Sunday, November 22nd
Avery has completed 17 radiation sessions and only has 13 more to go! She continues to do better than expected each day. She loves the staff at UAB and the Proton Center and enters each day with smiles and giggles.
We have been able to wean her completely from her sodium supplement, and she is only requiring anti-nausea medicine twice a day. Her energy fluctuates, but she usually has a good bit of playful time each day(thanks to the steroids).
She received fluids in clinic MWF, platelets on Monday, and her weekly Vincristine on Wednesday. We only had to give a single Neupogen injection this week as her WBC count and ANC are staying up higher.
Once the sedation haze wears off each day, she is normally ready to tackle some school work, play with her sisters, and ride her bike. We are so thankful to see her feeling so good. Although she tires easily, this is the best she has felt since she relapsed in August.
Her full craniospinal radiation sessions will end this week, and the remaining sessions will be a boost to the highest risk area. She will received a 54gy boost to the cerebellum/brain stem area of the brain. They are unable to give a full boost to the spine, and they can not give boosts at this time to the other areas in the brain where there were solid tumors due to the maximum radiation threshold that can be given safely at any time. If tumors remain or show growth in those other areas in the brain, we can consider radiosurgery in the future to treat them.
Radiation is scheduled to end on December 11th. Avery will get a few weeks of rest/recovery before having repeat MRIs on January 4th. After her MRI, we plan to start an outpatient chemo regimen which is still to be determined. Future plans weigh very heavily on her scan results.
This week she has radiation M-W and clinic on Monday and Wednesday. We are looking forward to a short week and a nice long weekend!
Please continue to lift up our fellow cancer families in your prayers as well. Many are dealing with relapses, unknown next steps, struggles with side effects, upcoming scans(and the anxiety that comes along with it), prolonged hospital stays, and entering into the painful holiday season without their children.
As we go into the Thanksgiving week, I am constantly reminded on how much we have to be thankful for. From good insurance, flexible work schedules, proximity to the hospital, supportive family and friends, an army of prayer warriors, our medical team, treatment options... we are extremely blessed. Happy Thanksgiving to each of you, and thank you for being a part of our journey!
Please continue to pray for:
- Minimal side effects from radiation
- Continued count recovery
- Complete healing
So glad Avery is doing so well! She is always in my thoughts and prayers and will continue to be. Happy Thanksgiving to your whole family!
O HEAVENLY Father, watch with us, we pray thee, over the sick child, Avery, for whom our prayers are offered, and grant that she may be restored to that perfect health which it is thine along to give; through Jesus Christ our Lord. We pray for minimal side effects from the radiation, for continued count recovery and complete healing. Amen
Praying for total healing for this baby girl. Father God we know you have all powers in your hands and we are asking you to please continue to work miracles in baby Avery life. Please father God look down on her family and her complete medical teàm continue to be a blessing to them also and give the strength they need to do there job. Amen
Thank you Lori Beth for an encouraging report of Miss Avery. Prayers daily for her, family, all her precious staff. Asking our Father to bless all those families as we enter Thanksgiving
and Christmas holidays. God is so good with His tender touches, and His arms of love reaching out to us all. Asking our Father for minimal side effects from radiation,- Continued count recovery, and always complete healing.
So very happy about her doing so well God is so good praying for total recovery and healing 🙏 ❤ praying for all good things to come her way she deserves only the best she is such a wonderful baby girl I only want the best for you and your family 👪....