Christmas Pictures!

Santa's got some presents to deliver!








Oops! Here's a peek at Kim's central line dressing (which she had to keep on for as long as the line is in her chest. It gets replaced about once a week.) But isn't she so beautiful? She doesn't look sick at all!


I just loved this wrapping job :)


Kim's favorite present was a flashlight from Dad- Finally, she's a real Nelson!









Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

First off, I just want to thank all of you for the wonderful thoughts and wishes you have been sending our way... and most especially, the prayers. This is one of only two times in my life I have so drastically been able to feel the prayers of others, and it's an incredible feeling; thank you!

Today was a wonderful day with Kim. For all that she's now had four days of intense Chemo pumping into her, she's doing really great- better than she has since she got here. It's all relative, of course- she took a lot of naps and spent most of the day in bed, but she wasn't in much pain, and she still hasn't thrown up yet.

So, today was Christmas. The highlight of our day was the fantastic phone call we had with our Missionary. It's the first time we've been able to talk with him since he found out about Kim's relapse. It's been so rough for him, but his testimony, and belief in Kim, have kept him strong. Although I know he was looking forward to coming home to a healthy sister, it is going to be neat for him to be able to participate in the whole hospital adventure that cancer is. Right now, were're starting bets as to who will be home first- Mike, or Kim!

After our call from him, we opened lots of wonderful presents. Not just the ones that Dad brought in his Santa pack from home, but also a whole bundle that wonderful people here at the hospital, and at the Ronald McDonald house have been sending our way. There are so many kind people here that help us to feel cheerful.

I hope all of you have had a wonderful Christmas. Thanks, and lots of love,

Emily

Merry Christmas! (Almost!)

Kimhas been doing well again today. She's been very tired, but not in too much pain, and has been able to avoid the Putrid Pink Puking Pail as of yet (I just made that up- she usually uses those pink hospital buckets when she needs to be sick).

We learned a little more about the bone marrow transplant today. Apparently, even donors that are already in the registry take three months to process, and that's just too long for what Kim needs. (The testing and harvesting time frame). She needs to be starting her transplant within a month or so. However, there is another place that the bond marrow stem cells can be harvested from- the umbilical cord donation bank. It's really a very neat process that I will go into later. These cells can be defrosted and ready to go within that month she needs. Again, we should know next week what they find out.

Kim has two more days of chemo, and then the wait for all of her counts to drop. Until then- Christmas! Dad got here today with a bundle of presents from our tree at home, and tonight we played Sorry and read Christmas stories. Tomorrow we are looking forward to talking with Mike, who will be calling at 10:00.

I really will get a few pictures up soon. Thank you all again, as always.

Love, Emily

Dec 23- Update and Plans for the Future

Hi Everyone, I am finally writing again. Sorry I've been a little short the past day or two.

Kim is doing better today than she was yesterday. Her blood pressure is better now, as they have been giving her a ton of fluids. So they aren't considering sending her to PICU anymore. Thank goodness!

She has been on chemo for the past two days now. So far, it isn't bothering her too much. She's had a fever, and is still in a lot of pain from her bone marrow test and the placement of her new central line, but as I said, it's better today.

As you know, Kim is going to have to have a bone marrow transplant this time. It is very important that they do it as soon as possible, as when the cancer comes back like this a second time, it is always stronger. There is a chance that it could come back even stronger after this first round of chemo, so they are going to go strait into her transplant as soon as the medicine wipes out her leukemia. They are searching the database now for the best match for her. We should know more about results within another week or so.

For those of you who have been asking about being tested as a possible donor, it is true that they will probably find a match already in the system, before there would be time to get any of you processed. However, if you would like to join the registry, either to possibly be a donor for some other patient in the future, or just in case they are not able to find a match for Kim right away, you can visit the website www.marrow.org to request a testing kit. It's usually $50-60 to register, but I've heard that at this time, they are waiving the processing fee, so it may be free. That would be great. When Mike and I were tested to see if we could be matches for Kim, it was on an individual basis, and we were not put into the registry. I am going to request a kit for myself. Though I can't be a donor for Kim, I maybe can be for someone else.

Thanks everyone for your kind thoughts and wishes. Kim really appreciates all the love that is being sent her way-

A special Thank You to the 42nd Young Single Adult ward! (Kim's and mine.) They sent over some really cute balloons. Which reminds me that I haven't been taking any pictures. Coming soon!