KESJ: 30 March 2010

Monday, March 29, 2010

30 March 2010

T+196 or 28 weeks

Praise God! This morning was such a special occasion for us as we excitedly watched both our children receive the citizenship awards for their respective classes at the honour assembly. Stephanie's was for "her willingness to help and care for others". Jeremy's was for "being a wonderful roll [sic] model for KV" - his teacher is going to arrange for a replacement certificate for him!

We are especially thankful that Jeremy was even at the assembly today - that God healed him and brought him safely through his transplant, and that the doctors wanted him to start Kindy at the beginning of the year (even though technically he was supposed to be in isolation at home until 2 weeks ago). We give thanks for another day of joy with our two children.

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Definitions

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) - a rapidly progressing cancer of the blood and bone marrow. ALL affects the type of developing white blood cells known as lymphocytes. It is the most common form of childhood leukaemia, and the most common type of childhood cancer. It also occurs in adults.

Blast cells - immature blood cells normally found in the bone marrow. Blast cells normally constitute up to 5% of all bone marrow cells. These cells divide and replenish all the normal blood cells in the marrow and circulating blood. Acute leukaemia is characterised by an accumulation of abnormal blast cells that take over the marrow and spill out into the blood stream.

Bone marrow transplant - the process of replacing bone marrow cells (stem cells) that are unhealthy, with stem cells that are healthy. The healthy stem cells are re-infused intravenously through the central line, after very strong chemotherapy and/or radiation to kill unhealthy stem cells. The re-infusion of healthy stem cells essentially rescues the patient from the chemotherapy and/or radiation, by enabling his or her bone marrow to start producing new blood cells.