Day 170 - Chemo Part 4

Today is April 14th and Anna is about to start her next round of chemo.  Plus we await the results of another bone Marrow Test to make sure she is still in remission. We left home at 6am and drove to NYC.

So today is a packed with a lovely cocktail of Chemo's.  Yeah Chemo's plural!!! 

2 - injections (one in each thigh) of Erwinia

1 - dose of cyterabine via spinal tap
1 - dose of cyterabine via IV

1 - dose of cyclophosohamide via IV

1 - dose of Thioguanine by pill

They day started like any other at the Memorial Sloan.  A quick check in with the Leukemia team.  They always like to make sure that Anna is well enough for her drug mix.  As always she's great and ready to go.  Anna went under anesthesia and did great.  While she was knocked received cyterabine and they drew her bone marrow to test.  1 down, 4 2 go!  All day she was happy as a clam even though she couldn't do much.  She was monitored all day as she was getting her meds. Each one had a different monitor period.  Some were 1 hour others were 2.  It was a very long day and there was little to no complaints at all from out favorite 9 year old. 

just a few bags of meds making there in through her port 

Caught an early morning smile.  My favorite thing in the world. 

Getting de-accessed.  Finishing up the day!!!  

#821ForAnna

#BeatLeukemia

#Love

Day 37 - Chemo Phase 2

So its been a few days since we haw had anything to post. That is good news. We've been blessed that since her notice of remission our beautiful Anna has been feeling so good. No belly pain, no nuthin' 

It snowed 2 days ago and school was closed (although Anna has a tutor since she cannot attend school for the balance of this year) so she actually had a good old fashion "Snow Day!"  She played in the snow with her friend and even snuggled up at the neighbors during the storm to watch a movie. What an amazing gift! So glad she could have that time to feel like a regular kid ❤❤❤

She's posing with Dr's  :)

Now its time to keep on kicking Leukemia's A$$! Today Anna started her second round of Chemo. Now many people wonder why she still needs treatment if she is in remission. Well to put it simply, Anna has won the battle but not the war.....yet! This second round of so called "less intense" treatment is designed to make leukemia never come back. In better than 90% of the time that is the case. We pray everyday that she on the right side of the coin. 

So what does phase 2 consist of? Here is the short list

- 4 weeks of a daily chemo pill Mercaptopurine (this is the one that will likely giver her a baldy :( )

- weekly for 3 weeks she will get a spinal tap for injection of Chemo into her spinal track

- weekly for 4 weeks chemo through her port, which is the same as the first phase Vincristine en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincristine 

- at week 3 another bone marrow aspirate just to make sure none of that nasty leukemia came back. 

Yes, this is the less intense route. Yikes! 

Anna went through today's spinal tap procedure like a champ! 

Here are a few pics from the days shenanigans! 

Yup kids feeling good. A little #NOOK watching and eating a muffin :)