Phase 2

Well phase 2 has begun. It is pretty intense. It is going to keep them busy and Scarlett will be subjected to lots of medicine and teatments. She is on a small daily oral dose of chemotherapy at home. Then every couple of weeks she has to go and stay in the hospital for 3-4 days to receive about 24 hours of IV chemo. Then since that is so strong they give her folic acid which is actually an antidote for the chemotherapy to stop it. Then they keep her in for another day or so to make sure she is stable. Bobbi will have to stay there with her. Then Scarlett will receive other meds periodically. She will still receive 4 days of the dex steroid every few weeks and some other meds (I can't remember the names) at various times. All of this goes on for the next 6 months. After tests, if all goes well, she will then go into phase 3, which is a maintenance phase for 2 years. The greatest concern right now is that being on constant chemo gives her a very low immune system. They will have to be very diligent in keeping her (and the whole family) healthy and away from mass germs as much as possible.

They have been happy with being in a home of their own. Scarlett crawled a few steps in the family room about the second day in the house. Then the other day, Bobbi was upstairs and Isabelle started yelling, "Mom! Scarlett is on the stairs." Bobbi came to the top of the stairs and saw Scarlett climbing up the stairs. She was just grinning. She took it very slowly and favored the right leg a lot. The whole family started cheering and she made it all the way to the top of the stairs. So that was great news considering they had not even been in the house for a week. A home atmosphere can work miracles in our self-confidence.

I can not close without thanking everyone for prayers, love and concern. Even a little primary girl in my ward is very confident that her prayers are being heard and answered and she is right!!