Emmy's Story Archive

Off to Denver tomorrow for the next big round of treatment and an overnight at Children's Hospital. This will be the first time she gets all three chemo drugs since we began treatment several weeks back. We are a bit anxious to see how she will react but are simultaneously comforted being at Children's knowing that she is being cared for by the best.

Today marks the beginning of week five of chemotherapy treatment where, all in all, things are going ok. She still battles nausea for days after each treatment but we seem to have a pretty tight handle on her medication regimen now, keeping the nausea to a dull roar.

Emery and mama spent Thursday at the doctor for week 6 of chemotherapy treatment and per usual, she did great. How a six-month old can get repeated heel sticks for blood draws week after week and not even utter a whimper is beyond me. I think is beyond much of her care team too since their wowed comments about her behavior and demeanor stay as consistent as her radiant smile.

Monday morning we will be back in Denver bright and early for surgery number two which will be less invasive than the first, but is surgery nonetheless. They are going back in to continue removal of any residual cancerous cells. After this procedure, she will continue on with chemotherapy treatment for 12 or so weeks in this cycle before new imaging.

A photo collection from Halloween to mid-November.

We are thankful for you. Thankful that you are joining us on this journey through the dark, ever pressing towards that brilliant sunshine at the other end. Having friends and family by our side is where most of that strength comes from. You are the origin. Your encouragement, positivity, and love are what carry us through this sometimes very dark space. Thank you for being by our side as we go forth together.

Positive (negative) results from these tests will not alter our current plan which has us continuing chemo through the end of April at the earliest. It is hard as parents to wrap our heads around that many treatments and that many times these caustic drugs have to work their way through our daughter's system but it is what needs to be done to ensure she will someday be cancer free. So, carry on we shall.

where Emmy’s cancer has returned, at the original tumor site, is very close to a number of vital parts, especially her bladder. So close in fact, that another surgery would mean the removal of her bladder completely and then a lifetime of associated complications. Not a road we wish to do down. Protons are allowing us to treat the recurrence without doing to much damage to the surrounding areas. A ultra precise game of millimeters.

Every time we do get to pass through the threshold of our own place, there comes a moment where a certain smile crosses our little lady’s face, the special one reserved for when she is extra happy, and it melts you into a puddle right there on the spot. We could turn around and get right back in the truck, the whole journey back home made worth it in that one moment.

...since we have been on this journey there have been an untold amount of people who have helped us out along the way. Everything from the incredibly generous donations, to the notes, gifts, messages, food, beverages, kind words, positive thoughts and all of it in-between. You’ve all been nothing short of amazing.

Greetings once again from the 7th floor of Children's Hospital Colorado. Today we are only here for clinic and day 3/5 of outpatient chemotherapy, not taking up residency like last week thank goodness.

Here is the sequence: Up (early, abruptly and not by choice), screaming (usually the children), coffee if you’re lucky, short-order breakfast shift, cleaning, entertaining, cleaning, entertaining, cooking, cleaning, refereeing, reasoning, begging, bargaining, bribing, cleaning, errands, cleaning, cooking, bathing, more reasoning and bargaining until the eventual and most welcome bedtime.

We leave Sunday for Denver in preparation for early morning scans Monday at Childrens Hospital. This is the big day. These scans (MRI, CT, PET-CT) will paint a good picture of where we're at, a month out from treatment.