Please visit our GoFundMe page at http://www.gofundme.com/aidforadam , and like this page to receive Because of these factors, the expenses are piling up.
Adam is a bright and talented young man who was recently diagnosed with an extremely rare form of leukemia (only four cases have been recorded worldwide). He was diagnosed less than two weeks after his graduation from Lakes High School, and had been planning to attend UW Tacoma this fall to study physical therapy. That has now been postponed for at least a year while he is in treatment. After his
12/03/2021
Today was Adam's 6 year post transplant follow up. He's doing good and needed another Hib vaccine and tdap as the ones he got were not adequate according to the titer. The covid booster is only half dose so he will need another. SCCA considers 3 full doses for him to be fully immunized. Lots of tests and some medication changes. 9 hours for today's appointments. I'm so glad they are so thorough. He is considered over 5 years in remission.
05/30/2019
We recently went to seaside and stopped off at Astoria Towers to fly planes. We had a great time. Adam is doing good and has just tapered off all cortisone treatments. Unfortunately he is now showing signs of being endocrine deficient. Hopefully time will change that. His Kidney disease is so far stable in the early part of stage 4. Hes taking part time community college classes at Pierce and will increase as he is able. Adam is currently getting his baby immunizations (as he inherited his donors immunity, which was a new born) and hopefully by the end of the year can get the MMR and chicken pox vaccine. Thank you everyone for your prayers.
10/09/2018
We are so happy to say that Adam has been cleared to start school. He's starting slow with 8 credits at Pierce college. This was his second day of school. He's doing good and still tapering off of steroids. He's had his first shots in the series of baby immunizations (the transplant wiped out his entire immune system, so he has to start from scratch). Aside from the stage 4 kidney disease and neuropathy in his feet he is doing good. He is getting stronger every week. Thank you for your love and prayers. Please keep the prayers going.
05/17/2018
It's been awhile since my last post. Adam has been feeling pretty good and is still continuing on a prednisone taper. Hopefully this time it will be successful. His nephrologist (kidney dr) Is keeping a close eye on him, but there is no reason to suspect any major changes right now which is good. (He has recently changed from stage 3 kidney disease to stage 4) We are hopeful that his blood will start making B and T cells. They think it was a side effect from the rituxan infusions he had last year to stabilize his kidneys. So basically it means he is still immunocompromised. Thank you everyone for your prayers, support and love
01/05/2018
Yesterday we met with the SCCA (long term care Drs.) and Adam is still cancer free!!!!! His lungs, bones and cholesterol levels have stabilized and are not an issue like last year. That's good news.
We are hopeful that 2018 will be the year he is able to get off of steroids and have his endocrine system wake up. Hopefully his blood will start to make B cells so that he will have an immune system to fight off bacteria and viruses. He continues to need infusions and injections to build up his blood. His Nephrologist (kidney Dr.) is another story and will be meeting with her tomorrow. I suspect it will be the same story. Monitor blood pressure. Keep up the medications. Continue blood and urine tests and wait till it reaches the point to take action. What and when is the question. Another biopsy??? It's a waiting game. The longer the wait the better!!!
In the meantime, he just needs to stay as healthy as possible, no viruses, infections or anything to stress his system.
He is feeling really pretty good these last couple of days. He is looking really good and no-one would ever know what he's been through or is experiencing now. He is such a trooper.
Thank you everyone for your interest in us and keeping us in your prayers. The Gallaghers
08/24/2017
Nate Henley (Rachel's brother) and 2 of their cousins from Rachel Lynn Henley foundation took Adam and 2 of his friends (Louis and Colby) to the cheesecake factory for dinner and then a wardrobe shopping spree. He had a fantastic time. I haven't seen him this happy or excited about anything since he was diagnosed. Thank you Rachel's hugs.
07/29/2017
It's been a long time since my last update. I wanted it to be a good one. 8 weeks ago Adam was plagued with horrible migraines, uncontrolled lipids, uncontrolled blood pressure, an unknown rash and an ANC count of 300 (below 500 is extremely neutropenic, no immune system) the doctors where worried. After many specialists, and no real reason, the rash is gone, his lipids have returned to almost normal his ANC has risen a lot, his blood pressure is high but under control, and he hasn't had a migraine in 3 weeks and no medication changes. Now That's crazy!! Life is so much better. Thank you everyone for your prayers and concern.
03/16/2017
Adam made me cut off all his curls
Adam is in good spirits and doing ok. He was recently diagnosed with another rare condition called Avascular necrosis. Which is basically dead bone. It's caused by the treatment he needs for his body to accept the new bone marrow that his body is still fighting. One day this will all be in the past and he will be living a healthy happy life. We are currently waiting to hear how is kidneys are reacting to the infusions he recently had and if it's worth the risks to continue. Thanks everyone for you continued prayers and inquiries in Adam well being. Love Elyna
Adam's kidneys have continued to get worse and his nephrologist has suggested doing Rituxan infusions. 2 to start and see what happens and his GVHD Dr. says if we're gonna do it, let's do 4 treatments. They have no idea if it will help and are grasping at straws to see if they can stop or slow down the progression of kidney damage. The trooper Adam is, he says "Okay" ready for whatever he has to do. Does anyone have any experience with Rituxan. I could use some feedback. Thank you.