Nikki will be blogging for 24 hours on July 29th to raise money for the Children's Neuroblastoma Cancer Foundation in honor of brave NB Fighters! Please
Ethan Smith is a Fighter!! {Post #18 5:30 PM} [We're up to $837!!! Just a bit more to $1000!!!!
My son's name is Ethan Smith. He was diagnosed on March 5th, 2005 with NB Stage 4. He has completed chemotherapy, surgery, a stem cell transplant, radiation, and has just completed the 3F8 Antibody Treatment at Sloan Kettering, as we have just found out he is HAMA positive. Which is GREAT news!!!!!!!
Ethan is currently HAMA positive. This is GREAT news. Not only is Ethan's immune system trained to fight off those nasty Neurobalstoma cells, but he no longer needs to go to New York for the 3F8 Antibody Treatments. From this point onward he only needs to have his routine scans every three months to confirm his NED (No Evidence of Disease) status. As of right now Ethan is 9 months disease free.
It looks as if Ethan's next series of scans are due in Mid-August.
Goal 1- To get Ethan into Ned Status (disease free). This was confirmed on Oct. 21st, 2005.
Goal 2- To get Ethan Hama Possitive after 4 rounds of 3F8 treatments. This was confirmed on July 19th, 2006 (after 5 rounds of treatment) PERFECT!
Goal 3- To keep Ethan disease free forever. This will be the longest goal to follow. However, already having 9 months behind him, he is walking the road to recovery. As time goes by, the likely hood of the cancer returning becomes less and less.
Nikki’s Notes: Reading up on Ethan, I learned that he really enjoys the outdoors. He loves to go to the park or ride his bike. His favorite toys are fire trucks and construction vehicles. His favorite baseball team is the Boston Red Sox. So, if you’re a Red Sox fan, stop by his website & leave a message!! www.caringbridge.org/visit/ethansmith
My son's name is Ethan Smith. He was diagnosed on March 5th, 2005 with NB Stage 4. He has completed chemotherapy, surgery, a stem cell transplant, radiation, and has just completed the 3F8 Antibody Treatment at Sloan Kettering, as we have just found out he is HAMA positive. Which is GREAT news!!!!!!!
Ethan is currently HAMA positive. This is GREAT news. Not only is Ethan's immune system trained to fight off those nasty Neurobalstoma cells, but he no longer needs to go to New York for the 3F8 Antibody Treatments. From this point onward he only needs to have his routine scans every three months to confirm his NED (No Evidence of Disease) status. As of right now Ethan is 9 months disease free.
It looks as if Ethan's next series of scans are due in Mid-August.
Goal 1- To get Ethan into Ned Status (disease free). This was confirmed on Oct. 21st, 2005.
Goal 2- To get Ethan Hama Possitive after 4 rounds of 3F8 treatments. This was confirmed on July 19th, 2006 (after 5 rounds of treatment) PERFECT!
Goal 3- To keep Ethan disease free forever. This will be the longest goal to follow. However, already having 9 months behind him, he is walking the road to recovery. As time goes by, the likely hood of the cancer returning becomes less and less.
Nikki’s Notes: Reading up on Ethan, I learned that he really enjoys the outdoors. He loves to go to the park or ride his bike. His favorite toys are fire trucks and construction vehicles. His favorite baseball team is the Boston Red Sox. So, if you’re a Red Sox fan, stop by his website & leave a message!! www.caringbridge.org/visit/ethansmith
posted by nikki the red at 5:31 PM
5 Comments:
$837? That's fantastic!
I was determined to be home for Ethan's time slot for this blog-a-thon. I've been out on a motorcyle ride all afternoon. I am so greatful that you are doing this for him.
Ethan has been my inpiration. His bravery has been amazing.
I love you buddy.
I commented at length earlier, but must have done it wrong, because it never appeared. Here's a re-do.
Thanks for blogging for all of these inspirational children. I know none of them personally, but I visit many of them at their websites everyday. I have learned so much knowing them, even if it is only through the internet. Reading each of these stories confirms for me what I have known for quite a long while. Every child has a different and special story because NB is a tricky, designer disease that effects each individual differently. I know children who suffered every set back during treatment who are doing fine now and others who "breezed through" who did fine too. Sadly, there are others on both sides of the coin who did not make it.
Some children seem to have disease that simmers and grows slowly. Others have disease that acts like a runaway freight train. Some treatments work great for one child, while the same treatment doesn't work or has hard to live with side effects for other children.
Because NB is so idiosynchratic, it is frustrating for parents, doctors, nurses, and other care givers to make sense of the disease. Maybe fundraisers like this will eventually fund setting up and maintaining a database of the experiences of all of these children, so that we can learn more about the monster of a disease that takes too many of our precious ones.
Thank you Nikki for blogging away today. I have dropped in several times and will continue to tune in tonight. Good luck with your party and I hope you can rest once the house is clean.
Vickie Buenger
ethan is beautiful!
and thank you vickie!!!
In principle, a good happen, support the views of the author
Post a Comment
<< Home