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
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
posted by Tracy @ 6:45 PM
6 Comments:
At 9:47 PM,
Anonymous said…
Your pictures are beautiful. I agree that you would make an outstanding candidate for modeling.
You will be in our thoughts and prayers as you go through your treatments Kate.
We wish you all a very Merry Christmas. Hugs to all 3 of you!
God Bless,
Jim, Debbie, & Cory
At 7:32 AM,
Anonymous said…
There will be people falling to their knees as we watch Kate's miracle. I believe it with my whole heart. The three of you are spreading God's word daily in your actions and words. He will bless each of you beyond belief.
PB
At 2:11 PM,
Mom25 said…
Elaine, Kate, Maggie (and Grace,) First I also want to compliment you on the beautiful dining room. I too could use your help so let us all know when you start a business!!! Secondly, Elaine, your daughters in their party dresses are beautiful. (Although I do have to agree with Maggie on the jeans and t-shirt thing.) I have two sons ages 17 and 20, hmmmmm! Thirdly, the family portraits are wonderful. Grace certainly can pose too! How's her "potty training" and all the other puppy things coming? And last, you girls are always in my thoughts and prayers. You feel like family! Susan
At 4:34 PM,
Anonymous said…
This is Rindy, from China days--wow, all three of you are gorgeous!
You are in my thoughts are prayers.
Love in Christ...
At 8:43 PM,
Anonymous said…
It is our prayer that God's sustaining peace would surpass all understanding during these upcoming days. We are praying and believing that the Great Physician is already at work. You are dearly loved.
Kyla
At 9:41 PM,
Anonymous said…
Hope your December was a blast. The pictures are wonderfull. We have been praying for the three of you, and will continue this week. You three are such a witness and example.
Brenda Corben and Pearl
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