Update on my niece

I can say that I finally feel like things are going better. But I also know as soon as I say that something will change .... so much for the positive attitude huh  :-P 

 

Little Rachael (and John, Jenny and Dustin) is in Danville Pennsylvania hooked up to her chemo line as I type. She was hooked up on Wednesday evening and will be able to be unhooked sometime this evening (Saturday). This is her fourth round and even though she had a couple really BAD weeks in between her third and fourth rounds, she seems to be feeling much better as of right now ..... crossing fingers and toes and praying that everything continues on this path. Rachael is feeling good enough that she doesn't want to stay in her bed at all this time around. For the first three treatments she wasn't too bad about staying in bed, but this time she wants to go roaming the halls ... which we are thankful that she feels good enough to wonder what is beyond the door of her room.

   The bone marrow tests have come back okay again, which means that there were still no cancer cells found in the marrow. And also the stem cells, that they collected while in Philadelphia, are free off cancer cells so when she is done with all chemo treatments the stem cells will be able to be given back to her. Had there been cancer cells in the stem cells, the batch would have had to be thrown out.

   The doctors are very pleased with her progress so far and are amazed that she is actually doing better then they had projected she would be by this point..... but don't forget ... Rachael knows she is loved and has people all over the world praying for her. The support our family has gotten through this whole thing is truly amazin g. People I don't even know will come up to me and ask how my niece is doing and tell me that the pray for her everyday. The community had a benefit in her honor to raise money for travel expenses, raising over $7,000 in a few hours time, I don't think I have ever seen that many people in the fire hall at one time. The American Red Cross did a blood drive at the High School in honor of Rachael and the there were over seventy pints collected that day... a record number of pints that has ever been collected in one day at that location. Seventy doesn't seem like a lot but they said that normally they get not even half that here at this location. Like I said our community (and so many others) have been wonderful... makes you realize that the saying, "It takes a community to raise a child", is so true. I believe that without all of YOU praying for her, Rachael would not be where she is now... and when you see her bright eyes and smile you can tell she feels everyone's love and prayers.