Joyful Oct, close friends!
I hope you have all had a superb begin to drop and are savoring the cooler temperatures and beautiful tumble times.
I’m popping in nowadays with a new Dominic update. Thank you all so considerably for your email messages, the playing cards and items that you have despatched, and all of the prayers you’ve provided up our family appreciates it all so pretty significantly ❤️
The Newest Therapies and Scans
Soon after Labor Working day, Dominic had his 2nd spherical of immunotherapy procedure, followed up by a new established of scans and a bone marrow biopsy in mid-September.
We obtained pretty encouraging news… the scan showed that 50% of the cancer has cleared, which is the largest transfer of the needle that we’ve found so much.
The entire-body radioactive scan done for neuroblastoma is identified as an MIBG scan and it is specified a “Curie score” – 10 segments of the body are scored to 3, centered on how much cancer is current, which means the best score it can present is 30. In May well, Dominic’s rating was 27 after medical procedures and prior to commencing immunotherapy, his score was 26. Following the next round of immunotherapy, this most modern scan confirmed a score of 13.
His bone marrow biopsy showed what the medical doctor identified as “just a trace” of neuroblastoma cells, a reduction from the preceding 5 to 10%.
We pray that the immunotherapy treatments go on to be this successful and that he will before long be entirely cleared of the cancer that remains.
Future Up…
Dominic will have his 3rd round of immunotherapy the 7 days following up coming, and then the fourth spherical about a month after that, followed by another established of scans.
Immunotherapy, unlike chemotherapy, does not lead to white counts, platelets, or hemoglobin to fall, so we really do not have to stress about twice-weekly lab get the job done or transfusions. We just need to have to go into clinic once a week to have his central line dressing changed.
In the Meantime…
Dominic begun kindergarten very last 7 days! It has designed my coronary heart so delighted to see him experiencing standard 5-calendar year-aged life, demonstrating us the papers he’s worked on, and conversing about the very little matters that have occurred during the day.
After investing the final six months likely again and forth from hospitals, inpatient stays for chemotherapy, medical procedures, unlimited clinic visits, transfusions, radiation, and everything in amongst, obtaining some normalcy in daily lifestyle has been such a blessing for him.
AND he turns 6 this week! 🎉
Coming Up…
You may possibly have found a couple of new emails from me this previous week! Thank you so much for the awesome responses!
I’m gradually starting up to get back into the swing of items and with a marginally far more predictable schedule at residence, I’m hoping to convey back again Friday Matters and send out you delectable recipes on a semi-common basis once more. Continue to be tuned 😋
