Monday, Dec. 17, 2007

WE'RE DONE!!!

Or, as Hannah puts it, she is done (you're not the one with cancer mom). Everyone loved the sweatshirt, and she was so happy to let everyone sign it, front and back. Here are Rob, and Antonelle, both signing.

Hannah also had fun passing out all of the potholders she had made. We should say thank you to Colby too for all of her help. The fun lasted up until the time it came to access her. I hope this is the last one for a very long time. Her counts were down quite a bit, but still adequate. We will return to clinic on Monday, Christmas Eve, to be sure she doesn't need a transfusion or the daily shots again, let's hope not. That would be another great Christmas gift.

Hannah was pretty angry that she had to stay accessed today. She hates to come home with the needle in, since it's very uncomfortable, and she doesn't sleep well with it in. She won't use her left hand and keeps her left arm in a bent position while she is accessed. Tomorrow we go back for a full brain and spine MRI, and she needs dye for contrast, so they will use her port for that since she is accessed. We should have those results on Wednesday. There should be no reason to expect that they would be anything but good again, but of course the PMS (pre MRI syndrome) is setting in again tonight. After the MRI we will go back over to clinic so they can deaccess her and she can have the use of her arm back.

The NY Islanders were visiting the hospital today for their annual holiday visit. At first Hannah did not want to see them, since it was time to leave, and she was crying that she was too tired. That was fine, but at the last minute she changed her mind. We met #89 Mike Comrie, #13 Bill Guerin (team captain) and #8 Bruno Gervais. There were two other players there also whom we didn't get to talk to, and a herd of reporters and cameramen. Bruno was especially nice, and spent a bit of time talking to Hannah. He gave her a game (Operation, which she LOVES) and a really nice Islander blanket also. This was perfect timing, and really cheered her up.

I would like to announce that now that chemo is over a big weight has been lifted, we are so happy, life is "normal" again. It's very strange, maybe it just hasn't sunk in yet since we are still in the midst of all of this. I think once her counts start to stabilize, and the appointments start to get further and further apart, maybe it will feel differently. In truth, this is never over. This is another hurdle that Hannah has conquered. It's a big one and it feels good.

xoxo Kim