"BIG News"

Good evening,

So, with cheeks that look like they are stockpiling nuts for the winter, it's likely not a stretch to figure out one of my "big" references for this week. Yes, at four months Ms. Clare has passed the 16 lb mark and she has the dimples and rolls to prove it! She is almost able to sit up, but I suspect it's because she has a few extra layers around her mid-section that get in the way of her toppling forward! She has started "real" food and I'm hopeful it will improve her not so stellar sleeping habits.

Of course the biggest news this week is Dane has officially started cruise control - aka long-term Maintenance. His neutrophils were up to .87 at his Tuesday visit to the Cancer Clinic, just a bit above the required threshold of .75. The following is a snapshot of Maintenance:

- This is the treatment regime he will be on until May 2012

- Each Maintenance cycle is 84 days (essentially three months)

- On day 1 of each cycle he undergoes a spinal tap

- On day 1, 29 and 57 he receives chemo intravenously

- He is on steroids day 1 - 5, day 29 - 33 and 57 - 61 (referred to as a "boost")

- He takes a specific chemo pill once a week on Tuesdays for the 11 weeks of the 84 day cycle

- Starting day 1 (yesterday) through May 2012 he takes a pill called mercaptapurine every night (this pill is a bit of a nightmare because it has to be taken on an empty stomach and he can't have dairy products within two hours of taking it. So, no milk, cheese, yogurt or ice cream after supper for almost three years)

- He takes antiobiotics every Sat & Sun until May 2012 to prevent infections, eg: pneumonia

- He only goes to the clinic every two weeks for blood work/IVs so the visits are going to be much less frequent (yahoo)!

- Now that he has started Maintenance, there is no stopping for low neutrophil counts. If his counts drop below an acceptable level, the dosages of the pills he takes at home will be adjusted. All spinal taps and IV chemo will proceed whether he is below .75 or not

- His various blood counts should stay much more normal and transfusions are highly unlikely. This is great news as it should mean his hemoglobin and platelets will be just like other kids and that bodes well for his energy level and playing hockey

So, there will be a test now on all the facts above. Are you ready?!?! Just kidding ... (a little sleep deprived humor).

More big news is Dragon Boating for Dane was a HUGE success! Our team Paddlestar Galactica had an amazing weekend. We were in 8th place after our first two races on Saturday which put us in the top of Division 1 (mixed recreational). We raced one final time on Sunday and much to our surprise, posted a great time and wound up finishing 2nd overall out of close to 90 teams! More important than our race placing though was our fundraising for the Canadian Cancer Society (MB division). We are currently the top on-line individual fundraiser with nearly $3200.00 in pledges. Add our in person pledges to that total and we have surpassed $3500.00!!! Thank you again for your generosity and support - every dollar raised goes toward research and we know first hand how significant studies are to help find cures for childhood cancers, particularly leukemia. Dane's illness proved to be a huge inspiration for our entire team and the weekend was capped off in the beer tent at the Forks with Dane on Dirk's shoulders and the crowd chanting "Dane, Dane"!! Our experience this year was physically, mentally and emotionally draining but we wouldn't have missed it for anything. We are already looking forward to 2010 and what we can accomplish as a team.

Until my next entry, take care everyone.

Janie and Dirk