No More ADAGEN! Finito!

I guess I have quite a bit I can write about this morning as it has been a while since my last entry. The biggest and most important thing that has happened just recently is that Parker had his last ADAGEN injection yesterday. We waited at the hospital for over two hours but it is something we are accustomed to doing. Normally we go a little later, anticipating a long wait before seeing a nurse but yesterday we didn't. So, as long as everything goes well with the gene therapy (we know it will) Parker will not have to get the injection of ADA injected into his leg twice a week. For those of you who are unsure what the injection is for, it is the enzyme that Parker is unable to produce himself. Unfortunately its immunological effects are not long-term. Parker's t-cells would have eventually come down after a couple years of using it.

Yesterday, our friends from California flew into Italy with their son for gene therapy treatment. They are well; however, they did have quite the difficult day and although they are living at a different residence then us, we did get to meet them last night. I am sure she will share her experience on her blog eventually as I do not want to write too much without their experience. I will say that it is extremely nice to have an English speaking family that is going through the same obstacles that we are here in Italy. They are extremely nice and we look forward to spending much more time with them. That brings the total SCID-ADA families currently here at the hospital to five (that we have met). Two have already been treated and three including Parker are awaiting treatment. Our new friends will soon be going through the same tests that Parker went through during our first six weeks here.

Today is another holiday here. It is Labour Day in Europe, so apparently, everything is closed. We were also under the impression that everything was closed on Sunday's as well. That said, Gaga and I took a trip to the City Center on Sunday to do a little sight seeing together. When we got there, we quickly realised that the shops near the Duomo are open for tourists. We did not go to Duomo for shopping so we began walking in search of the castle and church that the Bishop Saint Ambrose's crypt lay. Bruna had taken Tracy and I there a week a go so I did my best to find both with only having been there once.

Roy was quite impressed but I had found the castle in no time. The Saint Ambrose was a little more difficult to find but we weaved through the small streets of Milan in the direction I remember the church being and to my surprise we found it. There was a mass going on so we did stay for that for a little while. Then we paid a euro to purchase a candle that we could light and say a prayer for Parker. By now, we were quite hungry so it was off to McDonald's for a couple McMenus (combos). It was nice spending the day with Roy without the ladies. Yes, we are very lucky to have such nice spouses but it is nice to have a guys day out once in awhile. Besides, Nana had treated mama to a pedicure the day before!

Lastly, we have decided to be much more liberal in our method for giving Parker his dinner. Now, we just throw a towel below him, give him his food on his plate and let him go at it. Most goes on the floor in the end but some does eventually make it to his mouth. No more forcing food on the little monkey at dinner time.

For last year's article, click here.

Ciao for now!