IT'S JULY ALREADY

Thank you to all the people who have asked us how they can become a bone marrow donor. Brendan still does not have a marrow match. Sydney has run a second search but unfortunately a more suitable match has not been found. They are doing another search to find some more cord blood. The plan at the moment is for Brendan to have a double cord blood transplant. His doctors are still not happy with the matches we have and would prefer a better (closer) match.


Brendan will have his 6th bone marrow biopsy next Wednesday. The hope is that his marrow is still stable and that we have some more time. If his marrow is stable we will then give Brendan a longer break between biopsies. Even though Brendan's blood counts are strange they too seem to be stable. He is overall happier, is in a lot less pain, has not had a fever since April and is being weaned off the steroids. The anti inflammatory drug he is on seems to be working some magic.


We all seem to be adapting to living a life where no one knows what will come next. We are planning a family holiday in October and Brendan has been asked to a week long camp with Camp Quality to the Gold Coast in November. He is still attending school part time and is learning to adapt to the constant interruptions to his schooling. He always amazes me at the amount of strength and courage he has when it comes to medical tests. It has nearly been a year since Brendan's first biopsy. The shock and distress are fading slowly. The doctors make sure that they remind you at every visit just how life threatening Brendan's illness is. I have asked one of the doctors to stop focusing on Brendan dying and start considering what we see today and for the next few weeks. Brendan does not feel he is missing out on anything and is a very happy little fellow. He looks forward to all the things other children look forward too. He knows he is sick and has cancer, but thinks that going to Sydney for a transplant is a exciting adventure.

If anyone is interested in becoming a marrow donor please visit the Bone Marrow Registry. For more information look at Brendan's Friday the 22nd of September 2006 blog. Ideally (in the perfect world) Brendan would have a better match and one that is from bone marrow.

Hope everyone is well and a big superhero HELLO from Brendan.