Meet Graham...

About a week ago I posted this about our good friends son Graham, who is 4 months old, and was just diagnosed with leukemia. We received the below e-mail from his dad today as an update. Please pray for them that they may be given strength during this time and that Graham will be healed if it is according to God's will. And if you would include them in your fast and prayers that would be appreciated. As a parent I cannot imagine how hard this would be. We love them so much and they are in our thoughts and prayers right now!

Meet Graham; what a sweet little boy.

Family and Friends,

Thank you all for your thoughts, prayers and service to our family over the last 12 days. This was when we found out our son Graham has Leukemia. We are so grateful for the love and support received. Some have asked for an update on our son Graham and what is going on with his Leukemia. Below please find an update on Graham:

Graham starts preparing for surgery this morning at Primary Children's Hospital at 10:15am and will probably be out by about 2:00pm. He will be under full anesthesia with breathing tubes so he shouldn't feel much. While asleep the surgeons will put in a central line in his chest (this is like a permanent IV). The doctors can administer chemo and other drugs through this line. They will also tap his spine and take out a little spinal fluid for a before shot of his spinal fluid. While asleep the doctors will also do an ultrasound on his heart to see how his heart is and to compare it against how his heart could be in response to the chemo. Then the doctors will give him his first dose of chemo. The chemo (chemo is short for chemicals) will be injected into his spine while asleep.

Once out of the surgery he will be admitted into the Immuno Compromised Services (ICS) otherwise known as the pediatric cancer ward area where he will start his approximately six month stay of inpatient chemotherapy. This unit of the hospital is the most sterile area of the hospital. The unit and each room are positive pressure (meaning when your room door opens air only goes out not in). This is to limit any airborne germs as the cancer patients white blood cells counts are down and immune systems are very weak. This makes them very vulnerable to germs, bacteria, viruses, and illness. When entering the unit a set of doors opens then closes behind you and before the next set of doors opens hands must be washed then sanitized. Visitors are not allowed who are even the slightest bit sick as it puts Graham and all the other children in the cancer ward at risk. The chemo will be administered through the central line in his own room. While getting chemo treatment he will be getting blood transfusions to keep the red cells and platelets in his blood at their proper levels. Sadie will be staying with him in the room as she is breastfeeding him. Only one parent is allowed to spend the night in the hospital with Graham.

As Sadie will be staying with Graham almost around the clock at the hospital if you are willing and able (and not sick at all, and no one under 14) to go up to the hospital and sit with Sadie for a while this would be immensely appreciated. You could also hold Graham or stay with Graham while Sadie gets out of the room for a quick visit home (we live about 15 minutes away from the hospital) to see Sawyer or to go on a walk and get out of the hospital. Also, Sadie will not be receiving any meals at the hospital as she is not a patient so 3 meals a day need to be brought to her. If you could bring a meal (preferably healthy as her breast milk is Graham's only nutrition) and/or sit with Sadie or Graham on occasion this would significantly lighten our load.

We are hopeful that the chemo will kill the cancer but the chemo will also have side effects and kill other things (hair will fall out, nausea, weakened immunity, possible sterilization, irritable, sleep interruptions, etc). Graham's chemo schedule is as follows:

Round 1 of Chemo

10 days intense chemo treatment then 30 to 35 days of hospital monitoring to monitor any infection, fever, or other side effects of the chemo. He could possible go home for 7 days after this round.

Round 2 of Chemo

8 days of intense chemo treatment then 30 to 35 days of hospital monitoring. He could possible go home for 7 days after this round.

Round 3 of Chemo

3 days of intense chemo treatment then 30 to 35 days of hospital monitoring. He could possibly go home for 7 days after this round.

After the three rounds of chemo then we could possibly do bone marrow transplants. Sawyer will be tested in the next couple days to see if he is a bone marrow match for his little brother Graham. There is a 25% chance that Sawyer is a match for his brother. If Sawyer is a match then bone marrow transplants will be administered at this point. This increases Grahams statistical odds of survival by 15 percent. The bone marrow transplants will require an additional stay of 2 months in the hospital. If Sawyer is not a match then we will probably not do bone marrow transplants as there are complications that could outweigh the benefits when you take bone marrow from those who are not siblings.

If Sawyer is not a match for bone marrow transplants we will continue on to round 4 and then round 5 or chemo. Each of these rounds would take about a month each.

Graham has the type of Leukemia known as Leukemia cutis. Many people use the terms AML, Leukemia, granulocytic sarcoma, or Leukemia cutis interchangeably to describe Graham's condition. They are all types and subtypes of Leukemia. The Oncologists, Pathologists, Pediatricians, and Dermatologists have all been so compassionate and have really spent countless hours on this case. Although they have been very compassionate when we have asked for the facts they have not sugar coated them (which I have appreciated). Today our primary Oncologist told us his survival rate for this type of cancer and his age range is 50/50. If Sawyer is a match on the bone marrow then our odds increase to 65 percent. We are hopeful, optimistic and believe in Graham. We are thinking positive! With the love and support of all of you and the will of our Heavenly Father and Graham's grit we believe he can make it and go on to live a happy healthy life and grow up with his brother Sawyer.

Sawyer is noticing some major changes going on in the house and is having a hard time. He doesn't like to see mommy sad and has been sensitive. He hasn't liked Sadie leaving with Graham to go to the hospital either. Please keep Sawyer in your prayers as his mom is going to be starting a long stay at the hospital and he is making significant adjustments. He will also be poked and tested the next bit for a bone marrow match.

Sadie's friend Tiff helped Sadie start a blog today which Sadie and I will post updates on Graham's condition. Please feel free to share the blog to anyone who is interested and please make posts. We could use all the prayers possible for Graham right now. The blog address is www.sadieandherboys.blogspot.com.

Sadie and I and each of our families will be fasting and praying for Graham this Sunday, April 10th. We would appreciate anyone who is willing to fast and pray with us on this day for our son.

Attached please find a picture of Graham taken with Grandpa Bob about 4 days ago. You can see a little skin lesion on his eye brow. This is probably from the cancer. He has other lesions on his back. The lesions on his back are the ones they removed for the skin biopsies.

Feel free to forward this email on to anyone who would like an update on Graham. We can't thank you all enough for the love and support. This experience solidifies to us even more so that the relationships we have with family and friends is what matters most.

Love,

Nathan, Sadie, Sawyer and Graham

www.sadieandherboys.blogspot.com