Sorry I haven’t been updating the website as much as I should- things have just been so busy & it’s been easy to put a quick post on Facebook.  I’ll try to get you all up to date without making it too lengthy.

Brady had his repeat MIBG scan today.  3 of the 4 spots remain.  The spot on his arm is gone!!  The other 3 spots (1 on each thigh & 1 on his right lower leg) remain, however they are smaller & dimmer.  This is not the news we hoped for, but he did respond to the MIBG Therapy and there is less- so, I’ll take it.

The stem cell rescue from 2.5 weeks ago seems to be starting to work.  His WBC & ANC today were both up slightly since yesterday.  Hopefully, this means he’s on his way back up and will not end up neutropenic.

We have confirmed Brady will be admitted on 3/11 and will begin high dose chemo on 3/12 as part of stem cell transplant.  They begin the process with a countdown starting at Day 7- he will have 4 days of chemo followed by a 3 day wait period then on Day 0- he will be given a transfusion of his stem cells (the transfusion will be exactly the same as when he had the stem cell rescue 2 weeks ago).   The chemo destroys the cancer cells, as well as the normal cells in the bone marrow. The stem cells travel through the bloodstream & find their place in the bone marrow. This usually takes a couple of weeks, the stem cells then begin making new WBC (white blood cells), followed by new platelets & new RBC (red blood cells).  Until this happens, Brady is at high risk of infection because of a low WBC count, as well as bleeding because of a low platelet count.  Blood & platelet transfusions as well as treatment with IV antibiotics may also be used to help prevent or treat infections or bleeding problems.  High fever is also common.  We’ve been told that he will likely be very sick for a 5-7 day period starting around Day 0 or Day 1 and to expect that he will be worse each day than the day before during that time.  There are several other possible side effects & risks that the Doctors have told us about- just so we are aware if they occur.

Brady has been feeling pretty good overall.  This has been the longest stretch since before he was diagnosed that he has had decent counts and feeling good.