Date: Tue, 19 Oct 1999
Hello Assumption Friends....
Rachel finished up her third session of chemo treatment at Children's Mercy Hospital today and came home. Diana and I split up the four day stay, two days each. It went very well. Rachel's immune count was high enough this time to allow her to go out of her room... and out she went, again and again. We went
for walks on the floor, played in the oncology toy room and one night even got to go to another part of the hospital to make apple crisps with kids from all over the hospital.
Rachel's walks out around the floor often consisted of her standing on the base of her IV pole (on wheels) while her Dad... that would be me.... pushed her up and down the hallways. One morning we went around and around pretending that we were crooks trying to escape the police, driving our "get-away pole" as fast as we could around the corners... then Rachel got an upset stomach!!
Oops... Dad felt really bad; Rachel took some medicine to calm down her tummy...
and later that day we were riding back out on the floor... a bit slower though! The nurses said that sometimes the Dads are bigger kids than the kids. They laughed a lot at Rachel riding down the hallway with her "chauffeur" pushing her along. We had a lot of fun.
Because Rachel's immune system was so high we shared a room this time with a great little girl and her mom. This kid has been coming to the hospital off and on for two years for cancer treatment and dealing with
complications due to the disease/treatment... she's six 6 years old.... the biggest smile you've ever seen. Her mom is a great lady with enough courage/love in her to take care of the entire floor.... and enough
faith to move mountains. Diana and I got to meet several parents this time around as Rachel was able to go out of her room. It was nice to really meet other parents/kids and talk to them.
Rachel will return to the hospital for another four days hopefully on October 25, Monday. If all goes well she'll have the bone marrow transplant in November or December. From what we've been told things have gotten a lot easier and much less painful than past procedures for transplant. The nurse in charge of the bone marrow transplant called Amanda here at home tonight to fill her in on what she'd be doing as donor.
The bone marrow transplant process was a real shocker to us. We'd thought they'd draw fluid from Amanda's back and put it in Rachel's back...nope... Manda takes four special shots for four days... at home. Then she goes into the hospital and has blood drawn from her arm. The drug in the shots draws out the necessary bone marrow blood cells into her bloodstream and when the blood is drawn from her arm the staff can separate out the needed cells to put into Rachel. Rachel then has these cells shot into her Hickman line...
no pokes for Rachel whatsoever.... except for the daily shot she already has to give herself when not on chemo. It is a very simple process and not near as painful to the donor as it was at one time. If any adult would like to donate a sample of their blood to be put on a list of possible donors we can the
information for them. It could be a wonderful gift or life to a person who can't find a match within their family.
Amanda told the nurse she wasn't sure she could give herself shots at home... the nurse suggested that she let Rachel give her the shots as she's so good at giving them to herself! Amanda thinks that's a good idea.
For the first time this visit Diana and I both heard the word every parent wants to hear.... remission. Rachel's progress has been exceptional and the medical staff is as encouraged as doctors can be. We'll have a better idea after the transplant.
Once again we thank you for your thoughts and prayers. We are touched by your prayers... all of us. They help to heal the body, soul and mind. Please remember all the children like Dana and their families who have been struggling with cancer, sickle cell anemia and other illnesses for years. They are amazing people and we pray for them daily.
Bill and Diana Sowers
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