The year 2003 was promising to be a really great year. Things were going great in our son's wedding plans. Our youngest daughter was coming in to be in the wedding, our oldest daughter was also in the wedding, as was her second son, Eric and everyone was involved.
About 3 weeks after the wedding, Eric's little brother, Justin, only 2 then, came down with terrible mouth and lip sores, and high fever. He also complained of aches and had night sweats. One doctor at Bayou Pediatrics in Houma told her it was hand mouth virus (cocksaki). He did not do a blood work up, so this was just a guess diagnosis. Justin never did have any sores on his hands. He gave him antibiodics and the sores took a while, but gradually got better. In the meantime, Justin seemed tired and pale. She saw 2 different doctors at the clinic and neither one ordered blood work. About 3 weeks after this, Justin was taking a nap and when he woke up, he couldn't stand on his left foot. He actually tried and fell. By night fall, he was running fever. Kendra decided to take him to the emergency room at Lady of the Sea General Hospital in Galliano. I went with her as her husband was out of town. Dr. Humphries was on duty, and she gave him a very thorough checkup. She ordered xrays of his leg and of his chest. She ordered a complete blood workup. The results came back and showed Justin was severly anemic. His platelets were only 57. They also found abnormal blood cells. They did another count (hand count) and they were 60 or so. She called the doctor on call at Bayou Pediatric and he told her to have Justin transmitted immediately to Children's Hospital in New Orleans. We called her husband in, and my husband came and got me at the hospital with the 2 older boys, Isaac and Eric. Kendra and Ike took the baby, Alaina, with them as she was only about 6 months old and breast fed.
They admitted him to Children's and started doing blood tests right away. She spoke to many doctors and they seemed to think it could possibly be a really serious virus. they checked him for miningitis, mononucleosis, and a multitude of viruses. All were negative. So, an oncologist and a hemotologist came in and told them they would have to do a bone marrow test. To comfort them, they said if for nothing else than to rule out the "bad". But, that was not to be. A while after Justin was in his room, they came to get Kendra and Ike for a conference. I am so grateful that Ike's Aunt and Uncle were there with them. They stayed in the room and waited. The news was that Justin's marrow was positive for A.L.L., or Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. It is commonly known as Childhood Leukemia.
I wasn't there, so I don't know what went on after except what they have told me. I know they were in shock. But, the oncologist told them that there are 3 types of leukemia. A.L.L. is the easiest to cure. And of the different types of this, Justin had the best to deal with. Another plus was that he was detected very early. The disease was not in his spinal fluid. His uric acid count was normal. And being a Caucasian boy, 2 years old was also a big plus. But, he had to have chemo. They immediately put in a small chest port and started chemo. I was in such denial. I still had it in my head that they would do another test and find a virus. That was not to be and I had to face the fact that my little grandson had cancer. When I called my son, Willie, to tell him, he shouted "No!" "Aw, Mom, No!" We cried and then I got to explain that he was extremely healthy, and that the odds were good and all in his favor. I called Mandy in California, and she pretty much did the same thing. As did My husband.
That evening we were all there with them at Children's. It broke my heart to walk into that room and see that baby hooked up to so many things. Willie was holding him in a big chair. Although Justin will be cured, and he is doing so well, it is hard on the family.
Today is February 16, 2005. I have never written again on Justin's illness since the initial entry. He is truly doing so well it is hard to believe that he is taking chemo medications. I look at him and see no difference between him and his siblings. He is now on the last leg of his "road map", and will be finished with the chemo therapy on the 20th of October. He takes one injection of methatrexate a week, every Thursday, and at night also takes one dose of 6MP, in the form of a little pill. Every 8 weeks he has Vincristine given in the spine, and has only one or two of these left. And one more pulse (7 day dose) of Prednisone. After that, it's just the shot and the 6MP until October. They are considering removing his port as it is not returning and he has to have regular arm blood tests. So, after his last vincristine, the Oncologist has said they will probably remove the port.
There is not much more to report on. His counts are great, and he looks fantastic and feels good. He is 4 years old now and is also in speech therapy. All is going so well. We give thanks and praise to God for His constant care of Justin. We are looking forward as Kendra and Ike add a new sibling to Justin's life. They are expecting #5 at the end of May. The doctor said it is a girl. So, just keep praying, and know that prayers and love are what has gotten him through this phase so well.
Well! It's been over a year since I have added anything in here. So much has happened. As the world knows, on August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit southeast Louisiana with a vengeance. We, personally, had no damage to our home. But, Kendra's house had 8 inches of water. They moved in with us for 4 months, then moved into a trailer on their land. This past September, they moved to French Camp, Mississippi. They bought 7 acres of land and a big double wide pre fab home, with 4 bedrooms!
On October of 2005, Justin had his last chemo, done in the hospital. This past year has been good for him. He is healthy and thriving. Just a couple of weeks ago, on Oct. 3rd, he had his first spinal check/bone marrow aspiration in a year. All is good! It was negative of any cancer whatsoever. Thank you my Lord! His counts are great and he is just a normal little boy, almost 6 years old. Also, 17 months ago, he got another sister. On May 20, 2005, Lauren was born.