I’m blown away that we’ve made it to the first day of school. That means that we’re in September and wasn’t it only like yesterday on June 16th that our world was rocked….
The whole summer has managed to slip right passed us and here we are staring fall in the face as it comes barreling towards us at full speed.
Xandra and Jeremy are headed to school for…….are you ready for it……..an hour. I was tempted to just keep them home as the excitement of getting up and getting ready is completely chaotic and them to only have them home and “bored” in a hour…..well, that’s hardly even enough time to get a cup of coffee, sit down and enjoy it….throw in a couple of trips to the toilet for Siah, a feeding for Judah and well……so much for an hour of quiet time, eh?
Oh well….there is always Wednesday and let me tell you, I’m looking forward to Wednesday.
Jon and Geli are headed into an appointment at Children’s Hospital. They need to be there for 10:15am and once there, they need to find out Geli’s counts (which at last report were brutal, almost non-existent low and are expected to be even lower), then she has two intra-muscular injections (one in each thigh) of a chemo med, and one IV chemo med and then…….they come home. We are hoping, hoping, HOPING that the rest of this week is SO boring and that we have absolutely no medical updates on how Geli is doing because there is absolutely NOTHING to report on…..that would be the most awesome week ever.
(This is the most recent picture I have of Geli. She is growing up to be such a beautiful young lady.)
She is doing well. She is still a bit nauseous and gags and dry heaves from time to time. This is particularly frustrating as she is on 2 types of drugs to kill the nausea 24/7 and a third one if things are still bad. I hate that she’s on that much medicine all the time but if the alternative is barfing, well….that’s worse and we’ll do what we have to not deal with that. She has pretty much gained back most of the weight that she lost in her two to three week barfing stint.
We finally got a referral to a podiatrist regarding her toes and he was able to help some. He’s been able to alleviate some of the swelling and irritation which helps with the pain, but the biggest concern is with the infection in the tissue surrounding the toenails. With her White Blood Counts too low to be able to fight any infection, she must be on an antibiotic. What we’d really like to see is a miracle with her toenails growing out quickly and all infection gone.
She is annoyed and frustrated with the sheer number of pills she needs to swallow multiple times in a day. Its hard to “have” to be always responsible and take all your meds and drink 2+ Litres of water and eat at all the right times. She is doing well, but we can tell that it wears on her sometimes. There is so much for a 13 year old to be dealing with and really, no child should be dealing with all of this.
School will be interesting this year. Geli is excited about starting Grade 8 and I think that having something to do will be so good for her. She has definitely perked up since we started talking about school and school work and routines and supplies. We bought her an Agenda and she’s even started filling it out already with the dates of her Chemo appts and other dates that she knows in regards to school. She is enrolled in the local High School and will attend when her counts are good enough, but will also do a fair amount of work at home or in the hospital. There is a meeting at the school scheduled for this Thursday and we should have more info after that meeting.
We are in the final stretch of this second stage of the chemotherapy treatment, and the third stage is scheduled to start on Tuesday September 21 as long as her counts are good.
We just keep moving one step forward day by day and hoping and praying for the best. This is not an easy road and I can’t help but think of others who have been through this or similar roads and I feel sick that I didn’t understand or know or realize the extent of what they were going through, I’m so entirely grateful to everyone who is walking along side of us. There are times when Jon and I feel so overwhelmed and burdened and yet we know that we are not alone, and even in our darkest moments of pain and fatigue or when we “feel” alone we know that there are so many (YOU) standing with us and supporting us with your love and prayers and thoughts. It helps us to keep on fighting, and so once again – We thank you!
Oh Geli, you’re such a beauty!!!!! xoxo
hey patti…i’m sitting here with Pat Burke…and we’re checking out your photo’s of Judah – WHAT A BIG boy!!! …cathcing up on Geli’s news too. We’re all praying for you!!
pam and pat
Gelica you look vibrant!! Have a great year in High School and I know your teachers will love having you in their classrooms as I did last year. You have so much to offer! Bon courage and viens me visiter si tu as la chance. xo
Jon & Patti. Your strength and fortitude completely amaze me, yet I know that some days you’re breaking inside. The thing that I admire from an outsider looking in is not only your faith, but also your ability to just take one day at a time and let others know that “life is not always a bowl of cherries”. Your ability to be “real” is so important on the crappy things and the great things. Not having gone through anything like this, I cannot even fathom where the brain and imagination may take you with schedules and school and hospital visits and work and being FT spouses and FT parents etc. All I know is that one day at a time or 5 minutes at a time is where there is some sort of crazy comfort…anything else is overwhelming. You have SOOOO many people praying for Geli, that is clear. However, know that people (me included) are praying for you as a married couple, the parents of 5, who are hopeful and joyful and sad and overwhelmed at times and thankful and all of the billion other emotions attached to your experiences. I see a couple of humility; two people who love the Lord and are walking through this journey with grace. I can definitely see God carrying you even when you cannot bear to take one more step. You are children of the living God who is mighty in power and gives you immeasurable strength. Your courage to walk this journey publically is so appreciated. Your specifics for prayer is definitely a blessing so we know exactly HOW and WHAT to pray for. Just know that collectively you have impacted so many people and you are loved and valued! May God’s richest blessings fall on your family. Give each other grace and understanding… Much love and many hugs from Montana!
Geli,
i am excited to hear all about your visit with your teachers High school!!! whoo hoo!! I hope you get a locker next to your friends and I can’t wait to hear more about it. Are you going to deco it up! what kind of things will you put on the walls? It was so good to see you yesturday you are looking beautiful. Sorry for making you smell my spicy curry soup that made you feel more nausious
Hey Geli
I find it so hard to believe you are in grade 8. First time i met you you were about 2 years old and Merrilyn and I went with you to Queen Elizabeth park for a walk and lunch @ McDonalds. It was just the 3 of us enjoying the sunny day on Friday. your grandma Merr would put nail polish on your cute little fingers and now you are a young woman who can do it herself. Wishing you all the best in your first year at high school. Have fun decorating your own locker. Just wanted to say i am very proud of you. You are an awesome young lady.
love Debra
Hey Geli
I remembered praying to God – is it really worth it fighting against this stupid cancer and go through all the treatments and 4 surgeries just to overcome cancer. Geli it is worth fighting even when you dont feel like going through all this. I am seriously very proud of you for facing this and going through this. One day it will just be a memory of the past. This whole thing does not last forever. Hang in there and there are many people who love you and are praying for you and think you are very special young lady. You are not alone. Your family are standing with you and walking this journey with you.
love you lots
Debra