Onward and Upward....

 

Wednesday Februray 8, 2012 was a day to celebrate and with help from many, we did just that.  It's hard to tell it all with words, or even with pictures as so much was communicated within hearts, but I will try.  

 The day started with Emma's whole school gathering on the front lawn to cheer her on and wave her goodbye with hugs and tears and smiling kids.

 Walking toward the hospital for what seems like the thousandth time...familiar yet uncomfortable territory. 

Waiting in the lobby for her Electrocardiogram....chemo can affect the heart....

Finally our turn

 After a short break and some lunch....we now wait again at the clinic.

 The position I was in this whole year....by her side, unable to take on the treatment myself....trying to comfort her and help her to be strong.

 Last run....

 Proud of her photo....joining the ranks of other warriors in the battle.

 A surprise limo ride home from the hospital....she couldn't believe it was for her. When we arrived home, the kids all wanted to see inside and sit in the seats....they were so happy for her and celebrated right along with Emma.

 Some welcome signs for her arrival home

 The balloon surprise....it was so awesome!  

 She read some of the notes right away....the words mean so much to her.

 Soaking it in

 That's a whole lot of love and a year's worth of fighting hard represented in those balloons!

 Letting it go

 Celebration cupcakes made by Emma Kait's namesake....Kaitlin

 Reading the words

Look hard....up in that clear blue sky....can you see?  God is here, taking the burden from us as He has this entire journey.  Those are balloons that represent so much.....

 And when we walked back into our house, after all our extended family left for the evening....this was my reminder.  WE HAVE HOPE!  

The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving kindness."

Jeremiah 31:3

-Rebecca

Just a peak....

Our day is over.  We are spending time as a family and soaking in the love that was shared with Emma today through your notes of encouragement.  She loved it.  We loved it.  She had her 15th and final dose of IV chemo today and we celebrated.  I will post tomorrow and share all the photos that tell the story of today....but tonight, we rest.

Thank you for your love. 

-Rebecca

Getting There

Emma Kait- February 1, 2012

 This was Emma yesterday afternoon walking into her  43rd clinic visit.  43 appointments and each of them represents a needle access into her port for blood work, questions about how she feels, vital signs taken and scrutiny over any physical symptom she has experienced.  As I walked behind her to snap this picture, my thoughts were focused on how much she's grown up in the past year.  She is a different person.  I am again struck with how much a child grows up in a year's time and I'm amazed at the change Emma experienced.  She was a little girl last year when the scary diagnosis of Lymphoma hit us in the gut.  She wore flowers in her long hair and had the carefree outlook on life that every 10 year old child should have.  That all changed in one day.  She is now a beautiful young lady of 11 years old who wears stylish dark rimmed glasses, spunky boots and a cute pink beret over her sporty short hair.  She was listening to Taylor Swift on her ipod and asked me on the way out of the clinic, "Mom, when did you start to wear makeup?"  She is more concerned and worried about things sometimes, but also has more faith and a peace about her that is beyond understanding.  I'm so proud of her. 

Her counts were 1300....the lowest they have been in several months.  It didn't surprise me because of how hard the last round of chemo hit her...I'm imagining her body fighting harder to recover from the effects of the drugs each time she is dosed with them. 

We scheduled next week's appointment for her final dose of chemo and also discussed the next few weeks of recovery, follow-up testing (PET scan, CT scan, MRI, Echo-cardiogram, blood panels, etc) and finally scheduling the surgery to remove her port (which she wants to keep as a souvenir).  It all makes me nervous, happy, anxious, relieved and hopeful.....we are getting there.  

This is posted in the clinic as you leave.....it's a good reminder for all of us.  

-Rebecca