Disease Assessment

The past 5 days have been emotionally and physically exhausting on William and me.  William’s body is having a really tough time recovering from the most recent chemotherapy.  Yes, each round is harder than the one before, but that does not mean that the process is any easier. Just a little more expected.  Daily blood draws have lead to four transfusions of blood and platelets, as well as multiple IV doses for different minerals (potassium, magnesium, protein, etc.)

Yesterday, William fought an awful migraine for most of the day. The intense migraine lead to nausea and subsequently a lot of vomiting. Unfortunately, William started vomiting blood. A quick trip to the City of Hope lead to an intense examination, and blood tests. William did get admitted for the night, and was kept under scrutinizing observation.  Thankfully, lab work from this afternoon revealed that William’s body is finally recovering, and retaining the much needed transfusions. William’s oncologists has allowed us to return to the Ronald McDonald House, with added oral supplements

and increased medications.

Tomorrow, William will have a very important scan. PET (The Positron Emission Tomography) scans are used to show detailed results about the tumors and cancer cells in the body. Basically, William will be given a nuclear sugar mixture which is absorbed by the cancer, causing the tumors and cells to glow brighter than anything else in the body. The brighter the tumor, the more active the cancer.  It is really important that there is no new tumors, and that there is minimal active disease. The results from this scan will be used in the Disease Assessment to determine William’s eligibility for the Bone Marrow Transplant.  We really need and want this PET to show that William’s body has responded well to chemo and that there are no new tumors and maximum.cancer death in existing tumors.

We ask that everyone please keep us in your thoughts and prayers! We really need the scan to show cancer necrosis (death) and no new tumors!

This is William's journey and we will Keep on Keepin on' and Live Strong with God in our hearts and courage in our souls.