Some New Hope

We have been given a small amount of hope, and we're holding onto it very tight. We just spoke with our oncologist, Dr. Johnston. She has spent most of her day on the phone with oncologists from around the world who specialize in neuroblastoma. While we realize there are no guarantees for us, she did tell us that she has found an oncologist who experienced a similar situation. In the case of this other patient, further testing showed that the new lesions were actually regenerating bone marrow, and not new disease. So what does this mean for us? Dr. Johnston wants to redo Curtis' MRI next Thursday and if the lesions appear to be getting better that would be very positive and would lean toward the "regenerating marrow" scenario. If this was the case, our stem cell transplant would be back on. Unfortunately there is always the possibility that the lesions would look the same or worse, in which case doctors would want to perform a biopsy to test for neuroblastoma. We hope to have the results of this new MRI by next Friday, at which time we will pass the news on to all of you.

We would also like to share the story of part of our afternoon. As a part of Terry Fox week at Arklan Public School, (where Curtis would have started school this year), there was a fundraiser today to raise money for cancer research. Our family was invited to join in the festivities, and part of the proceeds raised were donated to our family. For their fundraiser, they decided to duct tape one of their teachers to the wall in the auditorium. Leading up to this event, teachers had been telling their students about Curtis, so everyone knew he was when we got there. They even let him put on the first piece of duct tape and then presented him with an Arklan School sweatshirt and hat. He had a blast!! Let me say, Arklan is an amazing school, and the students and staff welcomed us with open arms. They treated Curtis as if he was already one of their own. At the end of the assembly, the were chanting his name, Curtis, Curtis, Curtis...What a great group of people! For anyone interested, CJOH was also at this event.

We hope you all continue to pray for Curtis this next week, as will we. Life is a roller coaster for us right now, but we've been given a smidgen of hope, so let's hold on to that!