weekend fever

Wow do I have a supportive community behind me or what? In addition to the parking lot sale on Saturday, there was a barbeque held by the Marquez family, whom I don't know nor have ever met, and the proceeds were generously given to my family. They have also been advising words of wisdom from their personal experience and showering me with wonderful gifts. Thank you very much and happy belated birthday Victoria! This was very generous of the family and done out of the kindness of their heart. Again, thank you very much and God bless you because he has certainly blessed me.

Well I certainly know how to give my parents a scare now, they had to take me to the ER after I spiked a reoccurring fever at home starting Friday. I went to the ER Saturday, and blood labs were done. Everything was clean, no infections, and my counts were actually going up which is good because they are very low. Just as a precaution I was given antibiotics through an IV and so on Sunday I had to return to get the rest of the antibiotics. It was not fun in the ER at all, there was a lot of waiting that had to go on, , it's not the cleanest friendliest reliable place, I had a high fever, I didn't feel well and I had the chills, and I was just hungry and wanted to go home. All of that together doesn't make the nicest person, but I tried to be as kind as possible while trying to stay sane. I did get through it and I am feeling much better now. Blood labs were just taken so now I have to wait for the results to see when I start chemo again.

Parking Lot Sale

As some may know, the Parking Lot sale did very well and a lot of people showed up. Many came to support, help out, buy items, donate money, items or their time and much more. Luckily I was able to go for a little bit, and I tried to thank as many people as I could. I would like to thank everyone who came on Saturday and donated their time to help out, my family and I were overwhelmed in a good way with all the support. Team Noel and so many more people donated so much time and I don't know how many times I can thank you guys. Seeing everyone who came to help and support me seems so unrealistic. Words cannot explain how glad I was when I saw all those people taking their time to come see me and help out on Saturday. It's unbelievable to realize how much God has blessed me with my own team, so many supporters, and a wonderful family. They all and even more dedicated so much just to help me and make sure I am well. Homeschooling is finally starting and I'm very excited to get back into learning and everything. I found out the classes I will have for this trimester and they are Honors History, Psychology, Algebra 2, and Art.This is another step for God to prepare me for a regular lifestyle again. 
 
 "Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever."
                                                                                                Psalms 107:1

Getting through all the chemo

So last week officially sucked. Chemo everyday and feeling like I had the flu all week, that was definitely a blast! Although, I still wouldn't change anything one bit. God put me in this situation for a reason, and so far it has been a great. So many people helping and supporting me, it is inspiring and unbelievable. Well my family and I made a trip to Santa Barbara, I got another lumbar puncture and I ended up having to get a blood transfusion due to low hemoglobin. So that took up the rest of my day yesterday. As I sat in the hospital with all the other adults getting transfusions, I thought to myself as I studied each of them "What are their stories? What is God's plan for them? Where is their family or support group?" then I looked over at my parents and remembered how grateful I am to have them and everyone else supporting me all the time. I usually don't remember waking up after my procedures are finished. Although I do remember waking up yesterday and hearing the cry of a young child. Yet again the same questions ran through my mind. While I waited to fully recover from the anesthesia I met the young child who was crying. She was almost three years old with these beautiful big brown eyes. She too had A.L.L leukemia and was in maintenance stage. This baby didn't know what was going on, every time she was visiting the hospital or getting poked to get labs done. All she knew or could say about her situation was "I'm sick". It made me thankful to at least be aware of my situation and to know and comprehend everything. I sat there inspired and amazed thinking "If this baby can get through all of this, I definitely can too."

God made you on purpose for a purpose. 

                                                      ~Max Lucado

All last week and this weekend seem to be a blur, but I will do my best to try and remember most of it. I have been spending mainly all of my time outside in the pool listening to music and relaxing. I could spend all day in or by the pool just relaxing because everything is so nice and peaceful outside. If I'm not outside I'm inside writing thank you cards or watching The Godfather with my dad. That movie and Fantastic Mr. Fox are officially my two favorite movies. Yesterday it was nice to get out of the house and go to my grandparents house and have a BBQ with the family. It's been over a month since I've been to their house due to me getting sick, but it was extremely nice and you couldn't have asked for greater weather. Great news from the doctor, the Monosomy seven testing came back and it was clear. So right now I don't have any Leukemia cells OR Monosomy seven genes in my body! It was a wonderful week, great news from the doctor, no trip to Santa Barbara on Friday, no chemo all week and I haven't felt this good in a while. This week is going to be the challenge. I go to Santa Barbara tomorrow and I have to go to the actual hospital to be in the ICU all day. I get a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) and new chemo injected into my spine, and I also start new medication which is chemo in pill form. Then to top everything off I get chemo at home through my port on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. It will be tough, but it's nothing I can't handle. I'm willing to take on this challenge. All it takes is positive attitudes and prayers, and you are set. I'm actually thankful I'm going through all of this stuff this week, because it means my body is responding to everything very well. I am what you call a Rapid Early Responder to the chemo. The name says it all. Some people ask me if I'm scared, but what is there to be scared of? Honestly I'm not afraid of anything as I go through this. I'm completely knocked out during all of my procedures and there is nothing to be scared of when I'm at home. If you put all of your trust in God's hands, then you never have to worry or be scared and everything turns out to be fun.

Playing Catch up

Trying to play catch up from the last time I blogged. Friday I went to Santa Barbara and had a typical marrow biopsy and I had chemo through a lumbar puncture (spinal tap), but no regular chemo through my port. Everything went as planned, but I had a very low hemoglobin. Normal level is from eleven to sixteen, and I was at six. Saturday was pretty tough, and my parents were going to take me to the hospital to get a blood transfusion due to my low hemoglobin. Although it turned out I was having withdraws from being taken off one of my medications and the chemo. So low hemoglobin, chemo and being taken off a medication led to a crummy day. Sunday was better though. Even though I only got an hour of sleep Saturday night, I was feeling much better and normal again. My family and I spent the whole day outside by and in the pool barbecuing and relaxing. Monday, I stayed outside all day. I swam with my little sister then took a nap by the pool then finished the day off by wading around in the pool. Tuesday I received news from Friday. My MRD test, which is the test to detect the number of leukemic cells in my marrow , came back negative! Also, my usual blood testing was done, and my platelet count was at 277 and my hemoglobin was at eight! My grandparents came over to visit and after my dad and I swam. He got me to really swim just like before, so I did about ten laps in my pool. I am feeling it in my legs today, but it was so worth it. Today was a great day, my boyfriend and two friends came over and hung out with me. Soon I am going to sit down and write thank you letters to everyone who has helped and supported my family and I through all of this, for example Stephanie Thorndyke made my family and I a bunch of delicious food today and so did Carol Testerman last week. Not to mention everyone involved in fundraising efforts and even reading my blogs. Your support and love helps me more than you know.

Well it feels like ages since I have blogged, but I have been extremely exhausted and have been almost incognito from everything. Usually a few days after chemo are the crummy days, and they were. Saturday my whole body was aching and I was in very much pain, so I took vicodin for the first time and man when that kicked in I took a four hour nap. Of course after I woke up feeling like a million bucks. I am feeling much better now, I have been starting to "exercise" slowly. It's no crazy workout, but a walk around my house then down and up my hill then a light swim in the pool is my new routine. It sounds pathetic, but is the most my body can handle right now. My mind says go run and play sports, but where my muscles were (and should be) won't allow a lot of activity. Lately the days have been kind of the same, but wonderful of course. Lots and lots of relaxing, eating, exercising, trying to spend as much time outside as possible and family visits. It's funny in my eyes thinking of the role change that happened since everything. When we found out the news and were on our way to the hospital for the first time, my mom looked at me and told me I have to stay strong through all of this. Now I have to stop her and look her in the eyes to tell her she has to stay strong through all of this. My parents love to remind me how proud they are of me and inspired by me too. But I always love to remind them that I am their daughter, and they raised and brought me up to be the person I am today.

A day in Santa Barabara

Third or fourth time of chemo yesterday, all went well like usual and news will be coming back soon. My parents and baby sister drew blood, and all the nurses thought Emma was so brave so they gave her a new Barbie Doll! Was she ever so excited to not only be there and give blood, but to also receive a kind gift and love and adoration from everyone there. My parents got the gift of finding out that they possibly get to give more blood! Were they ecstatic or what. My grandparents came along with us too, and we all were rolling when my grandmother stuck a sticker on my grandpa's back. He walked around aimlessly for some odd time not knowing, until finally he came back in to the room bright red. A nice walk back to the hospital felt nice on my body as we went to eat lunch at the cafe. The weather in Santa Barbara was nice, and the walks were too. On our way home we stopped through Los Olivos and I fell in love. As soon as I can, I'm going back there to explore this cute town. So many thanks to the Perez family for making my family dinner last night. It was such a relief to come home later and have a huge delicious dinner cooked and ready to serve waiting for us. It made everything so much easier. Thank you very much.