Thursday.........A Better Day

As disappointing as the news was on Wednesday, that's how much better it was on Thursday. Beginning their day at 4:15am, Derrick and Mindy woke up and headed to Hershey for an MRI scheduled for 5:30.  The MRI was done on Derrick's head to determine if there was leukemic masses present and fortunately there wasn't.  Next, Derrick was scheduled for a spinal tap. According to Derrick, the doctor who performed the tap was very nice and quite proficient at the procedure.......it was fairly painless.  The doctor told Derrick that his spinal fluid was clear and that most likely their wasn't any leukemia present, however, that would need to be confirmed with additional testing of the fluid.  After his spinal tap, an opthamologist examined Derrick's eyes to see if the leukemia had invaded them and once again Derrick got good news that it had not.  In addition, Derrick was told that the preliminary results of his bone marrow biopsy came back negative for any leukemia cells present, this too, will need to be confirmed by further testing.  

This morning Derrick and Mindy headed to Hershey at 6am for a biopsy of his testicles.  The biopsy is actual surgery and Derrick will have general anesthesia for the procedure.  After the surgery, the plan is that he will be admitted to Hershey to begin his chemotherapy treatments for the leukemia found when they did the biopsy of the lump on his arm.  The chemo is scheduled daily for 5 days beginning today.  According to his doctor, he should be discharged on Monday after his treatment and can receive his last treatment at home on Tuesday.  This could change today after his surgery, so stay tuned.  Derrick plans to coerce his doctor into letting him have the treatments in the Day Hospital at Hershey so that he could be at home at night and sleep in his own bed.  If he is admitted, he should be able to have visitors this weekend and I'm sure he would welcome them.

Jim and I continue to be amazed by our son and his fiance.  They wake each morning (well, sometimes afternoon) with a smile on their faces and ready to tackle whatever the day may bring their way.  Everyone  has told us how important a positive attitude is and if that alone can bring about a cure, then Derrick is definitely on his way!!!  

Thanks again to everyone for their continued support.........your prayers are being felt each and every day.