After much prayer and a consultation with Seattle (and their opinion that there was no medical advantage to conducting the procedure there rather than Nashville), we've decided to have the procedure done at Vanderbilt Children's in Nashville.
Over the past month AJ's blood counts have continued to drop so that it is now time to move forward with the transplant.
AJ will have to go through a thorough work-up over the next month to make sure he doesn't have any hidden infections (because he will be without an immune system for a few weeks).
The plan is for him to have a new marrow biopsy on July 1st, along with obtaining baselines for all his major organs. On the 14th he'll have another viral screening (to make sure he hasn't been exposed to anything). They will also do an overall health inspection of Austin on the 14th to make sure he doesn't have any infections (since they would end up getting transferred). Following these screens AJ will be on "lock down" at home (with no visitors) as to not expose him to anything before his procedures begin. Assuming nobody is sick, they will admit AJ to the hospital sometime during the week of July 20. He will receive a Hickman line (a central line) then begin chemo the following day. After 5 days of chemo they will do the transplant. The day of the transplant becomes day 0.
The marrow is taken from Austin via a needle and is an out-patient procedure. (Austin is still unaware of this and we will be giving him information as appropriate and in terms for a 5 year old to understand). The marrow gets dripped into AJ via an IV line.
It will take up to 28 days to tell if the transplant worked. About that same time, (when his white blood cells recover to an acceptable level) they will let him out of the hospital, but he will have to stay sheltered and within 20 minutes of the hospital until at least the 100 day mark. If all goes well, he'll be allowed to come back home after 100 days.
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During this time we will be using the website to send updates on his progress. Please take time often to send AJ messages as he looks so forward to receiving them. Please feel free to send him funny stories or even jokes (the cornier the better) and tell him about the things going on in your world - this will be an important part to keeping his spirits up, keeping him in touch with his family and his friends, and alleviating any feelings of isolation.
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As always, please continue to pray for AJ's recovery, for the family's strength, and for the doctors' wisdom.
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