Just a quick update! It's been 6 months since Tillie's last chemo treatment and she is doing great! At the end of May the Maier Family moved up to Everett, WA. It was not a move they had planned on, but the property owner of their duplex decided to move into their unit. So they ended up going further north, which seems to be a good move, other than they're further away from all the grandparents! :(
We have often sung the praises of the wonderful Dr. Irwin...here's why! What a wonderful human being! He loves what he does and he relates so well with the kids! This time it's Dr. Tillie doing the exam!
In June Tillie did the survivor lap for Relay For Life in Shelton..
The photographer for the local paper got this picture of Tillie and interviewed Emily as we were walking. I commented to a friend how mature Tillie looks and her comment was "she's standing still!" Ha..so true! I do think a child who goes through a life threatening illness grows up a little faster than they might have..They have gone through so much! A boy who was treating for a brain cancer during the same time Tillie was treating died in June. It is such a stark reminder that cancer is a horrible disease that doesn't always have the successful outcome that we are experiencing. As I follow more pediatric cancer groups on Facebook we find that pediatric cancer research is extremely underfunded! I'm not sure what the answer is, but I do believe more research needs to be in prevention! Not all cancers fall into this category, but so many of them can be held at bay by changing nutritional habits. If I understand this correctly, Tillie's cancer came about due to a gene mutation in the womb.
On July 8, 2013, Tillie had her port surgically removed from her chest. It was outpatient surgery at Mary Bridge. It was a long day, but the port is gone! And it was a purple port! Perfect for a princess who likes pink and purple! The surgeon who removed the port was the same surgeon who did her surgeries for her back infection (see posts from 2010) and who also put in her port. He remembered Tillie and was so glad to see her doing so well!
This picture was taken as they were heading off to surgery.
In the waiting room..Ravis loves trucks, trains...anything with wheels and he loves to lay on the ground and play with them. There are many pictures of Ravis in this position! This little guy turns 4 on August 3rd! 3/4's of his life has been a sibling of a cancer patient! He's not real verbal yet, but this has been a journey of his own!
In her room recovering. This was taken just after Tillie tried to sit up and get rolling. We had to convince her she needed to rest! She had trouble a little later keeping a popsicle down so some anti-nausea medicine was added to her IV...
Always our poser! She's ready to go home! She had some crackers and kept them down so all systems were go...so we thought! Poor Emily..it was bumper to bumper traffic all the way home to Everett and Tillie got sick a couple of times and Ravis had some problems of his own! She called me when she got home and was in tears! But, after a quiet day Tuesday, they were ready to resume normal life!
July 12th...Tillie's monthly appointment where the blood was drawn via a finger poke. We were all a little nervous as to how she would respond. Because the drive from Everett varies due to traffic, Emily and the kids got there early. So when I arrived at the appointment time, Tillie was all finished and did pretty well. She didn't want Mom with her, she chose Robyn, the Child Life Specialist! A visit from the nurse practitioner from the surgeon's office to check Tillie's incision and we were on our way! Fastest appointment ever!
If you take a close look at Tillie's hair you might notice that she trimmed her own bangs! Emily asked her why and she said "they were in my way!" Haha...I think every kid gives themselves a haircut at least once in their life!
We are so thankful that Tillie is doing well! Her next adventure will be first grade in a new school in Everett..Tillie will be 7 on September 2nd, and has requested a clam bake birthday party! That should be fun!
Thank you all for your love, support and prayers!
