For The Best Result….
3-18-09
Hello everybody. Today started out the same as any other, with PT, OT & TCM (traditional chinese massage)….Joey did really good today.
As you all know, we have been waiting to find out more about the last SCT and also the results of Joey’s MRI. At 4:00 p.m. Diana (our new coordinator) came to our room and said that Dr. Jo wanted to speak with me, so I left Joey in the room and followed Diana to another room where Dr. Jo and another english speaking coordinator was waiting. Dr. Jo went over Joey’s MRI and although there is really nothing to be seriously concerned about, she has come to the conclusion that the curvature of Joeys spine (scoliosis) has probably kept the stem cells from traveling as well as they are supposed to. Stem cells are very thick and very sticky….So here are the options:
1) If Joey insists on waiting for the IV SCT, there is no guarantee that it will even be done. They still have not gathered enough of this type of stem cells for an IV treatment. It could possibly take another two weeks……we fly home in two weeks.
The hospital lab has just received in a ‘higher quality’ batch of stem cells, which has to be administered via lumbar puncture….
2) If Joey will agree to one last lumbar puncture, the lab will prepare these ‘high quality’ stem cells so that they are not as thick and sticky (this is the reason for so much of Joey’s pain after each transplant). This process will also let the stem cells travel to the central nervous system the way they are supposed to….
I asked Dr. Jo which stem cell treatment she thought would have the best result for Joey’s condition, she replied that the lumbar puncture would definitely have the best results because the stem cells are transplanted directly into the spinal cord which carries them directly to the central nervous system. They will insert the needle a little bit higher than before, which will also allow the stem cells to bypass one of the major curves in his spine.
After talking for a bit more about these options, they asked me to help explain this to Joey so he would understand and hopefully not be so disappointed…..We walked back to our room and Joey knew right away there was news about the next treatment. We layed it all out on the table and left the decision up to him. Clearly he was disappointed that the IV SCT wasn’t going to be ready in time so after thinking about the pros, the cons and the possibility of feeling that same horrible pain, he chose to do the lumbar puncture and is praying that it doesn’t hurt as badly. This will be the last time either way….I am extremely proud of Joey for being so brave. He deserves the best possible outcome so EVERYBODY PLEASE SAY ONE MORE SPECIAL PRAYER FOR HIM.
The last SCT will be tomorrow at about 2:00 p.m.
10 comments March 18th, 2009
