The first week of consolidation has been easier than induction was. Monday Serenity’s numbers were good and she didn’t need any transfusions. She went under general anesthesia for a lumbar puncture and they put chemotherapy into her spinal fluid. She took a little bit longer than normal to wake up and get back to normal but before long she was feeling pretty good. She is such a happy girl.
We also started her on a new oral chemotherapy medication on Monday, 6MP. She took hardly anything last week, and getting her to take meds again has been a real challenge. She is spitting everything out! We have tried all the tricks. We flavor it, we put it in a syringe, we hold her down, and no matter how well we orchestrate it, she has managed to spit almost everything out (and most of it into Phil’s face!). I have been really worried because it’s so important that she get this medicine, and very important that the dosing is accurate.
Today was a success because Phil added it to an egg he was cooking & she ate the whole egg without complaint. BUT the medicine is supposed to be taken on an empty stomach, and we don’t know if it can be heated like that. So tomorrow we’ll try it with grape flavoring, and hope that it does the trick. (As a result of Serenity getting leukemia, I’ve made a wonderful & thoughtful new friend – nearby even! – who not only brought us dinner Monday night but also gave me some grape flavoring to try. So there are a few silver linings.)
Serenity has been shedding like crazy the past week or two, but between Monday and Wednesday she lost more than half of her hair. I was hoping to hold off on shaving her head until we got our family photos done this weekend, but by Wednesday I conceded that she was looking pretty raggedy and was probably worse off than if we just shaved it. So we did, and I struggled not to cry. She is adorable, but she looks so sick now. And she always had such beautiful long hair for her age.
This was taken in April:
(Yes, ignore the straps of her carseat please. She’s a little Houdini.)
In May, in the hospital:
And yesterday, at Ikea:
(The sticker on her head was her idea. She loves her bald head.) 
You know what, Adria? I honestly think Serenity is just as beautiful bald. And there’s just something so strong about her – she just radiates strength and courage! Years from now when her hair is long and flowing you’ll look back on your family portraits from this weekend and remember the fight with cancer that you ALL had and what a blessing your brave, little Serenity is- and how tough she is because she WON the battle!!! 😀 Thinking of and praying for you all daily!
I love the sticker. Own it girl!
Just wanted to wish you and your family well. She looks well considering all that has happened in the last few months. Let me know more about donating blood. I have never done it but if it could help her I will do it.
Serenity and the rest of your family are always in my thoughts. She looks beautiful with her bald head!
she is just as beautiful, if not more. all the real beauties are unique anyway. she does have a wondwerfully refreshing strength to her and if it were not the case that the only little bald girls you see usually have cancer ~ i would not think she had it. she looks ver healthy and i am sure that she will emerge from it better than ever!
That little girl is beautiful with or without hair and she actually looks like a real stinker bald. Like she can con you into doing anything for her just by wrinkling her eyebrows and smiling at you. LOL.
Still keeping all of you in my thoughts. Big Hugz