Karlee returned to school today just in time for her Christmas Party. It felt so normal and nice to have all three girls in the car and to be dropping them all off at school. This is a great way to end the first semester and our first year and a half of treatment. A year from today, Karlee will complete treatment.
Reflecting on the past year and a half is difficult. Not only has Karlee been through so much but the entire family as well. It is amazing how much you can handle when you have to. Karlee, Kitts, and Kassidy have all grown so much since Karlee was diagnosed on October 8, 2009. Our life now has a new "normal" and it will never be the "normal" it was prior to that day. It can't be, life can't return to what it was prior to hearing those words "Your child has cancer." We have been so blessed to have wonderful friends, family, and medical staff that have supported us and continue to support us through each step of this journey. Karlee talks more and more about her end of treatment party. When she is having a bad day she often lays in her bed and zones out. I am sure she is thinking of all the details for her party because she is planning all of the details.
We are looking forward to a restful holiday and wishing for the year ahead to have very few bumps. After the pneumonia, Brian told Karlee that she couldn't get sick again for another six months. She said how about "never again." We all agreed that it sounded like a good plan to us.
With love,
Christy
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Friday, December 10, 2010
One More Year!
Karlee had a wonderful clinic visit yesterday. It was the annual Christmas Party at clinic and Mrs. Faust and Mr. and Mrs. Claus were there. Karlee decided it was the real Santa because his beard was real and he knew that she didn't pick up her toys. Many of her friends from her trip to the Faust Ranch were there so she was excited to see them.
Her visit went fine. She had her port accessed without little or no fussing which is a big deal for her. After getting it done she said she didn't even feel it. She is so... brave. Her neutrophil count was in the 200 range so she will be unable to attend school through next Wednesday. She will get her blood draw next week and hopefully her levels will be up enough that she will be able to go to her Christmas Party at school on Friday.
The exciting news about Karlee's visit yesterday is that she only has a year of treatment left. She will complete her treatment on December 16, 2011. So she has 12 doses of Vincristin left and 4 lumbar punctures. After having so... many, the end is in sight.
Her visit went fine. She had her port accessed without little or no fussing which is a big deal for her. After getting it done she said she didn't even feel it. She is so... brave. Her neutrophil count was in the 200 range so she will be unable to attend school through next Wednesday. She will get her blood draw next week and hopefully her levels will be up enough that she will be able to go to her Christmas Party at school on Friday.
The exciting news about Karlee's visit yesterday is that she only has a year of treatment left. She will complete her treatment on December 16, 2011. So she has 12 doses of Vincristin left and 4 lumbar punctures. After having so... many, the end is in sight.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Pneumonia
Karlee was admitted to Texas Children's on Thursday with a pneomonia. She continues to run fevers and unfortunately they don't seem to be improving yet. We are confident that they are going to start to improve over the next day or so. The doctors are holding her 6MP and Methotrexate tonight so that her body can continue to fight this. Fortunately she looks good and is pretty much herself minus the appetite. She is not able to leave her room to go to the playroom so she is keeping herself and Brian busy playing games and more games. Brian and I are fighting over who gets to stay with her. Brian is with her now, but I plan on staying with her tomorrow if she is not discharged. Brian disagrees and says he is staying.
Kitts and Kassidy are doing well. I am trying to keep things as normal as possible around the house. Today they went to school and I went to work. They miss her tremendously and beg me to go see her, so we are planning a trip for tommorow. Kitts 'class at school made Karlee a card and Kitts can't wait to give it to her. It is amazing to see how much the girls love each other. On a daily basis they don't show it and I often doubt that they even like each other, but at times like these there love is apparent. They even say "I love you" to each other on the phone.
Brian and I are doing well. It is difficult having the family split in two different places but we know that not only do we need to be there for Karlee but we also need to be there for Kitts and Kassidy.
Karlee is receiving the best care at TCH and lots of prayers are being said so we must be patient and continue to pray as she fights this.
We are also trying to keep her carepage updated with the last information. You can check it out at www.carepages.com. Her patient page is Karleebear. You can also send her a greeting through the Carepage website as well.
Keep praying!
Christy
Kitts and Kassidy are doing well. I am trying to keep things as normal as possible around the house. Today they went to school and I went to work. They miss her tremendously and beg me to go see her, so we are planning a trip for tommorow. Kitts 'class at school made Karlee a card and Kitts can't wait to give it to her. It is amazing to see how much the girls love each other. On a daily basis they don't show it and I often doubt that they even like each other, but at times like these there love is apparent. They even say "I love you" to each other on the phone.
Brian and I are doing well. It is difficult having the family split in two different places but we know that not only do we need to be there for Karlee but we also need to be there for Kitts and Kassidy.
Karlee is receiving the best care at TCH and lots of prayers are being said so we must be patient and continue to pray as she fights this.
We are also trying to keep her carepage updated with the last information. You can check it out at www.carepages.com. Her patient page is Karleebear. You can also send her a greeting through the Carepage website as well.
Keep praying!
Christy
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