Consolidation

Last week, Jack was selected to participate in the clinical trial for the next cancer treatment phase in his battle against leukemia, Consolidation. Unfortunately, although he was fever-free, his pretreatment labs showed a slightly elevated white blood cell count, which meant a brewing infection. So the doctors directed that instead of beginning his first round of Consolidation chemotherapy (which is a real doozy), they decided to wait a week and have Jack continue with his antibiotics that he takes Friday, Saturday and Sunday on a regular basis because the doctors want him to be as "healthy" as possible for Round One of this new phase.

Damond returned with Jack to the hospital on Monday, the 16th, for the "first-is-worst" round of chemotherapy. Jack received the cancer-killing drug through his portacath, through an injection into his leg muscle, and through a spinal tap in his back. The clinical study Jack is part of includes four injections into the leg muscle, which we hope Jack will not have any allergic reaction to (if there is a reaction, each injection is replaced with four injections which means that there can be as many as eighteen injections over the course of the Consolidation period). As always, Jack handled the treatment in his now-world-famous (thanks to you, dear readers!) brave, positive manner.

Jack had a return trip to the hospital yesterday morning to rule out another infection. The initial lab work indicates that he is thankfully in the clear right now. It really is scary to think how vulnerable his immune system is right now. When I saw him running around the library Tuesday morning after his second hospital visit in as many days, I could not believe what he had been through a mere 24 hours before. He was smiling and laughing and playing so sweetly. Apparently the "post-chemo-honeymoon" lasts about 48 hours (right now) before the negative side affects kick in--nausea, vomiting, fatigue. So please continue keep the entire Bailey family in your thoughts and prayers, especially these next few days.