12/18/2009
by Michael Wells Brady is doing just wonderful! With the exception of daily vomiting and extreme diarrhea he is going through this round of chemotherapy so much better than the first round. I think the main reason for the improvement is directly related to the fact that during the first round he also had the chicken pox and possibly the N1H1 flu. Let’s hope this continues for the next few weeks and we can get out of here for our winter (week long) break. The big picture continues to be very traumatizing for us. The doctors really do not have a definitive course of action to follow and they are just about split 50/50 with their prognosis. We are now scheduled next week for a 2 hour telephone consult with Dr. Nancy Kernan, Assistant Chief, Bone Marrow Transplant Service of Sloan-Kettering Hospital in NYC. This will be our third consult because we are in need of additional opinions to answer the following questions: Consultations regarding Bone Marrow Transplantation (BMT) in first remission for Brady have been discussed with Nancy Bunin at CHOP and Jean Sanders at Fred Hutchinson. CHOP want to go slow and Seattle wants to go all out. Three points of discussion are: If BMT should be deferred until relapse/second remission If BMT should proceed if Brady has Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) at the end Induction II. If BMT conditioning should include Total Body Irradiation (TBI). To put this in layman terms it’s like the Hatfields fighting the McCoys. It makes absolutely NO sense to us but it is becoming ever so painfully clear the best medicals minds in the country do not have a definitive approach on treating our son’s cancer. So, we are going to add another group into the mix and see if they have any words of wisdom to share. Our doctors in NJ are also split down the middle on whether or not to have a bone marrow transplant let alone include TBI. No decision in our lives will ever be as difficult to make. As one of Brady’s doctors told us this evening whatever decision you make will be the correct one because “No one knows the right one.” On a lighter side, I enclosed a photo of Brady in his latest mode of transportation – the mail cart! He really likes sitting in it while we push him around and around and around the unit. 63 steps to complete one cycle and yes it’s incredibly monotonous but keeps Brady smiling and entertains everyone who sees him. Until next time I have to get some sleep (working tomorrow); keep Brady in your prayers, hugs and thoughts.“8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer” is a series of posts revisiting the journal kept by Sherrie and Michael Wells during the cancer diagnosis and treatment of their son, Brady Michael. Hopefully these entires will provide an understanding of the journey families face when dealing with these horrific diseases and of the important work the Hugs for Brady Foundation does.