DECEMBER 2008

Sorry it has been awhile since the last update. Things for Shelbie have been going pretty well. We had been having a hard time controlling some severe headaches she was having (yes, headaches are still an issue). So just to keep it short, the doc's increased some of her seizure meds thinking her brain was having temperal lobe seizures that we were not aware of. They also put her on Imatrex to help treat the headaches as migranes. This has actually seamed to help (quite a bit actually). If she does get a headache, and the Imatrex is not helping, she takes a codene or oxycodone (depending on how bad it is)and goes to bed to try and sleep it off. Poor girl huh!!!!!

School has been going well. Shelbie brought home her first report card for the year and has straight "A's"!!! We are very proud of her, especially with how much school she misses!! The 5th grade went to Clear Creak(just overnight) the second week of December and Shelbie was really worried she would not be able to go. Since she made counts (blood counts) she was able to go and had a blast. She even said it was warmer there than it was at home. Thank goodness there had not been alot of snow for the season yet!! I have to admit, it was kind of hard letting her go and letting someone other than Mom be responsible for giving her all her meds and everything...but she was on a chemo break and make counts so I bit my lip all night long and worried until I knew she was safe at home.

Dec 15, 2008 Shelb had another MRI....it is always stressful anticipating the results....She is just starting her 14th month of chemo treatments(WOW!!! I don't know where the time has gone). The good news of the MRI result is that the tumor in her brainstem has not grown in size. The mass in her temperal lobe remains unchanged....The frustrating news is the Doc's can tell that the tumor in her brainstem is still active.... In a nutshell.... as of right now the plan is to let her be done with chemo the end of Feb to the first part of March ( happy b-day Shelb March 19) and start 6 weeks of radiation. She will be having radiation 5 days a week for the 6 weeks.

On a lighter note.... and humbling one..... we had the opportunity to go the The Children with Cancer Family Christmas Party and had a great time. It is amazing to me each year the amount of love, time and energy all the committee members put into this. Each year there are more tears... more smiles... and more memories.

We want everyone to know how much we appreciate your support and prayers. We hope you have a very Happy Holiday Season!!!

As always, please pray for all the "little fighters" during their battle as well as the ones that are with the Angels now....