New Season, New Treatment

Joy started a new medication this past week called Rutuxin. It's one of 5 "miracle" drugs for treating cancer and is usually used to treat lymphoma patients because it kills lyphocytes, a type of white blood cell involved in lymphoma. They're really hard to kill and Joy's doctors believe some residual O-type lymphocytes in her system might be responsible for killing off her new A+-type red blood cells. The drug is low-risk and she had her first dose on Tuesday. Unfortunately, when the doctors turned up the dosage, Joy had an allergic reaction and had to be hospitalized overnight. Fortunately, she was in the hospital, a great place to be when you have an allergice reaction! And, one of her favorite nurses was on duty to take care of her. Joy's back at home now and will continue to receive doses of Rutuxin each week for a month.

In other news, she and the family are all keeping busy with the advent of the new school year as well as chasing after two rambunctious two-year olds!