I CANNOT THINK OF A TITLE!

Kristin has requested that all of our friends remember her in their prayers specifically to help her get through this very rough phase for her. Her weight is at an all time low. She has lost 20% of her body weight! That is not good. Our option is to tube feed her through the nights for extra calories if we cannot manage to put on a few pounds in the next 10 days. This verdict brought tears.The last two weeks have been especially hard on her physically and each and every day, every step is a struggle. When people ask how things are going.....well it is just plain awful! She is physically and emotionally spent and frankly so am I.

thank you for your thoughts and prayers....I see innocent children, the preciousnesses of life, on a daily basis; who's lives are forever changed, struggle through the "awfulness" of chemo, and face each day will simply the will to live!

Gratefully,
Leslie

Comments

Amy Girl said…
Noted! Extra prayers on their way.

We love you guys and continue to remember you in our personal and family prayers.
October 21, 2008 at 7:37 AM
Kathy Hawley said…
I am so sorry it has come to this! But, this too shall pass. Jennifer was on feeding tube for several weeks, and I ended up sleeping with her in the guest room, because the tube would plug when she rolled over on the hose, when the goop was too thick, when the bag tweaked, and pretty much when it felt like it. It was like having a newborn (here's to you Leslie!) Jenn hated to have the tube put in, so she left it in all the time - even for her 6th grade picture! That was the same year I put lights on the Christmas tree while supervising a bag of Ceftaz. They didn't want us to stay in PUCC because it was too germy! All I can say is, it makes a good story when it's over! I'll be thinking of you when I wake up in the middle of the night, and sending you both (all) my very best thoughts! Kathy
October 21, 2008 at 12:32 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Beginning

Image
Hello to all from Children's Hospital Oakland, California To it still difficult to grasp that we are actually here...hearing this news...living in this new world. Kristin's official diagnosis is ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKEMIA precursor b. This is very treatable form of cancer. She is enrolled in a cutting edge program for treating A.L.L.. All of us here are very optimistic. She is under the care of amazing Doctors and the recipient of the miracles of modern medicine. It will be a very rough 2 years or so, but she will survive. Thus far, we have been on the fast track. This is an amazing institution and we are very, very fortunate to be here. Nothing short of kindness and compassion have been shown to us from the very beginning. Upon our arrival on Monday, she has undergone a bone marrow biopsy, 2 lunbar punctures, echo cardiogram, chest x-ray, broviac cath . placement, and numerous pokes and prods. She received her first chemo treatment; injected into the spinal fluid, Wednes...
Read more

GO GO SPECIAL K!

Our last bone marrow biopsy went great! It showed no leukemia cells. This shows that she is having a positive early response to the chemo which is a very, very good thing! All of her labs are coming back "smashing!" We are dealing with secondary complications such as situational diabetes. This is only tempoary and should resolve once we are off the strong steroids. Consequently she has to have blood sugars checked often, insulin injections, and follow a carb controlled diet. not fun! In trying to be supportive, I am counting carbs along with her. It is hard when someone has a birthday up here every other day and wants to share their cake. Keep the dang cake to yourselves! Kristin is getting very tired more often and is noticing that she can pull out clumps of hair....I am sad. Although I knew this was coming, I was taken back by the situation and caught off guard. Baldness goes hand in hand with leukemia and every parent up here would rather have a beautifully healthy, shini...
Read more

UPDATE

Kristin is currenly in room 5330 getting two units of PRBC's. Her counts are on the way down and I am hoping that this is all the drama we will see. It has been a long, difficult...two months.....seems like forever.... especially as we approach the one year mark. Our daily excursions to Berkley have been uneventful. (I decided that if I had another life, I would like it to be in Berkley. I love this area!) We are going to Alta Bates Hospital. I am taken by the compassion, charity, and warmth that the patients are treated with here. It is the same spirit you feel when you walk onto the 5th floor here at CHO. Wonderful people who truly and compassionately love what they do. Back to her radiation.....Her radiation takes all of two minutes. I call it a "lick." Thankfully she is getting a very low dose so the side effects are pretty much nil. Kristin really looks forward to returning to school on a more regular basis. I cannot begin to tell you of the hardships Kristin has ...
Read more