News you WANT to read!

UPDATE:

Ever since Ryan's biopsy, there are a few times each day that he still gets really nauseas. However, since his taste buds are almost ALL back, he does manage to eat decently. His feet and ankles are still very swollen, which is a side effect from a med he is on, but overall, he is doing good.

Monday:

Went in for the usual appointment.

Blood work

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The labs are done to check his counts and his levels of this:

Cyclosporine- the immunosuppressant he will be one for the next 6 months-ish
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While we wait for his labs, I was worked on a blog header:

for the auction

(for info and items go HERE)

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and we BOTH froze:

Thank GOODNESS for the heated blankets!

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Then Ryan needed a few stitches on his cath because the two that hold it in place came out.

Time for some Lidocaine:

the sutures are IN... time to tie the knots

The finished product:

and ONE happy Ry!

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At this appointment, we were hoping to get his results back from his biopsy but only half were in:

100% of Ryan's blood is Donor Blood.

That means ALL Mitchell's cells are in and doing their job. Ryan now has his new DNA!

Go cells GO... fight, fight, fight!

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At home, Ryan has a little helper who LOVES to assist in giving him his meds:

Ryan was to meet with Dr. Yeager on Thursday, and since his counts are steady and he is feeling great, they decided to cancel his Weds appointment and just have him come in on Thursday. Ryan was really excited...maybe they would cancel the Friday appointment too?!?

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Tuesday:

Ryan was really tired and not feeling the best, so he rested and slept for most of the day. When he was awake, we all hung out and enjoyed EVERY bit of it! Still no call about his biopsy

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Wednesday:

After being home all day on Tuesday and with no appointments, Ryan was ready to get out. The weather is really cold right now (it is in the 50's) and we wanted to do something indoors...so we headed to the mall.

He enjoyed not having to wear a mask (as long as it is not a super crowded area) and had a fun time with his little dude

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The kiosks were in FULL force.

Ryan couldn't be bothered with any of them, EXCEPT one. Both he and Max could have watched:

for HOURS

(possible Christmas gift... we'll see?!?)

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Thursday:

Went into clinic for the usual appointment and then had an appointment with Dr. Yeager. We were VERY eager to see if the biopsy results were in and what they would say. Dr. Yeager came in and was very pleased with Ryan's appearance. He kept commenting on how great Ryan looked and the progress that he has made from just three weeks ago. He then went over Ryan's labs and said that things are looking good. His WBC, hemoglobin, and ALL the other things they check for are looking REALLY good! Then he told us the results of the biopsy that we have been waiting, hoping and praying for...

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"The pathology report shows that there are NO TRACES OF

CANCER in your BONE MARROW"

The floodgates opened upon our faces and we had the BIGGEST smiles across our faces. We couldn't help but feel SO much love and gratitude for a Heavenly Father who hears and answers prayers.

Dr. Yeager then did an examination of Ryan's liver and spleen (the other areas where Ryan had cancer) to check the size. He noticed that they both had shrunken from the last time he examined him two weeks ago (ANOTHER good sign that Mitchell's cells are attacking the cancer in those areas). Dr Yeager explained that more testing still needs to be done over the next year to make sure things are still progressing. Ryan will have a CAT/PET scan and another bone marrow biopsy around Day+100 (in about two months). He also thought that since Ryan is doing SO well, he can go to two appointments per week instead of three. Ryan will now go into clinic on Mondays and Thursdays.

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As we left the appointment I wanted to YELL because I was so happy. I think people at the Cancer Center probably thought it was weird that we were walking out smiling- but not with just any smile.... it was the BIGGEST you've EVER SEEN!!!!!

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The entire drive home was spent on the phone with family. Once home, we sat down and let all the good news sink in.

Then Hallie got home from school and we were greeted by more exciting news:

the snaggle tooth came out!

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So my mom snapped a picture of two VERY happy people

We went out to dinner to celebrate the good news

and

had a good LAUGH when Max said, "LOOK... it's Bambi!!!"

Through it all we continue to feel so blessed

...and in love

Thank you to EVERYONE who has prayed, fasted and given Ryan and our family so much love and support... We THANK YOU!

***GO TEAM RYAN***