Anyone outside my family doesn’t know this, but while in utero, my new niece, <a href=”../index.php?misc=search&subaction=showfull&id=1255445665&archive=&cnshow=news&ucat=2&start_from=” target=”_blank”>Emily</a>, was found by an ultrasound technician to have an abnormality. After months of testing and regular checkups, it was decided that she’d be born a bit early since she had stopped growing and they still didn’t know what exactly the abnormality was or what it could be affecting. Birth went well, Mommy and baby were both happy and healthy, but the mass was still there, around 4cm in size (diameter? width? I don’t know). Over the past few months the family has continued to travel to Chapel Hill to visit a specialist, who has diagnosed her with <a href=”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuroblastoma” style=”color: rgb(0, 0, 0);” target=”_blank”>neuroblastoma</a> [cancer of the adrenal gland]. Luckily, it has been recognized early and should prove very treatable, but will likely mean the loss of an adrenal gland with the possibility of a kidney. While the adrenal gland is not a big deal [we have two and one functions just fine without the other and compensates for it], a kidney would be very serious and our hopes are obviously for the best. I won’t be doing continual updates here, but if you’re interested, you can find them <a href=”http://babylamken.blogspot.com/” target=”_blank”>on my sister’s site</a>.<br/><br/>And then my other little lady… Yesterday afternoon, Caitlin received a call that her niece, <a href=”http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs111.snc3/15844_191054044395_772254395_2755459_958146_n.jpg” target=”_blank”>Jade</a>, had been taken to the hospital with countless red dots all over her abdomen. Initial tests were done by a new doctor, and the results were a bit hard to believe, so we held off on… I don’t know the word… I guess “believing” until she was transferred to Fairfax Inova. We arrived there with her grandmother and mother before her and her father did in the ambulance from Prince William and waited… and waited… And then we received confirmation. Her white blood cell count was around 340k. For reference, a healthy person is between 10-15k. Jade has <a href=”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leukemia” style=”color: rgb(0, 0, 0);” target=”_blank”>leukemia</a>. They don’t know the specific type yet (waiting on a spinal tap for that today), but she’ll be in the hospital for the next few weeks until she is stabilized, and will be receiving a combination of chemo and radiation for the next 2-3 years. Luckily, treatment has a 90% success rate. Given Jade’s demeanor and general toughness, I’d put her very close to 100%; she’s probably the strongest little kid I’ve ever met. I’ll try to get her, her mother, or maybe her sister blogging with updates, but otherwise I’ll just post them here.<br/><br/>I’m not a prayer person, but if you are, I ask that you say one or two for my little ladies. If you’re like me, give them your hope.<br/>
My Two Little Ladies
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I wish them both the best.
The vet just found another tumor on Logan. While pets cannot compare to people, especially kids, I can empathize with the frustration of cancer impacting someone/something who doesn’t understand it.
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Both of them are in my thoughts, and hope all will turn for the best.
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Thank you both…we’ll take all the good wishes we can get!
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I’ve created http://www.jadesjourney.com.
No big news… Started chemo today, has ALL, still unable to have visitors [crook]
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One of Rex’s co-workers sons had Neuroblastoma, I’ll save you the details, but his foundations Cody’s crew raises money in the Prince William area. We did the 5k for Cody, and support this cause with all our heart. I’ll put little Emily and Jade on our prayer chain at church.
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Julie, thanks! If you’re willing, hop on over to my sister’s site and shoot her an e-mail with your co-workers’s contact info… Lot’s of questions, but not too many answers on the web.
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