We have some good news-the doctors let Sebastian go home for a couple of days. He has really been handling all his treatments well (no allergies to anything) so he will have a trial period of 2 days at home. He will go back on Thursday and Friday for more treatments, and depending on how everything goes, he will get to come home on those nights too. Suzanne and Michi will have alot of rules to follow to keep Sebastian healthy and I know they are nervous, but Suz said that the doctors would not have let him go home if they did not think he (and they) could not handle it. They did tell Suz and Michi to be prepared for a trip back to the hospital in the next 3 weeks because it is common for a patient to pick up a cold or fever. Overall, I think they are relieved to all be home together.
We should have more specific details on Sebastian's progress Thursday or Friday.
Thank you for your continued prayers, thoughts, and support. We know they are helping!

Hi,
I believe it was a quiet weekend for the Puchers. Sebastian did tolerate his chemo well (no bad side effects yet). His test results from the lumbar puncture and bone marrow biopsy came back yesterday, and I don't know the specifics, but I think they were the same as before or maybe a little better-not a change for the worse though.

We talked to Suzanne and Sebastian on Sunday and they seemed in good spirits. Sebastian talked about his car at Danka's (grandpa's) house and was really wanting more spinich stroodle! I know his medicine that he takes everyday has been making him hungry.

Suzanne only has a couple more weeks till Baby is due, and everything is on track there. She wouldn't even mind if Baby came a couple days late. I will write when I have more news.

Jenith

Artwork and cards from family and friends.

Sebastian did really well with all of his procedures today. The Hickman catheter went in good and is working well without bothering Sebastian. The chemo was this afternoon and I think it went fine. No word on results from the bone marrow biopsy and the lumbar puncture yet. They are all very tired and Suz is staying in the hospital tonight. She did say that Sebastian ate his whole plate of chicken, rice and vegetables this afternoon and was very pleased about that! Thank you for all your continued prayers.

Hi Everyone,

Today and yesterday have been calm days for Sebastian. He has been spending his time doing a lot of art work!

Friday will have a lot of procedures. Sebastian will be getting a semi-permanant catheter put in his chest for the next 6 months (at least) so that he does not have to have to get pricked by needles for an IV so often. This is stressful for Suz and Michi, but they think in the long run it will be easier than changing his IV line every 3 days (Sebas hates having them put in). It will take an hour to put this "Hickman Line" (that's what they are calling it) in. They will have to be very careful of infection and will flush it clean on a regular basis.

He will have his second round of chemo, consisting of 3 drugs, 2 of them will take an hour and the 3rd will be quick. Additionally, he will have another bone marrow biopsy and lumbar puncture. He will be watching lots of movies!

Sebas has a slight cough and has to breath 4 times daily out of the 'asthma bong', which he does not mind. They do not expect to have to do this for much longer.

This will be a hard day, so please send extra prayers to Sebastian, Suzanne, and Michi. Thank you all so much for your continued support. We appreciate it so much. Love, Jenith and Family

An hour of fresh air - we could go outside for a walk.

Riding the tractor.

The weekend went well for Sebastian. He did not have any bad side effects of the chemo from Friday. He was even able to go outside for an hour in his stroller. They had to stay away from crowds and stores though to minimize the risk of infection for Sebastian. Suzanne still has a cold so she has been trying to rest at home so she can be with Sebastian at the end of the week. For now she wears a mask when she is with him.

The hospital had a 'carnival' this weekend and Sebastian had fun getting his face painted. He also has a fun time riding on the trikes and tractors in the hallway.

He really dislikes taking his meds (he has five to take daily-then chemo on Fridays) so they do what they can to get him to take them. Including letting him take it himself and I am pretty sure there are some bribes in there! It is very important he gets it all down.

Thank you so much for your continued prayers and support. Suzanne and Michi really appreciate it. We all do!

Today is the day that Sebastian's Chemotherapy began. He was put on ALL-BFM 2000 Protocol. The drugs are the same drugs used in USA but the dosages vary. In USA one dosage might be higher than the amount used in Austria, and vice versa. They doctors have now determined that Sebastian will be in the hospital 4 more weeks. The issues of infection were too great for him to be away from the hospital. He has done very well on the prednisone for the past week and that is why they moved the first round of chemo to today. He will have chemotherapy once a week for four weeks. On day 15 and day 33 they will do testing for white cell counts. Day 33 is the most crucial testing. Depending on the readings at that time the next phase of his treatment will be determined. There is over a 90% chance that in two years he will be a healthy kid and this is a very positive statistic. He will probably have some side effects from the drug regime that will be reversible with time. Michi can take off two weeks when Baby Pucher is born and Austria also has a very flexible time off plan for sick children. Suzanne is fighting a cold and getting tired - March 9 is still scheduled due date for Baby Pucher. Yesterday Sebastian got to ride in an ambulance to have an MRI. Only one parent could go, so Michi went as Suzanne could not be in the room with the MRI machine anyway. I guess Sebastian thought the ambulance ride was pretty cool in the end and was very proud to show Suzanne his "ET" finger where the red glow light pulse meter clip was! We were unable to reach Michi and Suzanne this morning but hope we can hear more today via email. Please, please continue to pray for Sebastian, Suzanne and Michi.

Sebastian in good spirits - he gets to ride trikes around the hospital floor.

Suzanne wrote today that again they have received encouraging news. The chemotherapy will be moved up to Friday. The exact type of drugs and the length of treatment is yet to be determined and the plan is for Suzanne and Michi to meet Wed with the doctor. The chemo will be administered IV and the doctors feels that Sebastian's recovery rate is over 90% - meaning he will live a healthy life with no relapses after the two year therapy. We are not certain if the two year time frame implies treatment or treatment and testing. The doctors are giving their information on their knowledge and how they have seen other children react. Suzanne and Michi were extremely pleased to also hear that they may be taking Sebastian home within the next two weeks and then he will visit a clinic every other day. Sebastian is reacting very well to the cortisone he is taking with respect to his immune system but because it has such a bitter taste he doesn't really like it all that much! -- and the nurses insist he take every last drop. Sebastian still has some leg pain and is able to get relief from ibuprofen. Suzanne has a cold and is trying to get some rest to heal up. Baby Pucher is still on schedule. Her neighbor brought over some food for her and she said she ate and slept well! Both Suzanne and Michi are very encouraged but want everyone to know they are still working at life day by day and again ask for your continued prayers and support. They are somewhat worried about how Sebastian will react to the chemotherapy. Sebastian dislikes his sponge baths which he must have because of the continued sweating - but Suzanne thinks it is really more that he hates giving up the movie that he is watching when bath time happens! Please keep Sebastian, Suzanne and Michi in your prayers.

February 12, 2007

Thank you to everyone who has told us that they are keeping Suz, Michi, and Sebastian in their thoughts and prayers.

Sebastian is taking medications to help flush out the bad cells, which include prednisone and a paste that coats his tummy to protect it from the harsh medicine.

Sebastian's hemogloben levels were at 3 on Friday, but were brought back up to 7 over the weekend. Suzanne said that 11 was the low end of the normal range.

He will begin chemotherapy this next weekend. I believe that later in the week the doctors are expecting to know more specifics about his type of ALL. Sebastian was having some leg pain, and has been walking a little stiff, but the pain should go away in a few days. He was able to ride a tricycle in the hospital hallway, and Suz even had to tell him to slow down!

Thanks again for all your support!

Sebastian doesn't like to take his medicine all the time.

February 10, 2007

The results of this morning's tests came back saying that Sebastian has ALL or Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia. This is a common form of childhood Leukemia. As of now, Sebastian will be started on Prednisone for the next 7 days, then will begin Chemo on the 8th day. He will be in the hospital for 2-4 weeks as of now. Suzanne and Michi are very tired, and Sebastian seems to be in good spirits.

A big hello from Sebastian in his hospital room.

February 10, 2007

On Friday February 9, Suzanne and Michi were told that Sebastian has Leukemia. We do not know many specifics right now except that a blood transfusion was done on Friday and this morning a bone marrow biopsy and a spinal tap were done to determine exactly what type of Leukemia Sebastian has and what treatments need to follow.

Please keep Suzanne (and Baby Pucher), Michi, and Sebastian in your thougths and prayers.

We plan to update this blog as we know more details.