8/26/04 - Jordan Update

Jordan started his chemo yesterday - day 1 of a 3 and a half year journey. He also started taking a steroid which he will be on for the rest of the month. We've been told that side affects to the steroid are a ravenous appetite and moodiness. It will be interested to see what this does to Jordan...already a ravenous, moody 3-year old.

Today he will get another chemo treatment in his spinal column. Even though he did not have leukemia cells in his spinal column, this is a precaution to make sure the leukemia doesn't spread there during the treatments.

We had planned to have the spinal treatment yesterday, but he was not supposed to eat anything for 8 hours before the spinal tap surgery. Unfortunetly the ravenous scamp found a hidden graham cracker under a magazine and shoved it into his mouth with amazing speed. Even through we were able to scrape most of it out of his mouth - which he was not happy about - the anesthesiologist called off the procedure. We're being more careful about stray food today!

People have asked what to pray for. Right now I can think of 3 things:

1) We have a test coming back to see if Jordan has a chromosonal marker indicating that his leukemia would be more resistent to his current treatment program. It's a small percentage chance, but never the less, we're praying that the tests are negative.

2) Some kids respond negatively to some of the chemo drugs in which case we'd need to use an alternative. We're praying that his body accomodates all of the drugs he'll be taking.

3) He'll have another bone marrow test 7 days, 14 days, and 28 days from now. We want to see no leukemia cells at these tests. This will mean that he is responding well. If there are cells present, it means we'd need more intense treatment plans.

Jim and Lara