Preschool & 1 Month Clinic

Little Air Bear started Preschool today! 
She was thrilled and we were so happy to have her to get the opportunity to attend.  It is so wonderful to have her get out and enjoy real life like every other 2 year old should.  No kid should have to be confined to a hospital room!

Cecily and Caleb were super excited for Erin too.

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Erin had her 1 Month Clinic visit.

She goes to the Hematology/Oncology Clinic at Primary Children's once a month to have her blood work checked and to see how she's growing.  She screamed so loudly when the nurse drew blood from the top of her hand.  I tried to explain to her what would happen, but all she kept saying was "no more tube-ees."  I would say, "yes, you don't have any more tube-ees, so the nurse is going to stick your arm with a needle."  She got this silly little giraffe as a prize for enduring the blood draw.

 

Look at all that hair!

And yes, it is BROWN.

Guess she's not a blondie anymore.

We went to ICS to visit some AML friends.  We first stopped to see little Andrew who was finishing his second round of Chemotherapy.  He was so happy to have some company, he was excitedly attacking his window when we came by. 

Then we saw 10 year old Brielle who received a bone marrow transplant from her little sister earlier in this month.  She was so sick with mouth sores, but it really made my day when Brielle gave Erin one of her HUGE light-up-her-whole-face-smiles.  Brielle has the most beautiful smile.

Finally, we stopped to see Aubree (pictured below with Erin) who is almost 8 months old.  She is just starting round 3 of chemo and will be having a bone marrow transplant next round. 

In the elevator I ran into a familiar face, the grandfather of a patient we knew who finished his AML treatments when we were just starting.  Unfortunately, the 13 year old grandson's AML came back 6 months after he finished his treatments.  They found out that it came back right before Christmas.  He is back on chemotherapy and will be having a bone marrow transplant.  It is so sad for us to hear stories like this.



It was bittersweet to stop by ICS.  I am so thankful to not be living there anymore. I am so thankful that Erin is through with all those treatments and everything, everything, everything that came with it.  I would never wish to go back and stay in one of those rooms again.  Near the end of my visits I just wanted to sob.  I was reminded of the feelings of being back there and it was hard to see so many of my dear friends and what they are going through.  Cancer is so hard, it's hard on the child, but it is also hard on the family in so many ways.  I wish I could fix everything and wish away all the heartache and problems that come with having a child with cancer.  I wish there was a cure.  A real cure.  I believe there is one out there.

I am so grateful for my blessings and for this beautiful life that I am able to live.  I am so grateful for my family and the closeness that we've developed through this trial.  John and I are closer than ever.  I am so grateful to have a most generous, kind, loving best friend to spend the rest of my life with.

Lab Results for Erin's 1 month clinic

White Blood Count 5.3 (normal 6.0-17.0)

Hematocrit 37.9 (normal 34.0-40.0)

Platelets 218 (normal 150-400)

ANC 2900 (normal 1500-8500)

Everything is coming up nicely, her WBC is a little low,
but that will come up.

Here are her labs from last month.

Previous Labs from 12/23

White Blood Count 2.8

Hematocrit 32.1

Platelets 274

ANC 1200