Roid Rage!!!

Emily is doing great, well except for a weird rash spreading over her body! The poor girl can't catch a break. We spent most of the day at the allergist office today, and were finally told she has roid rage. Not really, just a reaction like acne from the super duper steroids. So tomorrow we go to another appointment at the dermatologist. But she got weighed today, and is gaining back all the weight she lost in ICU. So that is good news. She actually feels pretty much back to normal except for just getting tired a little more easily. Once again, it's nice to be 20! She is getting out, shopping, and visiting with friends. By the way, her friends have been AWESOME through this ordeal!!! Our next big milestone is chemo #2 on Thurs. We are expecting it to go well, but keep those prayers coming!

Home sweet home!!

Emily has been home for two days now, and getting stronger each day! Last night was the first night we all slept through the night! Felt great! The first night home she was pretty uncomfortable, but thank heavens for all night pharmacies. Now she is just eating, sleeping and enjoying being home. Her next chemo is Thurs. 10-15, and she will have it outpatient. So right now the plan is for her to stay through Mon. the 19th, then head back to school. Thanks for all your support, love, and prayers!

Going home!!!

We are planning to leave the hospital around 5 pm tonight! YEAH!!! Emily had a little bit of a sore throat on Monday evening and Tues. morning. But the Dr.s don't think there was any damage done to her throat putting the tube in or getting it out. That is good news. Her voice was pretty weak yesterday. When she put in her order for food on the hospital phone, the lady very sweetly asked,"how old are you honey, is it OK for you to order your own food?" Emily thought that was hilarious. Her voice is back to full strength, and it is a very good sound. The other great thing is she is eating a LOT! She has felt a little weak, but it is all relative. The physical therapist who walked her today was amazed, and said it sure helps to be 20, young and strong! She said most of her patients would have taken a couple of weeks to regain strength after being in ICU for so long, not a couple of days! We are headed to our house for a week, so she can get stronger, and get one more chemo treatment before heading back to school. We are in the process of talking to her school and figuring out if we can salvage the semester. Once again, I can't say it enough Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for all your love, support and prayers. Talk to you later

A great day!

Emily and I are sitting in her new hospital room, no more ICU, and watching TV. She just finished a big breakfast of pancakes and is TALKING to me. No more white board. All major tubes and wires are missing from her body, she looks great! They are making sure everything is working as it should after 10 days of major sedation and no real food in ICU. She feels a little weak, but otherwise great! This is the time after chemo, about 6-7 days when she is at risk for infection, so they don't want to keep in the hospital any longer than necessary. We think we will be home soon. Our whole family wants to thank you all for your prayers, support and visits. We know we could not have done this without you! God bless!

Great news!

Today around 1:00 Emily got her tube out! YEAH!!! She had a multitude of people standing by just in case, but once again, God was with us, and it went without complications! She couldn't talk for an hour, so she continued to write on her white board. She has had cold liquids and is getting ready for ice cream! She will be transferred to the 7th floor, oncology. They will keep her for a few days to make sure her plumbing works and she gets her strength back. She is just SO happy to have that tube out! Thanks for all your prayers, and all those who visited! Emily is so strong and we are so proud of her. We'll keep you posted!

Better each day!!!

The last 2 days have been good! Each day, Emily seems more like her usual self, except for the tube down her throat. She can write on the white board faster than anyone I've ever seen! She has had visitors, and that makes her day happy! I think she is happy to see anyone besides mom and dad! Today she sat in a chair, and looked great! The Dr.s are saying they will look down her throat with a scope on Mon. or Tues. and evaluate where we stand on taking it out. So please pray we can get it out soon. She is losing weight without real food, and we want her to gain a little weight before her next chemo treatment in 1 1/2 weeks. Overall we are very positive with her continued improvements, and appreciate your prayers and encouraging words.
Several people have asked how to comment on the blog, and we have been told to click on comments, then go to the white box "Post a comment" and write your message, then click on the drop down "comment as " and pick "anonymous", then click on "post comment". This should allow you to leave a message, just remember to sign your name on the message so we will know who you are. Hope this helps. God bless you all for keeping us in your prayers!

A moment of peace...

I'm sitting in a quiet hospital room watching Project Runway with Emily. Ok, maybe not quiet, but quiet for an ICU unit. It is a day of praise! Emily completed her first treatment of chemo yesterday, and is now doing great! The dr. was just here, and said she is completely stable, except for being intubated. She is just on enough sedation to tolerate the tube, and had several visitors, and enjoyed interacting with them. She communicates through a white board, and can carry on a conversation while writing fast! She seems SO much better. There is still no evidence the tumor is shrinking, so PLEASE pray for a miracle. We are doing well as a family thanks to our dear, dear friends and family. We have pastors from churches all over town stopping in to say she is on their prayer list. We are receiving cards from all over the country thanks to all of you passing on the prayer request. Our God is an awesome God and may God Bless you all for your help in getting us through this tough time.
PS. The nurse just posted a note on our door explaining post-chemo requests:
If you are sick, please don't visit, please wash your hands when you enter/exit the room, no flowers or open food in her room