Jeremiah’s Fight against Leukemia ️
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Family and friends who have prayed and supported Jeremiah and our family over the past 8 1/2 years during his fight against Leukemia, we want to thank you so much and unfortunately we once again are in need of prayers for Jeremiah.
Jeremiah has not been feeling well for a few weeks. He has been unable to work due to not feeling well. After he had several abnormal blood tests and it was evident he didn’t have just a virus or infection of some sort his Oncologist wanted to see him asap. Thursday Jim and I took him to OHSU for blood tests and a bone marrow biopsy. His Oncologist expressed to him she was very worried and concerned that his leukemia had returned by looking at his blood work. She discussed treatment and began quickly making arrangements for Jeremiah to begin induction chemo Tuesday even before we had confirmation from the biopsy.
Friday afternoon he received the call that his biopsy confirmed his leukemia had indeed returned.
Jeremiah and I will be leaving early Tuesday morning to go to Portland and get him checked in to The knight cancer institute at OHSU to begin his initial treatment. This initial treatment will require him to be in the hospital for a month and I will be staying down there with him.
The first step is to get him into a remission. Once he is in a remission they can determine what the next steps are. She did express that a 3rd transplant is typically a “No. No.” in the leukemia medical world, so we are unsure what the plan will be after his 1 month induction, but we are confident in his Oncologist and any decisions she makes. She is amazing and everyone on the blood cancer unit looks up to her for her knowledge and reputation as the best leukemia doctor at OHSU.
She explained that this time during Induction Chemo they will be adding an oral chemo along with 3 other chemo meds he has received in the past during induction. She said they have had good success at remission by adding the oral chemo after relapse. He will receive these 4 chemo drugs for 7 days and then it takes about 3 weeks for his blood levels to come back up to a safe level. The goal with induction chemo therapy is to kill all his cancer cells (leukemia blood cells) in his bone marrow which unfortunately also kills your good blood cells as well and then create what they call a host vs disease situation. This is where healthy new cells his bone marrow makes over the next few weeks starts to fight the cancer cells that might be left behind after the chemo. Somewhere between 3-4 weeks they will do another bone marrow biopsy to see if he has gained remission.
If so he will hopefully come home to continue to heal before entering into additional treatment.
Jeremiah is such a strong person and he is ready to fight this nasty disease once again and win! I’m so proud of our son and how he stays so positive even through his trials and tribulations. No one should have to go through 3 battles with Cancer, 2 Stem cell transplants, both hip replacements due to the treatment for cancer and the many other issues cancer has caused.
Over the past few years he has worked hard to get healthy mentally and physically, work full time to get off ssdi and move on with life since his 2nd transplant in June of 2020 during the pandemic and other life struggles that cancer can bring with it.
In January he moved into his own house in Pendleton so him and Kaicen could have their own place. Kaicen was so excited for his dad and that he finally had his own room at his Dads house when they had their weekend visits together. Kaicen is the sweetest boy and loves his dad so much. It’s a joy to watch as a mom, the bond they have together. To watch them laugh and joke. Kaicen reminds me so much of Jeremiah when he was younger. Kaicen is always telling me how strong his dad is. Please keep Kaicen in your prayers as this time Kaicen is 10yrs old and will understand more. The first time he was only 1 1/2yrs old and the second time he was 6yrs old.
We will be doing additional fundraisers to help Jeremiah with expenses and bills while he is unable to work and also help with the added costs of medical bills, travel expenses, food and lodging if needed. Jeremiah is not going to be able to work for several months or longer while going through treatments and healing once again. Jim and I will be taking turns traveling with him back and forth to Portland for treatments and I will be staying with him the first month while Jim stays home to take care of things here.
Your prayers, love and support are appreciated so much! We definitely would not of been able to get through any of this without all of you and the power of prayer ❤️
We serve a powerful God and all of this is in Gods hands and he will give us the strength to get through it
#teamgrosjacques
Psalm 18:39 says, “For you equipped me with strength for battle; you made those who rise against me sink under me.”
Jeremiah 29:11
“'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. '” — …
Organizer
Teresa Grosjacques
Organizer
Pilot Rock, OR