100% Remission. The start of Phase 2

As many of you are aware, we received excellent news this past Sunday morning. While Theresa was at the gym, one of Catherine's doctors called at 9:06am to give us the results of her third bone marrow aspiration and lumbar puncture. I actually had difficulty writing down what he was explaining to me and had to ask him to repeat it to confirm what I thought I had heard. Dr. Elisha explained there was no evidence of leukemia blasts in her blood and bone marrow. After 29 days, Catherine was 100% in remission. I couldn't wait for Theresa to come home from the gym to share the good news. I needed to share the good news with someone so I called my parents at home. Looking back, I probably should have waited for Theresa before telling anyone else, but too late. I immediately explained to Catherine that "her blood" was getting better and the doctors were very happy that the yucky medicine was working. Her face lit up like a kid opening presents on Christmas morning.

When Theresa came home from the gym, she marched over to the caller ID box to see if anyone had called and began to grill me on why Yale had called. I thought it only fitting that Catherine share the great news with her mommy. Needless to say, Sunday was a great day in the Vogt household. The only issue was that we had to wait until Tuesday to discuss the next steps in Catherine's treatment.

With much excitement and anticipation, Theresa and Catherine made the pilgrimage to Guilford Tuesday morning. Routine blood work was performed and analyzed while Dr. Darryl explained the next phase of Catherine's treatment. Experience has shown doctors that parents best handle the "mechanics" of the next phase of treatment if it is packaged in small easy to digest snippets measured in weeks rather than months. As such, we received a 4 week roadmap that begins this Friday.

Catherine was assigned to a standard low risk protocol based on how well she responded to her initial round of medicines, her chromosomal abnormality and remission status at the end of Induction. Importantly, we were excited to find out that all of her treatments will be handled on an outpatient basis. We had mentally braced for 3 to 4 night hospital visits every 3 weeks. Given Catherine's response and treatment protocol, this will not be necessary. Catherine will receive many of the same chemotherapy drugs she has received already including PEG-aspariginase, methotrexate and vincristine. The oral steroids that has caused the puffiness and insatiable appetite are being replaced with mercaptopurine (MP) to be taken at home.

Over the next several weeks, we expect the outward signs of the steroid treatment to subside. Maybe it is wishful thinking but her face appears less puffy to me in just 5 days. Her attitude, mood and energy levels have improved sharply the past several days. Catherine even changed out of her comfy PJs into a dress and tights and requested a trip to the playground. Although it is early, her personality is starting to emerge.

As always, thank you for all your love and support.