Emily’s Smiles through Difficult Trials

Good News from Duke today!!!!!!!!! Emily is officially finished with her chemo treatments!!! She will have her stem cell transplant on Monday and if all continues to go well, hopes to be back at the apt. mid week.
After that, she will continue with her regular ritual of meds, platelets, blood transfusion, rebuilding her strength and continuing her physical and occupational therapies. Continue to pray for strength and endurance for her as she begins her journey headed back home. She is more than ready and her excitement is building as she makes her plans to head back to Hampstead. It’s been a long, hard road since August 4, 2006 when Emily made that first car ride to Duke! It is anticipated that Emily will come home around the middle or end of April. Start getting those pink & purple ribbons ready because we want the community draped in them for Emily’s arrival home. We’ll keep you updated so you’ll know when to display them!!!!

Love,
Stephanie

Can’t wait for the DVD of tonights Womanless Beauty Pageant. I know you all had a blast. Friday Emily started her Chemo a little behind schedule she had her urine tested several times due to a certain range of function by the kidneys they had to keep checking. There were traces of blood that kept showing up in her tests. They just had to keep watch and treat her bladder with meds. She ran a fever during the day and all night. She started on one antibiotic and alot of fluids. Today ( Sat.) Her fever is now low-grade and Dr. decided not to give any other antibiotics for now. Everything seems to be going as planned and Emily even walked once with her walker today. She has rested in the bed today, napping off and on. Her cultures came back negative for any infectons. She had her chemo today, and the meds are keeping her vomiting under control. Emily said she is ready to go home. The many prayers have kept us strong.

Love,
Eddie, Dawn, and Emily

Wanted to email a quick note. Emily’s Chemo was delayed this morning, due to her platelet count. It decreased from Tuesday’s count when Emily had labs drawn and a type and screen done before admit on Wednesday. Still had the go ahead to start, but will have to decrease the dose of Cyclophosphamide because it can cause bleeding. Cyclophosphamide also decreases the production of platelets by the bone marrow causing a increase in the recovery time for Emily. Drs. have also stopped the Vincristine, due to the effects on Emily’s legs and feet, It can be more of a problem longterm with the side effects. She has been a different Emily today as expected. Alot of nausea, and feeling bad. Thank You for continual prayers for Emily.

Love, Emily, Dawn and Eddie