May 29, 2006

It has been a beautiful Memorial Day Weekend. Samantha needed a transfussion of plateletts on thursday but luckily her white count was still up enough for her to enjoy some time in the pool this weekend. She has been swimming and playing all weekend, having fun the way it should be. We have decreased her steroids gradually over the past few days and are down to 1mg a day. So far it has not effected her balance or her eye. She has been a little shaky but hopefully it is just her body adjusting and will soon correct itself. She will have her labs done again tomorrow. Her counts were all coming down (which means the chemo is doing what it is supposed to do). Although it is the most common side effect of her particular med it does make us very uneasy. Kurt went last week to donate for her so if she needs more transfussions we will know where it is coming from, this time anyway. Other than that it has been a quiet weekend and we have actually been home for over two weeks consecutively for the first time since January!!! We hope you all enjoyed your weekend as well. Please keep those prayers alive.
Love,
Audra, Kurt, Christopher, & Samantha

May 21, 2006

We have had a busy week and a half since our last update. We ended up back in Arnold Palmer Hospital last weekend with seizures. Luckily it was only an overnight stay and we returned home on Sunday. We had started another medication Saturday morning after the first episode so Samantha now takes two different medications to try to control her seizures. We had a busy week going into school a few hours a day and trying to spend some more time out in the fresh air. She had several small very brief seizures throughout the week up until thursday morning. Her medicine she started last week has a very slow increase but she has been doing much better the past 3 days. We spent a lot of time in the pool, planting flowers and playing games this weekend. She seems to have a lot more energy and does not require long or frequent naps throughout the day anymore. To Kurt and I it seems like her personality is shining through more and more each day. She is starting to have more interest in things and the stamina to follow them through which is so nice to see. Her and Christopher went from one activity to another Saturday morning, just like old times. I think it made us all feel good!! We end our weekend with a smile and hope that we continue to have peaceful days ahead. As always please keep praying for Samantha.
All our love,
Audra, Kurt, Christopher, & Samantha

May 11, 2006

Samantha seems to be doing a little better today. She wasn't as sick this morning and seems to have a better appetite today. With the rough day she had yesterday she some how pulled it together and made it to her kindergarden celebration. The kids were all on stage and sang a song, listened to a poem read by their principal, Mr. Klaus, they were then called up to receive their certificate. It was very touching how everyone cheered when they called Samantha's name. Kurt and I both cried tears of joy for our brave little girl. She is so amazing.
She has been spending some time each day going to school and being back in her class room with her friends. It really makes her day to be there agian. As always we are so proud of her determination.
We will keep you updated weekly. Please keep those prayers alive.
With love,
Audra, Kurt, Christopher, & Samantha

May 9, 2006

Today Samantha went to school for the first time since she left in January. We went in for "centers" and stayed about an hour and a half. She did real well and was so happy to see everyone again. Everyone was excited to see her and gave her a warm welcome back. What a wonderful place we feel so lucky to be a part of. We are going to try to do a few hours a week before school ends on the 22nd. We hope to make the kindergarden celebration tomorrow night if she is up to it. Samantha did not want to leave but was asleep by the time we got home.
She will finish this round of chemo tonight and hopefully won't be feeling so sick in the mornings anymore. She has had a rough week but remains in good spirits. Please continue to keep her in your prayers as we search for answers and hope for a cure.
With Love,
Audra, Kurt, Christopher, & Samantha

May 5, 2006

Once again we are home from Memphis. Samantha's MRI results did not show much change. It is impossible to say what effect radiation had on the cells because as her doctor says an MRI is not a microscope. The fact that there was no growth is a good sign that radiation and the first round of chemo had stabilized the tumor. She started her next phase of chemo tonight and we are hoping she responds well.
We also had to increase her seizure meds again as she was having breakthrough seizure activity starting on the flight to TN. What a scary feeling (and I thought just flying was bad). She had several episodes at St. Jude and again on the flight home. Our hopes are that her new dose will kick in and be enough to protect her without adding another medication and all the side effects that come along with it. It is very hard to comprehend how one little body can handle so much medicine and I used to be afraid to give her a decongestant and tylenol together!!
With all that she went through in such a short time she is still smiling and has no complaints. Please continue to pray for her and thankyou for all the love and prayers you have surrounded us all with, it means more than you could ever imagine.
All our love,
Audra, Kurt, Christopher, & Samantha