Saturday, July 27, 2013

Isolation

     Our little Hazelnut tested positive for a virus....she got a cold!  Fortunately it has been very mild and she hasn't been bothered by it in the least, but it means that we have been stuck in the room in isolation since Wednesday, and have to stay this way for the rest of our time here.  For Hazel, this has been a very huge challenge because we are hardly ever in the room.  She keeps asking to take walks, go to the playroom, and see her friend Demie and does not understand when I explain to her why we can't.  Despite these moments of frustration, she has astonished me, once again, by just taking this all in stride.  She has managed to adjust to yet another reality and finds the joy and fun in each day.
     Today has not been a challenge to stay in the room, because the nausea has settled in.  Round #5, which has the same Chemo drugs as Round #3, is known to be one of the toughest rounds for nausea and vomiting, and she did extremely well last time, with only a few days of symptoms.  But she was stronger then.  Now her body has gone through so much more and I think it's beginning to take it's toll.  She hasn't eaten anything yet today, and she is already of two different anti-nausea meds.  We are adding another, to see if it will help her get her appetite back.  She is not vomiting, so I am VERY thankful for that!  She hates it, I hate it, and really, I think everyone hates it!  So please pray for her to not have to go through that.  And also, pray for all the kids who have a much harder time in treatment than Hazel.  I cannot imagine how tough it must be for those children and their families who seem to get every side-effect in the book.


     We also received the results from her kidney test she had done on Tuesday.  This test was done to see how Hazel's kidney's are functioning, because several of the drugs can adversely affect the kidneys.  Some kids can even lose one.  But her results were fantastic!  Her kidneys are function well above the normal range and show now signs of a downward trend!  I can only hope and pray that this continues to remain the case.  I also spoke with Dr. Tran, and barring any complications from this round of Chemo, we have officially set our date for the pre-op CT scan and the surgery! The CT scan will be August 6th, and it will tell us how Hazel's tumor has responded to all that we have been putting her through.  If the scan is favorable (which he is very optimistic that it is), then we will meet with her surgeon on August 12th to discuss everything, and her surgery will be on August 15th!!!  I have such mixed feelings about this step.  On one hand, I am so excited to get this horrible tumor out of my daughter's body.  But on the other hand, I realize that Hazel's tiny little body will be undergoing major surgery, and it's no easy task.  So as it gets closer, keep her and our entire family in your prayers.  He also said that if her surgery is successful and her post-op scans show no evidence of disease that we can skip Round #6 of Chemo!! His hope is to have her body completely cancer free before her Stem Cell Transplant (can you believe it!).  The transplant, if Round #6 is NOT cancelled, will be sometime in September; but if it IS cancelled, then it will begin the last week of August.  The fact that these next steps in her treatment are right around the corner, is all a little overwhelming, and honestly, putting a lot of fear within me.  But I was absolutely terrified about Chemotherapy, and God has carried Hazel and our whole family through it and I know He will continue to do the same! 

27 comments:

  1. Praying for you ALL endlessly! Xoxo

    -Katy G.

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  2. My prayers go out to you and her!
    I hope that this somehow gets easier and good news
    Keeps coming your way !
    Little precious Hazelnut
    We are routing for you in Encino
    Xxoo
    Love Liz
    Your aunty Laura's friend

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  3. I wake up every single day and look for updates on hazel and your amazinf damily and the journey you are on. I cry, tears of sadness, tears of sympathy, and mostly tears of amazement at the courage, strength and optimism. But above all tears of hope that this beahtiful little hazelnut will make her way through this and show the world that our God of miracles heals! My heart and prayers are with you all and i will be praying on each of these up coming milestone days. Thank you for keeping us posted and God bless each of you and the DR.'s and nurses who are caring for her!

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  4. Praying for Hazel and all of you....I will also be sending a package for Hazel and 5.00 for a braclet....
    Good Bless,

    ~Denise K

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  5. I wake up every single day and look for updates on hazel and your amazinf damily and the journey you are on. I cry, tears of sadness, tears of sympathy, and mostly tears of amazement at the courage, strength and optimism. But above all tears of hope that this beahtiful little hazelnut will make her way through this and show the world that our God of miracles heals! My heart and prayers are with you all and i will be praying on each of these up coming milestone days. Thank you for keeping us posted and God bless each of you and the DR.'s and nurses who are caring for her!

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  6. Praying for you!!! Ur a tough little girl...

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  7. Danielle HendersonJuly 27, 2013 at 12:06 PM

    It's so cool to see such a new form of treatment such as stem cells being used to help fight cancer! I'm glad Hazel is not experiencing many side effects, and I wish any child going through chemo can have the same experience she is having now (as far as reduced side effects that is).

    <3 Skittles

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  8. prayers from Wyoming,,, god bless you all

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  9. Prayers for Hazel and family being sent up daily from South of Boston. xo

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  10. Praying for the best, and that round #6 can be skipped. Praying for you all! <3

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  11. Stay strong Hazlenut! You can do it!

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  12. Praying for all of you!

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  13. I wish we could do more than just send money. That seems so insignificant .I know it is needed and feel glad when I can help a little but if there is more that can be done please ask. I still pray each day for her and for your family. Tomorrow in church we will have a group prayer for her. Last month as were praying for a member's son, after being told it was hopeless and he was entering hospice (so we only prayed for peace for he & his family) he woke up from his coma and spoke and is on the mend now. God is full of surprises. Tomorrow we will pray for Hazel's miracle.

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  14. I pray for the Lord to bring peace and healing to your wonderful family. You are facing one of lives most difficult journeys that most could never imagine. Many prayers and thoughts and love for your family. May God bless you all and have your difficult journey be over soon. Hazelnut you are a beautiful and blessed little princess. xoxo

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  15. Lauren,
    What a trooper little Hazel is...meeting you and seeing her energy, I can appreciate the cabin fever challenges, but continue to pray for your strength and her health. I meant to email you that we were NOT coming on Thursday to visit (as you see we did not) because Zoe sneezed 3 times that morning. It did not turn into a cold and was probably dust, but that is usually a sign on something, so we stayed home. I meant to email you....but I see that she was isolated anyways.
    If there is something that we can do, please let me know....even a little visit again when you get back home, if all is well. Hang in there and continued positive thoughts for everything to go as planned for her...
    Take care - love to Hazel from Big Z.
    Amy

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  16. You are doing an awesome jobwith Hazel! She is such a pretty little girl. Keep your head up!!

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  17. You are holding up so well Lauren!! Our prayers continue for Hazel and the various procedures as well as your entire family!
    love, Denise P.

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  18. She is such a trooper. God bless her! He is holding you all in the palm of His hand. We continue to pray for all of you and look forward to your updates.

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  19. Praying for you and your whole family. She is a brave and amazing little wonder.

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  20. I feel so sad that little children has to go through with such horrify illness. I am battling with my colon cancer and on my third months of chemo therapy, I relate so much of the side effects Hazel has gone through. Hazel is in my thoughts and I am sending my loves to her and your entire family.

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  21. Praying for you lil Hazelnut, and for the family too.
    I got sad at the beginning because of the isolation but very exciting at the end, can't wait for you to get that tumor out of your lil body. Stay strong guys

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  22. Good Morning Dear Hazel & Family.... :)


    With what all you have been through, Please keep your spirits & strength intact.
    Everything will be fine.
    Praying for you all.
    Best of luck.... :)

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  24. Every since discovering your blog I have been keeping up non stop. I do not know you guys but feel as if I am in the fight with you.For the first time because of your blog, I donated blood and will continue in order to help cancer patients out. I pray every night for hazel to have a speedy and easy recovery from all this and I believe she will overcome this road bump and become even stronger. Thank you for sharing your stories with us. I see hope in it all. Best wishes through out your journey.

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  25. I have been keeping up with your blog. What a brave little girl Hazel and all the other children are :) I pray for a full recovery. Huge hugs for you and please know Im thinking of you xxx

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  26. Love, light and prayers for your precious family!

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