Today was a great day. Emily's heart rate is down at a very nice rate. She hasn't had to take any pain medication all day. And she was able to get out of bed. They did a follow up Echo on her heart to check the fluid around it. It's still there no change there.
Today we also told Emily she has Lymphoma. It was a hard discussion, but they have age appropriate visual aids to help explain. She was most upset when we told her that she is going to loose her hair for a while. I think it's just setting in and she will talk more about it over the next few days.
Chemo continues, Emily isn't a fan of the oral medications, but many can also be given in her PICC line (IV).
We continue to receive so much support from our friends and family. I am sure we have not had to think about food, we have more than we know what to do with. And all the stories people are sharing about beating Cancer really helps Tracy and I have the energy to hang in there. We again want to thank everyone, you really don't know how helpful it is.
Em's new hair
Happiness is a new head of thick hair.
Buddies
Dec the Halls
Emily decorating tree at Festival of Lights
Emily, Tracy, and Haley at Intuit's Winter Wonderland for kids.
Gingerbread House
Tracy and Emily at a Brownie Event
Really, we're in Hawaii.
Emily and Haley with Santa
Don't worry Haley he's nice.
Emily 1 day before Phase 4
Does anything beat Chocolate Cake?
Emily at AT&T Park
The Giants "Good luck charm"
Sunset at Tahoe
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Sisters at Tahoe Vista Beach
It doesn't get better than sisters spending time at the Lake
Thanks to Lori Smith, Emily's teacher, who participated in Relay for Life in Emily's honor.
Chris, Em, and Haley in SF
Emily Easter 2008
Happy Easter
Em in her hospital bed
24 comments:
Emily, you are in our hearts and thoughts every day. You are an amazing 6 year old! Sending big hugs your way. Love The Buffs on the East Coast.
Hey Em, we are thinking about you all the time. Keep up the feistiness! It's good to have a lot of spunk. Laugh when you can, too. We're going to keep visiting with hugs and anything else you all may need. xxoo, Lyn, Mike, Sophia, & Trevor
Emily, you are in our prayers, and know your friends in TX are here for you. Love Will, Cynthia, Max and Henry.
Hi Emily! What a joyful girl you are! Lots of people pull'n for you!
Peter Tobias
Chris – what awful and devastating news. I’m trying to figure out what the right things to say are, so here goes.
First, obviously you can be glad that you caught the acute problems when you did, during the day, and there was a doctor telling you to go NOW! Second, for the long-term treatment, Lucille Packard is arguably the best place in the world to attack this kind of problem, and you’re very fortunate to live nearby (and what luck that Tracy works more or less right there). Third, these days, Lymphoma is generally beatable. You’re lucky it’s 2008 and not the 1970’s when we were Emily’s age.
For the past several years, I’ve donated to the Team in Training. My former manager at PayCycle likes to punish her body to advance medical science. This year, I’ll donate in Emily’s name – I just emailed her to do that.
In the ‘good news stories’ department, my father-in-law successfully battled Leukemia for decades, and made it all the way to 82, when his propensity for fast cars and booze did him in. Well, actually it was just old age. Also, one of our good friends was diagnosed with a nasty form of breast cancer just in time, and she had both breasts removed, radiological and chemotherapy, lymph nodes removed, and reconstructive surgery. She’s on the other side of all that, cancer-free, and thriving.
Please let me know if I can be of any assistance around Lucille Packard/Stanford, as we live nearby.
Tim Phillips
Em,
I love the name of your blog, keep smiling and next time I am in town your gonna have to make me some of your famous "Pepper soup". :-)
Big hugs from the Leary's
Chris,
Hang in there bud, Alicia and Benjamin and I are all rooting for Em. That photo of her in her hospital bed is all about courage. Let me know if we can help in any way.
- Paul Singh
Hi Emily,
Im Hitesh Shetty from India.
Remembering you and all your family members in our prayers.
-Hitesh Shetty
Chris,
Ray and I are stunned by the news and so grateful for Emily's informative and helpful blog.
If you ever need an extra "grandma" to come help with Haley or anything else that needs to be done, don't hesitate to contact me. I'm retired so my life is free to do whatever would make things easier for people I love.
Linda (Linda_Curry@mac.com)
Chris,
Sorry to hear the sad news. Although, it's a long battle, Emily is a fighter and I'm sure she will win it. Please let me know if I can help in any way.
Gordon Jung
Chris,
Yelena and I are very saddened by the news, but glad to hear the problem was caught in time. Now Emily has a great fighting chance - and from what we read she is a fighter. We will be rooting for her.
We would be happy to bring our dog Dante around for a visit to Emily, if she likes dogs. He is not a perfect entretainer, but a few buisquits might do the trick. Please do not hesitate to let us know how we can help. Are thoughts are with your family.
~Gene and Yelena
I love your jammies Emily! I hope you're having a good day today.
~AnnMarie Dean
Emily,
I have loved getting to know you as a social studies student of mine. We miss you dearly here at Country Lane. My prayers and happy thoughts are with you! We'll be waiting for you to come back!
Please let me know how I can help you and your family.
Mrs. Sienknecht
first grade
I just wanted to share this little story I just heard from Emily's daddy: Emily and her grandma were making an art project today where they were building a sheep. Grandma said, "Emily, that must be a smart sheep," and Emily smiled and said, "Yep, it's a smart sheep because it was made by me." She's having a great day today and our confident, smart little girl is back. :-)
Hi Emily, Tracy and Chris.
This is Hina's family from Chicago!
We used to live close by and went to the same kindergarten class together.
We are happy to see you smile again on this blog's photo.
We will always think about you and your family.
We are praying for you from Chicago!
Hina,Dai,Yu,Yukiko and Yasuo Takahashi
Emily,
It warms my heart to see your smiley face ...I am so grateful that you are feeling better....we miss you at Country Lane and look forward to your speedy return...Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Spencer told me they are coming to visit you this afternoon...you keep smiling and stay strong.
I will be adding you and your family to my prayers everynight.
Mrs. Breit
We are sending you BIG hugs and happy thoughts. You are amazing! What a smile! Hang in there, beautiful. We'll see you on the block soon, okay? Love and hugs! Ken, Keiji, Jane and Kevin - The Matsumotos from down the street :)
Hi Peppers -
Thanks for keeping this going - such a great way for us to connect with you - because you must know you are on our minds constantly.
Please tell Emily we anxious to say hello and have some fun things to drop by.
We are rooting for you and hold you in our hearts non-stop!
xoxoxoxxox - John, Jess, Allie, Emma and Spencer
Arthur and I send our love to you, Emily. As soon as I'm done with this lingering cough, I'm headed over there to come see you.
You are a trooper, and we love you!
Kim and Arthur
Hello Emily,
We have never met, but I am really good friends with your uncle Nick. I have heard so many wonderful stories about you! I wanted to let you know that my husband Coby and I are both thinking of you and sending you lots of love and good vibes from Los Angeles. LIke you, Coby was diagnosed with Cancer completely out of the blue. He is now a year out of treatment and totally healthy! Be strong and keep fighting!
Love, Ever
Emily,
We are saying many many prayers for you and your family! Keep smiling that beautiful smile!
Love Todd, Tanya, Trevor, Brandon, Jaden, and Alyssa Morgan
Emily,
Hello from Country Lane! I miss seeing your beautiful smile at school. I hear that you are being very brave, just like a true Country Lane Colt. Get Well Soon!
Love and BIG HUGS!
Mrs. Taylor
(Ethan's mom)
4th and 5th grade
Country Lane
To my dearest granddaughter Emily -
Grampa & I are so very proud of you. You are the best! I love seeing all the pictures of you with your friends on the blog and especially the picture I took of you sitting up in your hospital bed with that big Emily smile we love so much. I noticed in one of the pictures that the toy you named "Guard Protector Monkey" is still on the job wrapped around the bed rail, and I'm sure "Super Piggy" is there to protect you too.
Take care and keep being our special Emily. We'll be back on Tuesday to see you. Love you bunches.
Love, Grannie & Grampa
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