Journal entry by Nancy McClure —
Martin is doing fine, according to the doctor. Today he met with her to hear partial results from the Day-100 bone marrow biopsy (more results next week).
The biopsy report says that engraftment (integration of the new) is complete or near complete! Also, blasts (the "cancer cells" in the marrow) are below a measurable level.**
Tomorrow he begins tapering the Big Drug (tacrolimus, rejection preventer). That means he can also start to reduce magnesium infusions and blood pressure pills (both of which treat the Drug side effects). In a few weeks, they expect to remove the central line that penetrates his chest and runs through his jugular.
Beyond the medical....
He's been going to a handful of dance events, still only participating in a few dances. But usually someone or other is sitting out a dance, and they are people he likes to chat with.
He still sleeps about 11 hours a day (between night-time and a nap). His hair continues to grow in.
More medical details for the information-hungry....
Still monitoring some of the less-than-ideal trend lines of his platelets and other cells (but the changes are slow).
Vaccinations generally start at month 6, and various ones go through month 24. Before those dates, vaxes apparently don't get retained (or something like that). Covid vaccination studies, being young, are ambiguous on when it would be worth doing -- but given Martin's dancing they'll do one soon even if it may give only partial protection.
** Leukemia is when the bone marrow produces abnormal blast (stem) cells that fail to mature properly. These begin to take over the bone marrow and spill into the blood and prevent the production of enough regular blood cells.
The biopsy report says that engraftment (integration of the new) is complete or near complete! Also, blasts (the "cancer cells" in the marrow) are below a measurable level.**
Tomorrow he begins tapering the Big Drug (tacrolimus, rejection preventer). That means he can also start to reduce magnesium infusions and blood pressure pills (both of which treat the Drug side effects). In a few weeks, they expect to remove the central line that penetrates his chest and runs through his jugular.
Beyond the medical....
He's been going to a handful of dance events, still only participating in a few dances. But usually someone or other is sitting out a dance, and they are people he likes to chat with.
He still sleeps about 11 hours a day (between night-time and a nap). His hair continues to grow in.
More medical details for the information-hungry....
Still monitoring some of the less-than-ideal trend lines of his platelets and other cells (but the changes are slow).
Vaccinations generally start at month 6, and various ones go through month 24. Before those dates, vaxes apparently don't get retained (or something like that). Covid vaccination studies, being young, are ambiguous on when it would be worth doing -- but given Martin's dancing they'll do one soon even if it may give only partial protection.
** Leukemia is when the bone marrow produces abnormal blast (stem) cells that fail to mature properly. These begin to take over the bone marrow and spill into the blood and prevent the production of enough regular blood cells.
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