Hello buddies!
I hope that your summer has been totally fantastic ☀️
I’m popping in these days to give an update on Dominic so quite a few of you have created and requested how he is accomplishing, and how the operation went, and I thank you for your patience!

Very first, a Thank You
The outpouring of beautiful cards, postcards, and gifts that have been sent to my PO box has been so heartwarming. Our family members is completely and totally humbled by your thoughtfulness, and we thank you from the base of our hearts for using time out of your working day to do some thing that would carry a smile to Dominic’s face ❤️ THANK YOU!
Medical procedures Update

Dominic had his tumor resection operation on Monday, June 20th at Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York. He went into the operating space at 9:30am and arrived in his space in the pediatric ICU close to 6:45pm. Leaving him in that working area was intestine-wrenching, but an OR nurse was equipped to deliver updates on a typical basis all over the working day, which designed all of the ready substantially fewer agonizing. The surgeon was capable to take away his total tumor, as nicely as all of the diseased lymph nodes that ended up determined in his neck, abdomen, and pelvis. He was secure through the whole procedure, misplaced really small blood, and only stayed in the ICU for two days.

The medical procedures only could not have absent any better and we are just so grateful to the surgeon and for all of the prayers that were being sent up for Dominic and the surgical staff that working day. There is a person rogue lymph node beneath his remaining clavicle that the surgeon knew likely in wasn’t ready to be arrived at from both the neck or the thoracoabdominal incision. It will be re-scanned and either removed by using a scope process or if it has shrunk sufficient, radiated.
Recovery was extremely sluggish going the first several days having just a handful of steps was difficult for Dominic and it was so hard to see him battling and becoming fatigued by such straightforward movements. He experienced a upper body tube and catheter for four times submit-surgical treatment, and an belly drain for a 7 days, which didn’t support! But it was also awesome to see what a distinction just a few of days could make. Doing work with PT and OT was fantastic and inside a week he was going for walks again and forth to the playroom in the hospital.


A couple of times following surgical procedure, they found a chylous leak (generally, excess fat leaking by means of the lymphatic technique), which we had been advised beforehand would be a chance since so many lymph nodes would be eradicated. It was the only real complication put up-surgical procedures they handled it with medication and a reduced-unwanted fat diet for about 5 days and it resolved.
A week immediately after surgical treatment, Dominic started his fourth spherical of chemo. This 1 strike him the most difficult, probably for the reason that he was however recovering from surgical procedure, he misplaced his urge for food for a selection of times, experienced some nausea, and was additional weary than usual. We had been able to head back house following that cycle of chemo was complete, 11 times immediately after his surgical treatment.

Back again House
The surgeon indicated that comprehensive recovery will choose about two months, but that walking and mild physical exercise is wonderful for him, so he commenced by strolling our driveway and cul de sac and received again on his pedal kart bike (bike riding was physician-authorized) for some quick rides. He has little by little regained a ton of strength, as perfectly as variety of movement, and is driving his bike quicker and is up and taking part in like typical.

Just one of our most significant hurdles considering the fact that getting dwelling is that he just was not back again to himself for pretty some time, which we had been explained to was fully ordinary. He was lethargic, not talkative, not intrigued in playing, and we all skipped our Dominic!
Part of the situation is that it took him a ton lengthier to rebound from this previous spherical of chemo than any of the prior rounds that he experienced. His white counts sat bottomed out at or close to zero for two whole weeks, and he wanted three platelet transfusions and two blood transfusions within just a 7 days. We logged some Extensive days at clinic the 7 days immediately after we got back.

The other issue is that he had prolonged reduction of appetite immediately after chemo and had ongoing to reduce weight (and he was very little to commence with!). As a result, the medical doctors commenced him on an hunger stimulant a 7 days in the past and it appears to be to have kicked in over the past few of times for the reason that he’s been ingesting so much improved and attained a little in excess of a 50 percent pound because his clinic appointment past week.
All of his counts begun coming back again up in the previous couple of times and he hasn’t essential any transfusions considering the fact that early previous 7 days. We’re so grateful he’s obtaining back to his aged self, slowly and gradually but surely!

Following Steps…
Upcoming week, Dominic will undertake a battery of scans and a bone marrow biopsy to see the specific position of the ailment article-surgical procedure and right after completion of chemo.
Soon thereafter, he’ll get started his very first spherical of immunotherapy antibody solutions, and then have radiation. The extended-expression strategy is that he will have at minimum 5 rounds of immunotherapy therapies, spaced out about a month aside. Scans will be done just after just about every two rounds to see how things are on the lookout. Asking for tons of prayers that we get clear scans as before long as achievable 🙏🏻
Thank you all so considerably once more, for reaching out and inquiring about Dominic, for trying to keep him in your prayers, for showering him with playing cards, and for continuing to really like on us as a family. We come to feel you, and your kindness and prayers raise us up and give us power.
I’ll share yet another update right after we get through our following techniques! In the meantime, we’re soaking up just about every solitary day that we can all devote time collectively less than 1 roof ❤️

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