Straughn’s Gordie Cartwright was released from MD Anderson earlier this month.

“That means his 100 days has started that he has to live within 30 minutes of the hospital,” his mom, Christy Cartwright said Monday. “He has had and continues to have appointments every day for infusions and blood work. He is doing really well.”

Gordie received a bone marrow transplant at the end of last year from his sister, Ginnee.

Gordie was diagnosed in October 2014 with CML, a form of leukemia that starts inside the bone barrow and causes uncontrolled growth of immature cells that make a certain type of white blood cells called myeloid cells.

Christy said Gordie had a bone marrow biopsy Monday to see how his cells and Ginnee’s cells are grafting.

“They expect to see some leukemia present,” she said. “He still has no hair, his skin is really dry, but he is eating – three chicken wings and he was about to bust.”

Christy said Gordie still needs to drink more because he is dehydrated every day.

“Overall, he is going very good,” she said. “Thank you for the love and prayers.”

There is a gofundme account set up to help pay for medical expenses because Gordie’s Blue Cross Blue Shield wasn’t renewed. The family has already received a bill for $500,000, and expects it to grow to $1.2 million by the end of the transplant care.

They applied for Medicaid but it won’t pay for the transplant, she said.

The doctor has to override the insurance and the hospital to continue with the transplant each time.

Once a transplant is started it can’t be stopped.

To donate, visit https://www.gofundme.com/teamgordie.