End of Chemo Round 4 :: Home!

After 37 long days -- complete with two medicine mix-ups and a mix-up at the pharmacy that resulted in the premature discontinuance of one of Jade's meds -- we're happy to have headed home with our energetic little girl.  We are grateful for this break from the hospital, for this room to breathe and this time together as a family...  I sense a family sleepover coming on...  Jade is scheduled for a bone marrow biopsy on Tuesday; we'll keep you posted.  Thank you all for your continued prayers and support.

Day 18, Chemo Round 4 :: Flashes of Hope

Hemoglobin: 8.1

Platelets: 45
White Blood Cells: 0.68

ANC: 0

Overall, Jade's counts are continuing to trend downward so it looks like we'll likely have a couple of transfusions next week.  But, while we wait for her body and immune system to recover from this round of chemo, we received a professional portrait package from Flashes of Hope, a nonprofit that changes the way children with cancer and other life threatening illnesses see themselves through the gift of photography.

Before Jade was diagnosed, she spent entire days being held -- by me, daddy, Papa Frankie, Grandma, Sata, Pinky, Rev. Reeves -- trying to fight an illness of which we were completely unaware.  Jade's mood during this April photo shoot was slightly reminiscent of those days: she was a little clingy, a little cranky, and still a bit tired from the treatments and would only cooperate in my arms. The truth is that I would hold her all day every day if needed (and if she would let me!), so I'm grateful to Flashes of Hope for capturing these moments with Jade in mommy's arms. Thank you for continuing to keep Jade in your thoughts and prayers.