This website has been created to keep family friends and visitors updated and informed on Emily's progress
EMILY'S STORY
First of all our family has had it rough. We have a bad history with cancer. My mom died when I was 7 months pregnant with Emily of ovarian cancer. Then September 28, 2003 my mother in law died of cancer.
Then started the journey with Emily. October 6, 2003 I took Emily to the hospital because the right side of her stomach was sticking out and was hard. They ran lots of tests and after the ultrasound it confirmed that there was a mass. They scheduled her for surgery to remove the mass. When they did the surgery they removed the whole kidney and a 3 pound tumor.
They came and told me that my little girl had cancer called Wilms tumor. It was Stage 1 Favorable histology. I can't even explain the feeling that came over me when I heard those Words. That is when we met with the doctor and he told us that she would have 18 weeks of chemotherapy. He also told me that she had a 90% curable rate. She went through her 18 weeks of chemo. Her last treatment was on February 12, 2004. Everything was going great. All her chest x-rays turned out fine and her tests came out good.
June 18, 2004 Emily started experiencing trouble breathing. I called the doctor and he said if I didn't feel comfortable with this then take her to the hospital (it was 10pm). So once again I found myself in the emergency room with her. They ran all the neccessary tests and then came and told me that the cancer was back. It not only came back but it had taken over her whole right lung. She was immediately admitted to the hospital and scheduled for a biopsy. On June 21 they did the biopsy. After that surgery she was on a ventilator for 2 weeks. During that time they tried to extabate 3 times. The first time was on June 26. They had to re-intabate right away. The 2nd time was on June 29. She did okay for about 36 hours and then went into respitory distress and became unresponsive. I felt like I was watching my little girl slip away from me. They had to re-intabate again at 6am July 1. The last time was on July 3 and it was finally a success.
She got released from the hospital on July 9 with the tumor still inside her. They say that it is too risky to remove it. Now she has had about 18 radiation treatments and lots and lots of chemotherapy. She goes to the doctor nearly everyday. The tumor shrunk 50% in size, but still not enough for me. She has a loud weezing sound when she breaths. She says that she has no trouble breathing. The doctor thinks that she may have nerve damage because of how many times they took the tube out and put it back in.
It is with great sadness that I come here today and bring this news. Samantha passed away this morning. She was such an amazing young lady and a true inspiration. Please visit her site and offer some words of comfort and some prayers for her family. Sammi is healed and is now a Sweet Angel in Heaven and her pain is gone. But her families pain has just begun. Fly High Super Sam! You are healed and free from the beast!
Love and Hugs, Angela
I want to start off by asking for some urgent prayers for a special friend and fellow wilms warrior. Samantha really needs your prayers and her family could really use your support. Sammi is in alot of pain tonight and has been unresponsive for most of the evening. Please pray for comfort for Sammi and peace and comfort for her family.
Things here have been going okay. Emily has been feeling good. She is having the occasional belly pain and some issue with breathing. The school called me today cause they were concerned about her breathing and because she snuck some of her Zantac to school with her in her backpack. The nurse just took them from her and told her she couldn't be bringing meds to school like that. She didn't get into any trouble. Other then that she is doing good in school. Little Charlie is doing great. Still loving school and doing good.
We didn't do much over the weekend. Monday Daddy took Little Charlie hunting. They haven't been able to go in 2yrs so they were super excited about going. They left very early in the morning and came home with their limit of 20 Dove. They had a great time and can't wait to go again. Then after they got home they got cleaned up and we went to Rob Cottrell's house for a BBQ and swimming. The kids had so much fun and it was so nice to get out and hang out with friends. Here are some pictures from Monday.
This saturday Emily is going to Aunt Kelly's for my Niece Katelynn's sleepover birthday party. Emily is so excited. She doesn't get to spend much time with Katelynn anymore and can't wait for saturday to come. Don't know what we else we have planned for the weekend. I think I am going to try to get some really good pictures of the kids.
I would also like to ask for a prayer request for us. The house deal is looking good. We get to see the inside of it on Friday. We are very excited. The house is 2800sqft and the same amount in rent that we are paying now for a 1500sqft house. First I would like to ask that you pray that we are approved and that the money is there for us to move in. Also today I got some bad news that Emily will be losing her insurance. We are so upset about this. Even though she is 3 1/2 yrs off treatment we have not been able to find an insurance company that will insure her until she is at least 5yrs off treatment. I am so upset that they are dropping her. They say we make to much money to stay on and yet we are barely making it financially. I will never understand the system. Please pray that we figure something out and she will not be without insurance to long. She has upcoming doctors appointments the first part of October and I believe we have scans coming up around that time as well.
Thank you all for checking in and praying for our family. It means so much. Hope you all have a great weekend. (((HUGS))) to all!!
Please remember to pray for our fellow wilms tumor fighters. They can be found Here. Also please continue your prayers for our friend Samantha. Then of course don't forget our angel friends families, here are just a few of them Haley's Family, Thank you for always watching over us, the brightest star in the sky. Addie's family,Ethan's family, and Josh's Family,Brooke's Family,Kyle's family,Brooke Ann's Family, and Amazing Jacob's Family. Also we ask that you keep in your prayers our soldier friends Ryan Kules, and Maj Daniel Gade and thier families. They are doing great and we wish them the best always. Also please pray for all the soldiers still in Iraq and Afghanistan. Thank you for praying for all our friends.
Thank you for checking in on Emily and our family. Please don't forget to sign the guestbook. We love to read your messages. Please continue to pray for all the kids fighting cancer, the ones in remission, and the families of the Precious Angels in Heaven. We love you all and God Bless!
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