Emily’s Smiles through Difficult Trials

Sorry we haven’t updated, the server went down temporarily so we have a good excuse!

Emily has had good days the latter part of the week. Wednesday she recovered from the long ordeal at the hospital ER the night before, so she rested! That evening she tickled me eating tomato soup with “Max’s crackers”. When she was done with the soup she dipped the crackers in butter and finished them off. Mind you this is only the kind of crackers that “Max’s Pizza” serves! Only through a child’s eyes!

Thursday I only stopped by for a few minutes but she was perched on the sofa in her usual spot so she can see anyone coming to see her and anyone going by. You can’t sneak past her! She was excited over the heart wreath trimmed in dollars that Ms. Deanie had left for her. I told her I almost kept it for myself and she said, “No, this is for me!”. Oh well, I tried!

Friday & Saturday I left them alone, can you believe it? She was excited again that she’d been able to spend time with Nana and that Shelby & Aunt Crystal came down on Saturday. Uncle Durwood & Aunt Cheryl were excited when they heard a little knock on their front door Saturday evening. They found Shelby standing there and behind her on the sidewalk was Emily in her new motorized wheelchair that Mr. Harold gave her. She was grinning from ear to ear and wanted to know if Aunt Cheryl had something to eat! Of course she did, spaghetti, and fixed her a plate to take back home. As I understand it, she ended up saving it for later because she had to have, anyone want to guess?????? MAX’S PIZZA!!! Max & Regina, we hope you get lots of advertisement through Emily telling everyone that you have the “best pizza in the whole world”!!

I stopped by on my way home from church today to check on her and she was just getting ready to get out of bed. I told her she likes to sleep late just like me! Granny Mom was in the kitchen getting started on lunch and had brought enough chocolate covered peanuts for over 200 people we expect at our Relay for Life Valentines Dinner & Dance Thursday night. She’s been a busy lady! Thanks Ms. Dot!!! I hope there are some left over for just me!!!!

Dawn said the Home Health Nurse coming into the house has been such a relief. She will return Monday morning for a blood draw. Tuesday morning they will head to Duke for additional bloodwork and another round of the chemo that Dr. G wanted to try. Because of the possible side effects with low blood pressure and hemorrhaging, they will watch her a few hours then they can head home.

Thanks to all that have been helping several times a week with meals. It has really been a blessing to Dawn & Eddie having one less worry on them. We’re continuing to help a few times a week with meals and Tues./Thurs. this week is covered. If anyone else would like to help this week, just let me or Mom (Cheryl) know and we’ll coordinate it.

Keep the prayers, cards & messages on the board coming. Emily really enjoys getting a stack of mail each day. She tears right into them, grinning the whole time! God has seen us through the last two weeks with no severe side effects of this potent chemo. Pray that his mercy will continue to shine through Emily.

Love,
Stephanie

Emily hasn’t had a very good day today. Didn’t rest at all last night from discomfort and had great pain in her lower tummy this morning. After her meds, the pain continued to worsen and she had bladder difficulty. Dr. G had Eddie & Dawn take her to her Wilmington Pediatrician about 2:00 to confirm a suspected bladder infection, which he did. Well, that meant she needed IV antibiotics through her pic line. The Dr. tried to access the line but did not have the correct instruments needed so they called the ER and sent her there. After waiting over an hour, we remembered Sonya Mohn worked in the ER and we called her….. THANK YOU SONYA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She was able to get them into a room where Emily was safe from germs Then she proceeded to get the orders processed and had Nurse Lisa, whom helped Emily back in the spring, come and do the infusion and she will be able to do it for the next 2 days. God works in mighty ways and this evening he sent us a Guardian Angel named Sonya! Sometimes we just have to give a big ole shout out for the blessed help we get!!!

They got home about 9:15, exhausted, but thankful they did not have to drive to Duke tonight. Emily’s pain was under control and they were hoping to all get a good nights sleep tonight. So, as you retire for the evening and say your prayers, please pray for just that….a good nights painfree sleep for all of them!

Love,
Stephanie

P.S.
For those of you that do not know Sonya, she grew up with many of us at Barlow. Her older sister, Pandy, died at age 14 of ovarian cancer. Pandy always had the biggest smile when we were kids. My fondest memory of her was shortly before she was stricken with cancer. Our youth group went to a retreat at Carowinds and saw BJ Thomas in concert there. She stood at the fence singing “Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head” and smiling the biggest smile. Those of us that had the privilege of knowing Pandy were richly blessed and felt a deep loss as teenagers when our friend became our “Angel”. Many of you know the parents of these girls, Carl & Emily Rochelle, whom also had another daughter in the years following Pandy’s death, ironically her name is Angel. I know that tonight our Angel Pandy was smiling as Sonya helped Emily!

Emily had a good day Saturday , watched a few of her favorite programs, did some arts and crafts and watched Oreo play. Last night around 10:00pm Emily had Max’s Pizza on her mind. She wanted one right then (you know how the steroids make her)! We tried to explain that Max’s was closed. We finally calmed her down and Eddie told her she could have one as soon as she woke up. She slept late this morning (Sunday), and rested well last night. She woke up few times during the night, but would go back to sleep 15 or 20 minutes later. Her legs bother her the most. She cannot put pressure on them and her legs have been cramping at night.

A Big Thanks to Regina and Max for making our favorite Pizza! She had a good afternoon making Valentines cards. She has her class Valentines done and she worked on cutting out a few more hearts to decorate other cards she was making. For dinner it was back to Max’s for spaghetti sauce. She had to have spaghetti again today. We ate all of Sabrina’s sauce and she was so mad so I told her I would go to Max’s and bring her some sauce because I know how much she loves Max’s Spaghetti Sauce.

Monday morning we will go to Wilmington for labs and see if she needs any platelets . If she does we will head to Duke to receive them and then back home. Thanks to all for the prayers and well wishes for Emily. They get us through each day, just knowing everyone cares so much for us.

Love, Dawn