Platelets with Julia

This post is #153 in a year-long series ... Through this series of posts I plan to share our family's experiences during our 17-year-old daughter's year-long battle with brain cancer, which began in February of 2008. My desire is to process through the events of that year from the perspective that a decade of time has brought ... for myself, really. But if you'd like to follow along, you're welcome to join me.

January 2, 2009

Following Christmas, my brother and sister-in-law came to spend a few days with us.  This was a very special treat because they are career missionaries, and years can pass between their visits. They were able to accompany us to one of our Children's Hospital platelet infusions, and that's where this picture was taken.  It's one of my favorite photos from that entire year.  Hannah's cousin Julia had never really been exposed to much television, and she was completely engrossed with Dora the Explorer on the room TV.  The yellow strip on Hannah's shirt is her hospital  bracelet which was supposed to be worn around her wrist.  We were there so often, she rarely put them on her wrist anymore ... she would just stick the adhesive end to her shirt.  No need to cut it off at the end of the appointment!

This is also one of the last photos of her before things really began to unravel.

My email from ten years ago today ...

We're here at Children's Hospital getting platelets again today. Thankfully, her platelet level was at 66,000 today, which is a good improvement over where she's been for the past few weeks. She will continue getting them three times a week, though, until she reaches 100,000 and stays there. She did not get her chemo on Wednesday of this week like we thought she would...they decided to wait until Monday, which is her normal clinic day. We are thankful that we've gotten to spend lots of time with family and friends throughout the Christmas season, and that Hannah has felt well most of the time. Fatigue continues to be her biggest hurdle, but her spirits are good, and she has really been able to enjoy our time with family and friends.

It's kind of nice to have 2008 in our rear-view mirror, and we are anxious to see where the Lord will lead in 2009. The biggest blessing of 2008 has been all of you, our faithful prayer warriors, who have been so wonderful to keep us lifted up before the throne. Thank you!

God is good, all the time!