Results are in!

Mom and I just got done meeting with Dr. Chen and the results are fantastic! The MIBG results are "nearly normal" when pressed as to what Lincoln's curie score would be we were told that Dr. Chen would score it a 0. There are small areas that may be lighting up but with the way the scans read it's very difficult to tell. When Lincoln was diagnosed his score was a 7. We also got the results of the the bone marrow, no cancer there either! Yahoo!

According to Dr. Chen Lincoln's organs look great, they're in "tip top shape" (yes, I wrote that down in my notes). Lincoln does have high blood pressure due to all the stress his poor body is under. This can be attributed to the cancer as well as the treatment. The expectation is that when his body is under less stress we'll be able to see his blood pressure decrease as well.

So, with these great results, we have been cleared to start the first stem cell transplant. Lincoln will go inpatient on Tuesday, April 2nd. He will receive 6 days of high dose chemotherapy, have a rest day, then receive his stem cells.  He'll get the drug Thiotepa days -7 through -5 and Cyclophosamide days -5 through -2 (Stem cell transplants count down until day 0 when Lincoln will get his stem cells then the days count back up). We anticipate being inpatient for three to four weeks.

We have one more weekend until inpatient and we'll be sure to make it count, lots of playing, eating yummy foods and enjoying each other's company. 

Thanks for all the support coming our way, the encouragement and love helps so much.

xoxo,

Megan

Cycle 5

Cycle 5 went out with a bang. Lincoln had been doing great up until about an hour before discharge when he started vomiting. He's really handling it all quite well, he'll typically get sick then keep playing but it's not fun.

While he was inpatient this time both mom-mom (Michael's mother) and grandma (Megan's mother) came up to hang out with him.

Lincoln playing in the play room with Grandma

Lincoln making a pillowcase with Mom-mom

Every time I get overwhelmed by all that is before us I think about the support system Lincoln has and am reminded that there are so many people that love him and are doing all that they can to support him.

Next up are tons of tests to prepare for his first of two stem cell transplants. As long as his disease progression comes back with good news and his body is ready for the transplant he should start on or around April 2nd.

We will be in and out of clinic at least once each week but several weeks we have multiple appointments. MIBG will be on March 21st. This is the scan I am most anxious about as it really determines how much disease is still in his body.

Thanks for sending the prayers, juju, vibes, thoughts our way, we love all of them.

xoxo,
Megan