Cutler showing his game face
So we heard from the doctor today around noon and first and foremost I must tell you that if anyone was to have the misfortune to experience this they would be lucky to have a doctor such as the one we are blessed with. Dr Joel Weinthal has been incredible all weekend long and has the ability to make me feel more confident with each meeting.
Now onto the news. Cutler has been diagnosed with Infantile Acute Mylocytic Leukemia, which is very rare for infants. According to the doctor there are roughly only 900 cases per year of this particular type of AML and so Cutler continues to prove that he is indeed a unique and special baby.
The nurse has now begun administering the chemotherapy. Because the objective of chemotherapy is to destroy all white cells in the system in an effort to eliminate the bad ones, the biggest concern right now is infection. And so he was moved into a new room with a special air filtration in place. Because of the concern for infection he will be in the hospital for at least a month before maybe getting to get go home for a few days before coming back in and starting round two.
The doctor estimates that after three rounds we can begin to look at bone marrow transplants. Many people have brought up the potential of being a donor and we appreciate this very much, but from what I understand so far is that the marrow would more than likely have to come from Mason. Mason has a 1 in 4 chance of being a match. If Mason isn’t a match, he is extremely confident that he can find a cord blood match. But that is further down the road and so more information on that is to come.
As for Cutler, as you can see from the picture above, he is still in good spirits. Around 4:30 this morning he appeared to have lost the effect of all of the anesthesia and returned to his jovial self and decided to talk and play with me for about an hour before finally falling back asleep. He is rather swollen, but this is from being sick as well as being pumped full of liquids. Again, despite all of this he is still very talkative and quick to flash his trademark smile.
Thanks again to everyone for your thoughts and prayers. More updates to come…
Team Fricke 
Aaron and Melanie,
We are praying for you constantly since we got your email. You and your family are going to constantly be in our thoughts and prayers. Just let us know if there is anything at all that you need.
Love, Scott and Shayne
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You are in our prayers. It is truly amazing to see his smile. You are blessed. I know it may not feel like it now, but you are. Please know that everyone is pulling for your little guy.
Love, The Dobosh Family
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All of your family is and will continue to be in my thoughts and prayers. Please let me know if there is anything that I can do from afar. I am confident that Cutler will continue to amaze us all.
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The power of prayer can do miraculous things. I will pray for Cutler and your family everyday.
Shannon Sadler
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We have been praying since we heard the news. Sounds like there are many prayer warriors for the Fricke family. Please let us know if we can help in any way at all. Thank you for the updates. He is a beautiful baby.
Nick and Jodi Trotter
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John and I have been praying for Cutler and the entire Fricke family. It is amazing what prayer can do. I am glad to hear that it sounds like you have the right medical team at work on helping Cutler.
Give him a kiss for me.
Love, Aunt Linda & John
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Thinking of you and praying for Cutler. Thank you for keeping us updated with your blog.
Lisa
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Aaron and Melanie,
We love all four of you and you are most certainly in our prayers and many of our friends prayers as well. If there is anything that we can do for you, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Carol and Tyronno
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Aaron and Melanie,
Thank you for the updates. Happy to hear you are pleased with your Doctor. Great picture of the little stud. We love you guys!! Go Cutler!
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Prayers are with your precious family. Please let us know what we can do –ANYTHING! We have a friend who’s 4 month old also was diagnosed with cancer (rare melanoma). Kathryn is now in elementary school and is a happy and healthy girl. God is good and will continue to surround Cutler and your family
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Cutler is in all of our thoughts and prayers at NSLC.
We love you, Cutler!
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We are thinking about you guys and really pulling for Cutler. Stay strong and let us know if we can help in any way!
Tara and Ryan
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Our prayers are with you, Cutler. You have a prayer chain going all over the world, just for you!!! We are praying for your mommy, daddy and Mason, too! May you all have the strength to fight and stay strong through each and every day.
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The Stam’s will be praying for you too. We hope you can keep your heads up in this trying battle.
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Aaron and Family,
It has been so long since I’ve seen or talked with you, that I feel terrible our contact has to be at a time such as this. I just wanted you and your wife to know that Wendy and I are keeping your family in our thoughts and prayers. Cutler is a handsome little man and I have faith that God will help you and your family through this tough time. Take care of yourself and God Bless.
Jason and Wendy Buschjost
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We’ll be keeping him (and y’all) in our prayers.
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You guys hang in there. Try to remember when you need to just how many of us are thinking of you, and are ready to do anything you ask of us.
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Melanie,
Our family will be praying for Cutler and your entire family.
Jim
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I am a friend of Tracy Trautmans from high school. I am praying for Cutler and your family! We have a massive Texas prayer chain going, and we Texans pray loud and proud! You all are in our thoughts and prayers!
Lisa Austin
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I just want you to know that I have contacted many so prayers are being added daily for Cutler. We will continue to keep you all in our thoughts and prayers. Thank you for keeping all of us informed.
Just us,
Vic and Kathy
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This is your Cajun Aunt Pat. I want to thank you for the BLOG which is keeping me updated on Cutler’s progress. He is so handsome and a brave little warrior. Mason needs to stop growing (SHAVING). Take care of eadh other and know my prayers are with you
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God bless you Cutler….and your family too.
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Dear Aaron and Melanie,
My name is Judy Moody. I’m a friend of Aaron’s parents and your cousin, Karin Crocker’s mother in law. Last week I heard all the news of Cutler’s illness and his progress. Aaron’s mom gave me this web site so I could put a face to Cutler as I keep him in my prayers. May God bless your family as you all help bring your little son to recovery. Judy Moody
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