Mitchel James Baughman

"Miracles have happened when God's people have turned to him in prayer."
-Billy Graham








Mitchel was diagnosed with neuroblastoma cancer Stage IV on October 3, 2004. We were sent to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, TN on October 10 for treatment. His treatment consists of 6 cycles of chemotherapy, stem cell transplant, 3 weeks of radiation and 6 months of acutane which is a high dose of Vitamen A that helps reduce the possibility of the cancer returning. After Mitchel's transplant we did not receive the best news. His bone marrow still had neuroblastoma in it so our next journey leads us to New York for a 3F8 antibody therapy. We will be traveling soon to Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital in New York so Mitchel can receive this treatment.

MAY 2005 - Mitchel was released to go home for some much needed rest. He also was able to take his MAKE A WISH trip to Disney World during this time.

JULY 2005 - After spending two wonderful months at home we came back to St. Jude to start the required two rounds of chemo before Mitchel can receive the 3F8 antibody treatment. He was taken off the accutane treatment after only receiving 4 rounds we did not want to take any chances of the cancer spreading from his bone marrow. Please continue lifting Mitchel up in your prayers. He is a brave little man who loves life so much.

OCTOBER 2005 - Mitchel starts the 3F8 antibody treatment at Sloan Kettering Memorial Hospital in NYC.

DECEMBER 2005 - After receiving 2 rounds of the heated double dose of 3F8 antibodies and 2 rounds of the regular dose of 3F8 antibodies all his scans show NO EVIDENCE OF DISEASE. He will continue to receive the regular dose of 3F8 antibodies until his body shows a resistance to the treatment. He is also currently taking 6 rounds of accutane during the weeks off of the 3F8 treatment. PRAISE GOD! WE HAVE WAITED A LONG TIME FOR THIS NEWS!

JULY 2006 - Mitchel had a isolated spot show up on his MIBG scan in the left clavical area, doctors where certain that he relapsed and would begin chemo after having surgery to biopsy and remove the infected lymph nodes. Surgery was a success and the new port was put into place, BUT GOD HAD A DIFFERENT PLAN! Hours after the port was put in his body started to reject it and his upper chest, neck and face started to swell, by the next day he looked like a balloon. The doctors ordered several tests to determine the cause of the swelling and admitted him into the hospital. After all these tests were done there still was no explanation, Dr's words were we don't know what happened, but the port needed to be removed. The next day after the port was removed we were called into the doctors office and it was determined that Mitchel would not be starting chemo and the pathology report showed all the lymph nodes removed from his neck were in fact ganglioneroma, dead cancer. So as I said God had another plan for our baby, he was able to continue his 3F8 antibody treament and that is where we are today in his treatment. THANK YOU JESUS!

UPDATE 12/20/2007 - Mitchel completed the 3F8 antibody protocol in October 2007, it was a long and grueling two years, he had a total of 17 3F8 antibody treatments and never reached HAMA. He is currently returning to Sloan Kettering Hospital in NYC every 3 months for a complete workup with scans and bone marrow biopsies. He is enjoying life to the fullest everyday.




"Where there is great love, there are always miracles"




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Journal

Thursday, October 23, 2008 9:40 AM CDT

We are still enjoying the sweet words "NED", No Evidence of Disease. Mitchel has been feeling great and everyone tells him how great he looks.

Yesterday both the boys got their flu shots, Mitchel was so unhappy about it. He put up a struggle and I can't blame him after all he has been through. I don't think he felt it because I put numbing cream on his arm it was all the thinking about it that got him all worked up. Michael was talking when he got his, he did not even flinch.

They are out of school tomorrow and we are headed to the lake for our last weekend there for a while. The weather is changing and getting colder so we will be hanging out at home until spring. The boys are excited about going this weekend, we are having a Halloween party there. Next weekend we will be spending with Mike's parents for Halloween, we go there every year. Since Halloween falls on a Friday we get to stay for the weekend.

I have not called to confirm out next trip to NY yet, for some reason I am not motivated. Probably next week I will get it done.

Thanks for checking in on us,

Love to all,

Mary

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Hospital Information:

Patient Room:

HOME MOST OF THE TIME!
Receiving treatment at Sloan Kettering
New York

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E-mail Author: mikmar2m@cableone.net