Orion’s Fund

This unexpected turn of events along with the fact that Little #4 is due in the next 10 weeks we would like to bank little Preston’s umbilical cord to be used for stem cells that can help Orion beat this

wont you please help #Noonefightsalone

Thursday evening we got a call from our amazing family doctor... On Wednesday we did some follow up blood work for Orion and the results that came back we’re showing a drop in his WBC & platelet count. He told us we should go in to Nemours to have them do some follow up testing as this would be the quickest way we’d get hooked up with a hematologist & get some answers. The ER looked at us like we were crazy as we explained the situation and showed them pictures of the blood work on our phones, while looking at our seemingly healthy, rambunctious little guy. Of course they did some more blood work and we were all shocked when the blood smear came back showing 2 blasts (immature cancer cells). We were admitted right away. Friday morning our tough guy went in for a bone marrow biopsy & Saturday we were given a preliminary diagnosis of AML - acute myeloid leukemia. His bone marrow is showing only 6% being effected with leukemia cells & this morning our doctor explained to us that Orion’s condition is actually MDS- Myelodysplastic syndrome which is pre-leukemia & will be treated as AML because of how fast it can progress, especially in kids with DS. Our world has been flipped upside down. Since his numbers are looking good we should get discharged later today & go home for 2 days to spend as much time together as a family before Orion & I will “move in” to the hospital to begin his chemotherapy treatments. We don’t know what to expect but know it will be a roller coaster ... especially with Preston being due in 10 weeks. We appreciate everyone’s love and support but please don’t take it to heart if we don’t reach back out, as our focus right now is on Orions health and making sure the big kids get as much from us as we can give before their worlds change entirely. I can assure you if there is anything we need we will reach out. Other than actually having the leukemia, Orion is in OPTIMAL health- no fevers, sniffles, sneezes... if it wasn’t for the routine blood work we wouldn’t have known this early. Developmentally he’s THRIVING & has been exploding with new talents - vocalizing, imitating us, starting to cruise on furniture & walk across the house with his walker... so much good stuff. We are hopeful our guy will kick cancers ass.