Help with Brice's Leukemia battle

Shortly after Easter in April of 2021, Brice got sick, which we initially thought was Covid or the flu, but testing came back negative for both, and then after a couple more days, he not only was still very sick, but was having a horrible time (pain) walking or moving much. After getting into his family doctor (because of course it all started over a weekend), we were told to take him to Peyton Manning Children's Hospital immediately. Just a few days later (it's all kind of a blur, think it was the second day there after being admitted at midnight and getting into our room at like 2am) we found out that Brice had Leukemia, B-cell ALL to be specific. Then a week or so after that, while still at PMCH and Brice going through a whole lot of pain, vomiting, etc (Thankful he does not remember most of what he went through), we found out he had a rare mutation of it, that was causing the calcium in his bones to be pulled out into his bloodstream, which is what was causing the severe pain in his bones and joints. He ended up being put on dialysis for almost a week, to pull out the calcium from his blood, and then it had to be managed and monitored closely to keep the right level for quite awhile. Eventually it was straightened out, but not before Brice had been in bed for several weeks, hardly able to move, let alone walk, so he had to learn how to walk again.

His dad and I took turns staying with him in the hospital, me one night, him the next. We were the only two people allowed to be in the room with him (thanks COVID!). I was able to qualify for FML at work which meant I couldn't get fired but it didn't take too long before I was out of sick, vacation, and personal time. What this meant was that every other day I went unpaid. Bad enough your kid is very ill but this added insult to injury. We aren't even sure what his medical bills will end up being yet since we are FAR from being done with his treatment.

Brice spent 51 days at Peyton Manning before he was able to be released, still having to use a walker some, and we were released with Brice on a treatment called Blinatumomab (Blina for short), which he ended up on 4 two cycles, which started out continuing to bring his cancer cell counts down, but about the middle of July it was no longer working and we had to switch to another treatment, Inotuzumab, while we sought out stem cell donors.

Fast forward some to September I believe, and the numbers are finally to where we need (less than .01) to be for transplant, but we still had donor things to work out and lots of tests. Stem Cell Transplant was to be done through Riley Children’s Hospital, and we had already been working with a team there, back when we were at PMCH. Lots of ups and downs with getting the donor for transplant, we ended up with backup plans C through G I think, with Brice's Dad (Greg) and myself as potential donors, even though we were only half matches just in case. The longer Brice had to be off treatments and getting closer to Total Body Irradiation, which had to be done right before transplant, the riskier it was the cells would start coming back.

By the end of September everything was a GO and Brice started radiation the last week of September, and reported to the Stem Cell Unit at Riley for admission on October 1st after his 8th and final TBI treatment. Transplant was then on October 5th - that was our Day 0. Brice was luckily only there for 32 days, although he had to spend his 15th Birthday in the hospital. Similar to being at PMCH, his Dad and I were the only two caregivers allowed (much stricter this time of course), so we rotated daily, but that is a lot of driving, and of course a lot of missed work. We are all very thankful that we are able to do that though!

Brice is doing well overall, but still has a long road ahead of him, when we found out at his Day 41 bone marrow aspirate that his cancer count was .3% - so we are not done fighting. Just last week he had to be admitted back to the hospital for 48 hours while dealing with a high fever, to rule out infections and keep him safe. A common cold (which is what it was), is still a danger, so we have to limit visits, take lots of precautions with not just who we see, but food and drinks too.

This is where we are today - still fighting to get back to remission. I know this was long, and I know I missed a lot.. dates and days are a blur sometimes, and others are forever etched in my brain, good and bad. It's taken me this long to set this up just because I still don't like asking for help, let alone money, but the year is just about over, and of course health insurance things will all start over soon too. Medications, more tests and treatments.. we are far from done with those things, let alone gas for all the visits back (although I am beyond thankful for every visit we are able to drive there and not being taken from another floor because of being in-patient!).

Thank you for all the prayers and well wishes, please continue those, and if you feel to donate something, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

God Bless,

Brice's Mom, Kelli