MRI, Radiation and Hospital stay X2

Since our last blog update we have journeyed with joy as we eased back to some feelings of normalcy in our lives. I went back to subbing, Kate was gaining some strength and returned to school for one class a day and was able to resume a little more active social schedule with friends and family. However in the midst of enjoying smoother days, some waves rolled in and rocked the peacefulness of our days. The last two weeks has been particularly rough.

HOSPITAL STAYS X 2
The weekend of April 20th, Kate packed her bags and was excited about enjoying a weekend away with new friends. Her weekend away had barely begun when the nausea and vomiting hit full force. She was unable to even keep sips of liquid down for long. That Saturday brought a fever, which was an immediate cause to be seen in the ER. Because of Kate's stem cell procedures, standard protocol is to begin IV antibiotics until a cause can be determined for the symptoms. Thus, Kate had to be admitted to the hospital. She received IV fluids and IV antibiotics. We were thankful when blood cultures remained negative for bacteria and that the cause for her symptoms was determined to be viral. We are so grateful for wonderful and very dear friends who visited while Kate was in the hospital to encourage and support us through this time. We were released from the hospital on Tuesday afternoon and as always were thankful to get home to recuperate. We learned on Wednesday, however, that a stool culture revealed rota virus and also tested positive for C-dif bacteria. Both of these are very common to post stem cell rescue patients. The virus has to run it's course and the c-diff is treated with flagyl (which many of our friends who have lived oversea are quite familiar with). The rest of the week was long with lots of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Kate had no appetite and worked hard to get some liquids down in an effort to avoid dehydration. It's was hard to see her feel so badly and feel helpless to do anything to make her feel better.

Monday we had a clinic visit at Children's to discuss radiation. I called and asked if we could come early, as I knew Kate was in need of IV fluids. We spent most of our time focusing on how to get Kate turned around from the virus. Her oncologist decided we should admit her and get her rehydrated. While in the hospital her blood pressure dropped real low, so they kept her still another day to observe that. The doctors did a blood culture to make sure there was no lurking infection somewhere that would cause the drop in blood pressure. We were thankful once again that the blood culture was negative. Kate always runs a low blood pressure and we've concluded it probably dropped even lower because of the low volume of fluids in her body. We were discharged from the hospital late Wednesday afternoon. Kate is on 12 hours of IV fluids through the night until we get past the virus. The good news is that another test yesterday showed the C-diff bacteria is gone, so today we finish the flagyl and are left fighting only the virus. One nurse told me in and of themselves the rota virus and c-diff can make you really sick and the fact that Kate had them together made it very understandable that she was so sick. One doctor told me a healthy child would take 7-10 days to recover from rota virus. Because Kate's immune system is weak at best from all the chemo, she will take significantly longer to rebound.

MRI REPORT
You may remember that Kate had an MRI of the pelvic plexus after developing some leg pain days after the clean MRI scan of the brain and spine. We had done one of these MRI's last fall as well, when the pain in her leg just didn't match the location of the tumors on her spine. While the doctors did not anticipate finding anything, it certainly gave us peace of mind when that scan came back clear!

PLANS FOR RADIATION
The doctors at tumor board have determined they do want to do more radiation of Kate's brain and spine. Kate told them it would have to be after the prom:) We first have to get Kate over this virus and strong again. Although Kate's MRI was clear, medullos are very aggressive and respond better to radiation than chemo. They feel it is important to follow up the chemo/stem cell rescues with radiation to help reduce the chances for the tumors returning. The radiation oncologist will have to calculate how much radiation Kate can have based on her previous 6 weeks of treatments after her surgery in 2004, and then the 9 treatments she received fall of 2006 when she was rediagnosed. It will likely be about 2 weeks worth of radiation this time.

SPECIAL VISIT FROM FRIENDS
The bright spot in this weary two weeks was a visit from two of our very dear heart friends Gail and Jennifer. These two precious ladies worked along side of us when we lived in China. These girls are two of the sweetest, sensitive,compassionate and servant-hearted women I have ever met. Despite the time and distance that separate us, we are thankful that God created a special bond between us that lets us pick up where we last left off. How blessed Kate, Maggie and I were by the time we shared together.

TRACK SUCCESS
Maggie's track team recently participated in an invitational meet with six other schools. Maggie earned a medal for placing second in the 200 meter dash and another medal when her relay team placed second in the 400 meter relay. Our friends Jennifer and Gail were cheering Maggie on from the stands with me. While we were thrilled when she placed second in the 200 meter dash, Maggie, who is extremely competitive, was disappointed with her performance. The difference between Maggie's time and the girl who placed first was only a plus + sign. Maggie is definitely her own worst critic, but I guess it's that competitive nature that keeps her pushing the edge.

PRAISES:
~As Thursday closes, we are excited that Kate has kept down her nibbles at each meal today and she has not vomited. It seems she is finally turning the bend on a very long two week road.
~Praise for friends and family. The last two weeks were challenging but a huge blessing in this time was reconnecting with dear friends from earlier chapters in our lives. As always my parents are there for us, taking care of not only Maggie but lively Gracie too. They run interference so graciously for me, when unexpectedly we have to be in the hospital, by keeping up with Maggie's schedule of activities.
~Praise for Maggie's good health that allows her to run races and dance, her enthusiasm for life and the joy with which she sang at her spring concert tonight.

REQUESTS:
~Please ask that God would strengthen and renew Kate each day. The prom is next weekend, May 11th. Kate has been anticipating this for months now. Please ask that she will be feeling like new by Friday.
~Please pray in advance for radiation.

God's grace and your prayers always carry us, but were felt even more so through these past two weeks. Thank you for continuing to walk on this journey of amazing grace with us.

Carried by grace,
Elaine