The Brands: Comments

Monday, July 5, 2010

Comments

One quick note--this new blogger just discovered that I can change the settings about who can comment. You should now be able to post a comment, whether or not you are a "blogger" or whatever. I hope it works!

4 comments:

Aunt Linda said...: Okay.....you have been in our thoughts and prayers and now we can be in your comments. Wonderful!.
Jess and Tim...you have sounded strong and sure throughout this time. That is wonderful to read. God has been providing you strength in answer to so many prayers. Please keep us informed. Sent with hugs; July 5, 2010 at 12:21 PM
Anonymous said...: A week at home would be so wonderful for all of you. I will continue to pray that this happens!

Kim Schat; July 5, 2010 at 12:25 PM
Anonymous said...: Prayers surround you - day and night.; July 5, 2010 at 2:05 PM
glenda said...: Hey Jess, it's me, Glenda from Coffee break. I've been thinking of your family much especially because my sister-in-law just finished going through much the very same you are experiencing right now. Don't know if you remember some of my prayer requests at coffee break about my nephew Joshua. He's Downs syndrome, but when he was 0ne, he also was diagnosed with All. Last fall he finished the two years and 32 day treatment and he doing very well. We're all together this week at the family's cottage. So, my sister-in-law Lisa is sitting right here beside me. I'll let her take the keyboard right now, as she has shown incredible strength through it all:
Hi Jess,
I know what your going through now.
You have a beautiful family!
You're right Mac is a very good hospital.
What a blessing you live close.
I would love to share with you.
Glenda will let you know how to get in touch.
Trust me God will hold his little hand and get him through.
From Glenda and Lisa; July 5, 2010 at 7:40 PM

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What is ALL?

Caleb has ALL, a form of leukemia. From what I understand (here's the dummy's guide to leukemia), leukemia means that something has gone wrong in blood cell production.

Blood is made up of 3 main parts, red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. The red blood cells do things like carry oxygen and nutrients through your body. The white blood cells fight infections and keep you healthy. The platelets glue it all together. (I did say this was the dummy's guide, remember.) Bone marrow is where these cells are made and released into the blood stream.

In Caleb's leukemia, his bone marrow is producing the 3 kinds of cells, but some of the white blood cells are being made wrong. These white blood cells are not maturing, they don't perform any function, and they aren't dying off. They take up space, and made it so that Caleb's red blood cells, functioning white cells, and platelets were having a hard time doing their jobs, and the production of the blasts was taking over. This is why before we were admitted to the hospital, Caleb was tired and pale. His blood just wasn't able to do what it should do.

Chemo treatments are designed to kill back the blasts. The only way to do this has a lot of extra damage (collateral damage) as well, which we see in side effects like hair loss and need for blood transfusions. Because chemo also knocks back regular blood cells, Caleb needs blood and platelet transfusions to replace what is being lost through treatment. White blood cells cannot be transfused, which is why he has nothing to fight off infections. We can't replace those ones. When the drugs are less intense and his body can gradually go back to doing what it should be doing, white blood cell production should return. We will have to be careful for a long time, though.

Hair loss occurs because cells that are replaced often in our body, like hair, can't keep up production. The cells die off faster than they are replaced. Other fast growing/often replaced cells are in our mouths and our nails. These are all affected.

I hope my dummy's guide to leukemia makes sense. It's the way I currently understand things. People in the health care profession may cringe at my descriptions, but hopefully it's accurate enough to explain what Caleb's going through. Maybe it will help you explain it to your kids. For now, we just say we're blasting blasts.

We are the Brands

We are three kids, two parents, and one dog. And too many fish. We love our city, time in the outdoors, playing soccer, camping, and making music. Our faith is central to our lives.

On June 23, pieces of what had previously been a concerning question about our son Caleb's health came together in a diagnosis of leukemia. It all happened rather quickly, after bringing him to the ER at McMaster hospital on Monday, June 21. We're absorbing this news, and trying to learn how to cope with leukemia and a young family. Our hearts are torn, but we feel the love of many.

This blog is intended to share with our loved ones and their loved ones what is happening for Caleb and the rest of us. I must say that it is possibly as much information-giving as it is therapeutic writing. Thank you for taking the time to share with us our experience. We find strength in numbers, and in shared experiences.