GREAT NEWS!!!

We went to the clinic today, just for chemo. We finally saw Dr. Barnette, our Oncologist. We haven't seen him since we were at the hospital, it was so good to talk to him. He is the Oncologist who is heading up the clinical study for Leukemia that Tommy is currently a part of. So everything is so much better hearing it first hand, and he is an incredible doctor, Tommy loves him. We have GREAT NEWS! The amount of leukemia left in Tommy's bone marrow is now less than 5%, it's only 1.2%, so has reached REMISSION!!! I can't tell you how happy we are, we have been praying, you all have been praying and our prayers are being answered. This is such great news, it isn't the end by any means, but it puts him into a great position for cure. The day 29 is a huge turning point, which will be on Jan. 15, they examine everything, do another bone marrow biopsy and then we have a definite idea of where we are going for the following 5 months. The test on day 29 will put him either in the low, standard or high risk group. Also his ANC went from 100 last week to 1200!!! When they told us this Tom and I about jumped through the roof! That is about where they want it to be after he hits the maintenance stage for the next 3 years, so that is SO GOOD! The doctor told us of course we have to still be super careful with sick people around him, good hand-washing, etc. but he can have friends over if they are feeling well while his counts are up, and he even said he can go to school. I don't know how I feel yet about the school thing, it's still very risky with him still succeptible to catching sicknesses, and getting fevers, but it would be great for Tommy if he is up for that. We might send him to school monday, depending on how he feels, and how I feel too,-scary! His ANC will go up and down a lot during the next 6 months, so for now we need to let him be a kid, send him to school, take him to a movie, etc. After our appointment we CELEBRATED! We took him out to Red Robin, and actually went inside. Tommy hasn't gone anywhere but to the hospital 4 1/2 weeks, so he was nervous. He first told us he couldn't go inside because of germs, but we said it was OK because his body was healthy right now. He ordered himself some mac n' cheese of course, fries, and a shake! And he so deserved every bit of it. We are going to take him to see a movie tomorrow, probably a matinee so there aren't quite as many people there. We couldn't be happier, and couldn't be more grateful to you all for your constant prayers, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!! Please continue to pray for him, this definitely isn't the end, but we are so happy to have good news!