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Jared LaCombe 
Welcome to Jared LaCombes' Web Page. It has been provided to keep our family and friends updated about Jared's progress. Jared was diagnosed with a rare form of child hood leukemia on February 3, 2004. (ALL with Philadelphia Chromosome). He underwent an unrelated chord blood transplant (stem cell), on May 5, 2004. Jared then suffered from a stroke, caused by an infection, on February 6, 2005. He spent over six month's in the hospital, two of those at a rehabilition hospital. Jared fought for over 6 months trying to regain strength and the ability to walk, however, one more twist in the road put Jared in the hospital in May 2006. The doctors didn't know what was wrong at Florida Hospital so they air lifted Jared to Duke, once again. A brain biopsy showed a large blood clot still present from the initial stroke in 2005. The blood clot was removed and Jared prevailed once again! Jared has been back home since October 2006 and continues to fight his fight. He has started walking with a walker but still unable to use his left arm and hand. We are so thankful to God and to the wonderful doctors who have proved theirselves to be a gift from God to Jared. Thank you Dr. Kurtzberg, Dr. Hajjar and Dr. Fuches. We are forever grateful!!
Journal
Thursday, October 18, 2007 4:34 PM CDT Hi Everyone,
I have definately had a case of writer's block. So, so sorry! We have alot to update on, though. We left off last time right before we took our summer trip to North Carolina. As you can see from the new pictures I just posted, Jared got to catch up with some pretty special people we have missed. Anyway, the pictures are huge because it took me a very long time to put them on there and I did spend alot of time trying to reduce them, but that did not happen.
The summer trip to North Carolina also included a trip to Baltimore. We spent a few days in N.Carolina doing all the long tests required for his check up and did enjoy some one on one time with both Dora (Jared's incredible Physical Therapist), and with Leigha ( Jared's transplant friend) and her family. After Duke we headed to Baltimore and spent a few days with our family there. We had a great time. We stayed with my cousin and his wife who have 2 Great Danes. Jared had a real connection with them. Unfortunately, Jared took a fall out of bed one morning and sprained his left ankle. Mom also got a nice bruise from trying to stop his fall. It was a comedy of errors. It was a set back for Jared because he had been doing so well with his walking. Three weeks later and he was back on his feet, though.
Jared had hand and arm surgery here at home in July. This surgery provided him with some relief from the tone he had been experiencing and has allowed us to continue back with arm therapy (Occupational Therapy). The surgery was alot more painful and took longer to heal than we had anticipated. Jared was a trooper!
He started back at school in August and takes four classes and lunch at school. 4-5 hours of free time for Mom! He takes Algebra and English 2 hours each at home. With classes at school and home on top of 2-3 visits of therapy a week, we are very very busy. You all would be so impressed to see the improvements Jared has made. We also have an Occupational Therapist from the Elks who comes into our home once a week for an hour. She is going to work with Jared on self care for the next six months. What a help she is! At the beginning of the summer Jared was walking with his hemi walker (one handed walker). Then he went to a four prong cane which he is currently using the most. He did take his first steps without anything just a few weeks ago and is practicing walking with just a cane. He had two falls over the past couple months but they didn't set him back. He is tough and keeps pushing to get stronger.
We have had opposition with the insurance company on one of his meds and after 3 months of fighting, we finally won. We have had to push and push for many things since Jared has been sick but we have been so blessed with all of our help from friends and family.
Next Friday, the 26th, we leave for Jared's Make-A-Wish trip. He has chosen to see the Patriot's play the Redskins in Massachussetes. He will also get to meet the defensive player, Teddy Bruschi. Not sure if I spelled that right. He is very excited and so are Don and I. We can't wait to see his face light up at all the excitement.
I am so sorry it has taken so long to update you all. Know that we are always grateful for you checking the site and we do read the messages. We pray for the families who are still at Duke and the ones who go there everyday. It is a tough place and I try not to get too envolved with the other kids, personally, but you just can't help to follow up on the ones who touched your lives. Please pray for baby Sophia who has had many issues and still is fighting her fight.
We want to say hi to our friends who went down this road with Jared and to the parents of the ones we lost. God bless and know we think about and pray for you all.
God bless,
Lynn, Don, and Jared
Read Journal History
Hospital Information: Duke Pediatric Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplant
Duke University Medical Center
Box 3350, Durham, NC 27710
( 919 ) - 668-1100 Fax # ( 919 )- 668-1183
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