10/28/08
We took Zoe to Kapiolani Medical Center early in the morning for a bone marrow aspirate and a spinal tap. Doctors instructions required NOT to give her anything to eat 6 hours prior to this operation. As Zoe is on Dexamethasone (a steriod with side effects of high level of hunger and food obsession), she was most angry at me when I kept turning her plea for food down by telling her that the food hasn't arrived yet from the hospital cafeteria. I felt terrible and it broke my heart to say no. How do you deal with hunger at such a young age. Anyway, the bone marrow was checked for leukemia cells, and a chemotherapy drug was injected into her spine to stop any leukemia cells from getting into her central nervous system. This has become a new norm to us. The whole procedure was carried out under general anaesthetic and took 10-15 minutes. This marked the 28th day of the induction phase and results from the procedure should confirm remission, and will dictate how her treatment continues as she nears the end of the induction stage according to the level of bad cells still in place.
The results came back a few hours later and the news was good. Zoe is officially in remission! She will remain on the standard risk regimen treatment, as her tests results fell between low and standard risk. The only difference between the two categories is 2 extra weeks of chemotherapy during the next phase of treatment. We see this as a battle that Zoe has won, and another step, however small it may be, towards her recovery.
Please continue to keep Zoe in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you all for the kind words and support. Zoe and the rest of the family send best wishes to you all.
We took Zoe to Kapiolani Medical Center early in the morning for a bone marrow aspirate and a spinal tap. Doctors instructions required NOT to give her anything to eat 6 hours prior to this operation. As Zoe is on Dexamethasone (a steriod with side effects of high level of hunger and food obsession), she was most angry at me when I kept turning her plea for food down by telling her that the food hasn't arrived yet from the hospital cafeteria. I felt terrible and it broke my heart to say no. How do you deal with hunger at such a young age. Anyway, the bone marrow was checked for leukemia cells, and a chemotherapy drug was injected into her spine to stop any leukemia cells from getting into her central nervous system. This has become a new norm to us. The whole procedure was carried out under general anaesthetic and took 10-15 minutes. This marked the 28th day of the induction phase and results from the procedure should confirm remission, and will dictate how her treatment continues as she nears the end of the induction stage according to the level of bad cells still in place.
The results came back a few hours later and the news was good. Zoe is officially in remission! She will remain on the standard risk regimen treatment, as her tests results fell between low and standard risk. The only difference between the two categories is 2 extra weeks of chemotherapy during the next phase of treatment. We see this as a battle that Zoe has won, and another step, however small it may be, towards her recovery.
Please continue to keep Zoe in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you all for the kind words and support. Zoe and the rest of the family send best wishes to you all.
Brave girl. You will always be in my prayers.
ReplyDeleteYou are always in our hearts and prayers.
ReplyDeleteWow, lukuun riben in ledrik. We miss you three so much. Jenaaj keep you in our prayers.
ReplyDeleteThoughts and Prayers from all of us Kramer Family......
ReplyDelete