Day +47 - May 11, 2006

The Rollercoaster Ride Continues................................

Jack's ANC went down to 265 and his total cell count went down to 25 and to top it off his VNTR's were 90% - 5% less then last week................See what I mean about an emotional, physical and mental rollercoaster???? So this is the story. The hospital got the donor cells today and the stem cell specialists who prepare the cells for transplant are working on getting them ready for Jack, however they will be frozen. After the transplant team having a very indepth meeting it was decided that Jack would undergo 4 days of conditioning (chemo), then have a day of rest and then the new transplant. They are calling this a mini transplant or technically a Non-Myleo-Ablative Transplant. They are not looking to totally wipe out the cells but make it so that these new cells have an ability to really get into his bone marrow without anything in the way. We can't wait til a year from now to meet the donor, if they are willing. What an amazing person to donate their cells twice for this child. The donor knows it is for a child but they do not know that it is a boy and where they are going to.

Needless to say, we are going through this again but not the extreme of the last trasnplant......ultimately with a quicker, much better outcome. This child is strong and has the will to live and fight. He has shown us and all the doctors that he can withstand just about anything, so this mini transplant should be a piece of cake and hopefully no side effects from the chemo. Please continue to keep us all in your prayers.......most of all pray that the donor cells are stronger and better then before.