Update on my granson Nic
Hello everyone! Well, it's official. We are about to enter the cancer-world again. As you can probably guess, we aren't exactly looking forward to it. One good thing is that we are taking charge, we aren't letting cancer come in and take over. Our new adventure will start in New York City (YIKES) on March 17. We will be meeting with Dr Kushner, a wonderful doc we have been assured, for a consult. His specialty is neuroblastoma and I feel we will be in good hands with him and Sloan-Kettering (MSKCC--Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center).
On Tues, March 18, Nic will be having a CT scan done. and then the injection for the MIBG scan. We will have a good part of both of these afternoons to do something fun. I think our friends, the Horn family, will be out there at that time so we will probably get ideas of what to do (as if there is a lack of stuff to do in NYC) and where to go.
Wednesday, March 19, Nic will have his MIBG scan and then a bone marrow aspirate. Remember, the scan is non-evasive but the aspirate is considered minor surgery. He will be put under and samples of his bone marrow will be taken out of his hip bones. I believe at MSKCC they take from the back as well as the front of the bones. Something I'm afraid Nic will be less than thrilled about, but he isn't one to complain (about medical stuff anyway, not true for some of the things I cook and Grace's love of shrieking). He'll think of a way to put a positive spin on it.
That's it. Seems pretty tame considering some of the scan/test schedules we've endured in the past. Nic is fine with it, all of the scans are ones he has had countless times before so he isn't worried.
For those of you who have expressed concern, I am one to ALWAYS "go with my gut feelings" and this NY treatment feels right. Nic, Travis and I are all convinced it is the right thing to do. Nic is comfortable talking about it and has read about it and asks questions when he has a concern. He is ready to go forward.
There will be several rounds of high dose chemo that he will have to go through before the 3F8 treatment begins. I have done some checking and if all goes well, Nic will be able to have that done in Mpls at our "home away from home" hospital. Just knowing the "hard" part will be spent at a place where Nic is comfortable, knows the staff and surroundings, and has such special bonds with some of them will make all the difference for him (and us).
As the date gets closer and I have more info on our "adventure" I will let you know.
Thanks for being there for us!!!! Love, Jamie
PS Feel free to ask me any questions that you have [email protected]