Dominic Update #1
Hello friends! I want to take a moment to thank you all SO much for the outpouring of love, prayers, and well wishes that you have sent to Dominic. Our family is overwhelmed and humbled by the love and kindness of this community. We thank you all from the bottom of our hearts.
So many of you have reached out since I shared Dominic’s diagnosis a few weeks ago, asking how he was doing and how his first treatment went.

At the end of that week, he had a full-body scan, had a central line placed, and then began his first round of chemotherapy. This was the very first treatment he received…

In the days during the treatment, he ran some fevers off and on, which required an extra night’s stay at the hospital, and he lost his appetite for about a day and a half, but then it gradually came back.
He kept busy with trips to the playroom on his floor, small Lego kits, a Kiwi & Co box, a mini Lite Brite, his new Nintendo Switch, daily bingo on the hospital TV, and loved to end each day with the Paw Patrol movie.




He came home feeling well and didn’t miss a beat, running around and playing with Joseph and Isabelle, and enjoying some beautiful weather outside. We had a lovely Easter all together at home 🐰
However, that Sunday night, he began running a fever, which we knew after having a central line placed, meant an automatic trip to the ER and most likely a 2-3 day stay at the hospital, during which they run blood cultures to make sure there isn’t an infection. He was clear of an infection, but his counts were very low (he was considered “neutropenic”), so he had to stay until they had gotten up to a safe level. He was back home on Thursday and rolled right into the weekend running around and playing.
Aside from a couple of days of low appetite, he hasn’t been sick thus far. He did start to lose his hair last week, so my husband gave him a buzz cut. Afterward, he looked in the mirror and said, “I look spiffy!” Oh to have the confidence, resiliency, and heart of a child 💙
Next up is round two of chemotherapy, beginning later this week.
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Meanwhile…
Joseph got braces!

Isabelle turned 4!


We’ve been savoring the days we get to spend with everyone at home together, and getting outside to enjoy the beautiful weather whenever we get the opportunity!

Thank you all again for the continued prayers and for keeping Dominic in your thoughts. We know we are at the very beginning of what will be a long and winding road with many ups and downs, but are taking it one day at a time and appreciating each and every positive moment as they come ❤️



Our thoughts and prayers are with you every day.
From one Neuroblastoma mom to another, I can’t explain just how much my heart goes out to you, your family, and especially Dominic. We are located in Chicago, and if you ever want to reach out with questions, I am more than happy to be a resource. A piece of hope – our son Anthony is going on 3.5 years cancer-free and thriving. There are so many positive stories…and I am sure you have already learned, the internet can be your enemy….hang on to faith, hope, his medical team, your strength and the awe-inspiring super hero powers your son possesses. When we found out Anthony’s cancer was shrinking, I remember writing “the darkest of hours have paved the way to the brightest of lights.” You are in an unwanted club; just know there are so many bright lights and fierce survivors lifting Dominic up.
Continued prayers.
❤️ Sarah
Thank you so much for the update- sweet Dominic and your family have been, and will continue to be in my prayers. Glad he is able to find some comfort and entertainment in the hospital. And Isabelle! Can’t believe she is already 4! Hope Joseph is out of braces soon- Keep finding the joy in this journey! 🙏🙏🙏💙
God Bless you, your husband & your beautiful family. Domenic is a trooper. May God give him the extra strength & love to conquer this difficult time in his young life.
Prayers continue for your whole family & for Domenic to have a full recovery. Thank you for giving us an update.
I have been praying for Domenic and your family every day since I read your first notification. I am glad for the update and to see him enjoying family time, playing, etc. I know it will be a long road, but I am hoping and praying for successful treatment and that he will be healed. God be with you!
Continued prayers for Dominic and your entire family. He is so loved! ❤️
Hi Michelle,
Praying for Dominic and your whole family. I am a pediatric nurse of 30 years in Delaware. You have a great hospital and great oncology teams where you are. Please don’t be afraid to ask them for anything you, your family or Dominic needs. Every part of the team will be eager to help. The child life therapists can help not only Dominic but his siblings understand what is going on. Best wishes and prayers.
Thank you so much for the update. I can’t believe you took the time, Michelle, to update all of us. You are truly remarkable in so many ways….and an excellent mommie. We continue to pray for the entire family….that the ups are higher and downs are decreasing and that Dominic will be completed healed soon. God is with you all as are so many of us. Hang in there with all of your family positiveness. Know it rubs off on the children. Love and hugs and big prayers continue!
Thank you for the update. Continued prayers for Dominic and strength for your family. You are a wonderful mother Michelle.
Thoughts and prayers for such a brave boy,prayers for healing ,also strength and peace for family.
Thank you for the update on Dominic. My husband and and I are praying daily for not only Dominic, but your entire family. With your permission, I would like to put Dominic’s name on our church’s prayer list. Please let me know with a y or n. I realize your time is limited.🙏
Thank you so much for the update for your community. We have watched you become a dog mom and a kid mom and now a mom doing what you never thought you would be doing. Your bravery in sharing trickles down to Dominic and your other kids!! You are in a good place there in Pittsburgh with excellent care. Sending all the healing vibes and mama hugs from across PA —I’m a pediatric nurse practitioner at Children’s Hosp of Philadelphia!
Continue to pray for Dominic and your family. As nurse I understand the anxiety and trials you are facing. God is hold Dominic in the palm of his hand and will be with him through this time. Keep your chin up Mom and Dad.
I have been following you since before you had kids. This news is absolutely heartbreaking, but the way you are writing about handling it sounds absolutely amazing. You have a beautiful family and I know Dominic has all the love, and all of your kids are incredibly strong! I am keeping you all in my thoughts and wish you positive healing thoughts. And please take care of yourself too, Michelle <3
Thank you for this update. I have been checking your social media just to see how your sweet Dominic is getting on. He sounds like a strong and resilient boy! My family is praying daily for him, and we will continue to do so! You are a beautiful Mama— my prayers are with you as well. 😂
It was so good to get an update and see/read what is going on. You all have been in my thoughts and I can’t imagine how scary this time must be. Know you have a huge army out here sending positive thoughts! <3
thank you for letting us know how Dominic is doing. I think about him every day. It;s good to know that he is doing well on the chemo. How do Joseph and Isabel process the fact that their brother is ill? Have you found a way to explain it to them without frightening them? It is so nice to see that they are so loving to each other. I always look forwar to seeing the photos of them all together, especially the photos of Dominic and Isabel holding hands. So cute! Please continu to update us on Dominic’s progress. All my best wishes and prayers go to you and your family.
Hi Michelle, can not believe you took the time to update us on Dominic’s condition.
I’m hoping and praying for Dominic. I will continue to keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.
Michelle I have been following your blog since before you had Joseph even and I’ve loved seeing your kids grow over the years. I just wanted to let you know that even though I am Muslim, not Christian, I have been praying for Dominic and your family in our holy month of Ramadan and will continue to do so. God is Great and He will protect and heal Dominic. It’s so good to see him smiling <3
Michelle, you and your family are in my prayers. I pray that Dominic will recover and have a long life ahead of him. I have gotten your emails since Jospeh was born and feel like you are family. Know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. God Bless You and Your Family.
God, Jesus loves Dominic more than anyone. They will bring their precious little boy peace & healing. As parents it’s difficult to see beyond the illness, but God, Jesus is so merciful. I know that Prayers from around the World are going out on Dominic’s behalf. He’s going to be healed in Jesus’ Name. God Bless you all & know He will see you through as you need to call on Him. Meanwhile, enjoy your family time, embrace one another. Stay steadfast.
Blessings!
Betsy Thompson
Hello, Thank you so much for your update about the children. Dominic and all of you are in my prayers. I appreciate your time thinking about all of us, we know you are all so busy. You have the happiest looking children, God Bless You All.
Paulette, in Ohio
Lifting your family up in prayer during this difficult journey.
That is great news…so happy to hear that he is doing well. I am praying that God heal him and give you all peace and comfort will his presence and love 🙏🏼❤️😇
Praying for your precious son, Dominic, and for your whole family as you go through this. May God heal Dominic completely and comfort and strengthen all of you during these difficult days.
Dear Michelle,
How wonderfully kind of you to take the time to update your readers about Dominic, Joseph, and Isabelle. I don’t know how many subscribers you have, but I guarantee if you had audio when you wrote about Dominic, you would’ve heard a simultaneous hush all over the US and possibly the entire world! I know that most of us are still in absolute disbelief and have thought or prayed about Dominic every single day since. The one constant I hold on to, is the incredible devotion your family has shown to each and every
single member, starting with their amazing Mom. You are a force of nature, Michelle, and your strength, along with your husband’s and kids, will be the best medicine Dominic ever receives! I look forward to hearing how Dominic kicks this diagnosis to the curb and is back to his loving home and family. My coping mechanism is prayer and I’m still going strong for that little boy who has touched SO many hearts including my own!! He’s going to be fine, and like I’ve said before, he’s also going to become a Doctor! Rest well because he’s only spending time in that hospital to get his sea legs…
I will be wrapping your sweet Dominic and you and your family in my daily rosary! Praying for his complete healing and for comfort during these times of treatments and side effects. May God give you the strength and continued courage to battle this diagnosis. God bless you all and give your dear son a hug from all of us here.
Thank you so much for posting this! He has been in my thoughts lately and I was wondering how he was doing. I’m glad things are going well so far and know he is being a trooper. You have such a wonderful family who show obvious love for each other and support each other. May God richly bless you with His love and mercy.
Michelle, Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your lovely family and hope Dominic is soon well again.
God Bless you all.
Rose
Thank you for the update and for sharing pictures! Please tell Dominic I think he looks super spiffy too! Happy Birthday to Isabelle and I think Joseph looks spiffy with his braces too. Sending you lots of positive thoughts and tons of prayers. God bless you and your sweet family ❤️