Hi. I am Jack. I’m currently a junior studying architecture at Southern Illinois University. I am hitting the pause button on school to focus on my fight with a type of leukemia called B Cell Lymphoblastic Philadelphia Positive. Fun stuff right? I have may an uphill battle but I have the best medical staff on my side, so I am confident I will get this behind me. Thank you for your support and for checking in to follow my journey.
- Jack to NormalSo it’s been a year…. and it’s time for a long overdue update…. Maybe our last update, as I think it’s time to bookend this little adventure story. What started with a helicopter flight to St. Louis has wound down to mundane car rides for brief appointments and checkups. As expected, we might have finally… Read more: Jack to Normal
- June 14, 2024So Jack Johnson sings that 3 is a magic number & Las Vegas opines that sevens are lucky, but we Randles think that #8 is great! #8… like the 8th floor. Or like the 8th & final round of treatment. As you may recall, Jack started his journey in room 8820 way back in November. … Read more: June 14, 2024
- May 22, 2024It appears that Jack’s 7th round of chemo is in the books. For those following along, this was what we’ve called his “easy chemo” (as if any of it is easy!). He’s had limited side effects; experiencing some nausea & fatigue. As I type, he’s sleeping & I’m packing all his stuff. We’ve been told… Read more: May 22, 2024
- April 21, 2024It’s been almost a month since I posted, so I thought I’d bring this blog up to date. We’re currently at BJC for his 6th round of chemo. His 5th round was completed in late March without side effects. We’ve had several outpatient visits, but managed to stay out of the hospital. On April 5th,… Read more: April 21, 2024
- March 22, 2024Greetings from St. Louis! We’re back at BJC for another round of chemo. Thought we’d provide everyone with an update. After our last brief stay at BJC, we were home until 3/20. Aside from a quick trip to Siteman for a PET scan & bone marrow biopsy on the 11th, we had no scheduled medical… Read more: March 22, 2024
- March 9, 2024Thought l should provide an update on the boy. Our last post left off with the Randle Clan heading home for 8 glorious days of cancer-treatment-free bliss. Well friends, that was not to be. Almost immediately, Jack’s nose started bleeding. Initially, it was a drip…then a trickle…then a petite gusher. By Thursday, we knew medical… Read more: March 9, 2024
- February 25, 2024Ten minutes later… Can’t resist sharing this photo of Jack sporting some sunglasses he scrounged from my consol during our return trip from STL. Very fashion forward! Sunglasses by Foster Grant…hair by chemo!
- February 25, 2024As I write this, Jack & I are waiting for him to get an injection in his stomach. You’d think he wouldn’t be thrilled about this procedure, but he is. That may sound a bit crazy, but it’s the last hurdle he has to jump before we can leave BJC. And this kid is WAY… Read more: February 25, 2024
- February 17, 2024Buckle up…it’s a long one, friends! So, despite the prediction of crusty winter weather yesterday, the Randles loaded up & made a trek to STL for labs, an oncology visit & a possible 5-hour transfusion. For those of you lucky enough not to be in The Lou yesterday, Mother Nature did not go easy on… Read more: February 17, 2024
- February 8, 2024So we made it home on Monday & have spent the last couple of days just enjoying being back. Jack continues to be side effect free but tires easily. Tomorrow, we return to STL for an outpatient visit to Siteman for labs & a quick infusion of IV chemo (luckily, the “easy” kind). Hoping, it’ll… Read more: February 8, 2024
- February 3, 2024So you might be asking yourself, did those crazy Randles succeed in their bathrobe-clad manifestation of a quick, symptom-free admission? Well, the answer is ALMOST. We were able manifest the “symptom-free” portion but fell short on the “quick” part. Of the two, symptom-free was definitely the better choice. Aside from a lumbar puncture on Wednesday… Read more: February 3, 2024
- January 30, 2024So we’re back in STL and admitted at Barnes. It was a quick 7 days at home, but they were 7 good days. Jack’s here for another round of chemo that’s supposed to last 4 days. It’s a different “flavor” from his last round & a type he’s had before with limited side effects, so… Read more: January 30, 2024
- January 23, 2024For those of you who don’t know, today is my birthday. Woke up planning to head back to STL to hang out with Jack at BJC. Got surprised with a text telling me to come get him. So we’re home. He’s good… tired but good. And Rich & I are feeling a moment of peace.… Read more: January 23, 2024
- January 17, 2023Hey friends, as I write this, Jack is still in the hospital following chemotherapy. Some of you may recall that our 1-9-24 admission was advertised as an all-inclusive 4-5 day stay. Unfortunately, we’ve been “upgraded” and are currently here indefinitely. Our extension started with Jack having an elevated temperature for multiple days. He was tested… Read more: January 17, 2023
- January 12, 2024Hey friends, wanted to give you an update. As most of you know, we came back to STL on Tuesday for another round of chemotherapy. We checked in around 3:30 pm & treatment started at 3:31! He had labs & an EKG almost immediately. Wednesday was chemo with a simultaneous lumbar puncture/ IT chemo. Initially,… Read more: January 12, 2024
- January 6, 2024We’re back from our latest visit to STL for bloodwork, a bone marrow biopsy & a consultation with Dr. Abboud. Per Jack’s report, it was quick but not painless. As always, the BJC/Siteman staff were amazing. Won’t bore you with all the details, but there were some insurance related hiccups that required workarounds to ensure… Read more: January 6, 2024
- January 2, 2024The much awaited homecoming is here! SO glad to have our boy back home!! He’s a tiny bit worse for wear. He’s 20 lbs. lighter (at least 5 of that was hair!), has a few bumps & and bruises, and is definitely over being poked & prodded. He’s looking forward to a couple of days… Read more: January 2, 2024
- January 1, 2024…Later that same daySo the news just keeps getting better! Just got a call from Jack & he’s being discharged tomorrow instead of Wednesday. We’re thrilled!
- January 1, 2024Happy New Year! Hope the 1st day of 2024 finds everyone healthy, happy & only slightly hungover. I feel great! I’m writing this from our breakfast bar after sleeping in my own bed. This is my first full day home since 11/26. The only thing that would make it better is having Jack home, too.… Read more: January 1, 2024
- December 28, 2023So we’re all in the final lap of the holiday marathon. We’ve eaten too much, we’ve shopped too much & it’s time to get in touch with our best selves. We need to eat better, be more mindful, exercise, express gratitude, etc. We here in the Randle camp feel all of that. We’re overwhelmed with… Read more: December 28, 2023
- December 24, 2023Hair today, gone tomorrow So, in an effort to address one of the major side effects of chemo on his own terms, Jack requested a haircut. And nothing screams Christmas fun like haircuts, right? So for about twenty minutes the bathroom in room 8820 was turned into a barber shop and by the end of… Read more: December 24, 2023
- December 23, 2023Just jumping in to remind everyone that it’s crunch time. Two days left to complete those last-minute Christmas preparations. No pressure…you’ve got this! As long as the liquor cabinet is fully stocked & you’ve got the mandatory Christmas cuisine, it’ll all be fine. Here in STL, we’re ready as we’ll ever be for the impending… Read more: December 23, 2023
- December 18, 2023Jack continues to do well. He’s come thru the 1st round like a champ! Some GI discomfort, but it’s been manageable. He still has a really good appetite. We watch a lot of food shows (Cut Throat Kitchen, The Bear, etc.), and he says he may take up cooking as a new hobby. I wouldn’t… Read more: December 18, 2023
- December 16, 2023Day two of IV chemo in room 8820 is underway….. and much like the weather, the mood is a little gray. Tired seems to be the word lately. Jack’s room overlooks Forest Park and most days provides an uplifting view of the outside world. When the sun is shining it’s beautiful and one we are… Read more: December 16, 2023
- December 14, 2023Hey all, We’ve officially completed the first round of treatment for ALL. Per our daily doctor visit, everything is looking good. His most recent lumbar puncture was negative for cancer cells. During the procedure, they injected more chemo as a preventative & will continue to monitor. All his labs are as the doctors would expect.… Read more: December 14, 2023
- December 12, 2023So it’s another day of “hurry up & wait” here on the old oncology unit. We’ve come to understand that time is somewhat irrelevant. If you have a procedure scheduled at 10 am that doesn’t mean it’ll happen at 10 am. If your labs are out of whack they’ll fix those first. Then they’ll do… Read more: December 12, 2023
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- December 7, 2023It’s been a quiet day here. No tests, no procedures, no poking, no prodding. Jack’s passed the time playing PS5. I shopped at Whole Foods. I think my son is starting to get sick of me after 11 days of forced togetherness. It was nice to get out & do something normal. I clocked in… Read more: December 7, 2023
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- December 5, 2023Its a small world. For those of you who don’t know, I’ve been crashing at the Poshard’s condo in STL and Ubering back & forth to the hospital. I’ve met so many nice people who drive for Uber. Given my destination, the topic of the hospital comes up. This generally leads to a conversation about… Read more: December 5, 2023
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Jack to Normal 