Quick Update!

Hot off the presses... or more acurately, fresh out of the labs... our Hero's ANC has climbed back up to 1104 so he has been cleared to start his treatments! Stay tuned...

UPDATE TO THE UPDATE:
As stated above Joe's numbers are going back up - along with the ANC improvement came word that his Hematocrit was up to 35.1, platelets to 180 and WBC to 3.1. So as stated above, the green light has been given to start the tough Delayed Intensification phase. But as Mom says, 'we can't finish it unless we start it first.'

During this phase he will be getting Vincristine on Wednesday's for three Weeks and Doxborubicin for three weeks on Wednesday as well. He gets a PEG shot in both legs Monday 4/29 and a IT Methotrexate sedation Monday as well. He gets a week off of meds beginning 5/14 to prepare for 5/21 the Cytoxan (1 day admit) and ARA-C, daily doses in the hospital for 4 days. He will also be taking oral chemo at this time he will start the cousin to Mecaptopurine-Thioguanine for 14 days 5/21. If everything stays on schedule our Hero will be done with Thioguanine 6/3 and 2 weeks off and begin Maintenance (as long as his numbers are 750 or above) for 3 years beginning 6/18/08. This entails quarterly IT Methotrexate sedations, daily mecaptopurine; 2x weekly Bactrim, 1 monthly Vincristine, and 2x-5days a month Dexamethasone.

As you could all guess, with all that nasty stuff going in that means an increase in steroids to keep JoJo's numbers up. That increase (a double dose until the morning of May 14th) is most likely going to pack a hunger and craving inducing wallop for which the medical team advised Team Taylor to brace itself. Efforts are being made to do just that by going low salt as well as working to keep Joe busy and occupied (including continuing to play baseball for as long as he can until it gets too uncomfortable.)

This from the desk of Mom:

"We are so pleased to begin this last phase of intensive treatment. We are so proud of Joe. The Nurses are marveling at how great he is doing and how good he looks. We pray that this next three weeks for him isn't utter torture and discomfort. But WE CAN DO IT!

Rollin' rollin' rollin'. I am very pleased today."

And as all know, when Mom and Joe are pleased - all of Team Taylor is pleased. So keep the prayers and positive thoughts coming! The homestretch begins, stay tuned...