Disconnected after...

...32 infusions of chemotherapy
...4 surgeries
...8 weeks IV antibiotics
...2 fevers
...1 rash
...numerous scans/ tests: CT, MRI, x-rays, echo, hearing
...TMTC nights in CH/ days at JFC

And Olivia is done!

It was a long day at the clinic on Friday since the first blood test results showed that the level of methotrexate was too high to stop hydration. It was early enough in the day, however, that we decided to stick around and take another test later in the day. After having Olivia drink a few bottles of water, they took another sample. It worked!

Although the end of treatment is a HUGE milestone, Olivia still needs to have post-treatment scans before we can fully celebrate. Those will be done in a couple of weeks, and then every 3 mos. after that. In the meantime, however, her leg will finally be able to fully heal and she can focus on PT and becoming crutch-free. She's planning to go back to school in a couple of weeks and is looking forward to the Red Sox spring training. Maybe we'll be seeing a little sun by then too.

Thanks for your support, prayers, and good thoughts. Will let you know how the scans go.
From all of us,
Chris, Michele, Olivia, and Morgan

Operation Bieber...

...is underway!

First, an update. Olivia started the last two rounds of chemo last Monday. These two weeks are the dreaded "hydrating" weeks, which means that after an all-day infusion (including blood tests, pre-meds, and chemo), Olivia goes home hooked up to 24 hours of IV fluid. We then go back each day to clinic to check the chemo levels in her blood and replenish the fluid until the chemo is cleared from her system. Last week she cleared in 72 hours, and we are now on Day 2 of her LAST week of the same routine. SO YESTERDAY OLIVIA HAD HER LAST CHEMO TREATMENT!!! YEA!!! We won't start the celebration yet, though. It's not over until the bag is no longer hanging off her shoulder.

Now back to Bieber.

Last week, during one of the daily trips to clinic, Olivia got the idea that Justin Beiber should visit the children at the Jimmy Fund Clinic. She mentioned the idea to Jen Noonan (pictured with Olivia -- the most wonderful, most fantastic adolescent specialist at the JFC) and the two of them went off to conspire how they would pull this off. First, Olivia wrote a very thoughtful and creative letter telling Justin why he should visit. As they revised and edited the letter, and planned how they will present it with pictures, decorations, etc., Jen got the idea that they should also include a CD of them singing one of Justin Beiber's songs. She brought the clinic's music therapist on board, and today Jen and a group of kids (including Peter, who came to clinic with us today) sang the lyrics to "Never Say Never." The CD evolved into a DVD and will include Olivia reading her letter aloud at the end of the song. Other kids are also writing letters to include in the package.

How can he refuse?

Home Stretch

When we started this blog, we vowed to keep the posts positive, and to focus on the things that were going well even when we hit a low point. With the exception of my frustration with EVERYONE regarding the rash (no, I'm still not completely over it), we've been fortunate to always have had something positive to focus on. This is not the case for everyone who goes through this, and it is at those times when we hear about someone who has recently been diagnosed, that someone's cancer has spread, or that a friend has passed because of this disease, that we realize how truly lucky and blessed we are. We also realize (again) how vulnerable we are. We know that things could turn on a dime.

So we approach these last two weeks in great, but tempered, spirits. We are still in "break" because Olivia's counts were not high enough to have chemo on Monday. But she is fever-free and the counts are on the way up. She is keeping up with school work, having PT, and exercising at home. We'll return to clinic on Monday for the 1st of the two remaining treatments.

Olivia has also finally agreed (more like caved in to my badgering) to let me tell her "wish." Not sure why she's been holding out -- must be the 13 in her. We are going to visit the set of Glee and meet the cast! Morgan has never seen the show, but she's been dying to tell everyone that she's going to "hollywood!" Two wishes in one. They both deserve it.