Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia
They determined Sunday what type of leukemia Patrick has. It's known as acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). You can learn more baout it here or here.
ALL is fairly common. About 4,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. It is the most common form of leukemia in patients under 19 years old. It usually occurs in kids under 10, but can strike any age group.
I'm told he had his first round of chemo Sunday, although I'm still not certain what type he's getting.
Apparently Patrick's soccer team had a big game Saturday night. The game was dedicated to Patrick and his best friend wore Patrick's jersey. The team won and after the game they all went to Lexington to see him in the hospital and present him with a banner they had all signed. I get choked up just thinking about it!
It sounds like Patrick has a great support system of family and friends. I will continue to keep him and you (and your family) in my prayers. Keep us posted.
ReplyDeleteThe good thing here is that the type of leukemia that he has is considered to be common-and therefore a lot more is known about it than the less common types...and that means that treatment plans are more well-established. The chemo will be rough, I'm sure, but the support he has in his corner will surely help him through the really tough times. He's lucky to have so many people who care about him. Tell him to hang in there...he's got more people on his side than he realizes!
-Allie