Happy Thanksgiving w/update on my son

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone, it's SharonT (ie's mom - 18 yr old diagnosed with

CML Aug 2008. Just wanted to say Happy Thanksgiving to everyone and

that I'm a little scared and hoping for good news for Thanksgiving.

ie has been doing ok on the Sprycel, better than the Gleevec,

his blood counts have been succesfully dropping. At diagnosis his

WBC was 58,000, in September it was 5,100 and in October it was

4,700 little low, but so far so good. His hemoglobin has been low

and they are watching that closely. I wouldn't be surprised if it's

still low tomorrow if he starts some sort of supplments for that.

Tomorrow is his appointment with Dr. Shah and he's having his first

PCR done since diagnosis. Anyone know if those results will be as

quick as the blood counts? Usually at clinic we do labs and then

appointment an hour later with results reviewed with doctor. Is PCR

result that way in terms of how quick they get the results? I'm so

hoping for some good Thanksgiving news about a log reduction for

ie. I've been doing a ton of research still trying to educate

myself about CML and have learned alot just by reading everyones

posts here. I'm still a little shy here but felt the need to thank

all of you today for educating me since my son's CML diagnosis and

for all the support I received when I do reach out. ie's doing

really well at Cal Berkeley, loves it there and the excitment in his

voice on election night (we spoke about 5 times that night as the

results were coming in) and oh how I wish I could have seen the look

on his face that went with the tone of excitment in his voice while

he was rejoicing with the students at Cal, you should have heard the

cheers in the background, I had goosebumps that night all night. I

told him " baby, you worked hard to get there and you go ahead and

enjoy every minute of the experience, get off the phone with me " . He

truly is loving the Berkeley experience. Last week he was just as

excited with Cal beating Stanford and getting that axe back LOL.

I'm looking forward to having him home for both Thanksgiving and his

Christmas break, I get him for a whole month. I miss my son so much

and even though he's not that far away from home home and I have a 3

year old and 13 year old still at home, my home just seems so empty

without him in it. I'm doing better accepting and trying not to be

so hard on myself. ie has both CML and cystic fibrosis so as a

mom it's a double wammy in 21 months for me as he was diagnosed with

CF at 16 years old. He's getting he best care possible I know and

he's very private and he's being really strong and brave as always

and is focused on his education. I think he refuses to let this

burden him and sway him from his goals. He's more determined than

ever and that's so nice to see that this hasn't crushed him as it

has me. He always says " Mom, please don't worry about me, I promise

if there's something you need to worry about I will tell you, but

take care of yourself " so much easier said than done and hence why I

go with him to his oncology appointments. It's the only way I find

out how he's really doing because he's honest with Dr. Shah and

tells him things that he won't tell me because I'm not suppose to

worry LOL. As a Mother, I want to take all this from him and

constantly ask why, he's such a good son and he's my pride and joy

and he's suppose to be enjoying his college years and experience

instead of adding cancer to CF. I keep telling myself there has to

be a reason for all this, why he was chosen. I've learned alot

about bravery and strength from my sweet son and it's been a

humbling journey. I still cry alot of tears in silence about all

this, mainly because the fear is still so fresh and real and until I

know for sure he's going to be ok I don't know if I'll ever sleep

right again to be honest but I've been doing better at taking care

of me and not focusing on all the unknown right now. ie tells

me to take the pressure off myself, I didn't do this to him,

especially the cancer and that I can't feel guilty anymore about

giving him these illnesses, but it's still hard bitter pill to

swallow most days to be honest. Tomorrow is an important

appointment. They will tell us if he's headed in the right

direction towards a major molecular remission right and I know I'm

suppose to ask about how much of a log reduction he hopefully has

achieved. I'm praying so hard that we hear those words tomorrow,

all I want for Thanksgiving is some good news about his Leukemia.

Anyway, Happy Thanksgiving everyone. I will update ie's PCR as

soon as I know. Thanks for letting me share and talk about my fear.