Tyler Longden Leukemia Trust
Tyler is currently awaiting his operation this week for his main line to be placed for his really intensive treatment to start. He is currently already having 4 different lots of chemo and regularly being put to sleep for his lumbar puncture chemo. They are introducing alot more kinds of chemo in the next couple of weeks which will again cause him so many side effects including drops in blood cell counts which need to be treated by blood and platelet transfusions (this also increases risks of bad bleeding and bruises from simple things), feeling and being sick, complete hair loss, sore mouth and mouth ulcers, diarrhoea, increased risk of blood clots, tiredness and musle and joints aches. His treatment also effects the neutrophils in his blood which help to fight infection.
As the drugs destroy these he is at risk of infections developing into serious conditions so any temperature of 38 degrees or more requires us to take him to hospital to be admitted and treated. We have to limit his visitors and not allow him to come into contact with friends or family who could have bugs and illnesses as he has zero immune system this can be very dangerous to him.
Also due to needing steriods through out his treatment these also have a big impact on his life they causes head aches, again more joint pain, tingling in the joints and also in his hands and feet effecting his mobitily. They also increases his appetite and increase water retention which effects his weight especially in his face.
Obviously due to the fact his blood levels are effected its very important to keep an eye on him because a simple cut or bruise can develop into something more so it limits how much he can do. It can leave him very frustrated because he is so young and doesn't fully understand the need to stop.
That being said Tyler is still such an active plesant little boy he rarely complains and understands alot of what is going on. When he goes to theatre (he calls this smelly air lol) he sits so well on the table and breathes the gas in and goes off to sleep without a fight! His drugs should make him immobile all of the time and this isn't the case he tries so hard to carry on through the pain. He understands that he needs to have his needles and medicines in order to get better and he takes them no problems. He really is such a brave boy and a inspiration to most people he meets.
