Update from Elaine

Merry Christmas to our dear friends and family,

December has been a non-stop month filled with the blessings of many days of normalcy and lots of special events and visits with friends and family that filled our home and lives with joy!

~December fun:
Both Kate and Maggie enjoyed their Christmas dances.
~Maggie, who is most at home in her sweats or jeans, looked absolutely beautiful all dressed up! Where did my little girl go?!?!
~Kate looked stunning the night of her dance. Tall and elegant! For years she has been asked much to her dismay..."You're so tall, do you play basketball"? Now, she is frequently told, she should try modeling- she likes the sounds of that much better!
~We had a wonderful visit with my friend from China days, Jennifer and her daughter, Betsy, Kate's friend.
~A group of special ladies who call themselves the "beach girls" gave us the gift of a family picture. What a fun and wonderful experience we had with Jill, a talented and sensitive photographer, who did an amazing job capturing Kate's and Maggie's spirit and made us all feel like "America's next top model!!"
~The Dillon girls are hosting the family Christmas time. The menu is planned and the decorations are in place. We're excited about celebrating Christmas in our new home.

~Medical update an plans:
~Praise: We are so thankful that Kate has been healthy and has been going strong for the last two weeks. Between family and friends she celebrated her birthday three times in one week! Thank you for all the cards and birthday wishes sent her way.
~Last Thursday Kate needed a transfusion of RBC due to a low hemoglobin count. This drop in counts is to be expected with the VP-16 chemo that Kate is on. We anticipate a transfusion Friday (22nd) due to low platelet counts yesterday.
~With the first of the 3 tandem transplants coming up in January, it is necessary for Kate to go through a full battery of tests to make sure the rest of her body is in good health. Extensive blood work has been done and next Thursday, Dec. 28th-Kate will have an echo cardiogram and EKG to confirm that her heart is healthy, as well as, a urine study to check on kidney function. She will also have an audiogram to get a baseline on her hearing, as once again, the chemo that she will get, can cause hearing loss.
***Request: MRI- Friday, Jan. 5th- PLEASE PRAY that the tumor remaing at the T-11 point of Kate's spine will be completly gone. The last 2 MRI"s showed other nodules on the spine were responsive to chemo and the scan was clean except with the exception of the T-11 site.
-At this point we are anticipating a January 8th hospital admission for the first stem cell transplant.
The first thing to happen will be surgical placement of a central line for Kate- probably a meta port, but perhaps a broviac. The central line will ease the wear and tear and discomfort on Kate's thin veins.
Monday through Thursday will be high dose chemo. Thursday will be a day of rest and Friday will be the stem cell transplant.
***Requests: Please pray in advance for protection from infection for Kate when her WBC 's are temporarily wiped out. Please also ask that the stem cell procedure will go smoothly and that Kate's recovery and response to the procedure will amaze the medical team. Most of all pray that God will fill Kate with a peace for the procedure and that her spirit will be protected from discouragement during the long, tedious days of treatment and procedure in the hospital.

In closing, once again please know that your prayers are sustaining us. We wish you and yours a most blessed Christmas!

Grace and peace,
Elaine

Wishing you a blessed Christmas

Our dear friends and family,

May you have the gifts of faith,
the blessing of hope, and the peace of His love
at Christmas and always !

Wishing you a blessed Christmas,

Elaine, Kate , Maggie and Grace

Christmas Dances 2006

Brandon and Kate






















Maggie

Step Aside Ty Pennington !!!!

You asked for it!!!
Extreme Diningroom Makeover

Update from Elaine

Dear Friends and Family,

I'm sorry it's been awhile since I've updated the blog. When the stem cell colection was complete, we needed some down time to rest, have some fun and get back to "normal". Thank you for your patience and continued prayers despite our respite communication.

Kate
It took a few days for Kate to rebound after all her body went through physically in the week focusing on the stem cell collection. By Thanksgiving day she picked up a bit and we all enjoyed celebrating the day with Kate's friend Brandon and his family.
November 27th MRI
The Monday after Thanksgiving Kate was scheduled for a 6:30am MRI. Kate's oncologist wanted to check on the residual tumor left at T-11 of the spine. You will remember the October 27th MRI showed that Kate had a very positive response to the first two courses of VP-16 chemo, in that all the nodules on her spine had cleared with the exception of the T-11 tumor. The hope was that the November 27th MRI would show that the chemo blast used to precipitate the stem cell collection would have also taken care of the tumor left at T-11. The tumor was smaller but not gone entirely.
Request
Please ask that God would wipe out the remaining tumor on T-11.
Kate's December
Kate returned to school after Thanksgiving vacation. She enjoyed being back with her friends and has much to look forward to this month.
~Kate celebrates her 17th birthday December 12th.
~Betsy, one of Kate's special friends from her growing up days in China will arrive the evening of Kate's birthday for a quick visit. The girls have not seen each other for about 4 yrs.
~The high school Christmas dance is December 16th.
Requests
~Kate has been battling on and off nausea again. The nausea medications don't seem to provide much relief. She had 2 days this week when the nausea was so bad she spent the day in bed. We are thankful that yesterday afternoon the nausea finally lifted.
Please pray that Kate's nauses remain quiet and that all the special things on her December calendar are not hampered by the nausea.
~Kate's body has been through a lot. In addition, she is on another course of the VP-16 chemo for the next 21 days. She fatigues very easily, and struggles and gets discouraged when the fatigue or nausea sideline her from things she'd like to do. Please pray that she will get good rest, remain healthy during this cold and flu season and that she would be blessed with strength and energy.
First Stem Cell Transplant
We are tentatively aiming for a January 8th admission to Childrens Hospital for the first of the three tandem stem cell transplants.
Request
Please pray in advance that this procedure go smoothly and that the medical team stand in awe of Kate's response to it.

Maggie
~We're excited to report that Maggie got a part in the high school musical "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat". Kate and I are so happy that our " drama princess" will be able to take her talents to the stage as a member of the chorus. The production will be Feb. 15th-18th. Play practice will keep Maggie busy during these winter months when Kate and I will be spending more time at the hospital.
~Maggie is eagerly anticipating her first formal middle school Christmas dance on December 15th.
~Maggie will be playing in a winter basketball league along with weekly ballet, point and lyrical dance rehersals in preparation for a June recital.

Blessings Abundant
Thanksgiving was a special time for us, as we reflected on all we have to be thankful for. Each day we marvel at God's love, care and provision in our lives with so many special people, fun events and suprises and continuous answeres to prayer.
~I had the surprise of a life time in November when I recieved a "While You Were Out". Kate master minded the plan to transform our dinning room. She along with her ever willing assistant Maggie and the help of my parents, my dear florist friend,, and life long family friends in KY did a dining room make over that is so beautiful that it left me speechless. Those of you who know me well, know that doesn't happen very often :) What an incredible suprise and shower of love!
~We enjoyed a wonderful week over Thanksgiving with our dear friend Kellie. Kellie blessed and ministered to the girls and me in countless ways through her sensitive, caring and endless repertoire of talents.
~The gift of friendship is one I treasure. The time shared with Kellie ministered to my heart. How good God is to follow Kellie's visit with with visits from two other heart friends. My friend Jennifer, who is also Kate's friend Betsy's mother, will be here next week for a quick visit. Then we will welcome the New Year with a visit from Carolyn, another dear heart friend. These two women all became a part of my life in China. How grateful I am that depite the miles and years that separate us, God has forever bonded our hearts.
~I began subbing again after Thanksgiving vacation. I can't tell you how good this is for my heart and mind. Our school community is a tremendous source of encouragement and support to Kate, Maggie and me.
~Christmas is coming! This will be our first Christmas in our new home. We are thankful daily for the opportunity we were given this spring to rent this house. We are excited to be hosting Christmas for our extended family this year. How we love our home filled with the love, joy and laughter of family and friends!

With the activities and holiday upon us, we all are busy. My updates may not be as frequent. Please know however, that not a day goes by that we don't thank God for the incredible way He has surrounded us with the prayers, encouragement and support of you, our friends and family.

Blessings and grace,
Elaine