Wayne's 58th Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBO) session on 26 August 2004 was followed by MRI scan No.9 (see images below) that showed the abscess in his brain had reduced a further 50%. Wayne's improvement continued to be encouraging - the abscess was collapsing!
Things were truly looking up. After 11 weeks as an inpatient, Wayne was discharged from hospital on 27 August. While at home, he was required to attend Haematology Daystay to continue receiving IV infusions of AmBizome three times a week, as well as attending regular ORL and Eye Clinics to monitor the infection. This schedule, combined with continued HBO treatment, was incredibly full-on for Wayne and his family to maintain - but they were determined.
On 1 October, at his 80th HBO session, MRI scan No.10 showed improvement behind Wayne's left eye, but the infection was still in his maxillary sinus (an air cavity within the cheek above the upper jaw). Following the results of this MRI scan, Wayne underwent a third surgery on 21 October to further clear his maxillary sinus of the fungal infection.
Wayne with Jim Dale, Headmaster of Westlake Boys High School
His 104th HBO session on 25 November saw MRI scan No.11 showing further improvement.
By 28 January 2005, Wayne had been in remission for seven months. Wayne and his family drove to Hamilton for a holiday weekend together, only to be greeted on arrival at the motel with a phone call from his Haematologist. A bombshell. The leukaemia had relapsed! Disbelief reigned, yet Wayne was positive that he could beat this again. The fungal infection was under control, so further chemo was planned immediately.