The Weeds and Grass of Leukemia

Yesterday was Ainsley's chemotherapy.  She did better having her port accessed than ever before!  We put the EMLA numbing cream on about an hour before, and then the nurses told her that if they didn't hear any crying, that she'd get to choose a gift from the special reward cabinet.  There was a beautiful dolly in there that she really wanted.  She lifted up her shirt, showed them her port site, and let them access it (stick the needle in).  We are very proud of our little girl!  She also, out of the blue, decided that the toilet was her friend again.  We'll see how long that lasts, but that was a welcomed relief.  Her bowel movements are improving as well!!! (Yep, three exclamation points, because that is a BIG deal around here)

So each time Ainsley goes in for her treatments (1-2 times per week at this point), they check her lab values.  We talk the most about her platelets (stop bleeding and therefore bruising), her hemoglobin (oxygen carrying portion of the blood, this is the number that indicates "anemia"), her White Blood Cell count (these are the cells that fight infection, but this number can be sky-high with leukemia, but they aren't working; it is also wiped out to almost immeasurable with the chemotherapy), and her ANC (absolute neutrophil count, the portion of the white blood cells that can actually fight off infection).  Ainsley showed great improvement in all areas!  Her platelets are actually back to normal and her ANC has improved so much that she doesn't have to wear the mask at the doctor's office!  She even had some measurable white blood cells!  This shows that her bone marrow is working to rebuild the good cells, instead of being overrun by the cancer at this point.  It's a 2.5 year battle, but Ainsley is clearly showing Cancer that she is up for the fight!  We thank you all for your thoughts and prayers as we know they are helping with her recovery!

A good way to think of what is happening with Leukemia is this:  Your bone marrow produces your Red Blood Cells (RBC's), White Blood Cells (WBC's) and Platelets (like floating globs of chewed-up gum that stop bleeding).   Your front lawn is like your bone marrow and blood stream.  Leukemia is like a weed that takes over your White Blood Cells and causes them to be mass-produced, taking over your lawn.  Chemotherapy is like a weed spray.  The goal is to kill all the weeds and stop them from coming back without killing the grass underneath it.  Next week they will sample Ainsley's bone marrow again to see the weed/lawn levels.  The fact that Ainsley's platelets and ANC have improved so much shows that the lawn is regrowing and the weeds are retreating.

Many of our friends and family have been wondering about the treatment process over the next 2-3 years.  The truth of the matter is, so have we.  The first 30 days is a set regimen, with the future dictated by her response.  The consistent part is the time.  They have found that if they stop the treatment before 2.5 years, the leukemia (ALL) comes back, but if they complete the 2.5 years, they can cure it over 90% of the time.  It's also interesting to note that they only treat girls for 2.5 years, and boys with ALL have to be treated for 3.5 years.  So regardless of her response, we'll be making weekly trips to the hospital for her chemotherapy treatments until about September of 2015.  "Inch by inch, life is a cinch.  Yard by yard it's hard."  Or as Dory would say "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming..."  They did say that at some point toward the end it may be every 2 weeks!

With time, Ainsley is starting to adjust to life as her new normal.  She greets each morning saying "I'm ready for my medicine" and instructs us on how she'd like it:  "one pill" (meaning she wants it all crushed into one bite of cottage cheese; two pills means two bites) and "chase it with (her choice of beverage or food)."  She usually chooses milk or chocolate milk for the chaser and whatever she is eating for breakfast or dinner.  Who ever thought my 4 year old would be talking about "chasers?"  She has started to tell me she loves me and I'm "the best Dad ever!"  I'll take it!   This little girl melts my heart!