Hello every person! I simply cannot believe that that we are on the cusp of Labor Day and summer time coming to a shut. The previous five to six months have been a overall blur and this summer season, in distinct, has flown by. There’s been hospitals (chemo, stem mobile harvest, surgical treatment), clinic appointments, and driving again and forth to New York.
But, a person foot in entrance of the other and 1 day at a time, we are grateful to be heading into a new time with a strong boy and hearts complete of hope.
Dominic had a hectic very first few weeks of August…
🔍 Very first, he had a new set of scans (MRI + MIBG) in addition an additional bone marrow biopsy. The scans even now clearly show sickness all over his bones but most of the spots are “dimmer” than right before, and the bone marrow involvement lessened by above 50%.
So, there is however work to do, but there is an advancement. And! Dominic did each of the scans without having anesthesia (he has been sedated beforehand for the reason that you have to lay absolutely continue to and the MIBG is more than 2 hrs). He’s a rock star.
🏥 Next, he had his first round of immunotherapy. The antibody he’s given targets the protein of neuroblastoma cells and given that they commonly sit on nerve cells, there is considerable nerve agony accompanying the remedy. The infusion is brief (45 minutes) but intensive.
There is a ton of pre-treatment and ache management during and immediately after, and he would generally sleep the overall relaxation of the day afterward. But, the treatments are outpatient so no hospital stays, and they don’t influence counts like chemotherapy, so no neutropenia or blood or platelet transfusions.
🦸♂️ Then, he crossed off another significant hurdle… radiation. He did this awake with no anesthesia as well… 2 times a day for 5 times, he was strapped down applying a specific mask that was molded to his head and upper overall body to hold his head and neck in the precise similar placement each individual time (his clavicle was radiated due to the cluster of diseased lymph nodes that have been there, as effectively as the tumor mattress in his stomach). An remarkable woman who functions there has the youngsters decide what they want their masks to be and then custom made paints them… Dominic selected Iron Person. There are some unbelievably special persons in this environment.
He could also decide on whatever audio he desired to be piped in every single time and chose Xmas new music every day 💕🌲 He thoroughly rocked it and the people performing there were being unquestionably phenomenal.
➡️ Next… we get to be household for a couple of months, then it is again to NY for an additional spherical of immunotherapy, a new set of scans, and an additional bone marrow biopsy.
📘 In the meantime, he started kindergarten this week! He’ll be becoming a member of class pretty much until eventually his oncologist presents him the go-ahead to show up at in human being, which we’re hoping will be late September.
💈 His eyebrows, eyelashes, AND hair have all started off developing again! He’s had a ton of vitality, has received back all of the body weight he misplaced after operation and that past round of chemo and is usually performing truly, seriously effectively.
❤️ Thank you all for your ongoing prayers, it means so significantly to our loved ones.
In other news, I am organizing to get some emails scheduled out heading into the slide and holiday break time to refresh some internet site articles. So, you can look forward to me popping into your inbox a lot more often in the coming months 🎉