I can't begin to explain the relief we feel, in finally having a doctor we like and have confidence in. A huge weight has been lifted! I forgot to mention yesterday, that we had reached the official two year mark. Day one of Interim Maintenance meant Katie has exactly two years left of treatment (if all goes well anyway). However, yesterday we were given a reminder that there are no guarantees. There is a girl who had the same type of Leukemia as Katie, and same survival rate, but after a year of treatment, her Leukemia relapsed - no rhyme, no reason. So, we aren't out of the woods yet. Please keep Katie in your prayers!
Katie wouldn't eat anything for breakfast or lunch today - she would drink, but not eat - she did eat some soup for dinner. Katie woke up at 4:30 this morning and wanted a drink. She couldn't fall back asleep, so I stayed with her. I asked her if she liked the new doctor, and she said she did. I told her the new doctor was going to help her get rid of the cancer, and then her hair would grow back. About an hour (and three drinks) later, Katie turned to me and said, "She will help me get my hair back?" I told her she would, and then Katie said, "And then I can have a ponytail again?" I said, "Yes, and then you can have a ponytail again". Katie smiled her biggest smile and hugged me tight. It was a sweet moment.
Other than not eating and the diarrhea, Katie has done fine today. She has cried and complained about hurting - "tummy" and "everywhere" - but she seems to be doing fine. Scott had the day off, so we took Katie and Conner to the park for a picnic lunch and to play. When we left, Katie said, "that was a lot of fun!" We said, "Yes Katie, that was a lot of fun." Another sweet moment!
I don't want to take anything for granted. I don't want to miss any moments with her. I remember when this all started, Scott said to me, "I don't want to live every day, for the next two years, like she is dying." I said, "Really? Because I do!" We were both right in our own way. I told Scott that if Katie ended up dying, I didn't want to look back and have any regrets. Really though, no matter what, I suppose that is how we should all live each day, because there are no guarantees for any of us.
President Gordon B. Hinckley said, "I wonder what will happen to you in the next 10 years. Where will you be? What will you be doing? That will depend on the choices you make, some of which may seem unimportant at the time but which will have tremendous consequences" (Ensign, May 2004, 112-113). "The choices we make expand or limit our opportunities. We can use our agency to choose to obey, or we can use our agency to choose to disobey. In every case, we receive blessing and consequences, rewards and punishments based on the choices we make...God will not force us to be righteous and make good choices, and the devil cannot compel us to choose evil - we are free to choose (Helaman 14:30-31) Remember, that which produces a sense of joy and peace and sweet assurance comes of God, and that which confuses and darkens comes of the devil (Moroni 7:12 -17). Our future, here and hereafter, depends on the choices we make" (Lloyd D. Newell, "He Shall Fulfill All of His Promises"). Today I am glad for that reminder.
Trusting those in your 'circle' is fundamental....I'm *glad* you've finally found what you've been looking for in a doctor.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to hear at this point that Katie is managing the double dose of chemo with mild-ish side effects.
I was reading an article at work from a 'big wig'...the woman introduced her segment with a brief personal story, "A couple of years ago, I went through an exceedingly challenging period in my personal life where the path I'd been on for several decades proved flawed and I had to figure out how to pick up the pieces and move on. The status quo had become unacceptable, even though the way forward was decidedly unclear. Every day was like wading across a muck-bottomed lake or peering into a room full of fog. During one of those dark days, a friend reminded me that sometimes the only way “out” is “through,” no matter how frightening, frustrating, confusing, or clouded that interim period seems." Carol Schleif
An aha moment for me....The only way 'out' is 'through'.
Much love sent your way!
Hi Anndrea, I am Jenny Smith. I am Mike and Theresa Hallock's daughter and Ken and Janette Booth's sister-in-law. I met you once at a FHE where your husband taught us CPR. When my mom told me about Katie, I was so sad. You, Katie, your family, and Katie's doctors are in my prayers.
ReplyDeleteOne of my friends is a doctor at PCH. He loves your new doctor and has said that she is the best choice for cases such as Katie's. I am so happy that you and Dr. Dana found each other!
Again my prayers are with Katie, especially as she endures this next round of treatment.
Jenny
Beautiful post Sis. Love ya all. nan
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