Waiting for Christmas

Thanks once again for blood donors! I got another long transfusion today in the clinic. It was uneventful. Thank goodness. It will help me stay protected this cold and flu season. I already have a little cold and need all the extra fighters a girl can have.

We rested and waited today. Much like the waiting we are doing for Christmas. Such joy ahead! The coming of the King!

May you and yours have a marvelous Christmas!!

And one more big Thanks to all of the book donors! I enjoyed some new books and the stock pile won't run out for some time! Thanks.



































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Katherine's Marathon

 

 

 

Dear Friends and Followers of Katherine Mary Grace's ALL journey, Mom here. Usually I write in Katherine's voice, but she's passed out and I hope she'll nap for another 2 hours. Poor kiddo had a really long day of treatment yesterday. All good things, spinal tap to keep the cancer from her brain, breathing treatment to keep the pneumonia away, chemo to keep the cancer from growing in her blood stream and an IVIG infusion which is a cocktail of 100 other people's immune fighters so that she will stay extra protected this cold and flu season. It is amazing the things that are available to her to keep her alive, and well! We are blessed.

But, boy, did we have an exhausting day yesterday. I haven't any inspirational cliché to play with here, except this. These kids are running a marathon. Long long days are just part of this race. 

 Katherine's end date is ONE YEAR AWAY from Thanksgiving.  

We have a lot to be thankful for this year and forgive me for looking ahead, but next year we'll have even MORE to be thankful for.

Today, I'm thankful for you. Thanks for your prayers, your support, your encouragement and your love. Thanks for the books for the book drive and for following Katherine's story here and on Facebook. She's an absolute delight and we're thankful God gave her to us!

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Here are a few pictures (a few, ha!) from our long day yesterday.

 

Asleep upon early bird arrival at CHW.

Getting measured, learning to stand up tall all by herself like the big 3 year old she is now. 

No stranger to the blood pressure cuff, Katherine puts her arm out and is cooperative. 

 

Upon walking through the clinic we found out that Katherine in her ELMO Costume won the costume contest last month!

Here she is resting before surgery on a new pillow from a fellow fighter, Emma, and her family. THANKS!

Lots of down time, so Katherine read books and played with her new IPad mini from Gamerosity!

 Post surgery, Katherine sleeps. She had a spinal tap mid morning, by an all women team of doctors and nurses.

After surgery Katherine woke up a little. I couldn't get her to eat much before the next set of events, breathing treatments and infusion, but we did play a little with my phone, made funny faces and took some pictures, just us two! 

 

 Finally she was ready to eat a piece of bread.

 At this point in the evening, Katherine was a bit fed up with me and my camera. I can't say I blame her. This poor kid likely has more electronic data recording her life than any other human on this planet.

 When it was check out time, the amazing Bonnie gave Katherine a present for being the Halloween contest winner and a birthday present. I'm thinking not every hospital does this. We love CHW and Bonnie is one of our favorite nurses! (BTW, they are all our favorite nurses.)

 Here are the others! From the top to the bottom, this team is the best! Any ideas on what we should get them for Christmas? I'd love to shower them each with something special. They so deserve it for the work they do, all year long! We are so blessed! Seriously, nurses, what's the best gift you've ever gotten? Tasty treats? Self pampering supplies? Ideas welcome.

Then the end of the day came, the sun had set, and we were on our way home. Katherine and I picked up her new meds for this round of chemo, took showers, put on our pajamas and ate some pizza. (Still her favorite food.)

Once again, here's to you. Thanks for your prayers and encouragement. And, here's to my champion, Katherine Mary Grace, you amaze me! Love, your mommy

 

 

Aaand, We're Back!

KIDS WITH CANCER LOVE TO READ! THANK YOU FOR DONATING BOOKS!

Just like your favorite Deejay used to say ... 'Aaaand, We're back' and CANCER can run the other direction because Katherine is back on Chemo!

Her counts recovered and we started her back on her meds at half the original dosages, hoping this time to avoid toxic overdoses and allow for constant meds for the next 380 days! Let's hope her body can tolerate it this time. Only a little more than a year left of treatment.


Great news on the book collection and book drive for the kids at the HOT Clinic at Childrens Hospital of Wisconsin. We've collected over 250 books!! Thank you!! There may be even more to come as the MOPS group here in Walworth county is still collecting and our friends in Sheboygan are extending their drive an extra week! A big THANK YOU to everyone who donated and those who plan to donate. Each of you has made a real difference in the life of a kid with cancer. Anything that takes their minds off of the day's treatment is a real gift!!

Thank you!!















Katherine wanted to preview nearly all of the books we plan to donate! THANK YOU!




She still loves to color, belly down on the kitchen floor!

Katherine, like her big sister, is a great big help with cooking. Here they are making banana muffins.

Katherine was all bundled up for the cool weather last week. Brrrr.

In the evenings we've taken to playing with Mr. Potato Head and doing a little YOGA stretching before bed. She's so flexible.

Thank you to all of you who follow Katherine's journey. As you likely know, she's going to turn 3 next Sunday. I can hardly believe it. She was diagnosed with cancer when she was 19 months old. She's had cancer half of her life! But, eventually, it will continue to be less and less of her life. She's got a big beautiful life ahead of her, thanks to you, your love, your prayers and the amazing doctors and nurses at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin. We're so blessed to be right where we are, with you praying for her all the time. We know you do. It does make a difference. Thank you!













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Long waits lead to good ideas

As you know, I've got Leukemia and I visit the hospital frequently. Today my mom and I had an idea and subsequent service request. Do you think you could donate a few gently used books from your childrens' book collection for me to bring to Children's Hospital of Wisconsin next month? I think when I get home I'll have Mom put out a box on my front porch for folks who'd like to help. I always read and take home a donated book on treatment days and I thought it'd be great to replenish their stock.
I'll bring in some of my old books to share with the other kids and will add to the collection they have in the waiting room. On clinic days there is always a lot of waiting!

Thank you in advance! I'm sure there are a few gently used books out there that would certainly be CHERISHED by kids who would LOVE to take their mind off of CANCER and that day's treatment. Thank you!!!

As for me, my counts STILL haven't recovered. I'm really at risk now... Immunocompromised and 3 whole weeks of no chemo can really let those pesky CANCER cells take hold. But, I'm hoping next week I can get back on my meds and by next year at this time - I'll be just one month away from putting all this behind me!!!

At the clinic on Thursday I wore my cousin John's Elmo costume: Elmo! I really do love Elmo. I didn't take off the costume until Mom forced me to. Boo. I hope my counts are back up so I can Trick or Treat on Friday.

Have a safe Halloween, Friends.
Oh, and if you have any children's books you're no longer using, from Board Books all the way up to Teen novels, consider giving them to my mom for her to take with us to Childrens Hospital of Wisconsin when we go in next month.

Thank you!