Update from Elaine
Dear Friends and Family,
It has been awhile since I have shared an update with you. Life has been busy running between Maggie's basaketball games and ballet, homecoming shopping and preparations for Kate, and my subbing.
MEDICAL UPDATE:
We are thankful that Kate's counts have rebounded since her transfusion on Sept.20 when her counts were low and her fatique level high. Children's has been gracious and allowed us to do counts at the local Medical Center to save us trips to Pittsburgh. Counts on Mon. Sept 25th showed Kate's counts had climbed significantly after the transfusion.
*Praise for increased energy level as a result of that climb in counts and that Kate was able to attend a full day of school every day last week!
Yesterdays blood counts had dropped off slightly but the nurse practitioner doesn't expect a large drop the rest of this week. If Kate does begin to feel fatiqued late in the week, we'll repeat counts and do a transfusion if need be so that Kate's energy level will be good for homecoming festivities on Saturday evening, October 7th.
*Please ask that Kate will feel well and be able to enjoy the homecoming festivities.
The anticipated drop in blood counts will be next week. More than likely we will go into Children's sometime next week for another transfusion.
MRI - October 26th
*Please pray in advanced for Kate's MRI scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 26th @ 10:15. This will be a full brain, full spine MRI and will show the effectiveness of the 9 radiation treatments in combination with the chemo to the lower back (from T-11 down) and show the effectiveness of the chemo alone on the nodules on the top of the spine ( above T-11). Please ask that the results of treatment will be significant.
FUN TOO :
This past weekend the weather cooperated and Kate's friend from the oncology clinic was able to sky dive with his oncologist. What an experience! The oncologist and Kate were joking and Kate boldly told him she'd sky dive if her oncologist Dr. Jakacki would go with her! He determined to challenge Dr. Jakacki to sky dive with Kate! I don't think Kate is too worried that Dr. Jakacki will go for the idea! :)
MAGGIE:
It's hard to believe that basketball season will end in two more weeks. It's been fun watching the team learn and improve their skills.. Maggie is growing again and is just about to pass Mom by. She was absolutely delighted a week ago with the purchase of new ballet and point shoes. Maggie's enthusiasm for the little things in life brings joy to all of us. Maggie, who is my high energy girl, has the job of wearing Grace out each evening. It's comical watching them run circles around the table. They both sleep well :)
GRACE:
I think as many people ask me how Grace is doing as ask me about Kate :) Training is keeping us hopping. It's like having a toddler all over again! Those cute little shoe button eyes make it difficult to be tough on discipline. Grace is a great distraction and has brought us much joy! We love having this little ball of white fluff in our family!
You will never know how much it means to us on a daily basis to be touched by your prayers and countless expressions of love, encouragement and support. Thank you simply does not express how grateful we are for each of you!
With love and thanks,
Elaine for Kate and Maggie too.
It has been awhile since I have shared an update with you. Life has been busy running between Maggie's basaketball games and ballet, homecoming shopping and preparations for Kate, and my subbing.
MEDICAL UPDATE:
We are thankful that Kate's counts have rebounded since her transfusion on Sept.20 when her counts were low and her fatique level high. Children's has been gracious and allowed us to do counts at the local Medical Center to save us trips to Pittsburgh. Counts on Mon. Sept 25th showed Kate's counts had climbed significantly after the transfusion.
*Praise for increased energy level as a result of that climb in counts and that Kate was able to attend a full day of school every day last week!
Yesterdays blood counts had dropped off slightly but the nurse practitioner doesn't expect a large drop the rest of this week. If Kate does begin to feel fatiqued late in the week, we'll repeat counts and do a transfusion if need be so that Kate's energy level will be good for homecoming festivities on Saturday evening, October 7th.
*Please ask that Kate will feel well and be able to enjoy the homecoming festivities.
The anticipated drop in blood counts will be next week. More than likely we will go into Children's sometime next week for another transfusion.
MRI - October 26th
*Please pray in advanced for Kate's MRI scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 26th @ 10:15. This will be a full brain, full spine MRI and will show the effectiveness of the 9 radiation treatments in combination with the chemo to the lower back (from T-11 down) and show the effectiveness of the chemo alone on the nodules on the top of the spine ( above T-11). Please ask that the results of treatment will be significant.
FUN TOO :
This past weekend the weather cooperated and Kate's friend from the oncology clinic was able to sky dive with his oncologist. What an experience! The oncologist and Kate were joking and Kate boldly told him she'd sky dive if her oncologist Dr. Jakacki would go with her! He determined to challenge Dr. Jakacki to sky dive with Kate! I don't think Kate is too worried that Dr. Jakacki will go for the idea! :)
MAGGIE:
It's hard to believe that basketball season will end in two more weeks. It's been fun watching the team learn and improve their skills.. Maggie is growing again and is just about to pass Mom by. She was absolutely delighted a week ago with the purchase of new ballet and point shoes. Maggie's enthusiasm for the little things in life brings joy to all of us. Maggie, who is my high energy girl, has the job of wearing Grace out each evening. It's comical watching them run circles around the table. They both sleep well :)
GRACE:
I think as many people ask me how Grace is doing as ask me about Kate :) Training is keeping us hopping. It's like having a toddler all over again! Those cute little shoe button eyes make it difficult to be tough on discipline. Grace is a great distraction and has brought us much joy! We love having this little ball of white fluff in our family!
You will never know how much it means to us on a daily basis to be touched by your prayers and countless expressions of love, encouragement and support. Thank you simply does not express how grateful we are for each of you!
With love and thanks,
Elaine for Kate and Maggie too.
posted by Tracy @ 9:44 AM
4 Comments:
At 10:50 AM,
Anonymous said…
Hey there Kate,
We are glad to hear things are going well. We wanted to let you know that we missed you in family group. We hope to see you real soon. You add so much to the group! Thank!
Lots of Love,
The Jammin' Junior C;ass
At 1:54 PM,
Anonymous said…
Im glad to hear that everyone is doing good. Keeping you all in our prayers.
At 6:32 PM,
Anonymous said…
We always anticipate hearing from you--thanks for keeping us updated. We're praying for you and look forward to the next time to be together. Rob and Gail
At 11:24 PM,
Anonymous said…
Elaine, Katie and Maggie:
Our family prays for you every day...even though I am the only one who really knows who you are! I was pleased to be able to show them your picture so they can see who we are praying for. "Our God is so big, so strong and so mighty, there's nothing our God cannot do!" Remember that nothing catches God by surprise. He works all things together to bring glory to HIS name. You all are being used by God for some spectacular purpose. With love, the Linda and Dave D'Angelo family
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