Vincristine (chemo) through his
chest port, and take Methotrexate and Mercaptopurine
orally. WOW! It will be a big day for his little body.
If anyone is interested, I could post the 3.4 year
road map schedule of every day for 3.4 years. Just
let me know. I have added an E-Mail Gabriel link above
if you would like to send a little hello to Gabriel.
I read to him every card and letter that he receives.
Thank you again for all your prayers and
financial support.
God will not let it go unrewarded. God bless
you.
Good night...
-Tom
"Whenever my enemy
provokes me to combat, I try to behave like a soldier."
St. Therese, the Little Flower
Back to Top
|
Day 29
Today was a rough day for Gabriel. Although I
must say, he is doing very, very well. The doctor came in
and began looking him over, checked his ears, mouth,
spleen, liver, belly, testis, and reviewed his current
blood counts. After a few moments I asked him how
everything looked. With the blood test results in his
hand, he looked up and smiled and said that Gabriel is
going great. Everything looks good.With that the
nurse came in, accessed Gabriel's port, administered his
chemo and then after about 40 minutes, she gave him some
medication to make him sleepy. The doctor then came in,
did the spinal tap, injected Methotrexate into his spine
and Gabriel remained asleep for an unusual 50 minutes or
so. As the sleepy medication wore off, Gabriel bounced
back and although a bit tired, wanted to race me down
the carpeted hallway. He is really too much. Once we got
back to the car, Gabriel slept the remainder of the day
and into the evening.
Overall, he handled everything extremely well and the
expected side-effects of all these medications are still
almost non-existent. We thank God for his mercy and all
of you for your prayers and
financial support.
Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts.
Good night...
-Tom
"Whenever my enemy
provokes me to combat, I try to behave like a soldier."
St. Therese, the Little Flower
Back to Top
|
Day
43
Today's treatment and blood tests on Gabriel
raised a bit of caution for us. He is entering his final
14 days of Phase 3 and is gearing up for phase 4 called
"Delayed Intensification". However, before they start
that phase, he needs to make counts. His blood counts
must be at a certain level and his immune system must
reach at least 750. Today his immune system only came in
at 600. At 500 he needs to go into a germ free
protective environment. The doctors cut his chemo and
medications for the next 2 weeks in half in an effort to
allow his system to rebound a bit before phase 4 begins.
Today he was also scheduled for an ECHO and EKG
for Tuesday September 4th in preparation for phase 4. We
thank you for all your prayers and ask you to keep all
of us in your daily prayers.
Good night...
-Tom
"Whenever my enemy
provokes me to combat, I try to behave like a soldier."
St. Therese, the Little Flower
Back to Top
|
|
|
