More Chemo, Stem-Cell Transplant, and Radiation

Mike, Luke and I went to the clinic yesterday afternoon for a post surgery check-up and to review the pathology report. Now that the entire tumor has been examined the classification changed from what we previously thought was favorable histology, to un-favorable histology. This means Luke is going to need some high doses of chemotherapy to make absolutely sure there aren't anymore neuroblastoma cells in his body. With high dose chemo they will send us to San Francisco to have Luke's stem-cells harvested, then after chemo they replace his stem-cells to help him recover from the treatment. This will be followed by radiation treatment in Sacramento, to ensure all those bad guys are gone. He will then have to take pills for six months. This was disappointing news, we feel, emotionally, very much the same as we did when he was first diagnosed. Tomorrow they will give Luke a bone marrow aspiration and Thursday he will have another C.T. scan and bone scan to make sure all are still cancer free.
Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the ends of the Earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, have mercy on my Lukas and heal him. -Erica