Wow! We just had a great check-up at Duke.  We traveled down to Duke on Monday for appointments on Tuesday and Wednesday.  The results were awesome!  Brayden is no longer on any transplant related medication.  He is on some allergy meds still, but all transplant meds are GONE!  Praise God!  Prior to transplant, Brayden's thymus gland (important for immune function communication) was not functioning.  Now its function level is normal!  Also, there is a level doctors check that plays an important roll in allergic reactions called IgE (Immunoglobulin E).  Prior to transplant it was 4,000 (normal is 0-approx 400).  Now it is 200.  There is a VERY good chance he will not have allergies anymore.  He will be tested again in November.  I can't imagine Brayden having ice cream!  While there, he received his second round of immunizations.  As a nurse told Brayden, "Think of it as a painful trophy".  This step is considered to be very exciting because it means your immune system is ready for it.  All the tests performed on Brayden came out GREAT!

Trevin also had GREAT test results!  His thymus gland is almost functioning at normal.  His platelets are finally in the normal range and his immune system is a tad bit better than Brayden's due to an abundance of donor cells.  Trevin's skin is suffering from a very mild form of GVH (Graft-versus-Host), but nothing to worry about.  They have not lowered his immunosuppressant drug yet, but hopefully soon.  Once he is off this drug completely, the other transplant drugs will eventually dwindle.  As for the fungus that was in his right lung, it is all but gone.  A few nodes remain, but in all it is much better.  There was a small streak on the CT film associated with his bronchial tubes that the doctor wants us to work out using chest PT (physical therapy).  He thinks it just might be some mucus.  He will be sending the film to a pulmonologist for evaluation and recommendation.  He assured us it is nothing to get excited about and will probably disappear on its own.  Other than that, the doctor was VERY pleased with his progress.  He feels that Trevin, too, has a high chance of losing his allergies.  He will be tested in November as well. 

While this was all good, the highlights of our visit were seeing the doctors, nurses and of course Brayden's buddy, Rachel.  She had her transplant around the same time as Trevin's second.  She is having trouble with GVH and is still at Duke.  Please keep this family in your thoughts and prayers along with all the children who are or have endured this process. 

Both boys had an immune function test and chimerism repeated this week.  We will not know the results until next week. 

Brayden has started the fifth grade and loves his teacher.  He is able to participate in all activities with the exception of drinking water from the water fountain.  Trevin has started school with me and the homebound teacher.  I have to remind him occassionally that because he is not at school doesn't mean he doesn't have homework.

Words can not express our joy right now.  I know we have said it before, but I can't thank all our supporters enough.  Your prayers and gifts have been an instrumental part in our boys' healing.