Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Nick was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia on Tuesday September 6th, 2016. As you can imagine we are still digesting all the information involving both the cancer itself as well as the treatment. In the last 2 weeks we have all learned what Leukemia is, as well how it had been affecting him. "Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a type of cancer in which the bone marrow makes too many immature lymphocytes (a type of white blood cells)."

Nick had been having issues with fatigue beginning in July and began experiencing dizziness and lightheadedness at soccer practice in early August. We had been to a range of doctors to have him checked out but they don't routinely do blood work on kids unless other things warrant it. The pediatrician had checked his iron and that is what raised the red flag on the day he was diagnosed. They had checked his iron 2 weeks previously at an appointment with the pediatrician. It was a bit low and the pediatrician asked him to eat a little more red meat as well as spinach. He went back to the pediatrician the Tuesday morning he was diagnosed due to a high fever. He started getting sick Saturday night and we thought it was a flu bug that his soccer team had been passing around. By Tuesday morning he had been running a fever off and on as high as 104'. The Nurse Practitioner tested him for strep and it came back positive but was concerned by how pale he looked and decided to test his iron again. His iron was almost half of what it was 2 weeks prior so he was sent to Primary Children's Hospital for full blood work. The blood work showed all his blood counts were really low and he was immediately admitted to Primary Children's!

On Wednesday Sept. 7th he went to the Operating Room for a Picc Line for his treatments and blood draws, a Lumbar Puncture as well as a Bone Marrow Aspirate. Good news was that there was no Leukemia cells in his spinal fluid. He had his first chemo that evening.

Friday Sept. 9th was Nick's 13th Birthday. Primary Children's knows how to make you feel better on your birthday - He had an awesome nurse (Racheal) who made an awesome Happy Birthday Nick banner with the coolest soccer players on it - Rinaldo, Beckerman, Beckham and Messi!! It was awesome and we loved the little arms. They provided laughs the whole weekend.

Fun birthday banner from his nurse!

The nursing staff came in and sang "Happy Birthday" and showered him with gifts- the favorite of which I believe was his U of U quilt that both myself and Alex are a bit jealous about! He had many visitors that day and he was feeling good as well! It was a good day. He did get an iPad Pro 9.7 inch so that was a pretty sweet birthday!

Him and Kate enjoying the iPad!

The weekend in the hospital was pretty quiet which was nice, but Nick was itching to get out. He was released on Wednesday Sept. 14th after another Lumbar puncture and his weekly chemo treatment. We were so glad to get him home and he was glad to leave the hospital.

Our sweet neighbor hung up this banner for us and we all loved it. Nick also had some very sweet friends bring over a welcome home poster. This kiddo has a lot of people who love him and are cheering him on.

Nick had a couple really good days at home hanging with his momma! We watched a movie or two and he built some Legos. It was wonderful! Saturday night he started getting sores in his mouth from the chemo. He had a rough night trying to sleep and Sunday morning he still wasn't feeling good. He wasn't drinking enough because of some sores in his mouth and began to get dehydrated. Spent the morning trying to keep him comfortable, trying to get him to drink and making sure he didn't have a temperature. About 4:00 he had started a temperature of about 101'. Due to his inability to fight infections or viruses of any fever requires him to go back to the hospital.

Sunday September 18th Nick was re-admitted to the hospital. The sores in his mouth are caused by Mucositis: "a painful inflammation and ulceration of the mucous membranes lining the digestive tract, usually as an adverse effect of chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment for cancer". At the hospital they can give him more meds to make him more comfortable and give him liquids when needed. That leaves us at today Monday, Sept. 19th.... Nick is still at the hospital, his fever is doing better but is still there. Doctors say that lots of kids can develop fevers just from the chemo itself and the bodies reaction to it. They have not found any other reason for the fever such as a virus or a infection so that is promising. 

We are so appreciative of all our family and friends that have shown us so much love an support. Nick is a fighter and will get through this. We are grateful for all the prayers on our families behalf!