The damage to Maddie's heart is permanent. The slowest her heart has beaten over the last few days is 140 bpm. Her heart is basically functioning at 50%. They've put her on beta blockers but they are making her sick and miserable. So far, they aren't working, but the doctors are hopeful that with a little more time they will start helping.
Here's where the news just get's shittier. She won't be a candidate for a heart transplant unless she's been in remission for at least 2 years. But they can't continue chemo treatments because her body just can't take it.
Essentially the options are give her chemo and hope that it doesn't kill her or stop the chemo and let her heart get better and then the leukemia kills her.
I just don't even know what else to say except that this is a giant black hole of suck if there ever was one. I'm going to try to go up to the hospital on Thursday to visit with her and her parents. I have some cards that need dropping off and maybe they'll welcome the distraction.
Also - I'm sorry I keep doing the post and run updates, but we are swamped her getting ready for the move. I appreciate all the prayers and kind thoughts for her family and I know they appreciate it more than you know.
Re: Not good news from Maddie's parents
Our Thanksgiving Day baby 11/22/07
Pregnant with #2 with LPD, uterine polyp/hysteroscopy, DOR (AMH = 0.17), 2 c/ps
Our early Christmas present 12/9/10
Oh man, that sucks big time. It's just not fair.
Send me your address again and I'll try to send a card out to her ASAP.
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***Baby #3: BFP Mother
Nooooo! My heart keeps breaking for them. I can't imagine how difficult this must be. I'm still hoping and praying that things will turn around.
I know it's a long shot, but have they consulted with any of the specialty centers for pediatric cancers like St. Jude's, Memorial Sloan-Kettering or even Duke. I was reading an article tonight about an unheard of double lung transplant that Duke performed and the patient also needed a bone marrow transplant. They were able to get around the toxic drugs by finding the same donor for the lung and the bone marrow so the patient woudn't reject it. Here is the article if you think Maddie's mom may be interested.
https://www.newsobserver.com/2010/04/25/453150/back-to-living-again-for-gritty.html?plckFindCommentKey=CommentKey:1d9f52f5-3971-46a8-9f51-1c07d7fcea52#ixzz0mD54DDQo
Catching up on sports news...
What heartbreaking news. My T&P continue to be with Maddie and her family.
My Sweet Girls