Connor at Texas Transplant Institute

Connor has been in San Antonio, Texas at the Texas Transplant Institute for almost a week now...and he is doing very well. But things will get harder for him from here on.

So far Connor has gone through some routine tests and has been "marked" for the radiation treatments he will need in preparation for the transplant. He has also been found to be an acceptable candidate for the double donor transplant study. This greatly increases his chances of permanent remission!

Let me explain...instead of receiving cells from only one donor, Connor will be getting cells from 2 different donors. These cells will be taken from umbilical cord blood that has been clamped and separated after delivery. Two sources will be used. This allows one source to become the dominate cells effectively defeating the other set of cells. That means survival of the dominate cells...and success for Connor!!

Connor had one bad moment this week. The radiology department made a cast of Connor's face and constructed a mask for him to wear during radiation therapy. So it came time for the first radiation treatment and the mask was placed over his face. Now Connor is used to the way things are done at Arkansas Children's Hospital...slowly and with every step explained to him. So when the radiology team moved more quickly and with less explanations at TTI, it scared him when they placed the mask over his face for the first time. But the technicians were quite understanding...they took the mask off, talked to him, and when Connor was ready, they resumed the treatment.

And, of course, Connor came through with flying colors!!

There is a long and painful road ahead before Connor will be well. The worst and most dreaded part of the treatment will be the chemotherapy that will virtually destroy his immune system. It is going to be a very grueling road for an eight year old boy to travel.

But the transplant is scheduled for the second week in June and I know Connor will go through it as he has all of the last two years...like the brave warrior that he is!

I have to take a moment to thank everyone who has given time, money, emotional support and prayers for Connor. Thank you all so much. God bless you! And God bless Connor and all the children who are battling this insidious disease tonight!!

Update on Connor

After a close call with septic shock and the loss of all his hair, I am happy to report that Connor is in remission!! Hooray for you, little man!!

Now the task before us is to find a bone marrow donor that is a match for Connor. We are working on doing a community "blood drive" where people will be tested as possible donors. Even if I am not a match for Connor, I might be a match for some other child who is in need!

All it takes is giving a simple blood sample to know if you are a donor match for someone on the list. There are so many children in need of donors and so few willing to go through the momentary discomforts of giving that life saving marrow that the kids so desperately need.

We thank you all for your prayers and good wishes, but now we need your bone marrow...LOL! I'll be one of the first in line to donate. I hope many of you will do the same.

God bless and keep all the children battling Leukemia tonight!