Today was a really big day, not so much for Grant, as for Rudy & I. We had to decide whether to stick with the standard treatment plan or put Grant into a study, allowing him to be randomized into either the standard treatment plan or a much more intense treatment plan. After MUCH prayer, consideration, and discussion we were still undecided when we went to talk to Dr. Heym today. Eventually, we decided to put Grant into the study. It only took a few minutes to find out that he had been placed in the more intensive arm of the treatment plan.
What does this mean? Well, he is going to receive some very intensive chemotherapy over the next 8 weeks. He will be given a total of 6 different forms of chemotherapy. This does not include the drugs he will also be taking to help manage the side effects. We will be spending some very long days at the hospital/clinic. Starting tomorrow, Grant will get a spinal tap, 2 drugs over 5 hours through his port, and begin a new oral chemotherapy. He will then have to go Thursday, Friday and Saturday for more treatment. We will repeat this process again next week. If for some reason, he does not respond well or has a lot of trouble with the side effects of the drugs, Dr. Heym or Rudy & I can decide to stop participating in the study at any time. Dr. Heym was very supportive of the study and was glad that we made that choice.
Please continue to pray for us as this is going to be a very busy, tense, and stressful time for all of us. We know that God is in control and that no treatment is better than the power of prayer. Also, please feel free to ask any questions that you have. We try to keep you as informed as we can. But, we have so much information we are trying to process that we may not pass along something that would be helpful.
We are going to celebrate Trent's 1st birthday at the zoo on Friday. Grant is really looking forward to this. He will have to get treatment early that morning and then go to the zoo. But, Dr. Heym said that we should absolutely not cancel.
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Amy,
ReplyDeleteYa'll are in our prayers. We especialy prayed
for you to have God's wisdom yesterday as you listened. "God is our refuge and stength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear..." We are camping in Psalm 46 just now at the center...verse 10 "be still and know that I am God" Hate to preach you a sermon but its my job. :)
Sha
Amy,
ReplyDeleteI know you were anxious about which direction you should go so I'm glad you got peace with doing the study. It does help so much to know you can take him out if he doesn't respond well. Sounds like you will be spending a lot of time in Dallas for awhile huh ?! Please let me know if you need anything at all. I know your Mom is with Trent but if something comes up that you need a fill in or even someone to drive you to Dallas - let me know.
all our love and prayers,
Dawn