Team Luke

Luke's story* LATEST UPDATE(beginning of story to follow) Luke had his "end of treatment" appointment last Tuesday. We expected him to be realeased and cleared after His June scans showed positive news, the two tumors in his left lung had shrunk, one in fact by 50%. There was not really any signs that Tuesday would bring bad news, but as this nasty disease would have it, the outcome showed otherwise; Luke has the two original tumors still from the beginning which have not changed, still the same size. Along with those two he has an additional tumor in the same lung. The worst news is the cancer has spread to his right lung as well, he has 4 new tumors in his right. With all that there was still hope because obviously its vanderbilt, right? What can they not do is our thought at this time! Unfortunately the Drs put the worst news down, there really isn't much they can do. There were a few options Vanderbilt was able to give: The first choice of the DR was a clinical trial that is closed/no spots available. Second was a clinical trial with another hospital, unavailable to him due to his age. The third and fourth are more chemotherapy treatments which are not for his type of cancer. After finding out the first 2 options were out and being told these other two are very slim in chances of working, if any chance, the drs decided to reach out elsewhere. An institute in Santa Monica, California specializes in his type of cancer. The doctors have collaborated and discussed alot over the duration of all the time since Tuesday. Being as Vanderbilt is losing certainty in their resources they have referred Luke to the sarcoma center in Santa Monica. Chelsey and Luke have worked day in and day out with MULTIPLE cancer centers ALL over the country since Tuesday, Luke got the referral to the Sarcoma Oncology Center Friday and they have been reviewing his medical records all day, communicating with them through it all. We are holding HIGH HOPES that they can help him. Luke and Chelsey hope to be at the Saroma Center within the next week or 2. FROM THE BEGINNING: Luke was originally diagnosed with bone cancer in 2014. He conquered the illness when it started in his upper right arm, which returned in the same place for a second time. The Vanderbilt team took out his  right humerus and replaced it with a donor bone which was held together with plates and screws.   After a long road of Chemo & Radiation at a young age, he was able to go on with his life.  In 2016 the Sarcoma had made its way to his left lung. The extraordinary Vanderbilt team went in again and were able to remove the tumors. At the end of 2017, Luke and his wife, Chelsey returned to the doctor to find serious complications with his donor bone as well as a pesky tumor again in his left lung. After a round of pneumonia and a collapsed lung concern began to set it for them.  The arm surgery at the beginning of his journey, which resulted in the donor bone had failed at holding strong. The arm was broken in 2 places and all the screws were broke. The board decided to do an unexpected and immediate total replacement of Luke's upper right arm and shoulder/joint while watching closely to the tumor. After multiple visits to and from Vanderbilt, months of wondering has this made its return, more bad news came in March 2018.  While his team at Vandy kept a close and watchful eye on the tumor which existed in the upper lobe of his lung, they found another larger tumor in the left lower lung as well.  With the new, fast growing tumor coming so quickly, the surgeon had no choice but to think it was back.If you know Luke, his family and support team you will know everyone waited with high hopes that this was NOT the case.  A biopsy was scheduled for the end of March  which was a very painful and long process for Luke.  Just a few months after spending days in the hospital and reconstructing his arm; on April 4th the call came that it was in fact a returning Sarcoma tumor and his care team was ready to fight again. Luke has battled with the thought of Chemotherapy and his will to want to take on that road again. He had a very loving and supporting team of family and friends behind him cheering him on while he made the decision.  Luke will have a port put in his chest in just a few short days and will begin Chemo at Vanderbilt Cancer Center within the next week and a half.  This road like many others on his journey will be long and hard. At the young age of 30 he will step up to the plate and take on this evil yet again, for the 4th time. As for the care plan,  Luke will undergo treatment for the remainder of the year.   Luke was scheduled to return to work in March from the previous surgery. Unfortunately as eager as he was, he will be unable to do so for at least the rest of the year.  I am rallying TEAM LUKE for help!  All donations will go to Luke & Chelsey for medical expenses and help with their time off work.  I have other FUNdraisers in the works, so please be on the look out for these. We hope to have a bike ride here in the near future and other events for TEAM LUKE!  And please remember, you can help by sharing, reposting on social media and keeping an eye out for the other events to come.