The story so far......

Back in December a small "bug bite" type bump appeared on Emma's neck and like any typical 10 year old, she mentioned it to us and we asked, "Does it hurt or itch?"  her answer was "no" so life went on with school, piano lessons, Girl Scouts, sleep overs and playing with her brothers.  Over the next few weeks, the bump did not improve, in fact it got worse.  On Christmas Day, her lymph nodes were affected and swollen and I had my first pit in my stomach.  We saw 7 doctors over the following 3 weeks, and had surgery done on the wound which was first diagnosed as a bacterial infection, spent 6 days in the hospital and we were sent home with a PICC line and IV antibiotics.  The next 4 weeks were spent dosing with antibiotics, chasing allergic reactions, enduring painful wound care both at home and at the clinic and fighting an extremely aggravating and dangerous yeast type infection around her PICC line.  The feeling in my gut never went away and when the wound and lymph nodes were still not improving, we got a second opinion at the hospital in Sacramento which specializes in pediatrics.  A second surgery was done, tissue samples taken, lymph node biopsy and culture sent to pathology.  A week later we got the news in the doctor's office that no parent wants to hear about their child.  "There is a reason why the wound was not healing.  She has Lymphoma.  Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma.  We are admitting her tonight to start the many tests and procedures to find out the "stage" of the cancer."  We now sit in the hospital, three days after our life changed forever, waiting to find out the results which determine the next days, weeks, months ahead for our family and especially for our daughter. She is a Face of Faith.  Our sweet and precious child of God.  Our Emma Kait.