April 2015 – Page 5

Team Danielle!

Today is day three of chemo, Danny is doing great but is starting to have some side effects. She has lost a lot of her appetite and feels pretty sick every time she tries to walk. Her spirits are still really high and she’s acting like her normal goofy self.

But today we decided to make some bracelets with some beads we got from Kelli.

Danielle was happy to watch me make the bracelets while she laid back, trying to make the nausea go away.

But after awhile she couldn’t resist the arts and crafts and had to start coloring!

She started making a poster for the door so all the kids can start to get to know her. It seems like it’s starting to set in for her that this will be her life for awhile and she needs to make the best of it. Mom talked with her and encouraged her to make some friends while she’s here so the time still go by faster and so she has someone who understands exactly what she’s going through.

Parents seem to be doing well and are also settling in to their new environment.

Send positive vibes everyone!!

Danielle the Artist

The journey ahead is not going to be an easy one; for Danielle and for the family. Everyone is keeping high spirits and staying positive which is perfect for Danielle. She’s not one to like being the center of attention or have a bunch of doctors poke at her every two hours. But we all keep smiling and doing our best to make her smile.

Yesterday, before her spinal tap, the little artist create some fun animals with play doh. It’s so incredible how creative she is and how much she loves art. There are artist at the hospital who saw one of her drawings and heard about how much she loves are and are very eager to meet Danielle and see her create masterpieces.

All over her little creations — All of her little creations

After she got back from the spinal tap and the first round of chemo, she was right back to making more animals. She’s so tough is unbelievable.

Little foggy after waking up from the anesthesia.

Day 2

We think she’s a little constipated this morning, so we’re working to get her moving again. Talking about poop and pee is very normal around here, they track all that goes in and comes out. They say that with her sleeping through the first chemo – it was a really good sign, so I hope it continues.

Next chemo is at 8pm tonight.

Getting ready for the long road ahead

They are doing a PICC line (to pull blood and give IV in one port) and a spinal tap today, so Danielle is starving again. At least it’s at 1pm, so she’s done by 2 and ready for food.

The food doesn’t get delivered till 3:30 but it’s the best mac & cheese ever!!

With the spinal tap they take out some fluid for testing, then add the first chemo treatment directly into her spine.

Thank-you Morgan for all the help!!

9pm we start the first of ten chemo treatments, lots of strong chemicals are slowly being dripped into our childs blood stream.

We are NOT looking forward to this, I’ve been told that if the chemo was to drip on your skin it would burn-and this is going straight into my child’s blood stream! She will in turn pee it out, with the dead cells that it attacks. I guess it will change the pee color too… Hmmm, that she may find interesting! Most assuredly the blue chemo!

I’m scared…

Dad