Thursday, January 07, 2010

Matthew....putting the 'Cute' in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Leukemia humor is kind of a mixed bag.  Anyhow...the mini monster pulled his PICC line out last night which I think was destined to happen.  He has been pretty good about not pulling on it and such but last night he was destined to make it happen.  It is stiched into his arm, like with actual stiches, and he pulled out one of those and the rest was easy.  It stayed in far enough to finish the dose of Chemo he was getting but this morning, we made the trip down to radiology for a new one.  He was sedated for that procedure but the sedation did not last nearly long enough for my liking.  By all indications he is feeling great and is cruising the hallways (albeit pantless) today. His roommate is a little girl, 10 Years old, with bone cancer.  She had a couple of bones in her leg removed and replaced with steel rods.  Needless to say, she is in a great deal of pain and is also quite homesick.  It is difficult not to get angry at life while watching some of the illness-caused challenges many of the children on 4 West have doing the simplest of tasks.


We do have some very good news to report.  The results of the bone marrow biopsy are back and AML is present on less than 3% of the marrow cells.  Anything less than 5% is considered success and a great step.  This means that the chemo is working and is doing what it is supposed to do.  It is a great sign.   

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sounds to me like Matthew has a sense of adventure/discovery. Great news on 3%! We'll keep shaking the heavens with prayers and all the positive energy until there is no evidence of AML.
Love to all, amj

Amy M said...

Gene, I am stoked about the 3% as well. Progress indeed! Love you guys,
Amy M.

Melinda said...

Yay for good news! :) I was wondering how long that PICC line would stay in...seems he figured it out! Thanks for keeping everyone posted on the happenings! Lots of love and prayers...

Peg Baker said...

Hi Gene and Nicole,

Continued prayers and good thoughts to you all. Our hugs to Matthew and Claire.

Peg and Michal

southbend88 said...

So glad about the good news! I can just see his determination in getting the PICC line out!

Heather and Bob Glynn

Kellie-Jo and Vincent said...

glad to hear the good news! Keeping you all in our thoughts and prayers.

Unknown said...

Well I am so proud of Matthew for keeping his PICC line in for as long as he did! He reminds me of my patients that yank those out even before we can get an x ray to confirm placement...they can be replaced and thats whats nice about them. That is wonderful news about the bone marrow results. Lots of love and prayers from STL.
Love,
Mary & Doug

Anonymous said...

All your prayers and support lift my spirits. Many thanks.

Fran

Anonymous said...

We continue to keep all of you in our thoughts and prayers and happy to hear you had good news after the biopsy. Have finally figured out how to leave a comment despite Grandpa Nick's instruction it took me awhile although have been checking Matthew's progress on a regular basis.
Eleanor and Don Wegman (the non-related, as far as we know, Wegmans)