Thanks Roark. This has been going on for so long that I just assumed everybody knew what I was babbling about. Thanks for reminding me.
Braeden is my 3 year old grandson. During April of 2007 just before he turned 2, my son and his wife noticed Braeden was beginning to stumble and walk funny at times. So they took him to the pediatritian thinking it was an inner ear problem. Then they checked for a brain tumor. Then they sent him to a neurologist who diagnosed, on his birthday, Neuroblastoma Cancer coupled with some other malady called OMS that I can't pronounce. Somehow the imbalance came from the immune system recognizing the cancer and in the course of trying to fight it, caused the OMS thing. I don't understand it very well.
It is suspected that Neuroblastoma Cancer begins growing in the unborn baby because most children diagnosed with it are around two and it's even been found in newborn babies. Sometimes the tumor is in the brain by the eye but most of the time is on the Adrenal gland just under the rib cage on the left side. At this time there are only around 650 cases in the US but this cancer has the largest number of patients who are young children. Because it is not very well known, funding for it is hard to get, so there's not much money for research and not many researchers are interested in it. It is a very difficult Cancer to cure as it doesn't seem to respond in the same way to treatment in each patient. What might work for one doesn't work for the next patient. If you look at statistics, the prognosis isn't very good. Often even when the patient survives, there are ongoing neurological problems from the OMS. Not all Neuroblastoma patients experience the OMS. Thus far, Braeden seems to be developing normally and they think that somehow the OMS may have been eradicated by the chemo.
Braeden had a softball size tumor removed shortly after his 2nd birthday (it was pressing on his heart causing it to not function correctly), a harvest of his stem cells, then 5 sessions of chemo which took 5 days of hospitalization, 6 rounds of radiation, an extra strong chemo which shut down his immune system, stem cell transplant, and 32 days of hospital isolation + 70 days of isolation at home. Twice he was hospitalized because of infection. Dawn stayed with him 24/7 the whole time. Then began 12 months of drug therapy, of which he had completed 6 when the new tumor was discovered about 6-8 weeks ago.
About three months ago during a regular quarterly CT scan they found one tumor. Then during the CT scan last week they saw that the original has grown and a new one has developed right next to it. He is part way through the 3rd session of chemo and they were hoping it would have shrunk the first one at least. The tumors are at the same site as the first. I am assuming that this "cocktail" of chemo drugs is different from the first set.
September 11, Dawn gave birth to Owen Joshua. He is doing well but of course complicates their lives even more. Ian is 13 and Eliana is 7 and seem to be handling this pretty well. They attend a church in the village near them and the people there have been wonderful about helping in any way they can. Even today I have to go up to get the kids from school and give them supper, I was told someone had dropped off chicken noodle soup for supper. A local boy scout group and another church even brought things to help the family and there was no connection to our family. They were just doing a good deed. They have had anonymous gifts arrive in the mail. I was there one day when Kevin opened an envelope that came in the mail. He began to cry and of course I wondered what was wrong. It was an unsigned money order for $700. They live about an hour's drive from the hospital so with gas prices and having to go to town 5 days a week, has taken a toll on their finances and the life of their vehicles. Kevin works 45 minutes from home too.
Many here have been praying for our family and giving me emotional support which is very welcome. Krista suggested sending cards a while back and maybe now would be a good time. If you are interested, PM me and I'll give you Braeden's name and address.
