Thankful For Nothing!!

Today we finally got the results back from Daniel’s most important bone marrow test that took place last Friday (2/3/12). This was “Day 29” or the final day of the first phase of his treatment.  This test was the one that would tell us (A) how well he responded to the first and most critical phase of treatment, and (B) how to proceed with the rest of his treatment over the next two years.  As I’ve written about previously, the goal for the first phase was to get him into Full Remission by Day 29.  This is determined by the “preliminary results” that are obtained usually within an hour after the test is performed by a lab right there at the hospital.  They look at a relatively small (tiny actually) blood sample microscopically and count the number of cancer cells found.  When the number reaches zero, he’s considered to be in “remission” or “Cancer Free”.  This does NOT mean he’s actually 100% cancer free though (go figure) – only in terms of that particular test.  A much more rigorous test is then performed by a specialized lab that takes a few days to complete and obtain results.  This is called a “Minimal Residual Disease” or MRD test and a sample of blood literally thousands of times larger is examined by special computer processes to look for more cancer cells.  Here, the goal is to get him to 0.01% cancer cells in his blood by Day 29.

We were very pleasantly surprised to find that Daniel had attained remission (the smaller test) only half way through the first phase – by Day 15.  And that same test showed him already at 0.013% MRD (the bigger test) … nearly to the end goal already.  But they indicated that, although that Day-15 testing was an important window into how the treatment was going, nothing would change based on its results.  Only the Day 29 test would make any difference.  The preliminary (smaller) test last Friday again showed zero cancer cells and that he was still in full remission.  And we’ve been waiting for the (bigger) MRD test results until this morning.  They showed that he had no only achieved the goal of 0.01%, but actually all the way to 0.00 – zilch, nothing, nada, not a single cancer cell was detected in the test.  Obviously we couldn’t be happier!  And as my title suggests, we are extremely THANKFUL for the test results showing NOTHING in the way of cancer cells (sorry, I couldn’t resist the title. :)

I asked the doctor whether this was something unusual (still hoping for a confirmation that our trip to see Solomon Wickey had produced something out of the ordinary (aka “supernatural”), but alas it’s not too terribly uncommon to have a 0.00% result on this test.  It is however, no less wonderful and worthy of celebration.  Whether through the efforts of doctors, Solomon Wickey, or the hundreds of faithful friends and family who have continued to lift Daniel up daily in prayers and fasting, one thing is clear – God has working in the life of our little boy to bring him through this ordeal and back to health.  A long and difficult road remains ahead short of some confirmation that this is no longer necessary (that was a hint, Lord! :), but we are extremely grateful to our Lord that Daniel is doing so well.  Our battle continues with the compounding side effects of the medications and the on-going susceptibility to infection during these next couple of months (not to mention the psychological impacts that Daniel has been struggling with more recently).   

Tuesday (Valentine’s Day), Daniel begins the 2^nd phase of chemotherapy and will be going in weekly for the most part on Tuesdays now.  Thanks again to all of you who think of us, read our posts, and / or pray for Daniel.  We love you and may God richly repay your kindness toward Daniel, Andrea and I.

- Tim -