renewed hope

March 2012


March 2013

Last Easter our egg hunt was in the hospital and Emily was so sick she couldn't walk or stand up from sitting without help. Today she has an egg hunt with her Kindergarten class and she was hopping around class when I left her. Easter seems an appropriate time for good news, we have a renewed sence of hope.

Emily's white blood cell count dropped to 16, still elevated, but finally coming down instead of moving between high (20) and high high (30+) (labeled HH on the results). To give you some perspective on what that means; normal levels are 10, 16-18 means you're sick with a virus or infection, 20+ for prolonged periods means something is seriously wrong and 30+ is when they start looking for cancer.

We aren't weaning steroids until we get lower, but moving in the right direction and our next infusion is Monday.  The rash has popped up a couple of times this week, but it's been very short lived and Emily seems to be more active than ever since her onset so today we have reason to be optimistic. 

I won't even say remission yet, but I could see us getting off steroids by next year and then maybe once we get to that point infusions will not be so frequent.  We will still take it a day at a time, but we have reason to be hopeful this Easter and we thank our Heavenly Father for this second chance for our daughter.