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Day 1
 Today Gabriel began
the maintenance phase of his treatments. This phase will span over
the next 3 years in a repetitive schedule. He will continue
with a regiment of chemo drugs, Vincristine, Methotrexate,
Dexomethazone, 6-Mercaptopurine, Septra and others.This phase is not as intense as the past phases.
Hopefully it will give Gabriel a chance to return to a more normal
routine with less visits to the hospital and not so much medicine
everyday.
Gabriel's spirits are very good. He loves for
people to play with him and continues to be very keen and attentive
when it comes to, the time of day, when he last ate, and if it is
time for his medicine yet. He is getting wiser than a kid his age
should have to be, but, he is as cute as ever and melts my heart
every time he opens his mouth.
We thank you for all your
prayers, we know that it is the power of prayer that will see us
all through this. (For
a complete list of updates, see the Index of Updates on the front
page of Gabriel's Website.)
If you have not yet checked out Gabriel's new website, make it a
point to stop by.
God bless you and good night,
-Tom
"Whenever my enemy
provokes me to combat, I try to behave like a soldier."
St. Therese, the Little Flower
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Day 13
 Gabriel's
Maintenance phase is going well. Things seem to be
leveling off for him as far as his reaction to all the
medications. His energy levels seem to be relatively
consistent, his personality is as cute as ever, his
demeanor is very good and his spirit is as pure and
innocent as ever. This past Monday (November 19th) we
went back to All Children's Hospital. All of his blood
levels were good, his immune levels (ANC) came in at
1200 which is very good as well. He took his
Methotrexate (chemo) like a champ and barely missed a
beat playing with his brother and big sister as well as
his little 1 year old nephew Zachary. I will be posting
some new video and pictures so check back soon. I have
also put up an online store called Gabriel's Gifts
Galore to help out financially as we try and deal with
the next 3 years of treatments ahead
www.gabrielsgiftsgalore.com.We thank you for all your
prayers, we know that it is the power of prayer that will see us
all through this. (For
a complete list of updates, see the Index of Updates on the front
page of Gabriel's Website.)
If you have not yet checked out Gabriel's new website, make it a
point to stop by.
God bless you and good night,
-Tom
"Whenever my enemy
provokes me to combat, I try to behave like a soldier."
St. Therese, the Little Flower
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Day 45
 Gabriel
continues to do well in the Maintenance Phase of his
treatments. We have completed the first 8 months and
this little guy has endured it all very well. Gabriel
has about 20 days left in the first round of his
Maintenance Phase treatments and then it begins all over
again.
He still receives some form of
Chemo on a weekly basis with Chemo (Vinctistine)
administered through his port once a month and then
oral Chemo (Methotrexate) every Monday. Over the past
four weeks, Gabriel's immune system has been declining
a bit. 500 is the magic number where Gabriel will need
to be in a protective environment. As of this past
Monday, he was down to 600. This is down from 800 two
weeks ago and 1200 just four weeks ago. We are praying
this trend will reverse especially with all the family
gatherings we have planned for Christmas and New
Years.
Over the next 3 years,
Gabriel will repeat the 89 days over and over until the
3 years are complete. At that time the doctors will
monitor him for 6 more months before they decide to
remove his port that they placed in his chest.
Well, as Christmas approaches
next week, our entire Sullivan family would like to
wish you can your family a very happy and Holy
Christmas and New Year. We thank you once again for
your financial support, your prayers and all the
cards, gifts for Gabriel and letters of support we
have received from you.
If you haven't done so
yet, visit Gabriel's Gifts Galore at
www.GabrielsGiftsGalore.com.
It is an online store we have set-up to raise money to
help us with Gabriel's ongoing treatments.
Have a Very Blessed and Holy
Christmas and God Bless You!
God bless you,
Tom, Carol and the entire Sullivan Family
"Whenever my enemy provokes me to combat, I try to
behave like a soldier."
St. Therese, the Little Flower
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| Day 85 Gabriel began Phase 5 Maintenance Course 2 this week and
is doing very well. His spirits are always high and it
seems that the worst part of the treatments are behind
us. His Maintenance Phase will continue now for the
remaining 2 1/2 years with a daily regiment of
medications, but he handles taking his medications like
a true warrior. Never a complaint or fuss and always
looking ahead to when he is better. Many times he will
say, "When I get better, I am going to play on a soccer
team". He is such a strong little boy and tells us often
that Jesus is going to make him better. I will
continue to put up some new videos and photos since I
know many of you are following Gabriel's progress
regularly. We thank you for all your
prayers, we know that it is the power of prayer that will see us
all through this.
If you have not yet checked out Gabriel's new website,
www.gabrielsgiftsgalore.com make it a
point to stop by and pass it on to your list of friends.
God bless you and good night,
-Tom
"Whenever my enemy
provokes me to combat, I try to behave like a soldier."
St. Therese, the Little Flower
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 Day
169Well, a lot has happened since my last
update on Gabriel. He had a fabulous time at the Monster
Jam event in Orlando, made possible by Chris Rossbach
from Live Nation Motor Sports in Tampa, (Chris and
Gabriel at right), his hair is growing back now, he has
learned to ride a 2 wheel bicycle, and now he wants to
tackle a pair of roller blades. He is truly an amazing
little warrior.
 The
Monster Jam event this past January has been the
highlight of Gabriel's life. You would think it was just
yesterday by the way he is so enthralled with his
Monster Jam trucks, video games, World Finals DVD's
etc... It has become something that allows him to take
his mind off all that is going on around him with daily
medications, stricked hygiene precautions and visits to
the hospital for his chemo treatments. I placed a video
up on his website of Gabriel going to the hospital
dressed in his Monster Truck shirt, El Toro Loco hat and
playing with his Monster Jam Trucks in the treatment
room. Near the end of the video you will see him laying
on the table clutching his Monster Trucks even during
his treatments. It is a very cute 6 minute clip. There
are some other new clips there as well.
 We
are coming up on the one year mark of Gabriel's
diagnoses with Leukemia (May 1st). It has been a very
long and trying year for all of us and we thank God for
our Faith and all your prayers and support. On May 28th,
2008, Gabriel will be receiving the Sacrament of
Confirmation. Our local Bishop has extended this
privilege to him to strengthen him and to aid him in
this fight that he is in for his life. The Sacrament of
Confirmation is called "The Sacrament of Battle" by the
Church and for good reason. It gives us the spiritual
strengthening we need to combat the evils of this world
in all its forms. Please pray for Gabriel especially on
the evening of May 28th and unite your prayers with him
as this most holy Sacrament is bestowed upon him.
This week, Gabriel began Course 3 of his maintenance
treatments. Over the next 2 1/2 years, Gabriel will
repeat the 12 week routine over and over until the 2 1/2
years are complete. He is really doing well and the
doctors are very pleased with how Gabriel is responding
and how good his spirits are. Looking at him, you would
never know there was anything wrong. He plays, runs,
rides his bike, wrestles
 with
this brothers, plays soccer, swims and even jumps over
ramps with his bicycle. And if you think that is
something, you should see him on a skateboard. I promise
I will get some more videos up of all this in the coming
weeks and months ahead.
We thank you once again for your much needed financial
support, your never ending prayers and all the cards we
have received. 2 1/2 years from now, I am confident you
and I will look back at this period of time in our lives
and together we will know, we fought this battle well
along with Gabriel. I also know that God will not let
our love, sacrifices, and prayers be in vain.
 Well,
that is about it for now, I will post another update as
we continue to journey forward with Gabriel.
If you haven't done so yet, visit Gabriel's Gifts
Galore at www.GabrielsGiftsGalore.com. It is an online
store we have set-up to raise funds to help us with
Gabriel's ongoing treatments. You can also follow
Gabriel's progress at www.GabrielPSullivan.com.
God bless you,
-Tom, Carol and the entire Sullivan Family
"Whenever my enemy provokes me to combat, I try to
behave like a soldier."
St. Therese, the Little Flower
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Day 241
07/10/2008 - Gabriel Continues on Course 4 of Maintenance.
Gabriel continues to do well as he progresses through
course 4 of his maintenance treatments. Everyday I keep waiting
for him to rebel against taking his medication everyday or going
to the hospital, but he doesn't. He is so cooperative and does
exactly what we ask him to do with such a spirit of trust and
dependency. We can all learn so much from him. He is truly an
amazing little warrior.
 Not
too much has happened since my last update. Gabriel had a
beautiful Confirmation and he did break his arm riding his bike in our yard. He fell and broke
his arm in two places just above his left wrist. We took him to
All Children's Hospital where they have a pediatric orthopedic
center near by. He was so good as the doctor took X-rays, and then let him
pick out a color for his cast. The doctor asked him if it hurt and
Gabriel shook his head no. Then the doctor said "it will when I
start to wrap the cast on". The PA showed him a series of colored
samples and asked him to pick one. Of course he picked blue since
blue is his favorite color. I think that's because blue is the
color of one of his favorite monster trucks, "Blue Thunder".
 Gabriel
had the cast on for four weeks and everything healed nicely. The
doctor was actually surprised to find out Gabriel had leukemia
because he looked so good and his bones healed so well. Once the
cast was removed they did a bone density scan because his Oncology
doctor told us the medication, Dexamethazone he is taking causes
his bones to loose density and makes them more fragile. So he
won't be riding his bike for awhile.
 On
May 28th, Gabriel received the Sacrament of Confirmation. He
looked so cute. I will post some video clips shortly. On our way
to the Church, Gabriel wanted a toasted bagel from Dunkin Donuts
with cream cheese. We told him that we would get him a bagel to
celebrate his Confirmation after Mass was over. Well, just as the
Bishop gave the final blessing, Gabriel looked at his sister and
sponsor Maria and asked, "can I have a bagel now?". Gabriel took a
few pictures and off we went to Dunkin Donuts to get him a toasted
bagel with cream cheese. We all went back to our house and all
celebrated this amazing gift Gabriel received in the awesome
Sacrament. Punctuated of course with his bagel.
 I
want to thank Bishop Lynch of the Diocese of St. Petersburg for
his tremendous compassion in administering this Sacrament of
Confirmation to Gabriel at his young age. With this added
spiritual strength, I believe that Gabriel's chances of survival
and beating this cancer has just been increased a thousand fold.
 That is about it for now, I will
keep you all posted as
we continue to journey forward with Gabriel. We have
completed the first year of treatments and have 2 1/2 more to go.
If you haven't done so yet, visit Gabriel's Gifts
Galore at www.GabrielsGiftsGalore.com. It is an online
store we have set-up to raise funds to help us with
Gabriel's ongoing treatments.
God bless you and thank you for all your prayers and
financial support,
-Tom, Carol and the entire Sullivan Family
"Whenever my enemy provokes me to combat, I try to
behave like a soldier."
St. Therese, the Little Flower
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