Basically Dempsey has had THREE rounds of asparaginase. #1 PEG in Induction (April), #2 PEG in June (severe allergic reaction), #3 These last two weeks of 1 infusion and 4 injections (5/6 of the dose).
She had him remain accessed (needle in chest) one more day so we could come back and have labs drawn. Why labs? Well, if you draw blood between 48-72 hours after the last administration of the drug, you can send it to a lab back east where they will analyze the sample and see what level of drug is in his body. She is looking to see if the antibody Dempsey's body has (which causes the reactions as it attacks the drug) is successfully suppressing the asparaginase or if it is trying with limited success and the drug levels remain high enough in his body.
I HATE ALL OF THIS.
So, he had his blood drawn yesterday. Little Trooper even helped the nurse fill the lab vials with the blood she drew. What a pro! The vials will be FedExed Monday and we probably will know something by July 18th- he has an appointment that day.
The results of this test will help his oncologist decide what the next phase of his "road map" aka treatment will look like. We are all trying to just be PRESENT and enjoy all the good and wonderful moments leading up to the news.
My gut has had the feeling for several months that Dempsey's journey will take him down the bone marrow transplant route. NOTHING has been said about that at this point.... just a feeling in my gut. I have a friend in Wisconsin whose daughter ended up allergic to both asparaginase options and she still cleared treatment and is deemed "cancer free". Our oncologist said that without this "crucial part of treatment" the chance for relapse is higher. We serve and worship a BIG and POWERFUL God. We are trying so hard to hold onto HOPE... but, quite honestly, it is hard to do right now. It doesn't matter how many good days/ moments you have between torture sessions... there is always residual pain from the torture itself. It's not always physical pain either. Emotional, psychological, spiritual. All carry their own baggage moving forward.
Silver lining? Because there always is one... Dempsey probably won't get this strong drug during treatment any more. That is one less toxin being put in his body which gives us that much more (albeit a TINY amount) time/ space/ opportunity to help his body defend itself with nutrition and natural methods. We MUST build his immune system up so high that it crushes the leukemia on its own. That is VICTORY! Pray for that!! Pray that we can help Dempsey's body figure out what inside communication turned off, went wrong, and fix it. Our bodies are amazing! Our Creator is amazing! Our bodies were made to fix/ heal themselves! We just need to give them the right tools to do so.
This is where I bring up The Pledge again. WE NEED YOU!!! Like, in a big way. In order for us to help Dempsey's body fight like it needs to, he needs nutritionals- lots of nutritionals. The money or items you Pledge will help us do just that. I pray that we will defy the odds of medicine and blow the medical professionals minds with how well Dempsey does and how his body beats leukemia!! Please join us in praying for this reality in Dempsey's life.
Dempsey's schedule for the rest of July, as it stands today:
July 11th: infusion of vincrisitne
July 18th: infusion of vincristine
July 25th: bone marrow biopsy (start praying now, please!)
Prayer requests:
There are so many...
Miraculous healing, physical restoration, physiological protection, emotional protection, mental protection, physical rest, joy, peace, all fruits of the Spirit, grace, acceptance, fight, etc, etc, etc. As always, pray as you feel led.
WAYS TO HELP/ SUPPORT
Praying...
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