Tues Nov 30 9:30pm

Madelyn had a good day. She even road a bike around the cancer unit. They have bikes at Children's that the kids can ride around the halls in.

My sister Jen and I spent about three hours disinfecting the new apartment. We have to be so careful with her little immune system. Then at 3pm, all four of our parents arrived with our friend Tony and moved us in. Tony is letting us borrow his couch, dining room set and bed for Peter and I. Madelyn has a bed and will be sharing a room with Phia. We have a Christmas tree to set up and hope to get that up before she arrives tomorrow. I plan to get up really early to get the house looking homey for her. 

Poor little Phia has been missing us terribly. she wouldn't let me out of her site today when they arrived from Anacortes. So Peter is at the hospital tonight and Phia and I are sleeping together at the apartment.

Keep your warm thoughts and prayers coming for MJ so she can leave the hospital tomorrow as planned. No fevers for 3 days now!

Tues Nov 30 10:30am

Madelyn having a very good morning. She woke up at 8am and had a long snuggle with Daddy.  She played Princess Bingo with her room mate who also has Leukemia and is 6 years old. She spoke with Alaina's Daddy Jeff, Miss Tina, Miss Holly and Alaina this morning on the phone this morning. This made her soooooooooo happy. She danced to the bath tub. She will be off the IV most of the day today today, preparing her to head home. she is currently eating a snack of apples, crackers and juice... and very happy. being very Madelyn.

5:30pm Mon

Madelyn tired tonight. Her Lumbar Puncture was pretty stressful for her - scary. luckily she was able to go under sedation in Peters arms. The chemo is giving her a little upset stomach and her port site is a little painful.

A summary

Hello dear friends... we have had so many kind words and offers for help.  We love and thank you all.  We have started this blog so you may follow Madelyn's progress through her chemotherapy treatments in the coming months.  


I thought I would begin with a summary...


After some alarming test results on Tuesday Nov 23rd, we traveled to Children's Hospital in Seattle, arriving at Emergency at about 6:30pm.  On Wednesday Nov 24th, she had a Lumbar Puncture and Bone Marrow Biopsy.  Later that day she was diagnosed with Pre-B Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.  On Thursday, Thanksgiving, all the grandparents came to visit.  On Friday, she had surgery to place a Port-O-Cath in her chest.  This will enable her to receive her chemotherapy and IVs with less "pokes."  Late Friday night she began her chemotherapy, continuing into Saturday.  Today Monday, she received another Lumbar Puncture inserting chemotherapy directly into the spinal area.  She also received two shots of chemotherapy in her legs.  


Right now her mornings are quite good and sleeps through most of the afternoon.  Her spirits overall are good.  The nurses have been very impressed with how well she takes her medicine and allows them to poke and prod her so frequently.  She hasn't had too many problems with side effects yet, but she is only a few days into her therapy right now.  She is looking to be discharged on Wednesday right now.


She is missing home, friends and school very much.  Pictures of home and her friends are the best thing for her right now.  Ashley came to visit her yesterday and that made her extremely happy. 


More soon,  Lisa and Peter