"May 8, 2012"

Good afternoon,

There is no typo in today's title. I did not intend it to be May 8, 2009, but rather May 8, 2012 - the day we will all look so forward to as barring any nasty relapse, it will mark the end of Dane's leukemia treatment. Yes, the three year clock started ticking this morning when we received the great news his neutrophil count had climbed to .90, nicely above the .75 level required to start the next round, Interim Maintenance (IM). After an uneventful finger poke and IV start, Dane received two drugs - Vincristine (VCR) and Methotrexate (MTX). He has had both of these medicines many times before, however today was the first time he had MTX intravenously versus through a spinal tap. He complained of a slight stomach ache afterwards, so we waited at the clinic for about 30 minutes and then I brought him home for the afternoon (he's busy playing his PSP right now). I have a feeling the stomach ache was a slight "con" on his part, as he has taken a real liking to an 18 month old at the clinic and lying on the couch for half-an-hour gave him an opportunity to visit his little friend.

The IM round is 56 days and for the first time in his four months of treatment, he receives medicines every ten days versus weekly. Assuming he feels well in the meantime, we have our longest reprieve between appointments since his diagnosis in early January. He is not scheduled to return to the clinic until Tuesday, May 19. Although this round is not as intense as the previous two phases, as a parent it's a bit more complicated because his medicine dosages and frequencies will be adjusted depending on his neutrophil and platelet counts. The doctor gave me a handy guide sheet today so I can wrap my head around the various scenarios. He should complete IM in early July and then he would start his final round before long-term Maintenance.

So, the question is ... how will we fill our time between today and his next appointment? Surprise, surprise, we have a plan! Based upon the assumption he would be ready today, my OB and I agreed to me being induced this Sunday - yes, Mother's Day. So unless something crazy happens on the ward, we are supposed to get a call early that morning to come in. This really is it - the time has come for us to welcome our daughter and sister. I'm hoping for a quick delivery and if not, good drugs to help me through. It will be a tiring day for everyone on Sunday and we've been preparing the kids that we have no idea how long the process will take. Grandma Judy and Grandpa David will be the "entertainment" that day and we think they will want to keep Ashley and Dane very occupied or they might drive them crazy.

Until our next entry, please hold good thoughts that Dane feels well in the next few days and baby "H" arrives safe and healthy.

Thank you ... Janie and Dirk