Henry's Helping Hands
Don protégé
Henry Jaxson Siwek was born on Halloween 2015. He was a full-term healthy baby, tipping the scales at nine pounds and ten ounces. He is the youngest of three children to a single mom, a nurse at University of California Davis Medical Center.
In early February, older brother Jake and big sister Chloe got a cold and as all siblings do they shared… Henry got it, but unlike big brother and sister he didn’t bounce back. He was lethargic, pale and grumpy—a huge change from his usual sunny disposition. So, mom took Henry to the doctor.
The pediatrician didn’t like the way Henry looked and did a heel-stick to check his blood. His hemoglobin was so low—Henry took a ride with the local EMTs to the University of California, Davis Medical Center emergency room. After several hours, a lot of lab work and some blood, mom got the worst possible news—Henry, at the age of three months, had leukemia.
Henry was immediately admitted to pediatrics—the next few days were a blur of tests, lab draws and various treatments—all while wait for a specific diagnosis. It finally came, B-cell Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (B-ALL). Given his age this cancer is considered aggressive and his treatment plan was designed to match.
In the last six weeks Henry completed his induction round of chemotherapy. He endured chemotherapy every other day, several blood transfusions, steroids, five lumbar punctures with intrathecal chemotherapy and two bone marrow biopsies. He spent days in isolation to protect him from germs in his immunocompromised state. Henry has missed his siblings, but given their age they pose too high of a risk to visit.
This week Henry started his second round of treatments. He has had another lumbar puncture with intrathecal chemotherapy and a more aggressive course of IV therapies. The hem-oncology and pediatric teams have been wonderful. Henry is looking good, but faces several years of treatments and possibly bone marrow transplants (which would require relocating to Seattle).
Mom has been off work since the diagnosis –so she can be at Henry’s bedside providing the care every little one needs and that only mom can provide. This fund is designed to help off-set some of the expenses that the Siwek family is facing in getting Henry the care he needs including missed work, insurance premiums and co-pays. Any help is greatly appreciated…thank you.
In early February, older brother Jake and big sister Chloe got a cold and as all siblings do they shared… Henry got it, but unlike big brother and sister he didn’t bounce back. He was lethargic, pale and grumpy—a huge change from his usual sunny disposition. So, mom took Henry to the doctor.
The pediatrician didn’t like the way Henry looked and did a heel-stick to check his blood. His hemoglobin was so low—Henry took a ride with the local EMTs to the University of California, Davis Medical Center emergency room. After several hours, a lot of lab work and some blood, mom got the worst possible news—Henry, at the age of three months, had leukemia.
Henry was immediately admitted to pediatrics—the next few days were a blur of tests, lab draws and various treatments—all while wait for a specific diagnosis. It finally came, B-cell Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (B-ALL). Given his age this cancer is considered aggressive and his treatment plan was designed to match.
In the last six weeks Henry completed his induction round of chemotherapy. He endured chemotherapy every other day, several blood transfusions, steroids, five lumbar punctures with intrathecal chemotherapy and two bone marrow biopsies. He spent days in isolation to protect him from germs in his immunocompromised state. Henry has missed his siblings, but given their age they pose too high of a risk to visit.
This week Henry started his second round of treatments. He has had another lumbar puncture with intrathecal chemotherapy and a more aggressive course of IV therapies. The hem-oncology and pediatric teams have been wonderful. Henry is looking good, but faces several years of treatments and possibly bone marrow transplants (which would require relocating to Seattle).
Mom has been off work since the diagnosis –so she can be at Henry’s bedside providing the care every little one needs and that only mom can provide. This fund is designed to help off-set some of the expenses that the Siwek family is facing in getting Henry the care he needs including missed work, insurance premiums and co-pays. Any help is greatly appreciated…thank you.
Organisateur
Romana Siwek
Organisateur
Lincoln, CA
