Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Tuesday Nov 13

Mikayla went to Lutheran today for week 1 of chemotherapy (last week was week 0). She did very well. She continues to ask questions to make sure she knows what is going on. Everytime something is done to her now, she wants to know if she is getting poked with a needle for an IV. Thankfully she has the port that we cover with numbing cream (emla) before accessing the port. She didn't feel it at all. As long as she knows what is happening she is tolerant to most anything. The steroids continue to make her moods swing. At times she is higher than a kite, which makes Sasha and I laugh. Other times is more snippy and we just avoid her. The steroids also makes her very puffy and swollen. One chemo days she gets alot of iv fluids so she is even more swollen tonight.
She made it through a whole day of school Monday and was able to see sister Grace sing in the Veterans day program (2 were selected from each class to perform). Mikayla was pretty tired after school. We will see how she does tommorow. The one thing that makes her the happiest is being at school with her friends so we let her do as much as she can tolerate. Generally she tells us when she has had enough and takes a nap or goes to bed. She even makes sure she gets her medicine before she sleeps as she requested it tonight. Right now besides the chemo, she is on 3 regular medicines and 1 as needed for nausea (she will get it regularly for the next 2 days), plus tylenol for her pain from the chemo (love side effects).
We continue to be amazed by the cards, emails, gifts we have received. We are told people are praying all over the world, as word of Mikayla passes on. We have received cards from many people we don't even know, but they heard of Mikayla's story and wanted to send a card or gift.
I would ask the you add to your prayers all children suffering from cancer or brain tumors, we have come across so many children afflicted with this terrible disease, many with a worse prognosis than Mikayla. A particular child is Ethan Teeple. His cancer doesn't seem to be responding to his current chemo protocol and will need to be admitted for inpatient chemotherapy at Riley. Ethan's parents actually went to Huntington College at the same time as Sasha, and then became reaquainted with her when Lance (Sasha's Brother) was burned in a furnance explosion last Feb. They helped out at a breakfast to raise money for Lance's medical expenses at his church. Anyway we somehow ran into the Teeple family when Sasha and I went out to eat on our first night alone since Mikayla's diagnosis; they provided us with comfort that we will be able to get through this and that brief meeting meant alot to us that night. We continue to have faith in God's plan for both Ethan and Mikey, but it sure is hard when you see them suffer.
Thanks to all
Chris

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