Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Busy, Busy, Busy!

     These last few weeks have been overwhelmingly busy for our family.  But unlike what our life has been like for the past year; filled with stress from life-threatening side-effects, hospital visits, medications, time apart, etc., these weeks have been filled with much more "normal" things.  We have been going through normal day-to-day life of a family with four young children and a pregnant mommy (which is busy all on its own!), all while packing up our entire house and making arrangements to close escrow tomorrow!  So suffice it to say, life has kept us extremely busy; but in a much more normal and welcome way, and for that I am so thankful!  We also took part in several wonderful fundraising event, and I will share about them, with lots of pictures, in the next post!
     Our little Hazelnut has been feeling well, but is quite a bit more tired after this last cycle of Immunotherpay than she was after the first one.  I also think the two-times daily dose of Accutane is beginning to take its toll on her little body.  Amazingly enough though, she has still been enjoying her life as a normal 3-year-old to the fullest.  She has LOVED being home for this long and keeps saying things like "I'm so happy" and "I feel good, and healthy, and strong!".  It truly blows my mind to hear these things come out of her mouth, because it makes me see how much she truly understands of her situation and how remarkably well she has adapted to it and taken it in stride.  In addition, we have received a couple pieces of good news!  Hazel had her GFR test (kidney function test) to determine if the last cycle of Immunotherapy caused any irreparable harm.  Those results came back only a little low, but still within normal range!  The doctors believe we can still proceed with treatment as planned, but just quite a bit more cautiously.  Also, as some of you may possibly remember, we requested last June(!) to have Hazel's tumor sent away for genetic testing to determine if she has a case of hereditary Neuroblastoma. This is because on my father's side of the family, there are two family members who also had this same disease around 40 years ago.  To even have one other case is an extreme rarity, so to find out that we have two is alarming.  In children with Neuroblastoma, only about 1-2% have this genetic component, so our hope and our prayer is that Hazel is NOT among those select few, and it has killed me to wait this long for an answer.  While we do not have the answer yet, we found out today that after all the red tape has been broken, her tumor has finally been sent away and we should have results in a few weeks!!  So please be praying for these results!
     Hazel and I check in for Cycle #3 of Immunotherapy Sunday night.  This cycle only is composed of Chimeric, so although not easy, it will be better than the last cycle and will only be about one week of inpatient stay.  If all goes smoothly, we should head back home on Friday.  Please pray for minimal side effects and for strength and stamina to handle what is to come.






23 comments:

  1. jasmina from SwedenApril 1, 2014 at 10:43 PM

    Dear dear Hazel, you are so strong and so brave!
    Keep fighting baby girl, and we will all pray for you, pray for a healthy Hazel...
    All my Love to you and your beautiful family

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  2. so happy will keep those prayers coming for OUR HAZELNUT as i think of her and your family

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  3. Que diosito te bendiga siempre princessa :)

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  4. I'm very happy for your entire family. I love reading posts on Hazel, more so when she's happy. I will forever pray for Hazel and your family.

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  5. you got this hazel you have came a long way keep pushen through lil one

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  6. Sweet little Hazel - Love to see your smile!! Praying for you lil Hazelnut!!!!! <3
    Tina Cook

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  7. So happy to hear Hazel is doing better. I'm sure being home with her siblings and enjoying a somewhat normal home life is helping tremendously in her healing. Continually praying for Hazel's full recovery, as well as the entire family!

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  8. Thank you for taking the time to blog this update. So very happy to hear that Hazel is getting stronger, feeling better, and getting some much needed family time with her siblings. Continued prayers for Hazel and the rest of the family. I see good things ahead! GOD is so GOOD!!

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  9. I have continued to follow Hazel's journey. I just returned from a 5 month maternity leave (welcomed twin girls in November), so I am back to work and cannot wait to do a follow up story when Hazel is done with treatment and has successfully beaten this! She is so beautiful and such a strong little girl. Congrats on your pregnancy as well! Kristine Lazar, cbs 2 news

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  10. Praying for continued strength and stamina for Hazel and her family. So happy you all are having time spent together doing the normal everyday things in life!! This journey sure has lead a lot of us to be so appreciative of each and everyday we share with the one we love. Love you all, Monica Cibelli.

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  11. Still praying daily. Hope everything goes well next week and she's back home again quickly.

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  12. Hazel, you Rock. Keep smiling and being happy. Life has great things in store for you. With a smile and a prayer, Karen

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  13. Craig and Kerrie BergApril 2, 2014 at 7:33 PM

    Hazel, Hazel thinking of you,
    is the best thing that I can do.
    So prayers and thoughts of you each day,
    will hope to make you feel OK!
    Kerrie and I think your the best,
    however we can't see you way out west.
    As you travel through those hospital lines,
    we hope you can be home, are the good signs.
    The family you have with your sister and brother,
    combined with your Dad and your Mother.
    Your loved by them and many around,
    Always remember Hazel that love is sound.
    When we saw your gma and gpa last ,
    It was great to see them, we had a blast.
    So Hazel dear we are thinking of you,
    Your loved here in Michigan, this is true.

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  14. My goodness sweet girl!!!♥ you are so young yet already a warrior and so inspirational! We love you lauren and hazel and your whole family:) xoxo

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  15. Thank you for the update, Lauren. My good thoughts and pressures are coming your and Hazel's way!

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  16. Hazel inspires us all! :D God bless you more!

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  17. You are such an inspiration little, brave Hazel the Warrior Princess!! I am so, so happy that you had such a good time at home with your family! I have been praying for you to be well every single day, and I'll be thinking and praying for you all week while you are in the hospital for your next treatment. You know what that means! I'll be asking God to send you all of my strength to help make it easier on you. Love you sweet pea--keep on being strong!! <3

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  18. Hazel we are still praying for your complete healing. Glad to hear you were home for an extended time and doing better. Hang in there - God has a plan and many times its such a mystery.

    Psalm 41:2-3 The LORD will protect her and preserve her life; he will bless her in the land and not surrender her to the desire of her foes. The LORD will sustain her on her sickbed and restore her from her bed of illness. 1 Peter 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.

    Carol Bates - Southern California

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  19. Hazel you look wonderful! I love all the pictures of you and your family. Thank you for sharing them and all your good news!!! Always praying for you.
    The Kelly Family VA

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  20. you are such a precious adorable baby and you are so strong . always in my thoughts and prayers sweet hazelnut xoxoxox marie

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  21. Hazel will win, the therapy will work and Hazel will be cured.... Kisses and hugs from Portugal

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  22. Trosero Sergio Borneo IslandApril 20, 2014 at 7:59 PM

    Amiofo. May you get your health back.

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