11/24/2024
First I want to apologize for falling behind on the updates. i went on a trip and picked up Pneumonia and that has had me dragging! Instead of writing 1 massive update, I am going to write a few that you can check out at your leisure. Update #1. Matt came home earlier than expected as I mentioned in the previous update. He had a bit of time to settle in to a new norm as far as low energy and what life will look like for the next little while, with him unable to work and not feeling at all like his old self. Then the family faced additional unexpected tragedy when his Mom, Patty, suddenly passed away on November 10. I don't have the right words to explain how that kind of loss hits so very hard, when you are already battling on every level. Please extend prayers and thoughts of comfort to the whole family.
Matt had his bone marrow biopsy this past Wednesday (11/20) and is waiting for the results which should be in sometime this week. Yesterday he was readmitted to begin the "Consolidation" Phase. Consolidation, or intensification, treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is given to prevent leukemia cells from coming back. Consolidation treatment usually lasts a few months. Chemotherapy is the primary consolidation treatment for ALL. The chemotherapy is quite intense because the drugs are usually given in higher doses. Since Matt has the Philadelphia variant/chromosome he will also receive targeted therapy, I believe in the form of a pill. He will have a # of these cycles of inpatient treatment lasting 4-7 days each time depending on how his body responds, then home 10 days to 2 weeks for recovery before going back in for another cycle. 4-6 of these cycles are expected. If you are exhausted just reading this, you are beginning to get the picture of what he is currently and in the short term, facing.
The first week of December he will have his appointments in Boston at Dana Farber to discuss his bone marrow transplant. The estimated time for transplant is early February but will be dependent on responsiveness to treatment and other things. THe transplant will have him out here in Boston for about a month as he acquires his new immune system. These are just the facts. If you sit with these facts for a few minutes and think about what this will all mean in their day to day lives, you can quickly see why they need support! As mentioned previously, Matt is out of work for the foreseeable future. That doesn't mean a few weeks or months, it means he likely will not be able to return to any sort of normal work before this summer. During the time that he is here in Boston Amy is going to need to decide between keeping things as normal as possible for the kids and spending time supporting her husband, no easy task when there's a 3.5 hour drive in between the 2. Not to mention her work. She will need as much help as she can get with all of the things from rides for the kids, to groceries, to babysitting, to tasks Matt normally takes care of. It sounds incredibly daunting because IT IS!
However it is also not impossible. I have been absolutely blown away by the support shown to my family, and I know they have too! I have said it before and I won't stop saying it any time soon. EVERYTHING helps. Not just monetary donations. Sharing this post, sending prayers and thoughts, checking in with them, offering to make a meal, or do a chore. EVERYTHING weaves together into a beautiful blanket of support. They will feel your encouragement, and they need it, so very much!
Love Monique
Hi there, my name is Monique Reese and today I want to share a story about… Monique Reese needs your support for Rally for Matt DuBrey: Beat Leukemia Together
