Isaac Vargas Age Seventeen - Tollgate High School Student
UPDATE: August 4, 2021
Isaac continues his recovery! Currently he is fighting through three open wound sites showing signs of rejection"
UPDATE: September 3, 2020
Hi! How have you been! I hope that when you receive this message you are well, as is your whole family. I am writing to let you know that thanks to God Isaac continues to progress. Isaac is doing his best in the therapies that are twice a week and he is much more tolerant of the wheelchair when sitting in it. The doctors have told me that he can go back to school, but with this about the pandemic and Isaac's immune system, everything is to be seen.
Tomorrow, Friday, he will have a minor surgery because they will remove the Power Port (the access he has to receive chemo) He is very happy! He has just been chosen to be one of the ambassadors for the Tommorrow Found Clinic, where he receives services at the hospital, and the governor will give him a medal. I share this with you because I know you appreciate Isaac very much. And I know that it has been there step by step and day after day pending Isaac and I know that this is very good news. This will be on September 22! I also want to inform you that the day you wish to come visit Isaac, you are welcome home. We, Brian, are very grateful to you and the foundation for EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE FOR MY CHILD!
Thank you and God bless and take care of you and your family forever.
- Isaac's Mother
UPDATE: August 17, 2020
Isaac's enjoying a beautiful Summer day by the water!
UPDATE: August 5, 2020
Isaac's fist day of water therapy!
UPDATE: July 28, 2020
Isaac rings the "I beat cancer bell!"
UPDATE: June 16, 2020
Hi Brian! Good Afternoon. How are you?
Well, just let you know, Isaac is doing so great in the chemo!!! Today is the last day!
UPDATE: May 29, 2020
Isaac was so happy. "Wow, I have the best TV in the house!"
UPDATE: May 8, 2020
WELCOME HOME, ISAAC!
UPDATE: April 28, 2020
Good News. Isaac continues to make good progress. He is now procticing how to get in and out of the tub, walking with resistance and how to properly use a walker. I am so happy! He is a strong boy and will continue working hard.
In the first week of May he will return home. Thank you to you and the Foundation for giving us the much needed ramp for Isaac to use. Thank you and God bless you, your family and the Foundation for this great collaboration. Have a wonderful day!
UPDATE: April 6, 2020
Hello Brian I hope you are well, greetings!
We are still at the hospital and everything is fine. Isaac is continuing his chemotherapy. Today is the last of the third cycle. The next round of chemotherapy will be in two weeks, and will be a 3-day cylce. Thank God he is responding well to the therapy with no side effects so far.
I want to thank you for the help the Foundation has given us. It has been a great help to cover expenses and food. Thank you for your support and help to Isaac and our family.
Thank you also for the help with the ramp at the house. It will be a great benefit to Isaac.
Thank you very much!
UPDATE: April 2, 2020
Hello Brian! Good Afternoon! How are you?
Well today is the big day for Isaac. We start the second part after the surgery. Isaac will start chemo.
I spoke with the physical therapist today and she said Isaac will need a special access ramp at our home. Isaac will have to use a walker when moving from the car to the house. She explained that it will be too difficult for him to use stairs. The installation of the ramp will be a great benefit to his recovery and care. She also mentioned that he will have to adapt to many things in a short period of time. Unfortunately, we still do not know an exact date to return home, but we know it will be soon.
Thank you Brian for always helping us and asking what Isaac might need. We appreciate your support in the difficult time for our family. May God bless you, your family and the Bethany Rose Cyr Foundation for the support. Thank You All!
UPDATE:
On January 8-10. Isaac was placed in a medically induced coma in an effort to remove a complex pelvic tumor. This procedure required doctors to perform three consecutive days of complicated surgeries.
On January 18th Isaac underwent surgery to harvest tissue from his right thigh to replace the skin proximate to the wound that had become necrotic. Along with this skin graft, doctors also replaced a section of muscle that had died and employed the use of a wound VAC procedure for a much safer healing process.
With this wound VAC in place, doctors were hoping to expedite the healing process in order to save the reconstructed area, but also to enable Isaac to restart his chemotherapy treatments.
On February 6th, a decision was made to take Isaac back to the operating room to perform two key surgeries in one day. The first procedure consisted of harvesting a mass of muscle from Isaac’s upper back. The second procedure would be placing the muscle into the wound to help close the area from one of the original operations. This is the second time Isaac has undergone two major procedures in one day. The recovery time was estimated to be three weeks.
Unfortunately, after one week the transplanted muscle died and doctors were forced to operate to remove the dead muscle to prevent infection. During this procedure, doctors also harvested skin from Isaacs back to cover the wound on Isaacs left thigh.
Currently, doctors continue with the use of the wound VAC and a special therapeutic bed to place Isaac in the best position (face up) for faster healing.
Despite the infections that have seriously delayed the wound healing process, Isaac has proven to have God's strength in his life. He is stable, healthy and very eager to return home.
Day by day, Isaac continues to fight and work hard for a speedy recovery and to continue the chemotherapy process.
Thank you, again for all of your support for Isaac and his family during this challenging time. Don't forget check back periodically for updated information on Isaacs recovery.
Thank you,
Brian Verria
Bethany Rose Cyr Memorial Foundation