Bye, bye chemo!

The END is HERE!

   After nearly a year and a half, I am so happy and excited to say Zoë's last day of chemotherapy is today!  Many things have changed during the course of Zoë's treatment, moving from Missouri to Texas, her parents divorcing, graduating from Kindergarten, changing doctors and hospitals, so many things!  She has been such an inspiration to me and has handled everything better than I could have dreamed of. 
   As a going away present of sorts the nurses at the CCBD clinic in Dallas gave her a Happy Last Chemo card with everyones "autographs".  These people are her friends and she has been greatly impressed by them and looks up to each one of them.  She knows nearly all of the staff at the clinic by name and when she walks in for a treatment they all take time to talk to her and say hello.  To the nurses that take care of my baby every week I would like to say a GIANT thank you.  Nurse Amy, Nurse Melissa, Nurse Rachel and Nurse Lidia, you have always made her feel welcome and special each time we have come.  To the child life specialists, thank you for playing and crafting with Zoë.  It is one of her favorite things to do when she comes to clinic.  While Zoë and I are both happy that her treatment is (finally) over, we will miss our trips to see our friends.  We will miss the nurses, doctors, child life specialists, the "feel good" clowns, and the guitar playing fellas that came from time to time and sing songs and give out maracas (in the shape of an egg).   
   As for what is to come for my little girl, we will continue to monitor her tumor.  It is not completely gone and probably will never be.  She will get to have her port removed in about a month and her next MRI is in November.  We will continue to monitor her vision but so far it has not been affected. 
   Lastly, I would like to thank my sisters and parents for coming to my rescue so many times this past year.  I would not have made it through this without you.  You each know the things you have done for me and I won't post them here but I love y'all so very much!  And now I am going to stop typing because as they all know I hate to cry and if I don't stop now my keyboard will short circut! 

The last MRI before the end of treatment!

Zoë  had her last MRI before the end of her treatment yesterday and everything went well.  While her tumor has not reduced in size, it has lightened in color.  From what I understand this still considered a positive response to treatment.  At some point, her tumor will be at a stable and managable size and probably will not get any smaller.  As I have said before, she is likely to have this tumor throughout her life.  We will just have to keep an eye on it and make sure it does not grow.  We are on the home stretch of chemo.  Zoë has two more rounds (10 weeks total) of chemo left.  Hopefully, if she is not delayed anymore due to low blood counts she will finish up on October 18th, which is Yamboree weekend!  After she finishes treatment we will continue to have MRI's done every three months for a year.  If there is no change in the size of her tumor we will go to every 6 months.  Once she finishes treatment if she has two MRI's with no new growth, she will get to have her port removed.  That would mean she would have it taken out in May 2013, two years after she had it placed.  Since Zoë has had so many delays due to low blood counts, Dr. Bowers has put her on something called Neupogen.  It is a G-CSF (granulocyte-colony stimulating factor).  A growth factor that stimulates the bone marrow to make more white blood cells.  It is an INJECTION given to her by me each day for 5 days before she is scheduled to have chemo.  This will be the first time for Zoë to have injections like this.  We will do the first one tomorrow.  Wish us luck!

Make-A-Wish

Ok.  So I think I may be more excited to share this than Zoë is!  Zoë has been such a brave girl and still has two more rounds of chemo to go before she is finished with this part of her treatment but she has been selected by the Make-A-Wish foundation to receive a wish!!!!  We are going to meet with the representatives from MAW in the next few weeks for an interview to see what Zoë would like for her wish.  I am so proud of her and how she has handled having to deal with having a brain tumor.  She is an inspiration to me and all those around her.  She deserves this so much!  I am so happy for her (and secretly happy for me too 'cause I get to go!). 

    Well, chemo has been delayed again due to her blood counts.  While her platelet count increased, her ANC declined.  At this point, she is considered to be neutropenic.  This means she needs to stay away from anyone who is or has been sick.  If she begins to run a temperature we have to go to the ER.  I am praying she does not run fever.  She and I both hate having to go there.  Other than that, Zoë is enjoying her summer. 
    We were glad to be able to see Alex for a day before he went to Youth for the Nations camp in Dallas.  He will be back on Friday.  Oh, how we have missed him!
    Zoë is excited about all of the July 4th events going on this weekend.  Friday Zoë has a small ceremony at the pole barn by the park in Ore City.  She will be escorted by her Papaw Tim and will get to wear her "poofy" dress.  Then, Saturday morning she will get to ride in the parade in Ore City.  She cannot wait to ride with Uncle Darrell in his barbie car.  (We love you Uncle D!!) 

Chemo pics!

Thought I would share a few pics. :)

Wonderful things happening

Wonderful things are happening for Zoë!  She has been doing VERY well with her treatment.  Her tumor is well on half the size it was when she began treatment over one year ago.  Her next MRI is scheduled for August.  There was some concern about her blood counts (specifically her ANC or Absolute Neutrophil Count) and her doctor decided to replace the antibiotic she was taking three times a week to an antibiotic breathing treatment that is taken once a month at the hospital.  She does not like the way it smells but is happy not to have to take her "nasty, purple" medicine anymore.  She recently visited Dr. Hogan, a pediactric neuro-opthamologist.  We were concerned her chemo was beginning to affect her vision but she tested 20/25 in her right eye and 20/15 in her left!  Zoë was little disappointed that she didn't need glasses but I was happy her vision has not been affected.    She will continue her treatment until the end of September or beginning of October.  Hopefully, she will not have to push back too many more treatments due to low blood counts.  Zoë is happy to be out of school for the summer but crazy excited about 1st grade!  Alex and I are looking forward to the fall as well and all of the changes it will bring.  Until next time....(I promise to update this blog before next summer!)