Details....

I am going to attempt to write all the details that I know so far of the upcoming treatment--
We will go back to NY on the 13th-- so far there are no corporate angel flights-- we are going to wait a few more days until we decide to go USAir again---
Grier will start shots tomorrow--- YES!! I have to give shots again-- I really thought that was behind us for awhile-- These shots are part of the clinical trial.. 3F8 so he will receive them until Jan. 18th- On Monday, we have been told to plan on having a long day at the hospital (PDH)-- they will do blood work-- etc. and then we will begin 3f8--- This therapy will hopefully teach Grier's body to kill cancer cells-- The antibody is given by IV for 5 days-- it is very painful and we have been warned the first day is very hard to watch- He is given premeds... benedryl (sometimes you get hives... and morphine & dilaudid ( BIG pain med)--- then during the infusion he will also be given rescue drugs to help relieve the pain-- They promise he will not remember a thing!! He will most likely sleep a lot too-- This will last M-F -- so the 14th-18th! I was planning on coming home after that until they said he would do Radiation the following Monday-- This will take place 2x a day with Anesthesia each time because he has to lay perfectly still--- and remember he is 3!~ He will have Radiation for seven days-- M-F and then off for the weekend and then Monday and Tuesday- They say counts are not affected that much but the side effects are fatigue.. vomiting, diarrhea.. GREAT! This should end on the 29th-- I hope to come home but there is talk that we would have to stay because of a blood test they need to check to see if he can continue 3f8-- timing is critical for the tests-- and then we may be close to the 2nd round of 3f8--- So-- as you can see it will be a lot to deal with in the next few weeks-- If you want to know all the details of the 3F8 then go to MSKCC.org or www.bandofparents.org--
Grier is feeling really good at home-- he has enjoyed going to carpool-- seeing friends-- riding his big grey truck-- and sleeping in his own bed ( I have enjoyed that too!!) He does have a cold now and I hope he gets rid of it before we have to leave again!!
Our last few days have been very busy-- the hardest thing is to cram everything that needs to be done at our house in the few days we are actually in it!! It is hard to believe how much time was spent away from home in 2007-- and 2008 is starting out the same! I think this may be the last long stay in NY for awhile-- then we will be on a more regular schedule-- ( or at least as regular as it gets with MSKCC!!) That is it for now-- I will update when we know our plans-- we still have not heard about his bone marrow yet-- Hopefully it is still clean-- or all these plans will change!