T minus 4
T-4. That’s how they do the countdown to transplant day at the hospital. Thursday will be day 0, which is like a new birthday for Lucas: February 11, 2021.
Lucas at the radiation intake desk, surrounded by people 70 and older
The past 9 days, Lucas has been a CHAMP. Lucas underwent 6 days of radiation with 9 different treatments to his brain and entire body. Lucas did all this fully awake. He told us that he did not want to receive sedation which is frequently given because kids his age (and older) can’t sit still. In fact, the entire radiation team and the nurses said most 18-year-olds couldn’t do this awake. The head of radiation for Penn asked ‘Lucas how are you able to do this?’ He responded ‘I just do it’. That about sums up this warrior.
At the end they gave him a special certificate ( so thoughtful ) to recognize his courage.
The conditioning chemos started yesterday. The first one which is for 48 hours can burn your skin when its excreted so he has to take showers every 6 hours. No complaints from Lucas. The doctors will be paying close attention to his neurological system and blood pressure given his history.
We’re taking one day at a time literally doing the countdown with him. He’s being a trooper and though confined to his room and an IV pole he continues to shoot hoops. He looks most forward to Celtics game and of course the Super Bowl tonight.
Dylan’s ready ‘to give her bones to Lucas’ as she says.
Thank you for your prayers and support for Lucas!
We pray:
* For continued protection and safety of his brain and all organs during the conditioning chemos.
* May his spinal fluid and blood pressure stay in the normal range during this phase.
* For no complications, infections, fevers or any damage to Lucas’s body internally with these chemos.
* Huge prayers for the marrow and spinal fluid stay at zero disease thru to transplant on the 11th.
* May all of these chemotherapies do the work they need to having him in the best possible position to receive and accept Dylan’s cells for transplant.
