The Best Numbers!

The photo above is Steve with three of his four brothers when he arrived home from his mission July 30. Steve has had a little rougher time this week, but is doing ok. It has all been worth it though because we got his numbers back this morning with the magic news of 0% cancer cells in his bone marrow (under the microscope) and 0% cancer cells in the flow site telemetry test! That is just what we wanted to hear! That means that Steve has finished his one month stage of Induction, and now is in the Consolidation stage of fighting this disease.

Steve goes to have a spinal tap tomorrow and the following 3 Fridays of September to make sure the leukemia is staying out of his nervous system. He found out for the future that by staying pretty much flat down for the first 24 hours after the tap, he can hopefully avoid the giant debilitating spinal headaches he went through this last week.

Steve is glad to be off the steroid drugs for now-so he isn't always craving or dreaming of food. He will be getting some new types of chemo treatments this month, with interesting new side effects. But we'll deal with those as they come.

Yes Steve's hair is thining, and he promises a photo soon. Steve thanks you all for your good wishes and prayers, and is in good spirits to go ahead.