Day 6: Surgery (2008-03-19)

Today was another good day on the road to recovery. Further tests revealed an improved prognosis for Braxton.


SURGERY

The day started with surgery. Braxton was supposed to arrive at the hospital at 6:30am with surgery scheduled for 8:30am. Since each of Braxton's two surgeries on his knee were delayed by several hours, it was decided that arriving at 7:00am should be early enough. So Braxton, Brad, and Beth left the house at 6:20am and got to the hospital at about 7:05am. Meanwhile the hospital woke up David at 6:55am with a call to see if Braxton was on his way.

No delays in surgery today. As soon as Braxton arrived he whisked away into prep for surgery.

The surgery went well. No complications. The catheter port was inserted successfully. And the doctors were able to extract some bone marrow and perform the spinal tap.


GOOD NEWS

The results of the bone marrow and spinal fluid tests were good. No cancer was found in either of these systems. With the lymphotic cancer all being localized to the blood stream in and around his left knee, Braxton's prognosis is very good. Doctors now believe that treatment will last only four months.

Yay!!


TREATMENT SCHEDULE

Beth and Brad had a team meeting with Braxton's doctors to learn about the schedule for Braxton's treatments. Although treatment is now expected to last for only four months, it is going to be a rough four months.

To begin with, each round of chemotherapy will be accompanied with a four to five day hospital stay. Braxton is scheduled to stay in the hospital through the Easter weekend and come home on Monday. Then doctors say that the second round of chemotherapy will begin almost right away. He is scheduled to return to the hospital next Thursday. Six days in the hospital, three days at home, and then another five days in the hospital.

The chemo will cause Braxton's hair to fall out. The doctors prefer to have the head shaved before this starts happening, so Braxton is scheduled to have his head shaved on Saturday.

Braxton's treatment will not only include chemotherapy, but will also include aggressive treatment with other drugs including some steroids. One of the side effects of all of these treatments is that Braxton's immune system will be compromised. This means that for the next four months he is to be kept away from large crowds and other places where he would encounter viruses. There will be no more school for Braxton this year. His 8th grade year is done (although he will still do the work at home with the assistance of a tutor).



FAMILY VISIT

Braxton felt good after surgery and the rest of the family was able to visit him tonight. Bayley and Zoe brought him some video games and movies and the three of them played Monopoly during the evening.


NCAA BRACKETS

Braxton is still a normal thirteen year-old boy and likes basketball. So with the help of his grandfather he filled out a bracket for the upcoming March Madness. Braxton is picking Kansas to go all the way.