A Special Prayer Request
A few weeks ago I told you about a precious little boy named Isaac who'd been diagnosed with a very aggressive and rare form of leukemia. Below is an email from his mother Mysty that will give you all the details on what is going to happen in the next few weeks.
Please, please keep them in your prayers daily and lift them up to the Lord.
****
It is definitely time for an update.
Isaac has been home from the hospital for 2 whole weeks! It has been absolutely wonderful having all our family together at home!
Isaac made it through his second round of chemo with flying colors! He is such a tough little guy! Honestly...his strength and courage baffles me.
Isaac has been in and out of the Vanderbilt Clinic over the last 2 weeks having MANY tests run. The doctors had to check all his major organs for any damage do to the chemotherapy he has been undergoing and they also had to run all kinds of tests on his blood. Isaac also had another spinal tap with chemo injected directly into his spine and another bone marrow biopsy. We met with the doctors last Tuesday to receive all the results.
PRAISE THE LORD!!!! Isaac is still in remission and all his tests results came back normal. Because of this GREAT news, we are able to move on to his Cord Blood Transplant.
Now...many people have asked, "why is Isaac getting a Cord Blood Transplant if he is in remission and doing so well?" Here is the shortest answer to this question:
Isaac has a very aggressive form of Leukemia, AML M-7. Less than 1% are diagnosed each year. It multiplies rapidly. Isaac going into remission after only one round of chemotherapy is basically unheard of...we like to call it what it is, a MIRACLE!!!! The chances of Isaac's leukemia coming back is 80% without a transplant. With the transplant the chances of it coming back are 30%. If Isaac were to NOT have the transplant and the cancer came back...the chances of getting him back into remission are highly unlikely. So...we see this as Isaac's best chance for survival.
Isaac is going back into the hospital tomorrow, Weds. April 2nd. We started giving him an anti-seizure medication today and he will begin his prep treatment for transplant tomorrow. Tbere is eight days of prep, one day of rest and on the 10th day he receives his cord blood transplant. The prep treatment includes:
Busolfan days 1-4 - chemotherapy to wipe out his bone marrow. Most common side effect is seizures, hence the reason he is receiving anti seizure meds the day before he starts this chemo.
Citoxin days 5-8 - chemotherapy to wipe out his bone marrow. Most common sides effects are vomiting, diarrhea, mouth sores, diaper rash, bottom break down and damage to the kidneys & bladder. They will pump him full of fluids to help flush his kidneys and make him pee a lot so there is minimal damage to his bladder. We will change his diapers every hour or more during the day and every 2 hours at night. They will also give him meds for the vomiting and diarrhea.
ATG/Horse Serum days 5-8 - this is anti-human antibodies from a horse used to suppress his immune system. Side effects include: mouth sores, diarrhea, vomiting, chills/trimmers, and high fever. There is nothing they can do to prevent these things from happening.
The doctors do all this to prepare Isaac's body to accept the transplant. Without all of this his body would reject it. Now, there is a chance his body may still reject it , but we are praying and believing for the best.
Isaac will then have one day of rest. On day 10 Isaac receives his Cord Blood Transplant. The cord blood goes in through Isaac's central line and is complete within about 10-15 minutes.
Isaac will be in the hospital 4-6 weeks after the transplant. The doctors say the first 3 weeks are crucial. Isaac is at extreme risk for infection and organ failure. If either of these things were to occur, the doctors can do nothing to help him. They will do all they can to prevent infection and organ failure, but there is the risk...so we covet your prayers over Isaac.
As Isaac's mother, I am terrified. Only God chooses whether Isaac lives or dies. We dedicated him to God and in His hands is where we must leave him.
Isaac has been home from the hospital for 2 whole weeks! It has been absolutely wonderful having all our family together at home!
Isaac made it through his second round of chemo with flying colors! He is such a tough little guy! Honestly...his strength and courage baffles me.
Isaac has been in and out of the Vanderbilt Clinic over the last 2 weeks having MANY tests run. The doctors had to check all his major organs for any damage do to the chemotherapy he has been undergoing and they also had to run all kinds of tests on his blood. Isaac also had another spinal tap with chemo injected directly into his spine and another bone marrow biopsy. We met with the doctors last Tuesday to receive all the results.
PRAISE THE LORD!!!! Isaac is still in remission and all his tests results came back normal. Because of this GREAT news, we are able to move on to his Cord Blood Transplant.
Now...many people have asked, "why is Isaac getting a Cord Blood Transplant if he is in remission and doing so well?" Here is the shortest answer to this question:
Isaac has a very aggressive form of Leukemia, AML M-7. Less than 1% are diagnosed each year. It multiplies rapidly. Isaac going into remission after only one round of chemotherapy is basically unheard of...we like to call it what it is, a MIRACLE!!!! The chances of Isaac's leukemia coming back is 80% without a transplant. With the transplant the chances of it coming back are 30%. If Isaac were to NOT have the transplant and the cancer came back...the chances of getting him back into remission are highly unlikely. So...we see this as Isaac's best chance for survival.
Isaac is going back into the hospital tomorrow, Weds. April 2nd. We started giving him an anti-seizure medication today and he will begin his prep treatment for transplant tomorrow. Tbere is eight days of prep, one day of rest and on the 10th day he receives his cord blood transplant. The prep treatment includes:
Busolfan days 1-4 - chemotherapy to wipe out his bone marrow. Most common side effect is seizures, hence the reason he is receiving anti seizure meds the day before he starts this chemo.
Citoxin days 5-8 - chemotherapy to wipe out his bone marrow. Most common sides effects are vomiting, diarrhea, mouth sores, diaper rash, bottom break down and damage to the kidneys & bladder. They will pump him full of fluids to help flush his kidneys and make him pee a lot so there is minimal damage to his bladder. We will change his diapers every hour or more during the day and every 2 hours at night. They will also give him meds for the vomiting and diarrhea.
ATG/Horse Serum days 5-8 - this is anti-human antibodies from a horse used to suppress his immune system. Side effects include: mouth sores, diarrhea, vomiting, chills/trimmers, and high fever. There is nothing they can do to prevent these things from happening.
The doctors do all this to prepare Isaac's body to accept the transplant. Without all of this his body would reject it. Now, there is a chance his body may still reject it , but we are praying and believing for the best.
Isaac will then have one day of rest. On day 10 Isaac receives his Cord Blood Transplant. The cord blood goes in through Isaac's central line and is complete within about 10-15 minutes.
Isaac will be in the hospital 4-6 weeks after the transplant. The doctors say the first 3 weeks are crucial. Isaac is at extreme risk for infection and organ failure. If either of these things were to occur, the doctors can do nothing to help him. They will do all they can to prevent infection and organ failure, but there is the risk...so we covet your prayers over Isaac.
As Isaac's mother, I am terrified. Only God chooses whether Isaac lives or dies. We dedicated him to God and in His hands is where we must leave him.
posted by Jim @ 6:39 AM
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