Back at clinic the last two days to start the last cycle. We are home for the rest of this week and next for the "break." Olivia's blood counts were higher at the start of the cycle than they have been for past cycles so we are feeling pretty good about getting through the next 2 weeks without a fever.
It's hard to believe that we now have only two more scheduled treatments. When we started, we could not imagine how in the world she could endure so many. How could we keep her strong and healthy while being hit with this time after time after time? It hasn't always been easy, but Olivia has stayed amazingly strong and positive throughout. So many things have contributed to that, and the support of friends and family are at the top of the list. Thanks everyone.
In PT, Olivia has started 50% weight-bearing on her leg. She walked yesterday with crutches! She will also start doing more exercises and begin working in the pool. Mrs. G. is a wonderful PT and teacher and we are so happy to be working with her.
Finally, although Olivia has pretty much abandoned me on this blog, she does still read it and maintains editorial control. She will not yet let me announce what her "Make-a-Wish" is, but we have received word that it has been granted. Olivia is staying very low-key about it. Morgan and I, however, couldn't be more excited. Will keep you posted.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
Spring Training
Now that Olivia is 13, she makes the cut for a trip to the Red Sox's spring training at the end of March. The trip is sponsored by a (very generous) donor of the Jimmy Fund Clinic. Kids 13 and older are invited to go. They stay at the same hotel as the Red Sox staff and spend two days at spring training. No parents allowed. Yikes! I have been assured that they are very well supervised. A number of doctors and nurses from the clinic go as well as the Child Life staff. Olivia's treatment will be done by then and she is raring to go. I don't know. A sudden business trip to Ft. Myers might just be required around that time!
Things are moving along with treatment. We were back at the clinic last Monday for the next round of chemo. Everything went as planned--this was one of those weeks where Olivia goes home with an IV and backpack filled with fluid. It took an extra day to clear the chemo but she was backpack free in time for the weekend. Enjoyed a quiet time hanging around at home while Chris and Morgan went sledding on Saturday and skiing on Sunday.
Tomorrow begins a repeat of last week--chemo and then hydration until the chemo is cleared. Although these "hydration" weeks can be tough (not only does Olivia have to be attached to a backpack all week, she has to get woken up in the middle of the night to take medicine), our other option is to do this in the hospital. We always remind ourselves of that when we start to complain!
On the PT front, Dr. Gebhardt gave Olivia the OK to bear 50% of her weight on her leg. She was hoping for more, but it's a step closer. Her leg will probably not be completely healed until a few months after she's done chemo (chemo slows the healing process down) but everything looks great so far.
Just taking it one week at a time and being grateful to stay on track.
Things are moving along with treatment. We were back at the clinic last Monday for the next round of chemo. Everything went as planned--this was one of those weeks where Olivia goes home with an IV and backpack filled with fluid. It took an extra day to clear the chemo but she was backpack free in time for the weekend. Enjoyed a quiet time hanging around at home while Chris and Morgan went sledding on Saturday and skiing on Sunday.
Tomorrow begins a repeat of last week--chemo and then hydration until the chemo is cleared. Although these "hydration" weeks can be tough (not only does Olivia have to be attached to a backpack all week, she has to get woken up in the middle of the night to take medicine), our other option is to do this in the hospital. We always remind ourselves of that when we start to complain!
On the PT front, Dr. Gebhardt gave Olivia the OK to bear 50% of her weight on her leg. She was hoping for more, but it's a step closer. Her leg will probably not be completely healed until a few months after she's done chemo (chemo slows the healing process down) but everything looks great so far.
Just taking it one week at a time and being grateful to stay on track.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Happy New Year!
We had a very nice break during Christmas and New Year's. The big news is that we made it through without a fever. Olivia enjoyed time with friends and family, and best of all had her 13th(!) birthday hospital-free. She is now officially a teenager.
This past Monday we went to clinic to see if her blood counts were high enough to start the next round of chemo. While the treatment protocol calls for chemo a week earlier than previous cycles (due to the fact that she now has one less med.), we were told that the kids are rarely ready. So we were not surprised when they were too low. We'll stay home this week and go back again this Monday. Olivia is spending the time getting back to schoolwork, going to PT, and resting up for the coming weeks.
(Forgot to mention that PT started a couple of weeks ago and is going very well. She is seeing her former head of school, Mrs. Lisa G., who is a physical therapist. It is awesome to have someone she knows and who also happens to be very knowledgable and experienced with Olivia's type of surgery. Thanks Lisa!)
Our focus now is to get through treatment and start thinking about the transition back to school.
Until next week...
This past Monday we went to clinic to see if her blood counts were high enough to start the next round of chemo. While the treatment protocol calls for chemo a week earlier than previous cycles (due to the fact that she now has one less med.), we were told that the kids are rarely ready. So we were not surprised when they were too low. We'll stay home this week and go back again this Monday. Olivia is spending the time getting back to schoolwork, going to PT, and resting up for the coming weeks.
(Forgot to mention that PT started a couple of weeks ago and is going very well. She is seeing her former head of school, Mrs. Lisa G., who is a physical therapist. It is awesome to have someone she knows and who also happens to be very knowledgable and experienced with Olivia's type of surgery. Thanks Lisa!)
Our focus now is to get through treatment and start thinking about the transition back to school.
Until next week...
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Merry Christmas
Hi everyone,
We are happy to say that we are moving forward with Olivia's treatment. I never thought I'd say I was happy about her getting chemo, but after the last few weeks, we are glad to get back on track. After today, she's on the 2 week "break" and is looking forward to Christmas, her 13th (yikes!) birthday, and New Year's.
Wishing everyone a great Christmas and happy, healthy 2011.
We are happy to say that we are moving forward with Olivia's treatment. I never thought I'd say I was happy about her getting chemo, but after the last few weeks, we are glad to get back on track. After today, she's on the 2 week "break" and is looking forward to Christmas, her 13th (yikes!) birthday, and New Year's.
Wishing everyone a great Christmas and happy, healthy 2011.
It's Morgan
Hi it's morgan and well i'm sitting here doing nothing. Olivia is going to the jimmy fund clinic today as well as yesterday and i think tomorrow too. peter is coming to play wii with OLIVIA and me . FROM MORGAN :) P.S Hi morgan and amanda.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Week of Rest
Never a dull moment at the Jimmy Fund Clinic. Last week we were so focused on getting free from hydration that we forgot to mention the Red Sox players and Wally who were visiting. Olivia got autographs and her picture taken with them, but even after all that the big question of the day was, "Which players were they?"
Santa is visiting every day this week, and the place is decorated like a candy land. There are gifts for everyone, and best of all--free parking!
We did get to see Santa on Monday but Olivia's blood counts were too low for her to receive chemo. Now we wait until next Monday. Although we hate to have delays, we've decided this is a good thing. She'll rest up and get that much stronger after healing from the rash and before starting the final two cycles.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Cleared!
Music to our ears.
After a very long, delayed "clearing" last week of one of the chemo meds, we were hoping that we'd get back on track in this week's repeat round. (Olivia comes home attached to 24 hour fluids until the medicine is cleared out of her system. Last week it took 7 days due to the IV antibiotic, rash, etc. When you don't clear to a certain level within 72 hours, you have to get to a lower level the following day, and so on, until finally it needs to be completely undetectable.)
72 hours was yesterday. She did not quite make it. We were somewhat doubtful that today she would clear, even though she was within tenths of the goal. Once it gets down to the low levels, it tends to linger.
But she made it! A full night's sleep ahead and a weekend of rest. Next week she starts another cycle followed by a two-week break. Have to be extra careful about fevers (which buys you an automatic admittance to the hospital) but we are looking forward to being home for the holiday.
Enjoy...
After a very long, delayed "clearing" last week of one of the chemo meds, we were hoping that we'd get back on track in this week's repeat round. (Olivia comes home attached to 24 hour fluids until the medicine is cleared out of her system. Last week it took 7 days due to the IV antibiotic, rash, etc. When you don't clear to a certain level within 72 hours, you have to get to a lower level the following day, and so on, until finally it needs to be completely undetectable.)
72 hours was yesterday. She did not quite make it. We were somewhat doubtful that today she would clear, even though she was within tenths of the goal. Once it gets down to the low levels, it tends to linger.
But she made it! A full night's sleep ahead and a weekend of rest. Next week she starts another cycle followed by a two-week break. Have to be extra careful about fevers (which buys you an automatic admittance to the hospital) but we are looking forward to being home for the holiday.
Enjoy...
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