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Taras Grabchuk. Letter from mother.

2011 12 21 Views: 2531


 

First of all, I would like to thank everybody who cared about us and who helped us. I am grateful that you exist and help us in spite of your own circumstances. Thank you for giving us faith in better life and hope to recover. Thank you very much and God bless you!

 

All last week, Taras and I were in the hospital in Greifswald. Taras was undergoing some testing, and he took pills that slow down the growth of the tumor and the reproduction of cancer cells. On Friday, we could go home. It was a real problem to find a place to live in Greifswald. All the units in the house that is on the territory of the hospital are occupied and there was no hope that any of them would free up. For the whole week, we tried to find a place to live: we called dormitories and apartment complexes, but we did not have any luck. But this world is full of kind people and again we had a proof of it. A nearby  Baptist church has an apartment for guests and we were invited to stay at that apartment. The payment is optional. When we leave, we can pay as much as we will be able to. I am grateful for this opportunity!

 

The next day after moving to Greifswald, Taras complained of a back pain. The pain lasted for three days and I had to give Taras painkillers. But as soon as Taras started taking pills that I mentioned above, the pain was gone. Thank God!

 

Taras was tested for hepatitis, and unfortunately, it is active now. In the nearest future, while Taras takes medications for hepatitis, he won’t be able to play with other children in the hospital because he is contagious.  It is sad because after arriving to the hospital in Greifswald, Taras was able to meet several children who speak Russian and one boy who speaks Polish that is very close to our language and is so easy to understand. Taras likes this hospital because he has friends here.

 

Today, Taras had MRI, and it was the last planned  exam. According to the results, three quarters of the  clusters of the tumor cells in the abdominal cavity were removed during the surgery.  As the surgeons from Tübingen said, some clusters were impossible to remove because nerves and vessels were too close. Besides, in one month without chemotherapy, metastases in the spine areas became bigger (maybe that is the cause of the back pain). The decision was made to begin the chemotherapy per PICT protocol right away. Last week, the preparations for the chemo began. Protocol PICT consists of four medications and lasts 8 weeks. Alternatively, one week Taras is taking pills that slow down the growth of the tumor (I wrote about it at the beginning of my letter), and one week the medication is injected for several hours a day and after that we can go home for a night. After this session is over in two months, Taras will be re-examined, and the decision will be made about the further treatment.  Several options will be evaluated: chemotherapy, immunotherapy, MIBG-therapy, haplo bone marrow transplant. The current chemo is easier on Taras’ body. It was recommended because of hepatitis since it makes possible to treat hepatitis simultaneously.

 

We can only pray and wait for the results in two months. Lord Jesus Christ help Taras to win! Give us strength and wisdom to support Taras in the battle for his life.

 

Uliana Grabchiuk