The Big Mo!

On Wednesday we received a voice mail from Cardinal Wuerl (in Rome for the Pope's canonization of 7 new Saints) in which he expressed his concern for Clay and shared that he would dedicate to Clay the Mass he was leading in Rome the next morning.  On Thursday the Washington Post featured an article with a photo of Clay and Mary which did a great job of raising awareness of this awful disease.  And on Friday we received confirmation that Clay had been accepted for enrollment in the study of an experimental therapy that has shown some promise.   Clay will begin this protocol on Tuesday provided the Potomac does not rise too much.   Lets hope this is the start of a long stretch of good news.    Thank you all for the support and the prayers.


Article in the Washington Post:

//www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/home/clay-derderians-bedroom-commemorates-hismake-a-wish-trip-to-the-florida-keys/2012/10/23/6d99d5c0-1a1e-11e2-aa6f-3b636fecb829_story.html

Oct 22

 

JD here.  The last six weeks have brought little positive health news for Clay, much confusion about next treatment steps, and numerous examples of the goodness of people and the presence of God in our lives.   Unfortunately, there has been no improvement to Clay's eyesight. His most recent MRI showed some new disease activity that led Clay's team of doctors to conclude that the latest experimental therapy being administered at the University of Pittsburgh had failed.   The plan was to enroll Clay in yet another experimental drug trial (this one can be administered by Children's National so no long distance travel) but the day before the process was to begin he developed partial paralysis on the right side of his face.   Adding insult to injury Clay now has a "droop" on the right side of his face and it slurs his speech.  Since the protocol for the study requires the patient to be "neurologically stable" for seven days, this latest event forced us to give up Clay's "slot" in the trial.  The past week has been filled with countless phone calls and emails as we and Clay's medical team have worked to get the author of the study to create an additional slot for him.  Clay's doctors (Drs. Packer and Jakacki) have been particularly aggressive in using all of the influence at their disposal to help, for which we are very grateful.  We learned yesterday that the study has been enlarged to include Clay.   Of course he needs to remain "neurologically stable" until Thursday morning to be able to qualify.   We are holding our breath until then---while this therapy has not yet been tested in children under 12 years old, the results have been very positive for some of the children 12 and over.  While the promise of this experimental therapy gives us new hope we are constantly aware that we are running out of "tools in the tool box" to use to help Clay.

While the medical situation is as clear as mud Clay is doing his best to adjust to his world without sight or light.  The Jamestown School has been very responsive and has established a special education program for Clay that allows his to go to school from 9am-1pm.   To help Clay socialize his teacher instituted a plan to have a few children from his class join Clay for lunch.  We learned at Clay's teacher/parent conference that instead of this being a bother for his classmates, his teacher is having to set-up a rotating schedule to handle the demand to join his lunch program.  His classmates have been welcoming and understanding -- showing a level of empathy and support well beyond their 6/7yrs of age.  Of course these latest setbacks have caused a new level of frustration for Clay, yet, despite all of the pain and fear his spirit remains strong.   Example:  "Dad, I had a great day today; I learned 4 more braille letters!"  We thank God every day for giving us Clay.

Golf Fundraiser for Pilot Program at Johns Hopkins

Some good friends in JD's college fraternity have put together a golf event during the University of Richmond's upcoming Homecoming Weekend in early November.  The link is below: 



http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/lxagolfouting/LambdaChiAlphaGolfOuting

100% of the money will go directly to a project at Johns Hopkins that we are piloting to begin to build a mouse model for the type of brain tumor Clay suffers from. This is the first step in developing a better way to test protocols.  Please follow the link and read about the work that we hope will begin soon at Hopkins.  And thank you for any help you might be able to offer -- the fundraising is open to all, not just golfers and not just fraternity brothers!

We have been busy getting services lined up to help Clay acclimate to school. He still has no vision.  Our school district has been very proactive, and now Clay travels with a posse -- an aide who is at school whenever he is; a mobility specialist who helps him with cane and navigation skills, and a vision specialist who has started Braille lessons.  Also occupational therapy and physical therapy. 

Clay has an MRI on Friday.  We are praying for shrinkage, which would allow Clay to continue the trial he was on.  Please "storm the heavens" for Clay on Thursday night in your prayers.

Thank you for the cards, food, presents, visits, relics, and continual outpouring of love and support you all have given us.   It is what keeps us going many days.