To support Jamie you can either make a donation (by clicking on the 'donate now' button above) or by creating your own fundraising page. To create your page for Jamie please click here
Click here to download the "Keep Jamie Smiling!" flier and help us pass it on! The most up to date informationis on the blog at http://keepjamiesmiling.blogspot.com/
Jamie (age 4) was diagnosed with an abdominal tumour on Apr 1st as he had suddenly become unwell in nursery. I was in the UK on an inspection in Catterick. He had no obvious symptoms of any illness before other that low level symptoms. My wife called me and within 4 hours the Army Compassionate cell had arranged flights to Dusseldorf Uni Klinic. After several days they diagnosed Neuroblastoma stage 4 and found out that it was MYCN amplified(aggressive form) The cancer had infiltrated the bone marrow as well. His prognosis was given to be 20-30% survival so we were devastated. The MIGB scan revealed that it had spread from his kidney into the femurs of both legs and around the orbital in his eye and some of the lymph nodes.
He started chemo after all the tests for high risk Neuroblastoma. He was very sick at first and we were in hosp for 7 weeks without break. The tumour was so big that it started to affect his breathing and he would not eat or drink or hardly move in his bed. After a month or so he started to improve a little and gain some mobility with physio. After several blocks of chemo he started to respond well to the treatment. After block 6 he became very ill and developed pneumonia and he suffered a sepsis which required ventilation on an ICU for two weeks. For 24 hours his situation was very critical and we were very close to losing him but he managed to pull through. Two weeks after this incident he received his Op to remove the affected kidney and tumour which was carried out successfully however there are still residual tumour cells remaining. He has now had 7 of 8 blocks of chemo and will then receive high dose to complete his treatment.
During his treatment I was posted from Herford to Monchengladbach were my wife works as a teacher at JHQ in Rhine Military Complex so we could be together as a family and also in closer proximity to where Jamie was receiving his treatment in Dusseldorf. The army welfare, local community and friends have been very supportive and the military health service (British Forces Germany Health Service) have helped us right from the outset. The hospital facilities and staff are also fantastic. I have been given time off work since April to look after Jamie as we had a baby girl in Jul and my wife (Vick) could not possibly manage both. I would have probably deployed to Afghanistan had my son not been ill.
Even though Jamie has responded well to the initial treatment the chances of his cancer relapsing over the next year is very high(40% of cases). The relapse is normally caused by microscopic cells which have survived the chemo and is referred to as minimal residual disease (MRD). Unfortunately when the children relapse the prognosis for survival is reduced significantly and the chance of a cure is very small. A recent antibody trial in the States has been very successful as it targets the MRD and improves the chances of survival by 20%. This treatment may well become a standard regime in the future, however, Jamie does not have much time.
He has just completed his high dose therapy and should be leaving hospital shortly (beginning February
2010). He now has to have treatment in the US within 90 days.
He has just completed his high dose therapy and should be leaving hospital shortly (beginning February
2010). He now has to have treatment in the US within 90 days.
Although we are in the States and just about to receive the antibody treatment, we have been told by the hosp that the actual costs will be more than the initial treatment estimates so we still need your continued support with fund raising! Jamie will also need follow up visits in the future and additional tests and scans to retain the continuity with his treatment plan.
Please help our son and Poppy's big brother, Jamie.
Thanks John & Vicky.
Full details on: http://www.jamie-appeal.org/
