Definition

Silver Lining: noun. A hopeful or comforting prospect in the midst of difficulty.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

From Morgan

Hi
This is Morgan. I'm at Dana Farber right now with Olivia and my mom. I'm kind of bored. We are just waiting in the waiting room right now. I think they are going to take away Olivia's hydration today. I was at an arcade yesterday and I got something for Olivia. It is a necklace. It is a heart with rhinestones on it. I just wanted to say hi.
Hi guys,
It's me. Sorry I have not posted in a long time. I have been busy. Well right now I'm very bored just sitting in the waiting room waiting for my blood results to come back. We are all hoping I clear the medicine so I can get off of this bag of fluids I have to have. I was so close yesterday. I was like 1/100th off of where I have to be (which is very close). Yeah I was disappointed that I did not clear yesterday but I guess that's what today is for right! I have been feeling great and I really LOVE all the support that you guys have given me.

Lots if love,
Olivia:)

Monday, August 23, 2010

Thanks

Home after a long day at clinic. Arrived before 9:00am and returned at 7:00pm. The day was somewhat typical, except that instead of pushing a wheelchair over the PMC bridge to Children's 6 North, we came home! We'll have to return to clinic each day until Olivia's body clears the medicine, but it sure beats staying overnight.

I didn't want another day to go by without thanking everyone for everything that you have done and are doing. The kindness is overwhelming. The latest example: this past weekend I received an email from a high school friend of Micheline Cacciatore, one of Olivia's ballet teachers. She had learned about Olivia through Micheline and wanted to do something. So she offered to lead us all in a little yoga! I'm still speechless.

All of you are so supportive -- calling, sending notes, sending food, taking care of Morgan, or coming by to boost Olivia's spirits. It is what keeps us going in this seemingly never-ending process. THANK YOU!





Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Hotel California

NOTE: I thought I had posted this earlier this week -- just discovered it was still in draft. We left the hospital on Wed. eve. and Olivia is doing great. Counts rose fast, no infections, no fevers. So we've been we're enjoying the days at home and the weekend. She goes back on Monday for the first of the final two weeks of chemo before surgery.

Original post from Wednesday, August 18th:
Am writing from the hospital today. An unexpected visit on Monday afternoon and we are still here. We were on the second week of the break when Olivia spiked a fever. This is not uncommon since the whole purpose of the break is to allow time for her blood counts to go down and come back up again. Problem is they go so low that she is at high risk of infection. Wish I had known in advance that when there is a fever, you have to go to the hospital and stay until 1. blood counts rise; 2. no fever for 24 hours; and 3. blood culture has 48 hours to show infection! We could get out this afternoon, but it's going to be a bit of a negotiation. Olivia has a few mouth sores and she's gotten a little sick from the pain meds. So now they also want her to go to oral meds. and be able to eat before we leave. "You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave..."

On a brighter note, lots of nice people on the floor. We've met some great families (mostly dealing with leukemia) and look for them when we come. We are always hoping that they've been able to go home, but also feel a little sad if we missed seeing them. Everyone we know is doing well so that is something to be grateful for!

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Pan Mass -- Part 2

Hi all,
We'll try to get more frequent about these posts. Our schedule is so unpredictable that a week flies by before we know it. We spent the weekend at the Cape. Again, we are so lucky to have such generous friends, the Shays. Enjoyed the beach and the boat. I don't think they realize how much it means to us to have the opportunity to get Olivia out doing normal summer activities.

The Pan Mass Challenge also took place this past weekend. Jack made it to the finish!!! We never doubted him for a minute of course. Amazingly one of Olivia's doctors at Dana Farber spotted him on his bike and rode up to him to tell him who he was and to wish Olivia well. The doctor was on the team who initially reviewed her case, but was about to go off on another assignment. We clearly remember him because he did such a good job of dispelling the myths that Olivia had about cancer. Here are pictures of Jack, Day 2 (sign made by Zoe, 9 yrs.) and the Finish. Thanks Jack, Pat, and Zoe for all the support!


Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Pan Mass Challenge

Good morning!

Sorry, it's me again. Olivia will be writing again soon, but she has been feeling a bit nauseous that last two days. She finished getting the first chemo of the 2nd cycle, and they say this drug is highest on the scale of causing nausea. So overall, she's doing quite well. We will be going home later this afternoon to start the two-week break.

In the meantime, I wanted to tell you about our friend Jack Murphy, who is riding in the Pan Mass Challenge. The PMC is a 190+ mile bike ride from Sturbridge to Provincetown to raise money for cancer research. Jack has ridden in this 5 times and was thinking of taking a break from it this year. When he heard about Olivia's diagnosis in June, he decided to go ahead with it. Since then he's been training in over 100 degree heat, thunderstorms, and has even gotten lost!

The PMC is this weekend and we will be cheering Jack on. If you see someone riding with "Olivia" on the back of his shirt, it's Jack!

Also if you are interested in helping him reach his fundraising goal, go to this link:

https://www.pmc.org/egifts/jm0280

Thanks and enjoy the rest of the week!

Post note: Just as I was about to press "publish," there was a knock on our door. Wally the Red Sox mascot came to visit, along with a few MLB umpires. Will post a picture when we get one!