Sorry it has been so long since I have updated the site, but it has been very busy. Since I last updated we have decided to place Westin in the antibody study at St Jude. Although his scans were stable we were not making good headway at destroying anything so we decided to go ahead and do the ICE chemo. We had already made plans and we were to begin this week; however, out of the blue our doctor from Johnson City called and said they thought Westin could benefit from the antibody study. Since we had not been asking about this and had made our thoughts known that we would do ICE and wait for the antibody to get further we feel like this was a direct answer from the Lord. So, even though the study is not as far as we want it to be we are following with our heart and entering the study. This week has been full of tests and more tests before we start. Thursday night Westin was in horrible leg pain so we called and got some tylenol with codeine. Because this effects liver function I questioned our NP in D Clinic on Friday about keeping him on the tylenol with codeine since we needed those functions down at a certain number. She and the other docs have felt all along that this leg pain is due to the cells in his leg, but she went ahead and ordered an xray of the leg. To our suprise he had two places that had been fractured at some point and had started to heal, but needed to be braced or restrained from movement. I feel like this happened back in October as this is when Westin began having some problem with that leg; however, no one ever did an xray. We just discounted to some of the things that had happened over time and since he was walking and running just let it go. Can you imagine the pain he has had over this leg? Anyway, he has a boot on it from below the knee down and it is removable. He did not like the idea at first but he is doing good with it now. Our plans right now are to go into the antibody study Monday night and start the infusion on Tuesday. It will run four days for 4 hours each day. All things going okay we will leave for home on Saturday. Pray for this study and pray for our little man to handle the antibody with no side effects other than total tumor destruction!

The pics above are of Emma and Westin in the SJ lobby; Westin and Bella ( a little girl who just showed up in our room at RMH....told me her name and proceeded to paint with Westin!) Normally Westin would be objecting to this bold step from any girl......but I think he may be a little sweet on her. Her brother is a little over 2 and has neuroblastoma and is headed into transplant. It was so cute the two of them taking turns and everything........it is amazing what a girl does to a little boy!! Especially one that takes CHARGE!! (and is cute to boot!)

I pray you all have a blessed day.......Julie