The Bigger Picture

This has been a pretty boring week with Karlee not being allowed to visit anyone or go anywhere.  Today was her CBC at the South Calgary Lab and, of course, a nice little snow storm.  We got about 6 inches of snow overnight and this morning.  Mom’s bus run took a little longer than normal, but was still home in enough time to take Karlee for her blood work.  When they came in the volunteer at the front desk greeted them for the 3rd week in a row.  When they left she said, “See you next week.”  Maybe that was a sign of things to come…

Once they returned it was again the waiting game – waiting for the phone call from Jo to tell us if she gets to continue treatment or if she is still delayed.  Karlee really wanted to go with Mom on the bus run this afternoon so she was waiting patiently for the call.  Of course the call didn’t come in time so she had to stay home again.  We got the call around 4:30 and Karlee’s counts are still too low for her to start the next phase.  Her ANC has come up to 600, but she needs to be over 750 to start the next round.  Jo also wants to make sure she is well over 750 if we can get her up there.  In this round they increase the dosage and challenge her with more drugs each session so she needs to be good and ready or will end up delayed in the middle of the phase.

Karlee is now off house arrest, but still can’t be out in close contact with other people.  She was going to go to Bring A Friend Night with the Beavers tomorrow night, but now has to stay home again.  We have booked another CBC for next Monday; hopefully that will be the last blood work at a lab for a little while.

I thought I would share some of the links and stories that have inspired us.  Just so everyone understands not all the stories have happy endings, but in some ways these are the most inspiring.  To see how a family can come through something as tragic as loosing a child to this awful disease and at the same time remain positive and help other people, is just as incredible as a family that makes it through their battle successfully.

We came across this video recently that was posted by the nurse at the Kids Cancer Care Foundation on Facebook.  Megan McNeil was a childhood cancer patient who lost her battle with cancer about a week ago.  She wrote a beautiful song to help patients in their battle and the cause was taken up by producer Garth Richardson.  The result is a very moving and inspirational song that is raising funds for childhood cancer research and to support families going through this.  All the singers in the video are childhood cancer patients which makes it even hard hitting.  Please check out the video on YouTube and the Website.  It is a great song and well worth the 99 cents on iTunes.
Megan’s Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9pHISnIj2Y
Will to Survive Website:
http://www.willtosurvive.org/

When we were at camp there was a little boy, Alexander, who we saw several times.  At the KCCFA kids Halloween party they let balloons go as a celebration of his life as he had recently lost his battle with cancer.  Recently we found his web page on the internet and were very moved by his story and what his family is doing to help other kids with terminal cancer.  This is another story of a family that has suffered more than anyone should ever have to, but has come through with a desire to help others going through similar events.
Alexander’s Quest – Little Wishes for Little Warriors
http://www.alexandersquest.ca/


Chloe is another little girl we met at the Alberta Children’s Hospital.  Her story is fairly similar to Karlee’s and reading her blog is a nice way to know that there are other people going through the same thing as we are. 
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/chloedavidson

There is also a website that lists blogs and webpages for other kids who are battling leukemia, some who have lost their battle and many who have beaten this ugly disease.  Reading these is very therapeutic in various ways.  Many times it lets us know that we have it pretty easy compare to some; it lets us see the light at the end of the tunnel by reading so many of the success stories and reading about all the similar experiences we have all been going through.
http://www.acor.org/ped-onc/hp/leukpages.html

We have a friend who has been very moved by Karlee’s story and has decided to ride in the Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer and raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society.  Please take a look at his website and his blog:
http://web.me.com/kelsomurray/RTCC_2011_-_Russell/About_Me.html


These are some of the links and resources we are using to stay positive and informed through this journey.  We did a Q&A type of blog entry a while ago, but if anyone has any questions let us know and we could do another one as many people enjoyed it.  E-mail your questions to ronlewis@telusplanet.net.