Plugging Along!

Hello Everyone!

Its Bobbi here. Sorry it's been so long since I've posted but we have been so busy with the move and keeping up on Scarletts treatments. The days seem to just slip by so quickly. Thanks to my mom for doing such a great job keeping the blog updated.

We are so happy that Scarlett is in Remission! Our anniversary was definitely a wonderful day. Such great news. We are so proud of Scarlett for being such a fighter. Her body is responding so well to the Chemo. Up to this point, we couldn't ask for anything better, as far as results go. She has had so few complications in comparison to what can potentially happen. We are very lucky.

I am just going to explain in a bit more detail what exactly the "Remission" means. They said that when we first came in and they diagnosed Scarlett if we were to count the Cancer cells in her body at that time the number would have been around 10 to the 12th. So that's 10 with 12 zeros behind it. They have now, after the first month of treatment, reduced that number of cancer cells to 10 to the 8th. So basically they have taken 4 zeros off the number of Cancer cells. So now there are 10 with 8 zeros amount of Cancer cells in her body. That number is low enough to put the word "remission" on her disease. It doesn't mean the cancer is all gone. Scarlett was placed in the "low risk" Category. What the word risk refers to is simply - The chance of the disease returning after the full term of treatment. It does determine the treatment steps for phase two and so on but basically there is still room for complications and set backs. We are only 1 1/2 months into a 2 1/2 year treatment program. We still have a long way to go. If we were to stop treatment now or anytime along the way they are most certain that the Leukemia would return.

Today Scarlett and I are in the hospital. We were admitted for the first of 6 in hospital treatments. We have been here since Wednesday. She's doing so well. One of the main side effects of this round of treatment, besides knocking out her immune system, is vomiting. They give her anti nausea meds to keep it under control and so far she's been good. Her appetite has gone way down which is fine and expected.

I do have to say one thing....She has won the hearts of all the Dr.'s and Nurses here. They just LOVE her. She calls them by name, gives them high fives, fills them in on her favorite current cartoon, borrows their stethoscopes and listens to their hearts, asks them if they like the park?, if they want to come shopping with her? and much much more. Today the Dr. was laughing at something she was telling him and he said "Oh Scarlett, your my favorite patient!" We feel like she's receiving such great treatment and we are so thankful to be back in Canada.

Scarlett is back to her normal chatty self, most of the time. She still has grumpy moments but who can blame her? She is thriving at home. She just loves the space and comforts of home. She loves her own room and her own bed. She is sleeping very well and when she wakes up in the morning she just plays quietly in her bed until one if walks by her room and sees her awake.

Thank you all for your love, concern and support. Scarlett is such a lucky little girl to have such a huge span of people cheering for her! We can't express enough gratitude. Thank-you.