Lots of fun happenings and events since the last blog post. Later this summer, Travis heads to the NIH for his 4 year clinical trial appointments!! Thankfully no major side effects, with the biggest still his platinum blond hair. :) Total tumor shrinkage...38%!!!! This is AMAZING news!!
T's first comment after hearing 38% shrinkage..."Cool, I have David Ragan's number shrinkage!"
Over the past year, the NIH filmed Travis during our NIH visits to create a video for first time families. He thoroughly enjoyed the process and made fast friends with the filming crew. What an amazing group of individuals for such a fun project!! A true honor for us all.
As time flew by, Travis finished elementary school and will head to middle school in the fall. Thank you to the wonderful teachers, principal, and staff at his elementary school. They create such an environment of learning and caring, so fun to watch Travis succeed in this environment. We all shed a few tears during the clapout for the 6th graders, such a great tradition.
Last day of school for the boys
L-R: Barrett (9th), Travis (6th), Nolan (11th)
Last fall Travis had a nodular lesion removed from his pelvis. This lesion did not respond to the clinical trial medicine and actually grew over the course of time. Dr. Jones, the same surgeon who repaired his fractured femur both times, performed the surgery. He removed the lesion without complications.
Travis with Dr Jones before surgery
Travis after Oct '18 surgery
Dr. Jones, the same surgeon who repaired his fractured femur both times, performed the surgery. He removed the lesion without complications.
The clinical trial medicine affects wound healing, so he didn't take the clinical trial medicine for 3 weeks. Travis' hair returned to his natural color in that time, so as his hair grew, he had a "chemo stripe" of blond and brown. The pathology report came back with no indications of malignancy...great news!
During a brain MRI at the NIH for their Natural History study, the radiologists discovered a cyst in Travis' brain that wasn't there 8 years prior. We added a neurosurgeon to Travis' team and Travis repeats the brain MRI at the NIH in August. Praying no growth and what happened a long time ago was a single occurrence.
Mar '19 image on left, Jul '11 image on right
Travis enjoys a variety of adaptive sports throughout the year; including, but not limited too: Miracle League baseball, adaptive skiing, wheelchair tennis, wheelchair basketball, adaptive Tae Kwon Do, and more. Let us know if you are in the area, we would love to meet up and grab ice cream at Travis' favorite store, Howdy Homemade, and favorite flavor, Travis Hot Tamale.
Our weekly excursion.
Travis' summer adventures include: Jr High Mission Trip, wheelchair sports camp, wheelchair tennis, and super exciting...Camp Fantastic for NIH patients. He will spend a week at a 4-H camp in Virginia for pediatric patients at the NIH and his doctors will be the medical staff at the camp.
