Clinic November 2011

We had a visitor with us today at clinic, Aunt Kim! I asked Millie who she wanted to invite this time and she was certain she wanted her Aunt Kimmi to come with her. Amelia started a new round of Maintenance so she had her usually Vincristine, but she also had a Lumbar Puncture where they inject a chemo called Methotrexate into her spinal fluid. She did very well and thankfully it went pretty fast for a chemo appointment. I think we were out of there within four hours. She also started a new round of steroids, YUCK!

Clinic Stats:

ANC: 300

Millie's ANC is under her target range so

she has temporarily been taken off all oral chemo until her blood counts come back up.

Height: 112 cm

Weight: 20 kg

And for her hair...

* A lot has been going on with Miss Millie but I wasn't up for a long post, so I decided to just blog clinic for now. I will post again later this week about being inpatient and what's going on with her blood counts.

October Clinic Update 2011

Millie did fabulous at clinic and it went fast! We were out of there in 1.5 hours, that never happens. Everything went well and other then the normal side effects from her chemo like, stomach pain, and an aching body Millie is looking fabulous. I am sure proud of my little Super Hero.

Clinic Stats

Height: 111 cm

Weight: 19.1 kg

ANC: 1.4

I had to include this picture. This is Austin's "smile". It's a little frightening.

Millie September 2011 Update

What can I say about Amelia and her clinic... Everything went the same as usual. Check-in, get a hospital band, wait, crafts, height, weight, blood pressure, get assigned a room, wait, wait, wait, see a nurse, wait, get prepped for PORT access, jab needle in chest, draw blood, wait, wait, wait, wait, talk to doctor, back to infusion area, wait, wait, wait, flu shot, wait, wait, wait, finally chemotherapy push, de-access, clean up, schedule for blood labs in 2 weeks, schedule for clinic in 4, go home.

I am so sick of this routine that has become normal. I'm starting to feel like it's all too easy. I guess that's a good thing, but at the same time I know that none of this is easy. Even as I say it I find it a little insulting to Amelia and somewhat disrespectful to take away what she is going through. They upped her steroid dose because she had gained a little weight and I wanted to scream NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO from the top of my lungs. As her mother I know that she feels horrible on steroids. She is so depressed. Nothing makes her happy for longer then a few minutes. Today Brady heard her say, "This is the worst day of my life," so for me to feel like this is routine isn't fair to her. None of this should seem "normal," none of it should be blown over, or a second thought. I don't know if that even makes sense, but it makes sense to me.

Sadly I was reminded this week of how cancer once again can effect anyone at anytime as our neighbor and friend was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma. Tyler is 16 years old and faces a year of intense chemotherapy mixed in with radiation, and possible surgery. When I hear news like this it makes me sick to my stomach. My heart aches for this family because I know what this means. Cancer is a horrible disease and kids of all ages deserve a CURE.

I'm rambling at this point, but I have a lot on my mind as I sit here listening to my daughter whimper in her bed. September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and I know I have just posted about it, but I want you all to know. Please start asking companies if they support childhood cancer. Ask them if they sell products with a GOLD ribbon. Let's help these kids! PLEASE! In October everything is covered with PINK for Breast Cancer and I am happy for all these woman that get to feel someone more recognized and support, and my dream is for everything to be covered with GOLD in September. Spread Awareness. They deserve it.

Okay back on track, MILLIE. Millie is my HERO. Have I said that lately? I should.

Clinic Stats:

Height: 110 cm

Weight: 19.2 (42 lbs)

ANC: 5.1

( Her ANC was way to high for a child on chemo, we had to up all of her different chemo doses.)