about CaringBridge  |  home page  |  view guestbook  |  view photos  |  read journal history  |  make a tribute donation
 
 

Parker's Page

Oh boy...snowboard season again!

On July 9, 2002 Parker was almost 3 years old when diagnosed with Philadelphia Positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. (Now 9 years old, August 5, 2008). Only 4% of ALL's are Philadelphia positive. This Philadelphia chromosome makes it a much more aggressive type of leukemia and requires a more intense chemotherapy regimen. A drug called Gleevec was given in the hopes that it would be a cure. However, doctors across the nation are now seeing patients relapse on this drug. The only cure now is a bone marrow transplant. On Feb 1, 2005, we jumped ship and headed to the University of Duke Medical Center in North Carolina for a 6/6 unrelated cord blood transplant. Parker received his new cells on March 23, 2005. Please read the daily journals below to see how Parker is doing.



____________________ _ _ _ ____________________


Take me to the Jeff Gordon Foundation.....Parker's story - part 1

Take me to the Jeff Gordon Foundation.....Parker's story - part 2


____________________ _ _ _ ____________________

2005 Schedule for treatment:
Feb. 22, start anibiotics
Mar. 3, central line installed
Mar. 14, day number -9, TBI began (total body radiation)
Mar. 18, admitted into the hospital
Mar. 19, day -4, begin chemo
Mar. 21, Richard has surgery to get central line
Mar. 23, day 0, TRANSPLANT
Apr. 21, Richard has surgery to remove central line
Apr. 26, Day 34 is last day in the hospital
Jul. 15, Day 114 Parker has surgery to remove central line
Jul. 27, Day 126 discharge from Duke Medical Center
Aug. 3, Day 133 Back home for clinic at Children's Hospital of Central California
Oct. 3, Day 194 Duke Medical Center for 6 month checkup
Dec. 13, Day 262 Duke Medical Center for 9 month checkup

2006 Schedule for treatment:
Apr. 4, Day 378 Duke Medical Center for 12 month checkup
Apr. 11, Day 385 Duke Medical Center for continued 12 month checkup
Oct. 11, Day 575 Duke Medical Center for 18 month checkup

2007 Schedule for treatment:
Apr. 3, 2007 Day 741 Duke Medical Center for 24 month checkup
Oct. 9, 2007 Day 923 Duke Medical Center for 30 month checkup

2008 Schedule for treatment:
Mar. 18, 2008 Day 1098 Duke Medical Center for 36 month checkup
Oct. 9, 2008 Day 1296 Duke Medical Center for 42 month checkup

2009 Schedule for treatment:
Jan. 22, 2009 Day 1400 Duke Medical Center for 45 month checkup





Parker giving the invocation at the Jeff Gordon Foundation dinner.





Parker & Jeff Gordon





Parker & Jimmie Johnson





Duke Soccer Team


__________________ _ _ _ ____________________




Here is a list of children we've met that could use your prayers and support. Just click on the links below and when you get there, please consider leaving a few words of encouragement.

Alex, Alexia, AJ, Amelia Grace, Bailey, Caleb, Courtney,
Donovan, Evanosky Family, Grant, * Isaiah,
* Joshua, * Jared, Karagin, Maddy, Mason, * Meredith, Micah Joshua,
Micah, Michael, IronMike, Miranda, * Noah, Parker B., Rhyan,
Ryan, Sherilyn, Spencer Rocket, Tatem Family, * Taylor,

* Same diagnosis as Parker


____________________ _ _ _ ____________________

Normal Range for Blood Counts:
WBC=5.0-10.0
HGB=11.5-13.5
Plts=150,000-300,000
ANC= >1000



____________________ _ _ _ ____________________






New pictures 12/5/2008


Take me to.....Parker's Team - Fresno



Journal

Wednesday, December 30, 2008 9:22 PM CST

Update.....Tuesday, Jan. 6

Yesterday's trip to Stanford was pretty much a waste of time. The doctor was perplexed as to what to do with Parker's Graft vs. Host disease skin issues. He took a bunch of pictures of his skin and said that he is going to get a team of specialists together to discusses Parker's case and get back to us.

Dr. Kurtzberg from Duke is increasing Parker's I.V. meds to once everyother week, and scheduling him to see some specialists at Duke when he visits on the 22nd.

Parker is really having a rough time with this skin stuff. He is convinced that he looks like a monster. People stare at him everywhere we go. It's just so very sad, and breaks my heart.

Please pray for a cure.

Love,

Meliss

________________________________________





Well....I don't know HOW we did it, but we made it past the Chicken Pox ordeal without Parker catching it! With Connor and I BOTH getting it, it had to be SERIOUS prayers to keep Parker, the immune suppressed child, from the outbreak.

It will be soooo nice when he is off all of his meds so we can start his vaccines. Some people asked us why Connor can't get his either and the answer is that many of the vaccines are "live" and Parker can catch the disease from Connor. So....when Parker is free and clear to get his shots, Connor will get his too. Unfortunately, right now we have to rely on the belief that everyone else has had their shots and THAT isn't necessarily an assumption that we can make.

Christmas was so nice this year. We spent time with family, played games, and just really enjoyed everyone and everything that came along with the joy of the season. Parker was supposed to be baptized right before Christmas, only to be canceled from my Pox outbreak. We will reschedule it soon!

All in all, we are doing well. Parker continues to have the same Graft vs. Host disease skin issues and we are traveling to Stanford next week to see a specialist. He is also off to Duke again in a few weeks to see Dr. K. Everyone is working really hard to make things better. Please continue to pray for clear skin, so that Parker can enjoy a normal life.

And.....Yes, it's almost CYCLING season!!!!

Interested in joining Parker's fundraising cycling team??? We raised over $90,000 last year for our charities! To become a member.......in exchange for you raising $1,000 for great causes like the Central California Blood Center and the Lance Armstrong Foundation, we'll train you to ride 100 miles! Once you train one fundraising season, you only have to pay your yearly dues to remain a member. We are over 250 members strong! Come join the fun!!! We also have about 25 loaner bikes for those people wanting to try it, but don't own a road bike!

This is going to be an exciting season with the "Tour of California" scheduled to come through our town in February! We plan on helping out and possibly getting a glimpse of Lance Armstrong, and some other big name cyclist!

SCHEDULE FOR THE NEW SEASON:
INFO MEETINGS
January 29 2009 7:00PM Fig Garden Library 3071 W. Bullard
February 3 2009 7:00PM Woodward Park Library 944 E. Perrin

FUN RIDE - January 31st
Meet in front of Stevens Bicycles 1365 N. Willow Clovis. Registration @ 9:00AM
Ride @ 10:00AM Approximately 11 miles.

Questions call Cavin @ 559-434-0363


Wishing you and yours a happy, healthy, safe 2009!

Love,

Melissa, Richard, Connor, and Parker

Read Journal History


Sign and view the guestbook
Sign and View Guestbook

View personal photos

View Photos

Hospital Information:

Patient Room:

Home



Links:

http://www.cencalblood.org   Central California Blood Center
http://www.newhopechurch.net   Parker's Church Web Site
http://smilequilt.com/parker.html   Smile Quilts


 
 

E-mail Author: mich_rissy@juno.com

 
 

This season, please give to CaringBridge.
 

This page has been viewed 381731 times.

 

Note: The foregoing information was authored by the patient, parent or guardian, or other parties who are solely responsible for the content. Such announcements or their content are not necessarily endorsed by CaringBridge, Inc. or any sponsoring agent.  This information does not confirm that anyone is or was actually a patient at any facility.
 
 
Copyright Policy  |  Privacy Policy  |  Terms of Use  |  Donate |  How to Help |  Contact Us  |  FAQs
Copyright © 1997-2005 CaringBridge, a nonprofit organization. All rights reserved.
 
Visit the Onvoy website