March 2, 1998 Today we headed for the cancer clinic, all of us were dragging. It was a hard weekend on Miky. She got to go to her Great-Nanna's funeral and got to see all her relatives. She also got to visit her other Great-Nanna in the hospital, who also has been going through chemo treatments. Miky thought it was quite neat to have the four generation picture taken, as the oldest and youngest proudly displayed their bald heads. *smile* She enjoyed the trip although it was hard on her. Her tests were taken and she just made the counts to go to the hospital today (for the last time we hope). Today she will be going into the operating room and getting her spinal chemo and also the other chemo will be started later today after her flush is finished. Thursday will be the big party (the end of the hospital chemo). We are really looking forward to that day. After this week all the chemo will be given in the cancer clinic. She will be given the spinal chemo while she is partly awake, so she will learn more this week how to do that. When she went into the hospital pulling her little suitcase, she looked so proud and happy. The day finally arrived that she will be doing that for the last time. It has been a long time for her. Praying all will go good this time and she starts to get built up again. March 3, 1998 Miky is very sick today from the chemo. Today at 6 p.m. it will be stopped and she will never receive this kind of chemo again. Thank God. No matter how sick she gets she is still a ray of sunshine to us around her. March 4, 1998 Miky is still sick today. She managed to go to the playroom and make a special card for her nurses on the ward. Tomorrow is her party. She says she doesn't want a party .. she just wants to go home. March 5, 1998 Today is the day. Miky escapes today. At 10 a.m. she had a big cake sitting on the table in the teen room. Miky was quite happy to hand out the cake to all of her friends. She even had a tiny piece herself. She was all smiles as she said goodbye to all. Seeing this gives the other parents hope and strength to carry on with their child's treatments. Miky received a big white teddy bear puppet and Matthew received a cute little stuffed dinosaur. From Mom, Dad and Matthew, Miky received a guardian angle to pin on her clothes to guard over her now that she is not going to have the nurses to look after her. As Miky got unhooked from the IV for the last time .. her smile could have blinded you. With all of that done and we were ready to leave .. Miky and Matthew grabbed her suitcase and said goodbye to all the nurses and they headed for the door. Heading for home at last .. it has been a long 5 1/2 months .. but a good 5 1/2 months .. as we saw a very sick girl (who wouldn't have lived past December without treatment) get healthy again and have a good chance for a long healthy life ahead of her. We will be starting another set of treatments now to be carried out in the next 2 years. March 9, 1998 It was back to the clinic today for testing again and to see if she goes back on the daily chemo treatments. Her counts are way too low. We have to go back on Thurs. to have them checked again. Our weather turned miserable again and really hate taking her out in this cold all the time with her so run down. Guess we do what we have to do and pray soon it will be spring. *smile* March 12, 1998 Today Miky's counts were good and she starts back on the daily chemo. You can tell she is feeling a bit better, the little sparkle of mischief is back in her eyes. It is good to see her smiling again. March 14, 1998 Today Miky and the rest of us are going to the Circus. Miky got tickets donated to the Cancer Childrens Fund. Thank you to whoever donated the 5 tickets. I am sure she will greatly enjoy it as I know I sure will. *smile* Being the driver does have a few benefits .. *giggle* March 16, 1998 The circus was enjoyed by all. Miky just squeeled when she saw the elephants .. I think that was her favorite part of the circus. She started to run a fever after going to the circus but it is low grade .. hopefully she didn't catch anything. At the circus we sat with another family from the hospital. Back further I had mentioned about the boy who had cancer in his leg and they were going to operate and use his knee as a hip and his ankle as a knee. Well they did and it is working and he is slowly learning how to walk again. It was good to see him so happy again. Today we had to be at the clinic at 8 am .. that is a bit too early for me .. hehehehe .. her tests came back .. not as good as thurs but still acceptable so we continue the daily chemo all week. Next week we have to go on Monday and Tue. Miky will be going into the operating room at the clinic on Tue. for a bone marrow test, chemo through her I.V., plus the spinal chemo and test and also the leg poke chemo. She will also have to take an extra daily chemo for the week following (this is that nasty stuff that makes her very uncontrollable). Seems like so much to give a little girl all at once. Poor little thing. March 23, 1998 Miky's counts today were too low to continue with treatment as planned. She is again taken off of daily chemo and tomorrow is cancelled. We try again next Monday *sigh*. Till then .. Pray for the little children. March 26, 1998 Today Miky's other Great-Grandma passed away. She will again have to make a trip. Miky was running a fever today and the clinic wanted to check her out before she could make the trip. Her counts were up a bit so she should be able to go to the funeral. March 28, 1998 Miky made the long trip today. She had to get up at 6 am to leave. It will be a long day for her. She once again fell asleep in Nanna's arms at the church. As soon as they start to sing she falls asleep. hehehe Her parents took her home in the evening to be close to her hospital in case the trip brought on a fever. March 30, 1998 Today Papa took Miky to the clinic for her blood work. They had a problem with her broviac and broke something in it. It will have to come out as soon as she is finished with the two next treatments. That will be nice for her. She will once again beable to play in her bath and go swimming. A somewhat normal life for Miky will happen very soon. Tomorrow, Miky will be going into the operating room and have all the procedures that was to be done last week. Her Mom was informed today, that after these next two weeks are done and when the broviac tube is taken out, Miky can go to her own doctor near her house to have the blood work and chemo shots done. She will have to only be taken to the clinic every 6 weeks. This page will slow down then .. it has been a long hard battle but it was well worth it. Miky is worth anything to keep her healthy and happy. March 31, 1998 Today we headed for the clinic for Miky's treatments. She was in a good mood and happy. She knows these things are almost done and it is going to get better. She did very good in the operating room and woke up a bit ticked that they poked her in three places; but, took it all in stride and was very pleasant when she came home. This will be a bad week as she has to take that chemo that makes her very angry. Another month has gone by .. a bad month again .. only good thing about it is that Miky is getting closer to being finished all of this constant running. Thank God .. See you next month.