The post no mother wants to write

It has been 15 days, so I think it's time.  Not that I'm counting the hours or anything.  I'd like to think I haven't written here because of time, but I don't know if that's it.

My sweet, sweet Kate.  She turned one on April 7th, and we celebrated by the creek.  Throwing rocks and making flower headbands seemed like the perfect celebration.  We sang "Happy Birthday" at least 62 times that day and rejoiced that God chose us for her!  Yet, even in the midst of the celebration, our Cakie wasn't right.

Having 3 children with Down Syndrome proves to keep me keenly aware of specific health changes.  I make mental notes and google way too much.  But, I feel like when it came to Kate, God was whispering.  

She had been cranky for several weeks.  The exercises we did daily to improve her physical strength never used to bother her.  She now cried through every one until I eventually stopped doing them altogether.  She had a few unexplained low grade fevers.  Petechiae began showing up several months ago, but I thought it was just something that happened to her.  Then there was the bruising.  And God whispered.

Happy 1st Birthday, precious girl!!

I woke Monday morning and immediately called the pediatrician to schedule blood work.  I told them what I thought it was and prayed with every part of me that I was wrong.  I wanted to be overreacting.  By 2:00 that afternoon, we were being told to take her to the ER.  I could tell by the attending doctor's face that he knew.  He told us the oncologist was on his way.

April 22, 2013.  Kate was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia.  

We did not go home that night.  Instead, she was admitted to the cancer center where we spent the next week.

This is what leukemia did to my precious girl.  Notice the petechiae.  The bruise under her eye was caused by her low platelet count.  She had a tiny, faint red spot under her eye when she went to bed Sunday night.  When she woke Monday morning, it looked like this.  

On Wednesday, April 24, Kate underwent surgery to place a broviac (central line) in her chest.  This is how her chemo is administered and how blood is taken (Praise the LORD!!).  During surgery, she also had a bone marrow aspiration as well as a spinal tap.  Leukemia tends to hide out in the spinal fluid, so chemo was administered directly into her spinal fluid while she was asleep.  Beginning Wednesday afternoon, Kate began her first continuous 96 hour round of chemotherapy.  HUGE PRAISES that she proved to everyone just how strong she is!!  There were 2 days that she didn't seem to be quite herself, but otherwise, she was happy, laughing and eating like our Cakie does.

Kate's broviac line

In two short weeks, we have learned more about cancer treatment, blood counts and caring for broviac lines that we ever wanted to know.  We have become part of a club I never wanted to be a member of, but forget about me.  MY DAUGHTER NEVER WANTED TO BE PART OF THIS CLUB!! 

 Regardless, she is our daughter.  She is our daughter.  She is our daughter!!!!  We love her just as much today as we did before April 22.  We will fight this battle alongside her and PRAISE HIM each step of the way.  What a glorious day it will be when we are able to SHOUT that Kate is healed!!

Taken after surgery on Wednesday.  They kind of love each other alot.:)

She has a long 6 months of treatment ahead of her.  We know there will be many dark days- days that she feels terrible and I wonder why in the world God wants to use her in such a way.  But we also see the resilience in her.  She is already feeling better and stronger than she did before chemo.  We believe with every part of us that it is already working to rid her precious body of those nasty leukemia cells.

We have heard stories of Kate literally changing lives.  I won't go into details because some of them are very personal for people, but I stand amazed at how God is using her precious life and testimony to bring others back to Him, open hearts to adoption and educate some about the perfection in all of us.

Complete churches all over the country are lifting up her name daily.  She has people praying for her in other countries- Israel and Spain are two I know of.  Our family and friends have quite literally become Christ's hands and feet to our family over the past 2 weeks.  We have been showered with love, prayers, food, help, childcare, gifts....thank you!!

Love Letters for Kate

Once again, we have reason to hold a Love Letters Campaign.  Please, join us in literally covering her hospital room with letters of encouragement, pictures, Bible verses, etc.  To learn more about what Love Letters for Kate is, read details about Celia's campaign here.  To see pictures of the Letters in the hospital go here.  If you wish to participate, please send an email to nogreatergiftmom@yahoo.com.

Put together by one incredible big sister and playing continuously in Kate's hospital room

And if you'd like to follow Kate's journey with more frequent updates, my sister started a Facebook page for her specifically for prayer requests and daily updates.  You can join here.

And finally, THANK YOU for joining us as we pray complete healing over our girl!  We firmly believe that our Heavenly Father has MIGHTY plans for Kate and this journey will just prove what's in store.

So many of you have become friends of mine.  Who knew my simple blog would help foster friendships that mean so much to me.  Thank you for walking alongside us through it all.

In Him,
E

Sunday morning worship via the internet while finishing chemo at the hospital!!:)