i just stumbled across this thread. i feel bad for you, i just lost the love of my life a little over 6 weeks ago to pancratic cancer. and i know im crushed, i cant imagine what going through this with a child must be like, lifes not fair!! a couple things id like to offer for advice. take one day at a time dont look to far into the future and loose sight of what you have in front of you right this minute, the world is round for a reason, so we cant see to far in front of us. this was given to us by a priest right after my wife was diagnosed in april and helped me alot. these are tough choices. you should never have to make these choices but now that you do, make the one thats best for your family and your son and dont look back. i cant tell you how much my heat hearts for your hole family, youll be in my thoughts and prays!

I had a feeling from your pm something wasn't right. I am sitting here just beside myself. Like I said you have and will continue to be in my prayers. No matter the choice you come to. Each and everyone of us are here for you to vent to! You need to have that emotional release. You are his voice so speak loudly for him. I pray to God he has his hands and arms around you. Please vent to us. Let us help you as best as we can!

Corey

Burdar & Runner, my thoughts, heart, & prayers are with both of you. As for Owen, you will be in my thoughts & prayers for a full recovery.

Sorry to hear the prognosis. There is no wrong answer to the choice you make.
The bone marrow transplant is usually done after a chemo that is very strong. Chemo kills fast replicating cells like cancer and bone marrow. They usually have to limit the chemo based on a patients blood cell count. It can wipe out all the white blood cells leaving them open to infections. In this case they will use a chemo that will probably kill all his marrow and hopefully all the cancer, but before they do, they take some marrow out and after the chemo give it back to him.
My prayers are with you and your family. Be sure to take some time for your wife and yourself. This is never easy. Mike

As the father of a child who also has serious medical problems, I feel your pain. Good luck to you, your wife and especially to that beautiful little boy of yours.

Just got done with church. The message this morning hit me about you. One part of it was this. Our lives are a line to eternity and we are just a dot on that line. If we focus just on the here and now (dot) we loose track of the end of the line. Focus on the end of the line and today will work out. Keep looking towards Owen being healed with no cancer and pain free and good will come of it. Stay strong and never give up hope,faith or love for him being healed. You are and will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Corey

I finally got the guts up enough ot read this thread as i knew it would not be anything good.

As a father of 3 children i can only say that putting you on the spot of how to treat this horrible situation must be devestating to you.

Whatever you choose to do I know we all pray it turns out for the best. Talk to your family and do what you feel is best and let God's hand lead the way.

Good luck, and whatever route you choose it will be the right one so never look back and second guess your decesion just move forward and hope for the best.

sorry to hear the tough news. can't imagine how you are coping with this, nevermind wrapping your head around this decision.

Just know that everyone that has read this post has you in they re thoughts and prayers

I wish there was something I could do to make this whole nightmare better. All I can do is pray for his recovery. God bless you all.

I got some clarification about one of the options. It's called a tripple stem cell treatment. The stem cells come from the bone marrow. It was decribed correcty in an earlier post. It is gathered after a chemo treatment and injected back into the body at a later time.

The oncologist called my wife yesterday. She wanted us to get a second opinion from Chicago. My wife mentioned St Jude and the oncologist thought that was a good idea too. Chicago is doing a trial using the triple stem cell treatment and an experimental drug with NO radiation. St Jude is doing radiation but has very specialised people inplace just for children. We are going to try hard to get into St Jude. Even if it is the same type of treatment that the U of I is doing, St Jude really helps out with the bills.

As if things couldn't get worse, I got a call from my mom at 4:00 this morning. She had to take my dad to the ER. He had atrial fibrillation and needed a shock to get his heart beating correctly again. I walked into his room and said, "What are you trying to do to me here?" Anyway, we hope it was just a fluke. He's home and is doing fine right now.

Best wishes to your entire family! Truly these events will effect the entire family. Stay as strong as you can. Stay rested as best as you can. Praying for you as always!

Corey

The A fib can be dealt with, don't worry about it. I have lived with it for 15 years.
Concentrate on your son. I wish I could say something to fix it. i would give anything, as would most here, for my kids
Bes of luck. You are in my prayers.

Pat

I'm sorry to hear all this.
As mentioned, I did go through a auto stem cell transplant using my own cells. I also take a special med to help my immune system fight off any cancer cells that show up. Mine was done over 5 years ago, I'm still here. Prognosis is good.
For me, I turned it all over to the good guy up-stairs. I told the doctors to do what is best and asked them to tell me what they wanted me to do. I did not fight their recommendations. This, because I had a very poor prognosis, with a gene situation, no donors, and an aggressive form of leukemia. I ended up being a guinea pig at ucsf.
I to worry about long term effects of the radiation (I had total body 18 times over the course of 9 days). It's just something that needs to be done.
Great progress is being made applying stem cell therapy to many cancers. Odds of survival are much better than just a few years ago for many forms of cancer.
Right now the only things I suggest is you research and find the best med center for this diagnosis and go all-in there. Do not second guess yourself; get the best and stay the course.
Finally try to be strong through all this, your family needs you.
Hang in there, p.m. me if there is anything you want to ask me, or if there is anything I can do to help.
Anyone else reading this, please consider checking out the links in my sig. It's not for me, I had my chance to find a match and cure, with none to be found. You may be the link for others to be cured of the myriad of maladies stem cells are now being used.

Darren,
How's Owen doing? Any luck with St. Jude?

Some paperwork was misplaced by one of the doctors. We are still waiting to here from them. Hopefully in the morning.

I read all your updates to the wife and my 3 boys. We pray as a family for Owen and you and the wife.
Thanks for the updates! Hang in there!