The Beginning....

I have created this blog to keep all our love ones and friends updated on Quintin's journey with cancer.  I have had several people tell me that they hear all sorts of things but do not want to bother us for the true details.  Jeanna, our cousin, suggested that I create a blog to let you know where Quintin is at and how he is doing.  Thanks to all of you for your prayers and support.  We are believing GOD for a complete healing.

In early February of this year (2011) Quintin was working out at the gym and felt a rib crack on his right side.  Being a man, he just dealt with the pain.  I tried to get him to go to a doctor to have it checked out and he just passed it off as pleurisy.  Finally April 21, 2011 he made an appointment with a general practitioner.  The doctor did blood work and an EKG and everything came back fine.  As a matter of fact, the doctor stated he was in perfect shape for a 41 year old man.  He gave him an anti-inflammatory and sent him on his way.

About 2 or 3 weeks later...the pain in his side was a little better but he noticed a lump right underneath his Adam's apple on his sternum.  A little scary!!! He called Dr. Nguyen and made another appointment.  On May 25, 2011 he had a CAT scan that showed a mass in his right rib and a mass on his sternum.  So the doctor ordered a MRI and a bone scan for May 27. We went for the results on May 31....this was the worst day of our lives.... The doctor told us that the best he could tell, it looked like bone cancer.  He had multiple lesions on his ribs and spine.  He said he felt like it was stage 4 and there was nothing really he could do.  WOW....it was a very dark day!  The doctor was still confused because all of his blood work had come back normal.  He was slightly anemic but not enough to worry about.  So he ordered more detailed blood work and another CAT scan of the head. 

Wednesday Dr. Nguyen called and ask for Quintin to come in.  He went with out me this time since I was beside myself after Tuesday's news.  He informed Quintin that he did not think it was bone cancer.  He felt like it was a type of blood cancer called Multiple Myeloma.  If it was...then there was hope.  He told us it was a treatable cancer.  He recommended that we get into MD Anderson ASAP. 

So glad that we are blessed with so many friends.  Quintin has a friend that got him into MD Anderson in record time.  We were scheduled to see a Myeloma doctor in less than 2 weeks.  On June 9th we were in!! All the test began and Quintin was officially diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma.  The cancer forms lesions on the bones which eats away leaving little pin holes in the bone. Our new cancer doctor,  Dr. Sheeba Thomas felt like he was in the first stages.  There was one test that she needed to do to see if Quintin had any abnormal chromosomes.  If he did...this would make the cancer a lot more aggressive.  PTL he had no abnormal chromosomes!  (one of many miracles)

Quintin's plan of treatment was to have 2 to 3 21 day rounds of chemo to get him ready for stem cell transplant.  We started on June 17, 2011.  We have had a total of 3 rounds.  All his counts are down over 90%.  Dr. Thomas was pleased that Quintin responded so well to the chemo.  He had a bad day here and there but over all he and God have aced them all. 

We are preparing for stem cell transplant on the 12th of Sept.  We are hoping for total recovery.  Our stem cell nurse told us that there is not a cure for this cancer but she has seen a lot of patients who have had stem cell transplants never produce the cancer cell again....This is what we are praying for.

God had performed more than one miracle since we began this journey.   We caught it early!  Our health insurance went into effect April 1, 2011.  We signed up for a cancer policy that we didn't even know about.  The test came back that he did not have any abnormal chromosomes!  We got into MD Anderson within a week of finding out about the cancer.  And other than the cancer, Quintin is in great health.  THANK YOU JESUS.

So here we are.  A little over a week away from transplant.  They are using his own stem cells so he should tolerate the transplant with no problem.  It will be a little rough...he will have a high dose of chemo that will pretty much kill everything in his body! Including bone marrow.  He is gonna loose his hair.  He is not real happy about that, plus we have to stay in an extended stay near the hospital for at least 3 weeks in case of fever or any other reactions he may have.  This is gonna be the hardest.  Having to be away from our babies for 3 weeks is going to be hard.

I will have a lot of time on my hands while staying in the hotel.  So I will probably post a lot!  Please remember us in your prayers....we love you all very much!

Q&T