Two weeks ago Matthew was happily running around wild, like many three year olds. Last week he wasn’t feeling well; not eating and drinking, complaining of leg pain that made him unable to walk, fatigued/sleeping more than usual and some unexplainable bruising was noted. Friday evening Sept 6th, Matthew was seen by his Dr and sent urgently to the emergency room by his Dr who said “Matthew could be anemic.” At the time Matthew was very pale and wasn’t his normal active self. On September 7th, after being admitted to Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital in Spokane, Washington Matthew and his family received the heart wrenching news of his diagnosis of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). The next morning Matthew had a bone marrow biopsy, lumbar puncture and a Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC Line) placed and he received a small dose of chemo to his spinal canal.
Matthew has now started a 28 day induction chemo treatment plan. He will receive Vincristine on Tuesday’s, Asparaginase on Friday’s and Dexamethasone twice a day for 28 days. On Days 8 and 29 he will receive another lumbar puncture and bone marrow biopsy in which he has to be sedated for. Matthew is a strong three year old but his treatment process is painful and uncomfortable. Everyday Matthew struggles/puts up a fight with taking any oral medications that are ordered, and becomes restless due to being tethered to the hospital bed with an IV running 24 hrs/day.
He may be available to be released from the hospital as early as next Tuesday Sept 17th, depending on how he has responded to his treatments. If he is released from the hospital, he must stay within an hour of Children’s Hospital. Once Matthew is done with his 29 day treatment, he will continue to have maintenance treatments for over three years.
As Matthew’s treatment continues information on this page will be updated. I know Alyssa and Duane would love to be able to give everyone personal updates but they are overwhelmed with so many others things, the constant daily challenge of being at Matthews bedside to provide care to him & ensure he doesn’t hurt himself or pull his PICC line amongst the training/education that they are getting daily keeps them very busy.
PLEASE NOTE: While Matthews in the hospital they can not have any plants, flowers or latex balloons for health reasons but if you want to send anything such as encouragement cards or care packages to Matthew while he is in the hospital here is the address:
Sacred Heart Children’s 3E- Rm 367 101 West 8th Ave Spokane, Washington 99204
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