Pray for Chance Harman – www.samefight.org
Emily has done well this week. Chemo treatment on Monday and school refresh session with Mrs. Trish, Physical Therapy in the afternoon with Ms. Lisa. Tuesday – chemo treatment and back to the apt, for some rest. Wednesday – Occupational Therapy with Mrs.Ellie, and Pack Up!! Thursday – MRI, fluid draw from her Ommaya, Clinic Appt. and Labs. Emily will have anesthesia because this will be another 1 hour 45 min MRI. It will be a few days before we hear from the MRI. We pray in hopes this new drug has worked for Emily.
I wanted to tell you about a family I called today. I see he has put a message on Emilys board. I saw him on Friday the 22nd in clinic early one morning only the two of us were there and he had his heart broken, was confused, and a “give us strength look ” on his face. We had first met on the 5100 hall when Emily was in surgery for the Ommya Res. I had heard of a family with the same type of brain tumor Anaplastic cancer. I saw his name on the door and finally met them one night outside in the hall. Eddie and I wanted to talk again. Our talking was short due to both of our kids needing us. So the next day was our discharge day and we did not get any time to spend with them. Did not see them before we left. That was around 3-1/2 weeks ago but that Friday when I saw Brian (the dad) for the second time, I knew I had to talk to them, and again the phone rings and its Dr.G wanting to meet with Brian, so he left. I went back to the apt. and found his sons online Journal. I emailed them and asked if it would be ok if we put “Chance” on our prayer list on Emily’s site for our community to pray for his family. He emailed me back today and said yes. We had a good talk today and if you check his site you will see he expresses the same thoughts and emotions. He asked me how did we get through the last few weeks with the news of Emily’s tumors spreading, I said “we went through the same heartache and questions, and gave it all to God to handle just as you have said in Chance’s update for today. Thats all we can do.” www.samefight.org Chance Harman
We pray for Chance and his family, Please keep us in your prayers. Your many prayers have sustained us so many times.
Love, Dawn
That’s our Emily! Her last treatment for this round should be today and no treatment on Wednesday. Thursday she is scheduled for an MRI, labs and Doctor evaluations to see what progress has been accomplished with these 2 rounds of treatments. Keep praying that this chemo has suppressed the cancer and helped shrink the tumor. Remember the BLUE BUTTERFLIES………Hope & Healing!!!
At this time, that is not on schedule. It has been suggested, but for now she remains here! The term they use for Emily is “neoplastic meningitis” (Cancer that has spread to the lining of the brain and/or spinal cord). The last MRI was showing spreading to the spinal cord. The research study is to test an investigational drug called “Topotecan” in hopes of finding a new treatment that will fight the tumor. It is not approved by the FDA for treating neoplastic meningitis. Topotecan has been shown to have anti-tumor activity against a wide variety of cancers when used intravenously (in the vein). Emily’s is A Phase 1 Pharmacokinetic Optimal Dosing Study of Intrathecal Topotecan for Children with Neoplastic Meningitis, ( in the cerebrospinal fluid). 
Time to enjoy each other, family and “little friends”. Emily can hardly wait!!! 
He was no where to be found when it was time to remove it! Ms. Jeanne and I had that job. So today Emily was ready for payback. She came to clinic with a 5 inch roll of 3M sticky tape in hand and a needle syringe from her supply. She does not talk much but Dr. G did not stay in her room long, all she did was show him the tape. 
I explained to Emily so much was placed because she was sleeping when the procedures were done and she could not keep her head very still when she was waking up. Plus we had to move her to a different floor and different bed with that needle and tubing sticking out of her reservoir. Emily still gave him a big smile and knows Dr. G is trying to make her better. 
with the new treatment and surgery and a couple of weekend trips and K- graduation done in between. She has kept us moving. Have some pictures to share with our trip to the Mountains, Relay for life, fishing offshore, and her proud moments of graduating from Kindergarten at the Hospital. Trey is doing well and enjoying his summer break. He will be busy this weekend with his cousins and friends, celebrating birthdays and having fun. We miss him and Emily and I can’t wait to be back home next Friday. 
