Chemo-----night 4

Well, Morgan has made it to night four of five. She is hanging in there. The redness on her face only appears during the Etoposide portion of the chemo. I am glad we solved that mystery. She feels terrible but that's what these drugs do. They are ugly but hopefully they will get the job done.

She is managing to keep all her food down and her appetite is good thanks to the Dexamethasone. It is one of the four anti-nausea drugs she takes but it is also a steroid. Her blood counts were good. I was worried that her platelets would be down already but they were still in the normal range.

She is ready to go home and I don't blame her. We are both looking forward to sleeping in our own bed!

So far, So good

Morgan's first night of chemo went according to plan. She was loaded up with anti-nausea medicine to help with the side effects. She rested on and off during the treatment until it ended at 2:15 am. After that she slept for most of the morning. Her face has been very red and the doctors aren't sure why. It could be a side effect of the anti-nausea meds.
Her next treatment began about 20 minutes ago. Hopefully, it will go as smoothly as last night.
Morgan has been a bit irritable today. I know that most of it has to do with the meds. and the fact that being stuck in this room is boring. Overall, she handles it quite well. Even when we do manage to get out of the room and stroll around the hall it is heartbreaking to see these babies and toddlers fighting their own battle with cancer. It is moments like that that I look to God. We must all remember that HE is sovereign and in control.
I am currently reading Kay Arthur's book AS SILVER REFINED and today I read something that touched me and I would like to share it with you: she says, "The situation, whatever its shape or form, is designed to MAKE you, not to destroy you. It has been permitted by God to mold you into the image of His Son rather than disfigure you for life. "
God has a plan for Morgan........and a plan for you and me too.

Round 2

Greetings from Children's Hospital. As I mentioned in a previous blog, Morgan had some pending test results. Unfortunately, the CT Scan revealed yet another new lung nodule. This is very small and in the left lung. After a lengthy meeting with Morgan's oncologist the decision was made to proceed with more chemotherapy.

Today Morgan went into surgery to have another port placed. We had surgeon Dr. Maria Alonzo. She used the previous port site for the new port thus avoiding a new scar for Morgan's chest. Morgan did great and is now recovering on the oncology floor. The plan is to begin chemo tonight or in the morning depending on how well Morgan is doing.

Morgan's chemo drugs this time are Ifosfamide and Etoposide. She will receive the chemo for 5 hours a day for 5 days. On day 6 she will receive fluids to help with hydration and if all is well she will be able to go home. She will be home for two weeks and then back for another treatment. The current plan is to do this until November.

Please pray that Morgan will tolerate all these drugs and that side effects will be minimal.

I will update again in a day or two to let you know how the chemo is going. Love, Reena

Big Brother turns 18---oh my

Morgan has had an exciting week. Kristen has spent the night for the last two Friday nights, Papaw Hugh came up from TN and David celebrated his 18th birthday. Papaw's birthday was last Sunday and David's was last Wednesday so that called for a celebration dinner at P.F. Changs. We ate too much and had a great time.

Morgan is feeling great. Her arm strength is amazing and I believe it has gotten a little bit straighter. Her elbow contraction annoys her more than anything else. But, I do think it is improving.

She has a series of doctor appointments coming up this week. We will be at Children's Hospital most of the day on Thursday for tests. I'll update with results next week.

2Tim 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.

Home at last

Morgan is home---finally. She is feeling so much better since getting that tube removed from her chest.

Her dog Max was happy to see her. He is his feisty self again :-)

Pathology Results

Morgan's pathology results revealed the nodule was osteosarcoma. Although this was not the outcome we had hoped for, the silver lining is that it was completely removed and Morgan is considered cancer free and will not need chemotherapy. She is handling the news well. Sometimes she is wise beyond her years. She is definitely my strength in times like this.

She was a bit restless this morning but thankfully her buddy Kristen and her parents came down for a visit. David and Jonathan also came to see her and this helped to make her afternoon a pleasant one.

She is looking forward to going home Monday morning if not tomorrow night.

Psa 31:7
I will rejoice and be glad in Your lovingkindness, Because You have seen my affliction; You have known the troubles of my soul,

Update

Morgan's lung nodule removal yesterday went as planned. The nodule was sent to pathology. However, today July 3 is a holiday at the hospital.......so we will not get results until tomorrow afternoon. So the wait continues.
Morgan has a lung drainage tube that will hopefully be removed this afternoon and if all goes according to plan she will be discharged this evening. She is on lots of pain meds to help keep her "comfortable" but I know once that tube is out she will feel a lot better.
Please continue to pray that the nodule is benign.
I will update with results as soon as I get them..........love to you all.