Jett Self’s family progressing with treatment

Published 8:47 am Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Little Jett Self has received a constant infusion of a new experimental drug to combat his leukemia since he and his family arrived at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Md., late last month.

The 9-month-old child suffers from Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. His parents, Dylan and Brittany Self of Franklinton, accompanied him to Baltimore. The child arrived in Baltimore on the afternoon of Sunday, Dec. 27, and was admitted to the hospital the next day.

The family flew out of the Bogalusa Airfield aboard a private Beechcraft Premier provided by Port Allen philanthropist James Davison, owner of Davison Trucking. Input from U.S. Rep. Dr. Ralph Abraham-R-Alto, helped make transportation possible. Abraham visited the family Tuesday morning. He took with him a bib with the seal of the House of Representatives.

Dozens of well-wishers from throughout Washington Parish saw the family off to Baltimore.

“Jett is in a 28-day trial and getting a constant infusion of an experimental drug. It’s called EPZ 5676. It doesn’t have a name yet,” Brittany Self said, Tuesday morning from Baltimore. “He’ll get that drug and go to the clinic a couple of days during the week to make sure he doesn’t need any blood or platelets. They will also check to see if the drug has any side affects in treating his leukemia.”

She said at the conclusion of the 28-day trial, doctors would perform a bone marrow biopsy to learn if the drug did what it was supposed to do.

“We’re just waiting, but he’s doing well,” Brittany Self said. “He’s still smiling and stealing hearts in Baltimore.”

Self said the child was expected to be discharged Tuesday and finish out the tests as an outpatient.

“If the medicine is working, we have the option to do another 28-day cycle until he gets into remission,” she said.

Just over $11,000 from parish citizens was donated to the family. On top of that were countless prayers for a miracle.

“Please tell everyone we appreciate all the prayers and everything,” Self said.