Just as we thought...no chemo today! Karly's hemoglobin and white blood cells are now at good levels, but her platelets are still not where they need to be. Her platelets did increase which is great, just not enough. The doctor is not sure that she will even be ready on Thursday, if not we will try for Monday, Nov. 16.
We are still trying to work out the issue with the school! I plan on making the homebound teacher tomorrow leave me a copy of the paper I sign every time he comes.
Thank you so much for the prayers for our friend Daniel Porras. When they met with the doctor yesterday the news from last week had been replaced with much better news.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Sunday, November 8, 2009
I just wanted to updated even though there really is not much to update. Karly is feeling fine and she does not go back to the clinic until Tuesday. IF her blood results come back good she will start chemo on Tuesday but if not we will try for Thursday.
For those of you that did not get to see the Seminole Sentinel, Karly was on the front page. The SHS chapter of the National Honor Society, conducted a "servant auction" as a fundraiser for Karly. Twenty-six SHS students and 6 faculty members participated in the auction. We are so blessed to be a part of such a great community! Thank you to all of you who participated in some way, whether it was putting it together, working, buying or being auctioned.
Now....I have to rant a little bit!
After 2 weeks of fighting with Bellaire High School I finally had all the correct papers and was able to enroll Karly in school(at the beginning of the school yr). I was told then that it would probably take 6-8 weeks for them to get the home bound assignment set up, and get a teacher out to Karly. I talked to the school liaison at MDACC about this time period and she said that was normal. She also told me they are trying to get HISD to speed this process up because 6-8 weeks is too long before a child is provided services. I gave the school 4 weeks and then I started calling and emailing them. They finally sent a teacher out 8 weeks after school had started. Needless to say he brought TONS of work. Karly has been working her tail off trying to get it all done. I am talking about work from August until now! Then on Friday, I go to the mailbox and there was a letter from one of the Harris County Justice of the Peace requiring Karly and I to appear before him because Karly has been truant from school! I am so ANGRY! The school makes me jump through hoops, questions her doctors 2 times to make sure she is really sick and then takes 8 weeks to send a teacher out and then they report her TRUANT! Are they kidding me?!?
If they are sending a home bound teacher out don't they know she is not going to be present at the school campus?
For those of you that did not get to see the Seminole Sentinel, Karly was on the front page. The SHS chapter of the National Honor Society, conducted a "servant auction" as a fundraiser for Karly. Twenty-six SHS students and 6 faculty members participated in the auction. We are so blessed to be a part of such a great community! Thank you to all of you who participated in some way, whether it was putting it together, working, buying or being auctioned.
Now....I have to rant a little bit!
After 2 weeks of fighting with Bellaire High School I finally had all the correct papers and was able to enroll Karly in school(at the beginning of the school yr). I was told then that it would probably take 6-8 weeks for them to get the home bound assignment set up, and get a teacher out to Karly. I talked to the school liaison at MDACC about this time period and she said that was normal. She also told me they are trying to get HISD to speed this process up because 6-8 weeks is too long before a child is provided services. I gave the school 4 weeks and then I started calling and emailing them. They finally sent a teacher out 8 weeks after school had started. Needless to say he brought TONS of work. Karly has been working her tail off trying to get it all done. I am talking about work from August until now! Then on Friday, I go to the mailbox and there was a letter from one of the Harris County Justice of the Peace requiring Karly and I to appear before him because Karly has been truant from school! I am so ANGRY! The school makes me jump through hoops, questions her doctors 2 times to make sure she is really sick and then takes 8 weeks to send a teacher out and then they report her TRUANT! Are they kidding me?!?
If they are sending a home bound teacher out don't they know she is not going to be present at the school campus?
Thursday, November 5, 2009
What a day...I have been meaning to update all evening but the shooting at Fort Hood was so heartbreaking and shocking I couldn't focus my mind on typing until now. Pray for all of the families involved. God bless our troops!
Karly's blood counts are very S-L-O-W-L-Y starting to go up. They are still low but she is out of the danger zone with her white blood count and her platelets are also increasing. Dr. Herzog did put her on a prescription to prevent infection just to be on the safe side. It is possible that she could do chemo on Tuesday, November 10 but it will probably be Thursday, November 12. Karly's poor veins need a rest from all the blood draws. She will have 4 full days off because we don't go back until Tuesday.
I know some of you read the story about Daniel Porras from Sudan, Tx that I posted the link to on my previous post. I am asking you to please pray for him and his family. Daniel received some devastating news today and needs prayers. I know we have the most amazing prayer warriors reading this and I ask you to lift him and his family up in prayer. We had an instant connection with Daniel and his family since we are all West Texans.
Please take the time to go donate blood. Not only will it help all these sick kids here but also all the injured at Fort Hood.
Karly's blood counts are very S-L-O-W-L-Y starting to go up. They are still low but she is out of the danger zone with her white blood count and her platelets are also increasing. Dr. Herzog did put her on a prescription to prevent infection just to be on the safe side. It is possible that she could do chemo on Tuesday, November 10 but it will probably be Thursday, November 12. Karly's poor veins need a rest from all the blood draws. She will have 4 full days off because we don't go back until Tuesday.
I know some of you read the story about Daniel Porras from Sudan, Tx that I posted the link to on my previous post. I am asking you to please pray for him and his family. Daniel received some devastating news today and needs prayers. I know we have the most amazing prayer warriors reading this and I ask you to lift him and his family up in prayer. We had an instant connection with Daniel and his family since we are all West Texans.
Please take the time to go donate blood. Not only will it help all these sick kids here but also all the injured at Fort Hood.
Monday, November 2, 2009
KARLY RANG THE BELL TODAY!
I am so excited to report that Karly rang the bell in radiation today to signify that she had completed all 31 treatment. I will post some pictures on her Caringbridge site.
Karly's lab work this morning show her counts were slowly going up, but it does not look like they will be good enough for her to do chemo tomorrow. Her platelet level would have to more than triple over night, I don't see that happening. Hopefully, she will be good to go on Thursday.
Our friends from Sudan were back today. Daniel Porras is the funniest kid! We sat and visited with him and his parents for 2 hours. He is good for the soul. An article about Daniel was published in one of MD Anderson's Publications. I will put the link at the bottom of this and I hope it works so you can go read his story. While we were all visiting the 5 of us were video for a fundraising video that will be used for MD Anderson. West Texas folks are the best, so of course they wanted to video us. :)
http://www.mdanderson.org/publications/conquest/issues/2009-fall/back-to-hamburgers-and-roping-steers-new-treatment-gives-teenager-hope.html
I am so excited to report that Karly rang the bell in radiation today to signify that she had completed all 31 treatment. I will post some pictures on her Caringbridge site.
Karly's lab work this morning show her counts were slowly going up, but it does not look like they will be good enough for her to do chemo tomorrow. Her platelet level would have to more than triple over night, I don't see that happening. Hopefully, she will be good to go on Thursday.
Our friends from Sudan were back today. Daniel Porras is the funniest kid! We sat and visited with him and his parents for 2 hours. He is good for the soul. An article about Daniel was published in one of MD Anderson's Publications. I will put the link at the bottom of this and I hope it works so you can go read his story. While we were all visiting the 5 of us were video for a fundraising video that will be used for MD Anderson. West Texas folks are the best, so of course they wanted to video us. :)
http://www.mdanderson.org/publications/conquest/issues/2009-fall/back-to-hamburgers-and-roping-steers-new-treatment-gives-teenager-hope.html
Sunday, November 1, 2009
I hope everyone had a great Halloween. Karly and I stayed at the apartment since her blood counts have been at dangerous levels. We did go treat little Sarah across the hall. Sarah was so excited to get a big bag of treats. Sarah is a sweet little 6 year old from Oklahoma who had a bone marrow transplant in May to fight off Leukemia. Her mom is back home with her 2 sisters and her dad is here with her. She is a doll!
Friday morning's lab results showed that all of Karly's blood counts had continued to drop even after receiving blood on Thursday. So, she received platelets Friday morning and I have to continue her shots through today. Her poor arms are solid bruises because of her low counts; she has bruises from blood draws, from shots and even from the dang band aids. It is very hard for me to keep giving her shot when her arms are so bruised.
Karly will have repeat lab work done in the morning before her LAST radiation treatment. Her 13th chemo cycle is schedule for Tuesday. Of course, this will all depend on what her blood counts do. This has been a worrisome few days since this is the lowest her levels have ever been.
Some of you have asked how you could donate blood and Karly receive credit for it. Her Aunt Terri donated on Friday and got some information for us for the United Blood Services in Lubbock. You can donate in Karly's name, it's called Credit To Patients. That way Karly gets the credits even though your blood types don't match hers. When you fill out the form check the box CTP and put Karly's name. A weekly report is sent out to all the hospitals, so every hospital knows which patient has credit.
Friday morning's lab results showed that all of Karly's blood counts had continued to drop even after receiving blood on Thursday. So, she received platelets Friday morning and I have to continue her shots through today. Her poor arms are solid bruises because of her low counts; she has bruises from blood draws, from shots and even from the dang band aids. It is very hard for me to keep giving her shot when her arms are so bruised.
Karly will have repeat lab work done in the morning before her LAST radiation treatment. Her 13th chemo cycle is schedule for Tuesday. Of course, this will all depend on what her blood counts do. This has been a worrisome few days since this is the lowest her levels have ever been.
Some of you have asked how you could donate blood and Karly receive credit for it. Her Aunt Terri donated on Friday and got some information for us for the United Blood Services in Lubbock. You can donate in Karly's name, it's called Credit To Patients. That way Karly gets the credits even though your blood types don't match hers. When you fill out the form check the box CTP and put Karly's name. A weekly report is sent out to all the hospitals, so every hospital knows which patient has credit.
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