Simon McKenzie Operation SiFi

Welcome to our Operation SiFi update site. We’re using it to help family and friends follow our little guy's story and progress. 
After an ER visit for a limp and a fever on Friday, December 15th, our 2 1/2 year old son Simon was transferred by ambulance to Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital where he was diagnosed with B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. 
The diagnosis has been devastating and the days following, exhausting, as Simon underwent two surgeries and multiple x-rays, ultrasounds, blood transfusions and tests. He has been a champion through it all, even wowing the nursing staff with his sweet demeanor and tolerance of all the poking and prodding. 
Simon's prognosis is excellent. A bone marrow biopsy showed that 88% of the cells in his marrow are leukemia, but his spinal fluid is free and clear of any abnormal cells--which is wonderful news! Considering the factor of his spinal fluid, his age, and the type of leukemia, his chance at a full recovery is 95%. And we’re focused on getting that number as close to 100% as possible. 
On Monday, December 18th, Simon began what will be an intense 28 days of chemotherapy, after which doctors expect his cancer will be in remission. The incredible pediatric oncology staff here at the Clinic have prescribed a program of chemotherapy for the coming months and years. Simon will have to get maintenance treatments for the next three years. 
Some of you may already know that Simon was also diagnosed with autism in September of this year.  As you can imagine, it has been an incredibly overwhelming and stressful few months for our family, since each of these diagnoses is life changing. It is still difficult to fathom that we now have to manage both. Thankfully, his oncologists and neurologists are all communicating and working together in the search for more answers. 
We will post regular journal updates of Simon's progress here, so please check back. And, of course, we appreciate your endless support and words of hope and encouragement. We are in complete awe of Simon's strength and courage. He is a miracle.