August 15, 2010
Grant's Daddy here again.
Grant was discharged on Friday evening. Before we left the hospital Dr Dreyer gave us the news that the PCR test, performed at MD Anderson, showed no signs of Philadelphia chromosome. So, the results of all leukemia related testing
were great. Also, Grant had a brain MRI on Wednesday which showed that the white matter changes to his brain had improved since has last MRI about 8 months ago. This is a good sign that once the chemotherapy is finished, his neurological problems should resolve or at least improve significantly. Finally, the speech therapist evaluated Grant and said that his speaking is age appropriate for a 4 year old boy.
Before Grant left on Friday he got a visit from his pal, Bucky. For those of you who dont know, Bucky, a bone cancer survivor, graduated from Strake Jesuit this year and is headed off to the University of Texas next week. Bucky came by and spent several hours at the hospital to visit the doctors and nurses and play with the kids who are currently patients. He brought Grant a College World Series shirt and spent quite a while in Grant's room playing baseball. Bucky's parents and teachers should be so proud. He is as fine a young man as you will ever meet. He has gone through so much adversity, yet we've never seen him when he hasnt been positive and supportive of the other kids.
Claire came home from Waco Saturday and was able to attend Savannah Hardwick's birthday party. She had a great time. Claire starts kindergarten at St Martha's this week which seems hard to believe. We have also registered Grant for pre-k 3. He will only be able to attend on a part time basis, but he is excited about going to school where Claire goes.
Grant feels great right now but, based on how he has reacted each time he has received Etoposide, we fully expect him to develop a fever over the next few days as his white count and ANC drop to 0. Assuming that happens he will likely be hospitalized for 5-7 days until his ANC starts to rise. But who knows, maye that wont happen this time around.
More later.
Posted by Melanie McTaggart
August 10, 2010
Grant's Daddy here. We checked Grant in yesterday at 7am for his 3rd to last hospital chemo. As usual he couldnt eat or drink anything after midnight because of the anesthesia. He had to wait until noon before it was his turn in the O. R. and he was a very big boy and didnt complain at all about it. Melanie's dad came up to visit him while he waited which was a treat for Grant. They did a spinal tap and bone marrow aspiration yesterday. At around 4pm Dr Dreyer informed Melanie that the M... Continue reading...
Posted by Melanie McTaggart
August 10, 2010
Grant's Daddy here. We checked Grant in this morning for the third to last round of hospital chemo. His ANC was over 800 so he was good to go. As usual, he couldn't eat or drink anything after midnight because of the anesthesia for his bone marrow aspiration and spinal tap. He had to wait until noon before it was his turn in the O.R.. He was a very big boy and didn't complain at all about the wait. Melanie's Dad came up to see him which was a treat for Grant. Dr Dreyer notified Melanie a... Continue reading...
Posted by Melanie McTaggart
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About Me
I am the proud mom and Claire and Grant. I am so blessed to have them in my life!
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August 15, 2010
Grant's Daddy here again.
Grant was discharged on Friday evening. Before we left the hospital Dr Dreyer gave us the news that the PCR test, performed at MD Anderson, showed no signs of Philadelphia chromosome. So, the results of all leukemia related testing
were great. Also, Grant had a brain MRI on Wednesday which showed that the white matter changes to his brain had improved since has last MRI about 8 months ago. This is a good sign that once the chemotherapy is finished, his neurological problems should resolve or at least improve significantly. Finally, the speech therapist evaluated Grant and said that his speaking is age appropriate for a 4 year old boy.
Before Grant left on Friday he got a visit from his pal, Bucky. For those of you who dont know, Bucky, a bone cancer survivor, graduated from Strake Jesuit this year and is headed off to the University of Texas next week. Bucky came by and spent several hours at the hospital to visit the doctors and nurses and play with the kids who are currently patients. He brought Grant a College World Series shirt and spent quite a while in Grant's room playing baseball. Bucky's parents and teachers should be so proud. He is as fine a young man as you will ever meet. He has gone through so much adversity, yet we've never seen him when he hasnt been positive and supportive of the other kids.
Claire came home from Waco Saturday and was able to attend Savannah Hardwick's birthday party. She had a great time. Claire starts kindergarten at St Martha's this week which seems hard to believe. We have also registered Grant for pre-k 3. He will only be able to attend on a part time basis, but he is excited about going to school where Claire goes.
Grant feels great right now but, based on how he has reacted each time he has received Etoposide, we fully expect him to develop a fever over the next few days as his white count and ANC drop to 0. Assuming that happens he will likely be hospitalized for 5-7 days until his ANC starts to rise. But who knows, maye that wont happen this time around.
More later.
Posted by Melanie McTaggart
August 10, 2010
Grant's Daddy here. We checked Grant in yesterday at 7am for his 3rd to last hospital chemo. As usual he couldnt eat or drink anything after midnight because of the anesthesia. He had to wait until noon before it was his turn in the O. R. and he was a very big boy and didnt complain at all about it. Melanie's dad came up to visit him while he waited which was a treat for Grant. They did a spinal tap and bone marrow aspiration yesterday. At around 4pm Dr Dreyer informed Melanie that the M... Continue reading...
Posted by Melanie McTaggart
August 10, 2010
Grant's Daddy here. We checked Grant in this morning for the third to last round of hospital chemo. His ANC was over 800 so he was good to go. As usual, he couldn't eat or drink anything after midnight because of the anesthesia for his bone marrow aspiration and spinal tap. He had to wait until noon before it was his turn in the O.R.. He was a very big boy and didn't complain at all about the wait. Melanie's Dad came up to see him which was a treat for Grant. Dr Dreyer notified Melanie a... Continue reading...
Posted by Melanie McTaggart
August 5, 2010
Before I begin on the "Grant news", I would like start with some exciting “Claire news!!!”
Claire lost her 1st tooth today!!! To say she was excited is an understatement. This morning, at clinic, it became very clear that her tooth was coming out, and she wanted me to pull it out right then and there. Well, I chickened out. So, nurse Kelly came to my rescue. She appeared with gauze and pulled it out before Claire knew what was happening. She sat there smiling as blood filled the front part... Continue reading...
Posted by Melanie McTaggart
July 16, 2010
We are just about to leave the hospital. Grant handled this round of chemo very well and cleared his chemo perfectly. We expect his counts to drop some, but nothing too drastic. We hope to have a great three weeks at home before we check back on on Aug. 9. I'll update more when we get home. Thank you for the prayers! I am off to pack the car!!! Continue reading...
Posted by Melanie McTaggart
July 12, 2010
After a wonderful weekend celebrating Grant's 4th birthday, we are checked back in. Grant received his spinal tap this morning and is now waiting to start his Methotrexate. This drug will run for 24 straight hours and then we will hope it clears his system in a timely fashion. We should be out of here sometime on Thursday if all goes as planned.
If you have not checked out the new pictures of Grant at the bottom of the home page, you must do so. I can't believe that Grant has now had his pic... Continue reading...
Posted by Melanie McTaggart
July 10, 2010
Grant's Daddy here. Today is Grant's 4th birthday! He is very excited about it. Needless to say its better than his third birthday which was spent getting chemotherapy in the hospital. Last night was a great night. Grant, Claire, Melanie and I were able to go on to the field at Minute Maid Park for batting practice. John Mozeliak, the St Louis Cardinals general manager, set it up for us and showed us around. John "Mo" is Tom Walsh's first cousin. Thanks goes out to Tom for really helpin... Continue reading...
Posted by Melanie McTaggart
July 9, 2010
ve had such a great time at home the last couple of weeks. Claire and Grant went to see “Toy Story 3” last week, which they loved! Grant is a HUGE fan of the "Evil Dr. Pork chop." I had a few of the characters from when I was a kid and have given them to Grant to play with. He and Claire have spent the past week playing with them and having a ball.
I hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July weekend. We sure did! I think this was the best 4th we have ever had. On Friday, July 2nd, Claire an... Continue reading...
Posted by Melanie McTaggart
June 27, 2010
We are getting out!!! Grant needs platelets, so they will give them those and then we are running out of here. We will celebrate David's birthday tomorrow and go in to clinic on Wednesday to check his counts and get a possible transfusion. So, he has made it through another round of Etoposide. We only have two more rounds of Methotrexate and two more rounds of Etoposide and then we will be in Maintenance. Only four months till then! I can't wait!!! Have a great week and if I don't get a chance... Continue reading...
Posted by Melanie McTaggart
June 27, 2010
Grant's ANC (ability to fight infection) is starting to rise - finally!! I think they may let him go home today, but more likely tomorrow. Grant did end up getting another bout of C-diff - the infection that caused the colitis last time that handed him in ICU and unable to eat and drink for several days. They have already started him on the oral Vancomiacin that usually cures this. I pray that it works as well this time around. In the future, they plan on putting him on the drug early after h... Continue reading...
Posted by Melanie McTaggart
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