The Walk

The Children's Leukemia Foundation walk was last Saturday at Kensington Park. Thank you to everyone who came to walk, show support or donate. The turnout was great and although Angelina was not physically there (Nick stayed home with her), she was everywhere in sight. Her image was on so many pink shirts that many team members wore, it was if she was there. By far, team 'lovelina' was the biggest.
Angelina's immunity numbers have been low this past month, therefore, she has received just one round of chemo. She has new hair growth (her hair thinned out, but enough remained to cover her head in full) and itchy patches are all over her scalp.
Angelina has a follow-up MRI next Friday to check out the eye area and how it's healing. It looks great on the outside.
Thanks again everyone for your support, love and prayers. After the weekend, I'm hoping to post some recent and fun images of Angelina.

Isabella's Communion

My oldest daughter made her First Holy Communion over the weekend. I can't believe I have a child old enough for the sacrament, but one look in the mirror reminds me that it's more than possible.
It was a great party afterwards because the weather was magnificent. Here are a few pics of Dave, Isabella and myself, the other image is Isabella and her godparents, Tammy and Nick (Angelina was home with her great aunt Denise and her (grandma) sito and we were so grateful they came), another is Isabella and her little sisters and the the other is Isabella and her grandparents. I've also posted a few from the studio I took. Isabella managed to get chocolate all over the front of her dress, so I'm glad we got the studio shots out of the way before the communion. Her dress is at the cleaners and my fingers are crossed that the big stains come out because she wears it for the May crowning mass this Friday in celebration with her fellow classmates of the sacrament they received.

Sunday night

I hung out Sunday night with Tammy, Nick and the kids. I've left a camera there and TRY to remember to bring a flash card everytime I stop by, and this time, I remembered. I took basic snapshots of all of them interacting and here are just a few. As you can see, all of them look well rested and happy. It's a complete 180 from one month ago.

As you can see, Nick buzzed his head for Angelina twice now. And from the looks of it, Angelina may be keeping hers after all. I snuck up on Nick after he went to bed, and his sense of humor seems to go 24/7, go figure.

Leukemia Walk

Date: Saturday, May 30, 2009
Time: 10:00am - 5:00pm
Location: Kensington Metropark
City/Town: Milford, MI



The Walk - Kensington
Join hundreds of other walkers in the third annual "The Walk - Kensington" to benefit Children's Leukemia Foundation of Michigan. More than raising money, you will be raising hope for all the Michigan families facing the challenges of leukemia, lymphoma and related blood disorders.

Walk as an individual or team up with four or more friends or family members. No matter which you choose, join us and walk, so no one has to face their battle alone.

Event sponsors to date: Buffalo Wild Wings.

Please join us in our efforts to raise funds for Children's Leukemia Foundation of Michigan (CLF). This independent foundation supports families in Michigan who are battling leukemia, lymphone or one of the other blood-related cancers by providing information, personalized casework, financial assistance and emotional support. Leukemia is the number 1 disease killer for children. No amount donated is too small and every little helps. This is not something that affects one person; it targets an entire family, friends and a community. Please join our fight to overcome this childhood disease! Thank you all for your generosity and God Bless You - especially our little Angelina!
PLEASE VISIT THE WEBSITE TO MAKE A PLEDGE

http://www.leukemiamichigan.org/Fundraising/View_Team_Page.aspx

It's official!

Angelina is in remission officially! Yeah and Praise the Lord! Tammy and Nick got the call later this afternoon and not one leukemic cell was found on the molecular level (an intense scan, x1000, than the microscope used to view the cells after Angelina's spinal tap and bone marrow aspirations). They have a sitdown scheduled for tomorrow with the doctor to discuss the next phase which will last four to five months. Phase three will be discussed when the next phase is complete.

The doctor has mentioned she may be one of the few who do not lose their hair during the chemo process. She has definitely lost hair, it's thinner than it was, but next week should be the determination. I bought her a cute hat, and whether or not she loses her hair, she can wear it this spring.

I stopped at Tammy and Nick's house yesterday to say hi, and got to see Angelina. Tammy went out to see Dave and the kids in the car (we're trying to keep the kids away from Angelina until her immune system can fight germs), and she was a having a small 'roid' tantrum. I couldn't resist picking her up (only the Lord knows how much I have not picked her up against my natural urge since she got home from the hospital). She was precious, and even though she has gained a few pounds from the steroids, she felt lighter than she looks. I showed Ryan the pics on the LCD screen later and he was just a tad jealous.

Thank you everyone, and most of all, thank you God.

UNOFFICIAL REMISSION

Angelina is in unofficial remission as of today. We'll find out on Monday for sure after a molecular 'scan' is done. She's got a really round belly and cheeks you want to pinch from the weight gain due to the steroids, but if all goes well and remission is confirmed, the 'roids' dosage will severly decrease. It has affected her moods greatly - not a very happy baby to say the least, but food and Barney help.

Tammy is getting better and her spirits are slowly lifting. I just got back from her house and she helped me put together my brother, Ryan and new SIL, Jamie's, wedding proof album. I didn't get a chance to put that in my blog because everything with Angelina happened so fast, but they got married on March 7th. It was a really ugly day out, but you'd never know it by the 'glorious' mood everyone was in that day. My niece, Hannah, looked stunning that day, right?!?

If you get a chance, visit www.carepages.com/carepages/lovelina. It's a page that was setup for Tammy and Nick to post Angelina's progress for anyone who'd like to see and feel free to leave them a message. Both of them check it daily, and thanks to today's technology, it has been a great assest for this process.

Finally, thank you to everyone for your prayers, well wishes and generousity. It's been overwhelming - the outpour of good wishes and expressions you have made for my beautiful niece, twin and BIL. There are so many angels here on earth. And my sincere apologizes to all my clients whom I have messed up orders and times (yes, you know who you are *Lisa*). All of you have been too easy on me, but I am eternally gratefully for your forgiveness.

The first two pics of Angelina are from 2.5 weeks ago and the third was from last week, Tammy and my birthday, April 1st. Can you guess who's wedding pics are posted??? I finally got them done this weekend. Crazy.

Monday

I went with Tammy and Angelina to the chemo clinic at the hospital yesterday morning. We were there by 7:30 in the morning. Angelina couldn't eat or drink because she was scheduled for another spinal tap if her blood numbers came back good. By 11am, Angelina was prepped for her spinal.

We're waiting on the results, but in the meantime, her doctor gave her chemo through the spine after the tap. Her first spinal, March 13th, was clear and indicated it wasn't in the Central Nervous System. The doctor monitors the fluid during the first phase through four draws to ensure it's not lingering somewhere in the CNS. Again, please keep her in your prayers, and that the results come back clear.

She was given the chemo in the spine because she was scheduled to have it anyway, but as an agressive measure, in case her spinal fluid contains Leukemic cells, the direct chemo is meant to help quicker.

On a sidenote, it's a rude awakening to be at the hospital on the oncology floor. What you see can eat you alive if you let it. It takes really special people to work in that field, and the volunteers at the hospital are definitely 'chosen ones.' I saw a baby, didn't look more than five months old, go in for his vitals and bloodwork. When you're on that floor, checking in to the clinic, it means only one thing. You'd think you'd need to be made of steel to work there, but then again, the people are so warm, receptive, and kind - it's impossible to say they are not human.

Angelina is eating more because of the steroids. She was packing it in yesterday, both in the car and at home. She feel asleep in the car for a couple of minutes (seriously), and woke back up to eat her chips again. It was as if she was so hungry and so tired, but her stomach won her over. She was going to town when she got home and ate while watching Barney. It didn't take long for her eyes to darken up after the chemo, but she was still smiling and laughing like her typical self.

BTW, the swelling in her eye has gone down, her eye is back in position. Amazing how fast the bone surrounding her eye healed, and it sure looks promising the chemo is working.

Praise the Lord.

Thank you for reading, praying and please continue to pray for Angelina, Tammy, Nick, Marissa and Rocco.

The pic is six months old, but I couldn't resist. It's one of my Angelina favorites.