More on treatment

We have a new update for you on Mckenna's situation.

We met with Dr. Boyer at Primary Children's on Monday. His purpose was to inform and educate us on the options that we have, as well as give us his recommendations. As a part of the hospital's Bone Marrow Transplant team, Dr. Boyer recommended for Mckenna an Autologous Bone Marrow Transplant.

This means that Mckenna will be put into a state of remission with the help of the chemotherapy we are currently using. If this remission goal is reached, some of Mckenna's now clean bone marrow will be harvested and frozen.

Next she will endure a full body radiation therapy as well as an aggressive chemotherapy that will ensure full eradication of all of Mckenna's bone marrow. The clean, previously frozen stem cells will then be introduced into the bloodstream. These stem cells will automatically find their way to the site within the bone structure where they can begin to grow. She will then be given a growth stimulating drug to cause the body to produce large amounts of new bone marrow stem cells. If all goes as planned, this procedure will put Mckenna on the path to long term health.

Mckenna is positive, she continues to surprise me. The doctor gave us life long side effects that Mckenna may have to endure as well as percentages involving success as well as failure. She responded as a person well beyond her years.

Thanks for everything,
Scott