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Gentry’s Story

Site created on August 10, 2023

After noticing some slight petechia (broken blood vessels) around Gentry's eyes on July 17th, we took him in for a blood draw, which revealed his platelet count was very low. We were hopeful the low platelets were due to a viral illness, but his platelets remained low on repeated blood draws over the next two weeks, and on July 28th, his blood smear showed cells concerning for malignancy. After a stressful week involving a med flight to Colorado, two bone marrow biopsies, numerous blood draws, and blood and platelet transfusions, Gentry was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. Two days following his diagnosis, on 8/6/23, he began his first of six planed cycles of chemotherapy at Children's Hospital - Anschutz medical campus in Aurora, Colorado. Due to severe immunosuppression that goes along with the chemotherapy necessary to treat his AML, he will primarily remain inpatient in Colorado over the next 6-8 months.

Gentry is loved by so many people and this site will be a place where we can provide updates as he perseveres through his AML journey. He is the most resilient, social, joyful little boy, and there is nothing he loves more than being cheered and clapped for. We will also share new from his biggest cheerleader and his favorite person, Huxley, as we try to navigate life between Montana and Colorado.

We have received so much support over the last week and are thankful for people reaching out to ask how they can help. In the initial days, it was hard to come up with tangible ways. The logistics of hospital life, being so far from home, visitor restrictions, and infection concerns also make things tricky.

Here is a list of things that would be appreciated:
- Continued prayers and text check-ins
- Favorite book recommendations
- Uber eats, doordash, or grubhub gift cards for non-cafeteria food (kylie.m.ebner@gmail.com
- A venmo coffee (@Kylie-Ebner-1)
- Love and support for sister (and play dates when she is back in Billings)
- Supplies to make hospital life easier - https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/2AQL4E6S1V0RR
- Stories of hope
- Anything else you can think of! (Sometimes, we just don't know what we need.)

(Of note, on the leukemia/bone marrow transplant floor fresh flowers are not allowed)

Newest Update

Journal entry by KYLIE EBNER — May 2, 2024

Another blood draw down with no sign of leukemia!

Gentry’s neutrophils are being ssllloowww to recover and he is still pretty immunosuppressed, but outside of that he has been rocking another month out of the hospital.

After not gaining an ounce during his 8 months receiving treatment, he has gained 2.5 pounds since being home, and is (amazingly) back on his pre-leukemia growth curve. His food aversions are improving and he is starting to try and enjoy more foods (he even ate salmon tonight!)

Gentry is doing home physical therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy, which keeps him (and us) busy, and is working so hard toward standing independently and walking.

We are thankful for each day of health and growth.

Read More of the journal titled "May 2, 2024"

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