Back Home

Maddy was finally able to come home today.  Her fevers have stayed away.  We still have to give her her shots and she now is hooked up to IV antibiotics-  we are getting good at figuring out how to work her portable pump!  All of her counts (red blood cells, platelets, and white blood cells) are still low.  She had to get another blood transfusion today before coming home and will probably need platelets Friday.  Have we mentioned lately how grateful we are to all those who donate blood and blood products!!!!  

Unfortunately, all of Maddy's beautiful hair is falling out again.  Maddy wants to shave her own head-  she mentioned something about a mohawk.  : )  I will be sure to post some pictures if she gets her way.

Happy Mother's Day

Maddy and I spent Mother's Day in the hospital.  Maddy spiked a fever Saturday afternoon and we had to go to the hospital.  With her counts so low, they don't take any chances.  They started antibiotics right away and she also had a platelet and blood transfusion.  Now we just wait to make sure her fever stays away.  If it does, she will hopefully be able to come home on Tuesday on the antibiotics.  Russ and Julia came up today after the choir concert so Russ and I could do the changing of the guard at the hospital.  When Julia and I were leaving, her temp was 99.6...

I have learned a lot over the last two and a half years, but this weekend reminded me of one of the most important lessons I have learned and that is to take advantage of and be grateful for times you are able to spend together as a family.  I think in the hustle and bustle of life we sometimes forget this.  Being together as a family would have made this the best Mother's Day ever.  Maybe next year!

Cycle 3 Update

I am happy to report that Maddy did very well this time with the ARA-C chemo treatment.  She went in last Tuesday and was home by Thursday evening.  She wished away all fevers (and drank cold water before the nurses took her temperature just in case- sshh!)  : )   We also continued the eye drops a little longer than usual, so her eyes didn't bother her as much.  It is amazing what the power of prayer can do!!!

Now we wait for her counts to recover.  She got platelets today and she will get blood work again on Friday to see if she needs a blood transfusion to amp up her red blood cells.  She has to have those daily shots to help her white blood cells recover which are NO fun and make Maddy grumpy.  Maddy takes it out on her dad since he handles the needle.  Mom gets to put the bandaid on!  Right now, her white blood cells are so low that she has no immune system.  That means masks, hand sanitizer, and no crowds.

If all goes as planned (which it rarely does) Maddy is scheduled for the next treatment in this cycle on May 21st.

Cycle Three

Maddy's counts are finally where they need to be so she will be heading to the hospital tomorrow to start the third cycle of chemo in this current phase of treatment. This cycle starts with Ara-C. This is the chemo that Maddy's body just does not like. We are hoping and praying all goes well and Maddy can come home in a few days. Maddy had such a good week last week. She was feeling good and she not only was able to go to Ladies Night Out on Monday, but she was also able to attend Ag Day with her class on Friday and the bake sale for Relay for Life. (The bake sale was a huge success raising over $1000.) This makes going into this week a little easier for her!

Ladies Night Out

Maddy is gearing up to start the third cycle of chemo in her current phase of treatment.  She was supposed to begin today, but as usual, her counts have caused her to be delayed atleast a week.  The one positive thing about being delayed this time is that Maddy had a lot she wanted to get done this week, so she was happy.  The ABC 4 Maddy Relay for Life team is in full swing and Maddy really wanted to attend a couple of events that were scheduled this week starting with "Ladies Night Out" on Monday.  This event was organized by the 5 wonderful ladies pictured with Maddy and it was a huge success raising over $3600 for Relay for Life.  There is also the bake sale sponsored by ABC 4 Maddy scheduled for Friday at the Archbold Relays track meet.  Maddy is excited about this event as well.  She is going to bake cookies with grandma!

Maddy is looking and feeling well and that makes us VERY happy!  Seeing her get excited about these events and enjoying life is so much fun.  It is times like these that give us the strength to make it through the hard times!

Easter Blessings

Maddy has been spending time recovering since our last update.  Her counts were not where they needed to be, so we were able to spend Spring Break and Easter together without any hospital/clinic visits.  This was very nice!  On Monday, she had bloodwork and was good to go for her next treatment so she went to the hospital today with Dad for her chemo treatment.  This of course, takes all day and night by the time she gets hydrated, gets her chemo, and then gets more hydration.  Russ and Maddy are hoping to be home before midnight.  Then, next week Maddy is scheduled for a spinal.  If this goes as planned, she will have finally completed the second cycle of this four cycle phase.  These cycles were supposed to be six weeks long but have turned into 10-12 weeks long each.  : (  Only two more to go before we will get to maintenance.   Because Maddy relapsed in the spinal fluid, she is going to have to get radiation when she starts the maintenance phase.  This will be new and we aren't quite sure what to expect.  A little scary... actually a lot scary!

Home

Maddy is home.  On Saturday, she did escape the hospital and attended her sister's confirmation.  She drank her whole Gatorade just as she promised she would.  We then all went back to the hospital and brought food in and took over the family lounge on the sixth floor.  Julia never complained about having to compromise on her big day-  she is a very special big sis.  Maddy was discharged on Sunday afternoon.  The mouth sores are taking over and Maddy is tired-  she took a three hour nap today.  As usual though, Maddy is a trooper.

Confirmation Day