March 2006 Archives
The manuscript is finished.
186,571 words.
43 chapters.
Thats about 746 pages...
Marisol Sanchez will translate Paulina's comments.
Ron Elberger will do the editing and will add more literary depth.
Here are some reviews I've received from people that have read parts of it:
"I have read some (not all) of your book and have been absolutely blown away. It is an incredibly important contribution! Best of luck finishing your superb book and best to the family."
Jordan S. Orange
"HOLY COW, you must have a ridiculously extensive set of notes! Or a photographic memory. This is just amazing. I find it absolutely amazing and gripping and real. I'm not sure what the general public might think of it."
Manish Butte
"It is certainly a powerful story--one that interweaves personal efforts with cutting edge science and medicine."
A Publisher.
"I read the chapters you sent me and was completely amazed at how well written it is. It is hard to believe that you were able to put your words into such perfect English. What I loved most about it was that you were able to have a sense of humor even though your experience was so devastating. "
Vicki Modell
In Spanish:
"Se trata de un papá, Andrés Treviño, que escribe sobre la terrible - y muy de moda - experiencia de un hijo enfermo y la donación de células madre de su hermana; no es un libro científico pero sí vivencial, a mí me estremeció.."
Isabel Lasa
"Con el riesgo de que pienses "ya que le baje, me esta choreando" esta POCAMADRE!!!
Siguele, va a ser un HITAZO!"
Victor A. Trevino
"Estoy emocionada. Me encanta como lo escribiste, tan claro, tan emotivo, tan preciso,
creo que Dios te dio el don de saber poner en palabras lo que piensas con una claridad increible!!"
Marilu Trevino
El día de hoy Chio hizo una presentación sobre Andy a toda su generación en su escuela.
Chío estudia en cuarto de CCH en el Tomás Moro.
Aquí hay una foto de Chio con Andy en un juego de los Red Sox el verano pasado.
Felicidades por la presentación CHIO!
Para ver la presentación de Chio da click aquí
Jackson is in the news!
ABC News Channel 13 Houston talks about Jackson and his family today.
Here are some highlights of the story:
You could be a match for Jackson by Christi Myers
Imagine learning that your baby has a genetic mutation that will keep him from living to be an adult. Now imagine that there's only one cure, but you can't buy it. You have to depend on a stranger.
"Jackson's immune system does not work basically at all. There's very little function that he has," said Brenda. "He's basically like the bubble boy."
"With the nemo mutation, there's only 14, 15 people in the world that have that mutation that Jackson has and no one has ever survived past age 20 with this mutation," said Brenda.
A bone marrow transplant is the only treatment. It could give Jackson an immune system.
"This could be a complete cure," said Brenda. "He could live a completely normal life."
But no one in their family is a match. They're spending their savings trying to have another child who might be a match.
Read the complete story via ABC News 13 Houston here.
The story has links to www.cure4jackson.org.
You can also help by purchasing the "Action for Jackson" wristbands and the "cure4jackson.org" Tshirts.
Mark Porter story at The Patriot Ledger newspaper today!
Mark Porter will run the Boton Marathon in honor of Andy. Read the newspaper story below.
Make your gift today!
Mark Porter: Miles for Miracles Profile ID = PM0031.
Andy Trevino: Miles for Miracles Profile ID = TA0001
MARATHON MAN: CANCER SURVIVOR RUNS TO HELP OTHERS
Mark Porter runs along South Central Avenue in Quincy. (AMELIA KUNHARDT/The Patriot Ledger)
By ELENI HIMARAS
The Patriot Ledger
QUINCY - Mark Porter believes the only reason he was able to beat cancer was the people who went before him to fight for a cure.
Departamento en venta en Parques de la Herradura. Decorado por la misma decoradora de "La Casa del Tec". Piso de madera y alfombra en las recamaras.
Zona exclusiva muy cerca de Interlomas sin el tráfico.
Vigilancia las 24 horas del día y el edificio muy bien administrado.
4 recamaras (1 recamara de servicio). Closets amplios.
4 baños + 1 medio baño. 1 baño con tina.
Antecomedor y despensa amplia.
Cocina equipada.
Comedor y Sala con piso de madera.
Cuarto de TV con mueble en madera fina hecho a la medida.
En un tercer piso, vista área natural protegida.
Informes Andres Trevino. 5351 1714
Cerrada Parque de Coruña No. 10 Depto 302 A.
Colonia Parques de la Herradura.
Huixquilucan, Estado de México.
52786.
México
Precio: USD $270,000 .
.
Recamaras: 3 + 1 de servicio .
Baños completos: 3 + 1 de servicio .
Metros cuadrados: 220 m2 .
Cuota mantenimiento: $2,000 pesos
Incluido Refrigerador, horno de microondas, lavadora y secadora de ropa, television, bocinas. Negociable Sala, comedor, antecomedor. Cuadros. .
.
Mayores detalles aqui.
Simon's Mom posted an update yesterday.
She said,
We ask for prayers and support for us to get through this all. We have never asked for help for anything but this time we have no choice. We cannot do all of this alone. I'm trying to work from the hospital and dave is trying to work when we have someone to take care of our girls. Its a tough schedule to try and keep. We hope to hear some encouraging news in the meantime and keep praying to see our baby boy smiling again and keeping us forging forward. For strength we pray.
CONDITIONING -> CELL INFUSION -> ENGRAFTMENT -> BREAKOUT DAY
Simon received stem cells from his sister Marriana and they are finding their way to Simon’s bone marrow right now and some of them may already be there.
Go Simon! A prayer for Simon!
Heres a link to www.cure4simon.org
When viewing the complete blood count (CBC) results, what combinations let you know when an infection is bacterial or viral?
Here's the answer:
The things to look for in the CBC that support the presence of an infectious process are the white blood cell count (WBC) and differential. In non-localized infections of bacterial and viral origin, the total WBC count is elevated in non-immunosupressed patients. The next thing to look at is the differential, which is the percentage of the various types of white blood cells present.An increase in polymorphonuclear neutrophils, referred to as POLYS or SEGS, is seen in bacterial infections including endocarditis, septicemia, and pneumonia. An immature form of this type of cell, referred to as a BAND, is often also seen, especially in acute infection. The appearance of these younger cells in the circulation is referred to as a SHIFT TO THE LEFT.
A classic example is the emergency patient presenting with right lower quadrant pain, fever, nausea, and vomiting. With a significant increase in SEGS and BANDS, a trip to the OR is pretty much assured. The elevated white count along with types of cells that predominate in this case, support a
diagnosis of acute appendicitis with the threat of rupture.Viral infections affecting the systemic circulation are often accompanied by an increase in lymphocytes (LYMPHS).
The WBC differential identifies lymphs as reactive or atypical, indicating the response of this cell type to the virus. This occurs in many viral infections including hepatitis, infectious mononucleosis (caused by Epstein-Barr virus) rubella and rubeola.
A frequently encountered scenario is a patient presenting with fever, malaise and swollen lymph nodes. The laboratory report will often note more than 20 percent atypical lymphs (ATL). A mononucleosis screen can then be performed to confirm infection with the Epstein-Barr virus. Cytomegalovirus
(CMV) infection can, at times, present like infectious mononucleosis.Specific cell types are important in the analysis of cerebrospinal fluid, assisting in the differential diagnosis of bacterial (presence of SEGS) vs. viral (presence of LYMPHS) meningitis.
Some additional points:
The lymphocyte count may also be increased in chronic bacterial infections.
Tuberculosis infection is accompanied by an increase in lymphocytes and monocytes.
Since many infections are localized, changes will not be seen in the CBC. A variety of non-infectious inflammatory conditions, other than infection, can cause increases in the white count, including leukemia and trauma.
The laboratory differential report on a child has different normals reflecting the fact that children have more lymphs and fewer segs in their blood, when compared to adults.
Simon received Marriana's stem cells yesterday 10:30 am.
CONDITIONING -> CELL INFUSION -> ENGRAFTMENT -> BREAKOUT DAY
Simon's Mom is requesting the following prayer:
If you want to pray for us, pray that he has engraftment over the next few weeks. In this time of renewal and time of prayer we pray for the Rebirth of our sons immune system through the generous donation of his sisters cells. May God have mercy and give Simon a new chance at a healthy happy life. Please pray for him.
Go Simon!
John Paul II established the Pontifical Academy for Life (Pontificia Academia Pro Vita - PAV) whose specific task is to:
a) study questions and issues connected with the promotion and defence of human life.
b) foster a culture of life.
c) inform the most relavant results of its study and research in a clear and prompt manner.
The PAV had their twelfth general assembly this week from Feb. 27th to March 1st. at the Vatican City, New Hall of the Synod. The theme of the conference was, "The Human Embryo before Implantation. Scientific Update and Bioethical Considerations."
The President of the PAV is H.E. Msgr. Elio Sgreccia.
I wish I could have been there at that conference...although I might have shouted..
The programme included the following:
The Development of the Embryo before Implantation by Prof. G. Sica
Pre-implantation and Prenatal Diagnosis by Prof. C. Bellieni
Biomedical and Ethical Considerations on Pre-implantation Diagnosis by Prof. K. FitzGerald
Prenatal and Pre-implantation Diagnosis: the Point of View of Parents by Prof. M.O. Rethoré
Classical and Medieval Thought (St. Thomas) on the Human Embryo by Prof. M. Pangallo
The Pre-implantation Embryo between Biology and Philosophy: the Individual by Prof. A. Gil Lopes
Can a Human Individual not be a Person? by Prof. R. Spaemann
The Reasons for the Duty to Have a Juridical Defence of the Embryo Dr. Jean-Marie Le Menè
Here's a link to the PAV website.
Today I received news from the Associated Press with some of the conclusions of the conference reported by Nicole Winfield:
There have also been cases where parents seek to have a child with specific non-diseased characteristics to help a diseased older sibling through tissue or organ donation, they said."How will this 'savior' child live his situation?" asked Prof. Marie-Odile Rethore, a member of France's Jerome Lejeune Institute, which conducts research into Down's Syndrome. "How will he live the death of the older child he was not able to save?"
In a paper delivered at the conference, she said France's National Committee on Ethics issued its opinion on the topic in 2002, saying: "If medically assisted procreation is no longer aimed at favoring the birth of children for themselves but to be used to repair another child, we are entering into a humanity that despises itself."
Read the Associated Press story via Yahoo News here.
First of all, I'm sure that the story from the AP is not informing the most relavant results of the conference. And from what I read at the story I think I know the reason why Prof. Marie-Oldie Rethore is against pre implantation genetic diagnosis, it's because she studies Down's Syndrome and Down's Syndrome is not a terminal disease. I understand her point of view. With PGD parents are able to decide whether or not TO TRY to have a baby and she thinks that parents shouldnt have that choice. Now, she needs to understand that there are other cases like ours where its a matter of life and death, a battle against a terminal diagnosis. I decided to use preimplantation genetic diagnosis because I chose life for myself and for my family.
I think the AP reporter is wrong to use that quote from Prof. Marie-Oldie Rethore in her story. And I don't know in what context Prof. Marie-Oldie Rethore used that phrase.... From what I read, I think it was wrong for her to say "How will this 'savior' child live his situation? How will he live the death of the older child he was not able to save?". That philosophy is incorrect. If we follow that same train of thought we would not be here. There would be no blood donors for example, because "how will they feel if they are not able to save a patient that needs a blood transfusion?"
Anyways... One day, I'm going to go to one of this conferences to talk about Andy and Sofia. And by doing that I will be able to help a lot of people who are trying to find "One fit savior".
