My numbers were way down in July and I didn't feel so hot. My mom even wrote the last blog post, that's how down and out I was. It's true. These new meds are pretty strong and they really worked great and knocked my bone marrow almost all the way to zero. They are supposed to suppress the growth of the cancer cells but they did a real whopper on me and wiped everything out. Red blood cells, platelets, white blood cells, you name it. I needed two blood transfusions and a platelet one too. Thanks to three blood donors, I'm still alive to talk about this. Seriously, you blood donors are where it's at... Amazingly selfless gift! Thank you!!!
So, I got some blood, platelets and got off my meds altogether and you know what? I started to feel human again! It took about three weeks and now I'm back to being my old sing song self. And the best news is: my bone marrow did finally start working again and my numbers rebounded nicely. So nicely, that I'm back on my meds.
See? It's a mixed bag. With no meds, I feel great, but I'm dying, literally allowing the cancer cells to take over my bone marrow and edge out all the good cells. Too many meds and, yup, you guessed it, I'm dying, no cells of any kind. So...my doctors are hoping we can do this dance, stay on the balance beam and keep the bad cells at a really low number and the good cells keeping me breathing AND giving me a nice rosy hue like my sweet sister who has always rosy checks.
During the last few weeks of feeling GREAT my grandparents from Texas came to visit me!! I loved seeing them. I even learned to say their names: Papa and Gaga. You know, my speech is still quite delayed compared to typical kids, but these two new words I've got down! I'm not sure when I'll see them again, regrettably, I can't travel until 2015, but I'm making their place one of my first stops once I'm off of therapy!
Here are some pictures from the last few weeks of feeling Fabulous. I hope you're enjoying the end of summer. Thank you for your prayers to stay well and to kick this cancer to the curb. It takes a lot of people, needlessly and cruelly. I know my fight gives people hope and my odds of winning this battle are good, but I know I'm one of the lucky ones. For my friends who have lost a family member to cancer, know that my family prays not just for me, but for you too... In three ways. One, that you can rejoice in knowing there is a Heaven. Two, that you can have all the time you need to grieve and that no one will make you feel badly about how long the pain of losing someone lasts. And Three, that you can find the strength to Just Keep Swimming. It's a big swimming pool and if you wanna share my floatie for a while, that's ok. It's better to share the burden with friends than swim alone.
Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming. What do we do? Oh oh oh oh? Just keep swimming.
Family picnic
Making bracelets with Gran and Diana
Playing with Grandpa
Ready for swimming. I say Gaga for Gran AND these goggles.
Happy times, feeling good.
Moms eggplants
My new big girl car bed. Here I am snuggled up with Sis and Dad. Thanks for the shout out to Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Dad!
I'm even well enough to go outside!
I helped to plant some mums for the fall.
Family photo
Flashback to last August. Cancer diagnosis: August 23, 2013.
You've got cancer, here try this sucker. Ha!
If you know someone who might need a hug because someone they know lost their fight, give them a call. Expect nothing. Give everything and try in your own life to just keep swimming.
Hugs and prayers to you and may enough people in your pool be willing to share their noodles.
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