Mark's journey...

Mark had a much easier time with his transplant.....he didn't have GVH...and to this day he still hasn't had any.....the doctors at CHOP did a study on the two boys....and they discovered that since Mark had his transplant early....and they used the mothers bone marrow....there is not any GVH involved. The maternal stem cells were recognized in the new body because within the first month there are maternal cells already present.
Mark did have difficulties though....he still needed IVIG and it was difficult because of his little veins...they wanted to put a needle in his head to access the vein each month. I just couldn't see this being done.....so we went with the IG given IM or through the muscle. This required shots in the legs weekly....and for David twice a week. It was a tough time.....Dave had to hold this little baby (Mark) still while I stuck him in each leg and pushed this THICK liquid into his muscle.....this is not just a quick stick....it would sometimes take 30+ seconds to put it in his muscle. It was very hard! Then David would hide because he knew he was next.....so we would have to fish him out of his hiding spot and do the whole process over again.
After two years of doing this process we switched to IVIG...by this time Mark's veins were bigger and they were able to access it....but if he cried the veins would disappear. They they would need to access the foot...OUCH!
So here we are telling a two year old NOT to cry until it was over....and he was a trooper....he didn't cry. It was amazing.....this little guy would watch the needle go in and not even move or whimper.
There were times through the years when some nurses couldn't get his vein....one time they stuck him 7 times......it was horrible! I was so sick and he was in so much pain....this was before the numbing spray that they have now....
Mark's struggles with his immune system were completely different than from David's.....Mark's bones were weak and he was ALWAYS breaking something. His first cast was when he was three years old...his bones were just so soft....but nothing kept him down....he has played baseball, hockey, football, and basketball with casts on!
Another problem that Mark has exhibited was a tendency to get Meningitis.....when others would get sick...he would get meningitis. Within a period of Three years he had Meningitis four times....fortunately it has always been viral...but it has been scary!
Mark is now going to college and is looking forward to joining the Police Force.......His immune system is stable and he is keeping himself healthy!