Hi everyone! I cannot believe that we are on the cusp of Labor Working day and summertime coming to a shut. The past five to six months have been a overall blur and this summer months, in specific, has flown by. There’s been hospitals (chemo, stem cell harvest, operation), clinic appointments, and driving again and forth to New York.
But, one particular foot in entrance of the other and one day at a time, we are grateful to be heading into a new period with a potent boy and hearts complete of hope.
Dominic had a hectic initial number of weeks of August…
🔍 First, he had a new set of scans (MRI + MIBG) additionally one more bone marrow biopsy. The scans however exhibit condition all over his bones but most of the spots are “dimmer” than right before, and the bone marrow involvement decreased by about 50%.
So, there is nonetheless perform to do, but there is an advancement. And! Dominic did both of the scans without anesthesia (he has been sedated formerly for the reason that you have to lay totally nonetheless and the MIBG is above 2 hrs). He’s a rock star.
🏥 Next, he had his to start with round of immunotherapy. The antibody he’s presented targets the protein of neuroblastoma cells and given that they normally sit on nerve cells, there is considerable nerve soreness accompanying the treatment. The infusion is small (45 minutes) but intense.
There is a good deal of pre-treatment and agony management in the course of and just after, and he would in essence rest the complete relaxation of the day afterward. But, the remedies are outpatient so no medical center stays, and they don’t affect counts like chemotherapy, so no neutropenia or blood or platelet transfusions.
🦸♂️ Then, he crossed off an additional big hurdle… radiation. He did this awake with no anesthesia as well… 2 times a day for 5 days, he was strapped down utilizing a distinctive mask that was molded to his head and upper overall body to hold his head and neck in the correct very same posture each individual time (his clavicle was radiated due to the cluster of diseased lymph nodes that have been there, as properly as the tumor bed in his stomach). An wonderful woman who will work there has the young ones select what they want their masks to be and then custom made paints them… Dominic selected Iron Person. There are some incredibly specific people today in this world.
He could also pick whatever songs he wished to be piped in every single time and selected Christmas tunes each working day 💕🌲 He totally rocked it and the men and women performing there were completely phenomenal.
➡️ Next… we get to be property for a few of weeks, then it’s again to NY for another round of immunotherapy, a new established of scans, and yet another bone marrow biopsy.
📘 In the meantime, he began kindergarten this week! He’ll be becoming a member of course almost until finally his oncologist offers him the go-in advance to show up at in person, which we’re hoping will be late September.
💈 His eyebrows, eyelashes, AND hair have all began escalating back! He’s experienced a ton of power, has received back again all of the excess weight he dropped following surgery and that previous spherical of chemo and is usually performing genuinely, seriously very well.
❤️ Thank you all for your ongoing prayers, it suggests so much to our loved ones.
In other information, I am organizing to get some e-mails scheduled out heading into the drop and holiday time to refresh some web site content. So, you can look forward to me popping into your inbox far more regularly in the coming months 🎉
