Category: Serenity

Be the Match Marrowthon

Many years ago when my mom was diagnosed with multiple myeloma I decided to register as a bone marrow donor. There is a $52 fee for the testing kit, and each time I thought about donating I put it off a little bit longer. Years have gone by and I still haven’t been tested.

The National Bone Marrow Registry has set a goal of 46,000 new members. Until June 22, or until that goal is met, you can register as a bone marrow donor for free. (A donor is covering the testing kit fee.)

I’ve registered already, and I hope that you will consider too. I hope that Serenity will never need a bone marrow donation, but it is a very real possibility, and finding a match isn’t always easy. The test just requires you swab the inside of your mouth, and then mail the swab back for testing.

Please think about becoming a bone marrow donor at http://marrow.org

A Day in the Life of a Cancer Kid at the Clinic

This Saturday is Serenity’s 1 year survival anniversary! I’m planning on doing a couple special posts for that day.

For her last clinic visit of her 1st year (which was last week) we took tons of pictures of her going through the Clinic process. Keep in mind that last year when she first started going everything was horrible and it was nearly impossible to get her to do anything. Now she goes through the routine pretty much on her own! We’re so happy for her for how well she’s doing! We know it could be much worse (as it is with some of our good friends we’ve made since being diagnosed) for her and we’re very grateful that we haven’t had major issues – not sure how we’ve gotten by without any MAJOR hitches so far.

So, with no further adieu and without anymore waiting:

Crashing out on the hour drive to the Hospital.

In front of the hospital with Mom

Outside the Hemo-Onc Clinic door

Making crafts while we wait for our room (they have several GREAT volunteers that sit in the waiting room and entertain the kids)

Starting the check-in guantlet run – getting measured…

Getting weighed….

Blood Pressure….

Picking out a toy…

Finally in our room! Now the fun begins…

Getting stickers made from her admin bracelet – since day one she has always had them make her extra stickers, she puts them on her shirt.

Getting prepped for port access…

Accessed, getting blood draws…

Getting chemo through her port…

Her AWESOME Oncologist, Dr. Fluchel comes to visit and do her checkup.

Then it’s downstairs to the RTU to visit her favorite Nurse, Dahlia, who always showers her with stickers, toys, tattoos and whatever else she can find – we LOVE Dahlia!

Waking up from anesthesia and having a Lumbar Puncture done…. NOT fun.

Pretty much recovered thanks to the help of Cheetos and Gatorade! Now it’s time to go home after a 5 hour day at the hospital!

She checked out great at her visit, excellent blood counts and growing well!

Cute little one

Serenity is so cute lately. She says the funniest things. The other day we were outside and it was cold, and I said that my nose was cold. My 4 year old said that her arms were cold. And Serenity stated that her elbows were cold. She had a jacket on, and it just seemed so funny.

And the other day I had the door shut. She came in the room, angry that the door had been shut, and wanted to know why I’d shut it. I said, “Because I don’t want everybody coming in the room right now.” She said, “Not everybody! Just one person! Just Serenity Burns!” When she says her name it sounds like “Retty”. She loves her name and goes around saying it all day long, reminding us that she is “Retty Burns”.

We have a clinic visit on Thursday. I expect it will be quick and routine. She has been complaining that her legs hurt the past few days. Also one eye looks pink, I’m not sure why and she hasn’t complained about it.

She balances being ridiculously adorable with throwing ridiculously frustrating tantrums several times a week. Or in the case of days like today, several times a day. But her cuteness makes up for it.

Apologies!

I am so sorry to leave everyone hanging. Things have been crazy-busy, but Serenity has been ok. We ended up moving suddenly & I got consumed with packing & house hunting & forgot to update the blog.

Last week we had a clinic visit & things were uneventful. She had a lumbar puncture & received her IV Vincristine. Her ANC was only 700 (they like it to be at least 1000), but she has not been sick. She will have another blood draw this week to check her numbers.

She is finishing up her monthly 5 day pulse of dexamethasone, but it hasn’t been too bad having her on steroids. She has grown a inch since last month but her weight is still the same.

She’s particularly adorable these days so I will try and get some photos up.