The Beginning of a Long Journey

As we travel down life's road sometimes we encounter events that have a profound effect on how we live our own lives.  This is one of those events for me.  As Jadon's grandfather, I have known him since his first day of life and have come to know him not only as a grandson but a good friend as well.  As most of you know, to know him is to love him.  Due to the events of the past week, it has become apparent that he is loved by many people who love and care for him as well.  As we all look for things that can help the need for disseminating information has become my contribution to him.

Jadon was diagnosed with Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) on May 18, 2011.

• is also called lymphoblastic or lymphoid leukemia
• accounts for about 80 percent of childhood leukemias
• can occur over a short period of days to weeks
• cancer comes from a white blood cell called a lymphocyte

 ~What are the symptoms of ALL?
ALL can cause a variety of symptoms in children. Keep in mind that the symptoms of ALL may resemble other, more common conditions or medical problems. Always consult your child's physician for a diagnosis.
Because leukemia is a cancer of the bone marrow, the initial symptoms are often related to abnormal bone marrow function. The bone marrow is responsible for producing normal blood cells, including the red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. While your child may experience symptoms differently, some of the most common include:

• anemia – When your child’s bone marrow is too crowded for red blood cells to be produced, anemia is present. Your child may appear tired, pale, and may breathe faster to compensate for the decrease in his cells’ ability to carry oxygen. A blood count will show fewer than normal red blood cells.
   
• bone and joint pain – Your child may experience pain in his bones and joints. This pain is usually a result of the bone marrow being overcrowded and "full." Many children experience lower back pain or limp as a result of bone pain.
   
• bruising or petechiae– When the marrow is too crowded to allow platelets to be produced, your child may bruise more easily. You might notice petechiae, or tiny red dots, on the skin if your child has a low number of platelets. These are very small blood vessels that have "leaked" or bled. While these symptoms pose no immediate risk, they do indicate the possibility of a more serious underlying problem. A blood count will show an abnormally low number of platelets.
   
• fever– Many children with ALL have fevers that are not related to a specific infection.
   
• recurrent infections - Although there may be an unusually high number of white blood cells on your child’s blood count, these leukemic white blood cells are immature and don’t fight infection. Your child may have had several viral or bacterial infections over the past few weeks, and may show symptoms of an infection such as a fever, runny nose and cough.
   
• abdominal pain – Stomach aches may also be a symptom of leukemia. Leukemia cells can collect in your child’s kidney, liver and spleen, causing these organs to become enlarged. Pain in the abdomen may cause your child lose his appetite and lose weight.
   
• swollen lymph nodes - Your child may also have swelling in the lymph nodes under the arms, in the groin, chest and in the neck. Leukemia cells may collect in the nodes, causing swelling.
   
• dyspnea (difficulty breathing) - In some cases of ALL, leukemia cells tend to clump together in the middle of the chest (around the thymus). This may lead to pain and difficulty breathing. Wheezing, coughing and/or problems breathing requires immediate medical attention.

What are the stages of leukemia treatment?
Your child’s pediatric oncologist will work with pathologists and other specialists to determine your child’s specific type of ALL. They will also do tests after the first few weeks of treatment to determine how well your child’s leukemia has responded to treatment so far. Based on the specific type of ALL and the results of tests during the first weeks of treatment, your child’s physician will recommend a specific treatment regimen. In general, phases in the treatment of leukemia include:
1. Induction
Induction is the first phase of treatment. It consists of many chemotherapy medicines and usually lasts for about four weeks. Your child may need to be hospitalized for some or all of this phase.

• A bone marrow test is done at the end of the induction phase to determine if there are still leukemia cells visible under the microscope or not.
   
• The goal of this phase is to achieve remission. This means leukemia cells are no longer visible under the microscope when examining either the bone marrow or blood.
   
• Even when remission is achieved, leukemia is still present in the body, which is why further therapy is necessary.

2. Intensification or consolidation
Intensification or consolidation is continued treatment with chemotherapy to kill leukemia cells. This phase includes multiple chemotherapy drugs given in the hospital, in the clinic and at home. In addition to chemotherapy given by mouth, in the vein and in the muscle, there will be regularly scheduled times that lumbar punctures are performed to give chemotherapy into the spinal fluid. Some children may also receive radiation therapy to the brain during this phase.
3. Maintenance or continuation
The goal of this stage is to eradicate all leukemia from the body.

• Usually, less intensive chemotherapy is used, much of which can be given at home.
• This phase can last months to several years.
• Your child will come to clinic regularly to see the doctors and nurses there during this stage

The above information are excerpts taken from the Children's Hospital of Boston site provided below.

http://www.childrenshospital.org/az/Site759/mainpageS759P1.html



Current status:

Jadon is currently in the Intensive Care Unit at the OU Children's Hospital undergoing treatment for a bacterial infection.  Due to his compromised immune system, the infection almost took him from us last Sunday.  Through the efforts of Father Novak and the ICU staff he is showing improvement everyday.

Jadon is currently in the Induction phase of treatment which is due to resume today.  Jadon will remain at the Hospital through the remainder of the Induction phase.  Because of the possibility of passing infection, the family is no longer permitting casual visitation.  Contact must be restricted to family, clergy and the medical staff.  Thank you for your understanding.

Thank You:

We would like to thank the staff at the OU Children's Hospital PICU and the nurses on the tenth floor for their outstanding service and continued support.  Father Novak, who has been with us from the start, is providing much needed spiritual support to Jadon and family.  The outpouring of support from the church, school and friends remind us of the number of lives that Jadon has touched.  God knows he has touched mine.

With everyone's help, I will once again be able to watch James Bond movies, play chess (which I am not very good at) and enjoy his sense of humor.  Jadon loves his family, church, school, reading, playing video games and playing basketball.

I will continue to post updates as they become known.

PRAY 4 J