While this is not where we want to be we do feel like this is the best place for Lauren to be right now in order to make her fully healed. We are trying to stay positive and just keep moving FORWARD. I remember the advice that the ER doctor gave us at diagnosis back in 2016– this is a marathon not a sprint. We are taking this journey one day at a time. We have a really great team of Doctors and nurses and a strong support system to help us through this.
This first block of chemo is 28 days. On or after 29 she will have a bone marrow aspirate and biopsy to see if there are any detectable leukemia cells. The goal is for this first block of chemo and steroids to put her into remission.
A very special thank you to this group of moms for holding us in your hearts once again as we travel down this road. You all have come out in droves to support our family once again. All of the gas cards, food gift cards, donations, messages, gifts are so much appreciated. It’s not natural for me to ask for help and with this group I don’t have to. You are such a kind-hearted group and I am just so humbled by your generosity. We will be all set with gas back and forth (my husband and daughter have been coming back and forth to the hospital almost every day) and we have been avoiding hospital food and using our Uber Eats gift cards very often. What an amazing help you all have given us. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Please keep our girl in your thoughts
and prayers.
Xoxo,
Shawna
McKinley is doing really great. She's loving school, LOVING dance & enjoying being off chemo meds. It really is amazing how much she's grown, how much she's developed & how much more personality she has since she's stopped chemo. All things are looking great which is wonderful news. We've been very busy with advocating & promoting childhood cancer awareness month & attending a lot of events. We did have one scare at this months appointment but all was confirmed negative with an ultrasound. Myself, a few other "cancer moms" & McKinleys oncologist were all concerned about a vein by where her port was placed especially since she had a clot in the past. But all was confirmed ok with a quick ultrasound (Thank God). I'm not sure I'll ever be able to take a deep breath but I do try too. We are praying for a Halloween at home this year (last year we spent 8 days in the hospital fighting a nasty virus over Halloween). And although the nurses & staff came by her hospital room to trick or treat, I'm actually looking forward to sweating & fighting bugs on Halloween night this year. It's the little things 😉 Thank You as always for keeping McKinley in your thoughts & prayers.
xoxox,
Karen