Category: Serenity

We are in the final phase of treatment for ALL and it is so hard for me to believe. Maintenance lasts approximately 2 years and she will be getting daily chemotherapy for all of that time. But here we are at the point that I could not even imagine 6 months ago.

Last week Serenity had another lumbar puncture where she went under anesthesia and had methotrexate injected into her spinal column. She did well and woke up quickly. At the time her ANC and platelets were high, and her hematocrit was bordering on low but not quite low enough to transfuse. (I think it was in the low 30’s, if I remember correctly.) The doctor said that with the drugs she is on they usually don’t see the kids’ numbers crash like they do during Delayed Intensification. However, Serenity will need a CBC in another week so that we know whether her hematocrit has dropped, and if so she will have another transfusion.

If things go well we only have to go to the clinic once a month now! This is wonderful because for the most part we have been going once a week (or more) and a clinic visit is an all day excursion.

She is taking 6MP again every day, dexamethasone (steroid) for 5 days out of the month, and gets oral methotrexate once a week except for during the week that she will get it in her spine. This cycle repeats over and over throughout maintenance.

Serenity is doing well. She is walking again, albeit slowly and carefully. She has stopped throwing up and only needs Zofran on some days. Her eyelashes and eyebrows are just starting to grow back in. She has lost some weight, but not too much. She hasn’t complained about any pain for several days now. She has been running a low fever today, so we are just praying we don’t end up in the hospital over the holidays.

I am nervous about taking her out all day tomorrow and having her around a lot of family members. I know that I don’t have to worry most likely. Her ANC was very good (for a cancer kid) when she had her blood draw last week. But the last time we did a big thing with extended family she ended up in the hospital that night and we stayed for over a week. So yes, I am a little anxious.

We came home on Wednesday. Things are going well. There have been a few minor fevers and she threw up all over the car today. We have her on IV fluids at night. I just wish I could figure out why she is so sick, and help her to get better.

It is nice to be home.

Serenity has been tagged by Mollie. Here are 7 things that you might not know about her.

1. My parents always intended to name me Zion. When my mom went into labor and she & my dad still disagreed about whether to spell it with an X or a Z, they started looking at other names. If I’d been born on July 4th I would have been named Liberty. Instead I was born on July 6th and they chose Serenity Margaret. Margaret was my great grandmother’s name and my grandmother’s middle name. I’ve lived up to the name Serenity. 🙂

2. I was born at home in the water, and weighed 9 lbs 11 oz.

3. I have 4 older sisters and 3 older brothers. My 3 yr old brother and sister (twins) refer to me as Baby.

4. My parents give me a few sips of Pepsi or Mountain Dew after I take my medicine. My mom feels a little guilty, but it’s the only thing that convinced me to cooperate with taking my medicine, and what’s a little caffeinated soda when you take chemotherapy every day?

5. My favorite candy is peanut butter M&Ms.

6. I have a cute little birthmark on my elbow.

7. I often put a blanket over my head and tell everyone I’m gone. I get a big kick out of watching them look for me. I also love to pretend that I’m a bear.

I’m tagging anyone who is reading this, but especially Brinley.