Jan 18

This is the first message I read this morning:

My warrior and precious daughter is now my angel. After valiantly fighting this insidious beast for almost 18 months, Leann Elysebeth is now at peace and pain free. She fought to the end and took her last breath at 3:17pm today. Thanks to all of you who have supported us on this journey.

My heart just broke… again.  It breaks a little more with each hurtle Madelyn has to overcome and suffers a huge crack when I hear news like this.  Leann’s Mom Karen was on bed rest with her pregnancy and not at the hospital when her first baby girl left this world.  Leanne had relapsed and was preparing for a bone marrow transplant… then pneumonia. 

Madelyn in contrast continues to do well.  She had a CBC on Tuesday at Island Hospital. Her recent increase in chemo dosages seems to have pushed her ANC down to where her Oncologist want it to be.

Hem 37.6    WBC 2.7    Plat 332    ANC 1385

Her ALT is still running high though – 83.  We will continue to watch this.  The ALT test is measuring liver injury.  All these drugs she has to take are affecting her liver function.  It’s worrisome because she has 14 months of treatment left and we need that liver working to process all these foreign chemicals.

We all went on a small vacation to Leavenworth this weekend.  We went with our good friends and favorite travel buddies The Harrington’s.  Madelyn and Brennan took lessons at the in-town ski-hill, we checked out events at the Ice Sculpture Festival, we went sledding… we played in the snow.  It was FUN!

Our trip back over the pass, including chains, was epic and then the snow continued! At about 6pm near Barring on Hwy 20 Madelyn started screaming and crying that her ear was in pain.  She had mentioned it hurting during her ski lessons, but I had thought it was just the cold.  So a call to the on-call Oncologist confirmed what we were thinking.  ER time.  Most likely it was an ear infection, but in case it was something else we had to take her to the hospital.  So instead of heading home on Monday night we drove straight to Seattle Children’s.  Madelyn was checked in by 8pm and discharged with an ear infection by 11pm. 

Brother, our life.  I am thankful that it was just an ear infection and we were in a place we trust and know so well.  Nothing like a little extra drama to end a five-kid, four-adult weekend in the snow…  That’s right we adults were out numbered and we felt it.  Boy was it fun though.

Those cracks that happen in my heart are re-cemented on weekends like Leavenworth.  Watching Madelyn smiling as she smokes it down the hill and says “weeeeee” at the same time… truly, they are the best medicine for my broken heart.  Watching her so adamant that she was NOT tired and damn mad at me for potentially missing fireworks and dinner out with Amy, makes me unbelievably happy.  (She did not miss either).

The Make-A-Wish Foundation has decided to grant Madelyn a wish.  I will keep you posted on this excitement as it unfolds…

Please remember tonight that there is a family out there devastated by the loss of their 14 year old baby girl to cancer.  Send their angel your love, send their family your strength and give your kids an extra hug… and, heck, throw in a cookie.  Who know what tomorrow will hold…