Journal History

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Monday, May 1, 2006 8:11 AM CDT

958 days post transplant



Hello,

Can you believe I am doing an update!!!!!!

I am truly sorry for the VERY long gap between updates.. I guess you could say it is a good thing that we have been so busy, but that’s not why…

Let me first start of by saying THANK YOU to those who still come by Christina’s site, I WILL post more updates now that I am going to get everyone caught up on what’s going on in our lives…

Tomorrow MAY2nd will be the 4 year anniversary of when our world was turned upside down… On May 2nd 2002 is when we took Christina to the emergency room and make that long drive by ambulance to All Children’s’ Hospital in St.Petersburg…

I truly can not believe that 4 years has gone by, sometimes it seems forever ago and then other times it seems like yesterday… It sure has been one heck of a roller coaster ride and as many of you know it never ends…. I guess I should say for Christina it seems to never end…

So with that said I guess I will go to her medical update… for the past few months she has battled these very bad headaches, well we have found out that her ovaries have completely failed.. Her mind is telling her 12 years old body to go through puberty, but her ovaries are so I don’t think so we are done…. So basically she is a 12 year old going through menopause… She is experiencing the headaches, BAD mood swings, hot flashes etc… So one Wednesday the 3rd Christina will go back to the hospital for 6 hours of stress tests on her hormones… What all this shows I don’t know yet, but they are wanting to see if her growth hormones are also failing.. They can put her on replacement therapy for her menopause, but that can effect her growth, so they want to see where she stands as far of growing more.. It is all so confusing to me, and Christina is having a hard time understanding what is going on…

The cause of the ovarian failure is just due to all the treatment she has been through, the aggressive chemo and total body radiation… We new off all the risks, but you do what you have to do to keep her here with us, so now we will just have to deal with the complications that pop up along the way… And from everything I am learning, all sorts of things can now start showing up wrong now and years to come.. And since Christina had a unrelated cord blood transplant there is just not that much research showing what we will be dealing with farther down the road… It’s scary… I know the Cancer is gone, but now we have to worry about other problems like organ failure and damage that just takes awhile to surface…

So I will update when I find out what these tests that are being done Wednesday say…

Let me end on a good note… Christina is still doing very well in school.. They only have a few more weeks left… Mike has pasted Nursing 1... He starts on Nursing 2 next week… Ashley is doing very well also.. She is just growing up WAY TO FAST… And as far as me I am hanging in there….



Well, I guess I talk more later… Love Sherry

Christina was in a Tampa Tribune article on Christmas Day, written by a wonderful man named Joe Henderson, he is the one who has done 2 other articles about Christina and he called and said that he had some people coming up to him asking for an update on Christina so he felt it was time to do a follow up story on Christina’s progress… Here is a link to the article..























If you are interested in a pack of cards with Christina’s art work You can do so by going to www.thechildrenscancercenter.org


Well, I guess that is about all for now…. For those of you who still come by, thanks for being patient with me on the updates, over the summer I will be much better at updating… Thank you for still caring and praying and leaving words of encouragement, you will never know just how much it means to me and our Family…..

Thank you ALL again for the continual support and well wishes you give Christina and our Family…

Love, Sherry




CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….


Again, Thank you ALL for your continual support, well wishes and prayers…. Christina and our family THANK YOU….

Love, Sherry


************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>**********************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>****











************************************************************************

HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>


IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773



***************>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<******************>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<


I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site









Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>







THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!




The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…









Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003






Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love








Wednesday, February 15, 2006 8:02 AM CST

883 days post transplant



Hello,

Wow like I always say time sure does fly by… if you having fun or not…. Ha ha….

Lets see where to begin… Christina is pretty sick right now, she has been having fevers now for 8 days, she did receive the flu shot a month ago, but it is possible she still caught the flu or some other type of virus…
O.k. let me back track here.. After the whole sinus surgery thing Christina still was having a problem with the bad headaches, the first week of February she went to clinic and had an ekg, echo and a MRI done to try and figure out what the source of the headaches and hot flashes where… Well all the test came back fine, except the fact that Christina was still suffering from major headaches that were keeping her from going to school, or if she went to school she would call me to come home…

Well now Christina has to go see an Endocrinologist, Dr. Petrovic looked back at some previous blood test that Christina has been getting post transplant and it looks like Christina is going into Ovarian failure… Basically her brain is telling her body to go into puberty and her ovaries and other female parts are say NO… This is due to the Total Body Radiation she received pre transplant, and also all the aggressive chemo she received over the past few years… What can be done to fix this if ANYTHING???? We do NOT know… So that is why we are going to see the specialist… Your endocrine system is a group of organs that work together and if one is not working, or not working properly then it throws your whole endocrine system off… So that looks like the source of the Headaches, mood swings and the hot flashes.. Basically Christina is going through MENAPAUSE at 12... I feel so sorry for her… She doesn’t really understand all of this.. She is getting very frustrated, because, everyone seems to think O.H. well the Cancer is gone, now you can be normal again, life can be normal again… Well NO it can’t… What is normal ANYWAY!!!! Christina will forever have a battle a head of her, maybe not CANCER, but something from the treatment s to save her life will hallways haunt her and us… And that stinks!!!

Sorry had to vent for a moment…. Thanks for listening…

So now we are back to the past week, bless her heart she is so sick.. We go back to clinic on Thursday.. We went this past Thursday and Monday and it looks like her counts are being effected by what ever she is trying to fight off.. Her platelets have dropped below normal and she had 3 other things below normal and after she saw that she got scared… She even asked me on the way home from St.Pete if I thought the cancer was coming back… I told her I didn’t think so but she knows that there is always the possibility… She just said that it was scaring her because of the headaches, fever and now the platelets dropping, it reminded her of the other 2 times she was told it was cancer… Amazing how they remember everything, even if you think they don’t…

Well I have rambled enough… On a good note even though Christina has missed A LOT of school her in the past month, she is adjusting to 7th grade pretty good… Ashley is doing very good in school too and so is Mike.. I am so proud of all 3 of them….

Well, I guess I talk more later… Love Sherry

Christina was in a Tampa Tribune article on Christmas Day, written by a wonderful man named Joe Henderson, he is the one who has done 2 other articles about Christina and he called and said that he had some people coming up to him asking for an update on Christina so he felt it was time to do a follow up story on Christina’s progress… Here is a link to the article..























If you are interested in a pack of cards with Christina’s art work You can do so by going to www.thechildrenscancercenter.org


Well, I guess that is about all for now…. For those of you who still come by, thanks for being patient with me on the updates, over the summer I will be much better at updating… Thank you for still caring and praying and leaving words of encouragement, you will never know just how much it means to me and our Family…..

Thank you ALL again for the continual support and well wishes you give Christina and our Family…

Love, Sherry




CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….


Again, Thank you ALL for your continual support, well wishes and prayers…. Christina and our family THANK YOU….

Love, Sherry


************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>**********************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>****











************************************************************************

HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>


IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773



***************>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<******************>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<


I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site









Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>







THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!




The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…









Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003






Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love








Tuesday, January 10, 2006 7:58 AM CST

847 days post transplant


I THOUGHT THIS WAS A CUTE PICTURE OF CHRISTINA... IF YOU HAVE HAD THE JOY OF BEING AROUND HER YOU ARE FAMILAR WITH THIS LOOK.. HA HA...

Hello,

Christina wanted to do an update this time so here it is… I will add to it in the end…

Hi everyone its Christina sorry we haven’t updated in a while I had my surgery the fifth they ended not having to take my adenoids out. My throat still kind of hurt after that but I still had an allergy test done. And we will find those results out in about a week. I went back to school on Friday and I got promoted to seventh grade isn’t that cool I was so surprised I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t even know it was going to happen because the last thing we had heard was I don’t know and maybe. I really like it but I sort of miss my friends and my old teachers but my new teachers are nice and I know a lot of the seventh graders already. Well I have to go thank you so much for coming to my site have a nice new year bye. LOVE,Christina

O.k. now back to my update…

Charistina was in a Tampa Tribune article on Christmas Day, written by a wonderful man named Joe Henderson, he is the one who has done 2 other articles about Christina and he called and said that he had some people coming up to him asking for an update on Christina so he felt it was time to do a follow up story on Christina’s progress… Here is a link to the article..
Click Here to see Tampa Tribune Article

Our Christmas and New Year were very nice… We just stayed home and enjoyed being with Family… Just being home together is all we needed for Christmas and to start the New Year…

Well, I’ll let everyone know how the results of all Christina’s sinus issues turn out…






















If you are interested in a pack of cards with Christina’s art work You can do so by going to www.thechildrenscancercenter.org


Well, I guess that is about all for now…. For those of you who still come by, thanks for being patient with me on the updates, over the summer I will be much better at updating… Thank you for still caring and praying and leaving words of encouragement, you will never know just how much it means to me and our Family…..

Thank you ALL again for the continual support and well wishes you give Christina and our Family…

Love, Sherry




CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….


Again, Thank you ALL for your continual support, well wishes and prayers…. Christina and our family THANK YOU….

Love, Sherry


************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>**********************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>****











************************************************************************

HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>


IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773



***************>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<******************>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<


I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site









Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>







THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!




The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…









Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003






Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love








Monday, December 19, 2005 7:25 AM CST

825 days post transplant



Hello,

Wow where does time go????

I am so very sorry for the lack of updates.. Like usual things always seem to be crazy around here and the holidays don’t seem to help much either….
Let’s see where to start…
I guess I will start of with Christina…
Christina has been sick now for the past 3 months, mainly her sinuses and a very nasty cough.. She has been on antibiotics for over a month and it seems to be NOT working… So after a few trips to clinic they have determined it would be best if Christina had her adenoids removes ASAP… We just found this out this past Wednesday… After quite a few CT scans it looks like her sinuses are fully packed and they don’t seem to want to clear up with the help of meds… So now we are just waiting or an appointment in surgery to have them removed… She is not looking forward to yet another surgery, but we keep telling her that hopefully this will make her feel better… The cough is what is bothering her the most… It is the nastiest sounding cough and it is due to all the drainage from her sinuses… YUK….
Anyway, that is where we stand with her… So far all her lab/blood work has been looking pretty good… Her white count has been elevated, but we think it is due to her body trying to fight off infection and like usual her platelets are just at what is considered normal, they just don’t seem to want to go up any…. I would love to see them higher, but it hasn’t happened yet… O.h. Well…

School has been going well for Christina, she is keeping up pretty good, she struggles in math, but other than that she is doing well… Ashley is doing very well in school too… I am so very proud of both girls….

Our 2 nieces are still here with us… the oldest one Aftin, just got married on Saturday and she will be leaving to go to an Air Force base in North Carolina the day after Christmas… Her Now husband is in the service…. This will be very hard on all of us when she leaves, but mostly on Christina… Aftin and Christina have been sharing a room now for over 5 months and they have gotten so close and there personalities are so much alike, that Christina is not taken Aftin’s moving away very well at all…. This will just be one more hurdle for Christina to get over…. But she will …

The youngest niece is still with us too, she is the one who is a Senior in High School, she is doing very, very well… She has a 4.0 and head of her ROTC at school and she even works after school… She is an amazing young lady and she is so good for the girls to be around… I tell everyone all the time I have laughed more in the last 4 month with Krista here than the last 4 yrs because this young lady just laughs all the time… She has an absolutely amazing spirit and personality and she is always happy and silly…. She has really helped pick us all up, especially the girls… and me too… ha ha…

Mike is getting ready to start Nursing 1 on Jan 3rd…. So far we have gotten pretty much everything he needs for school… His white nursing uniform just looks perfect on him… When he puts it on, it just looks right… I believe this is what God wanted, this Mikes calling… and we are all so VER PROUD of him….

As for me… I am still standing….. Good days, bad days… I am just THANKFUL for my family to all be together… I am so THANKFUL for everything, every moment, every breathe, every experience and for LIFE…… I am thankful to all the people who still continue to keep Christina and our family in you thoughts and prayers….



O.h. one important thing is Christina did some art work for the Children’s Cancer Center and 2 of her drawings got picked as winners.. YEAH CHRISTINA… A flower drawing got picked for the everyday card selection and then a drawing of a reindeer got picked for a Christmas card… She was so VERY excited.. If you would like to get a pack of cards with Christina’s art work You can do so by going to www.thechildrenscancercenter.org


Well, I guess that is about all for now…. For those of you who still come by, thanks for being patient with me on the updates, over the summer I will be much better at updating… Thank you for still caring and praying and leaving words of encouragement, you will never know just how much it means to me and our Family…..

Thank you ALL again for the continual support and well wishes you give Christina and our Family…

Love, Sherry




CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….


Again, Thank you ALL for your continual support, well wishes and prayers…. Christina and our family THANK YOU….

Love, Sherry


************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>**********************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>****











************************************************************************

HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>


IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773



***************>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<******************>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<


I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site









Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>







THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!




The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…









Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003






Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love








Monday, December 19, 2005 7:17 AM CST

825 days post transplant



Hello,

Wow where does time go????

I am so very sorry for the lack of updates.. Like usual things always seem to be crazy around here and the holidays don’t seem to help much either….
Let’s see where to start…
I guess I will start of with Christina…
Christina has been sick now for the past 3 months, mainly her sinuses and a very nasty cough.. She has been on antibiotics for over a month and it seems to be NOT working… So after a few trips to clinic they have determined it would be best if Christina had her adenoids removes ASAP… We just found this out this past Wednesday… After quite a few CT scans it looks like her sinuses are fully packed and they don’t seem to want to clear up with the help of meds… So now we are just waiting or an appointment in surgery to have them removed… She is not looking forward to yet another surgery, but we keep telling her that hopefully this will make her feel better… The cough is what is bothering her the most… It is the nastiest sounding cough and it is due to all the drainage from her sinuses… YUK….
Anyway, that is where we stand with her… So far all her lab/blood work has been looking pretty good… Her white count has been elevated, but we think it is due to her body trying to fight off infection and like usual her platelets are just at what is considered normal, they just don’t seem to want to go up any…. I would love to see them higher, but it hasn’t happened yet… O.h. Well…

School has been going well for Christina, she is keeping up pretty good, she struggles in math, but other than that she is doing well… Ashley is doing very well in school too… I am so very proud of both girls….

Our 2 nieces are still here with us… the oldest one Aftin, just got married on Saturday and she will be leaving to go to an Air Force base in North Carolina the day after Christmas… Her Now husband is in the service…. This will be very hard on all of us when she leaves, but mostly on Christina… Aftin and Christina have been sharing a room now for over 5 months and they have gotten so close and there personalities are so much alike, that Christina is not taken Aftin’s moving away very well at all…. This will just be one more hurdle for Christina to get over…. But she will …

The youngest niece is still with us too, she is the one who is a Senior in High School, she is doing very, very well… She has a 4.0 and head of her ROTC at school and she even works after school… She is an amazing young lady and she is so good for the girls to be around… I tell everyone all the time I have laughed more in the last 4 month with Krista here than the last 4 yrs because this young lady just laughs all the time… She has an absolutely amazing spirit and personality and she is always happy and silly…. She has really helped pick us all up, especially the girls… and me too… ha ha…

Mike is getting ready to start Nursing 1 on Jan 3rd…. So far we have gotten pretty much everything he needs for school… His white nursing uniform just looks perfect on him… When he puts it on, it just looks right… I believe this is what God wanted, this Mikes calling… and we are all so VER PROUD of him….

As for me… I am still standing….. Good days, bad days… I am just THANKFUL for my family to all be together… I am so THANKFUL for everything, every moment, every breathe, every experience and for LIFE…… I am thankful to all the people who still continue to keep Christina and our family in you thoughts and prayers….


O.h. one important thing is Christina did some art work for the Children’s Cancer Center and 2 of her drawings got picked as winners.. YEAH CHRISTINA… A flower drawing got picked for the everyday card selection and then a drawing of a reindeer got picked for a Christmas card… She was so VERY excited.. If you would like to get a pack of cards with Christina’s art work You can do so by going to www.thechildrenscancercenter.org


Well, I guess that is about all for now…. For those of you who still come by, thanks for being patient with me on the updates, over the summer I will be much better at updating… Thank you for still caring and praying and leaving words of encouragement, you will never know just how much it means to me and our Family…..

Thank you ALL again for the continual support and well wishes you give Christina and our Family…

Love, Sherry




CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….


Again, Thank you ALL for your continual support, well wishes and prayers…. Christina and our family THANK YOU….

Love, Sherry


************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>**********************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>****











************************************************************************

HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>


IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773



***************>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<******************>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<


I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site









Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>







THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!




The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…









Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003






Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love








Friday, November 18, 2005 8:27 AM CST

794 days post transplant



Hello,

I thought it was about time for an update.. So much has been going on…
First I am taking Christina to clinic today because she has been sick for about 2 months now and she just can’t seem to shake this… She has the nastiest cough and has ran a low grade fever now for over a week. Dr. Petrovic just wants her oxygen level checked and her lungs just to make sure nothing serious is going on… About this time last year is when she was back in the hospital because of her lungs… SO it’s better to be safe than sorry… Also Christina fell going UP the stairs at school on Wednesday and hurt her wrist/hand pretty good and Dr. Petrovic wants her hand checked because she said that with everything she has been through especially the radiation that Christina’s bone density is not good so there might be a fracture or something, again better to be safe than sorry… Other than those things Christina has been doing pretty good… We should find out soon if she is going to get moved up to 7th grade, the grade she was suppose to be in .. He grades are looking good and she is catching up very quickly… I am so proud of her…

Ashley is doing pretty good too.. Her school basketball team has not one a game yet, but they have been playing there hearts out… She is really enjoying playing basketball…

Mike is still doing very well in school, he is getting a lot of stuff done that needs to be done before he starts the nursing program in January…

As for me and am hanging in there… Some good days some bad, but that’s life…

Sadly I got a call the other night from another cancer mom telling me that our dear sweet friend Emily Lester has relapsed… I just can not believe it… The girls are devastated… Emily had ALL Leukemia and had been off treatment for over a year and a half when the cancer showed it’s UGLY face again…. My heart just breaks… The first initial diagnoses of your child having cancer is hard enough, but after that child has fought so long and hard to have the cancer come back is just unexplainable… Please PRAY very hard for Emily, this family was so very supportive of us when Christina was in the hospital many times, and during transplant they would come get Ashley and take her to the beach and to there house and made her feel so very loved and welcome… That’s were Ashley learned how to buggy board and I might add the Lester’s were very good teachers because Ashley can boggy board very well now…

Well, I will update when I know more on Christina and Emily…



O.h. one important thing is Christina did some art work for the Children’s Cancer Center and 2 of her drawings got picked as winners.. YEAH CHRISTINA… A flower drawing got picked for the everyday card selection and then a drawing of a reindeer got picked for a Christmas card… She was so VERY excited.. If you would like to get a pack of cards with Christina’s art work You can do so by going to www.thechildrenscancercenter.org


Well, I guess that is about all for now…. For those of you who still come by, thanks for being patient with me on the updates, over the summer I will be much better at updating… Thank you for still caring and praying and leaving words of encouragement, you will never know just how much it means to me and our Family…..

Thank you ALL again for the continual support and well wishes you give Christina and our Family…

Love, Sherry




CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….


Again, Thank you ALL for your continual support, well wishes and prayers…. Christina and our family THANK YOU….

Love, Sherry


************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>**********************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>****











************************************************************************

HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>


IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773



***************>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<******************>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<


I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site









Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>







THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!




The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…









Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003






Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love








Wednesday, October 26, 2005 2:17 PM CDT

771 days post transplant



Hello,

Yet another month has pasted since I’ve updated…

Let’s see where to begin..
Christina is doing pretty good health wise, she goes back to clinic next week for blood work and some more shots… She seems to be doing pretty good, she has her good and bad days.. Her energy level is still not the greatest, but I think she is starting to get use to the school routine, being out of it for over 3 years takes time to adjust… She did get 5 A’s and 2 B’s on her report card and the 2 B’s were 2 points from being A’s, so I am setting up a meeting with her guidance councilor to see if maybe she can be moved up to the 7th grade. That is the grade she is suppose to be in, but we held her back thinking she would struggle a little, but she is catching on very quickly… She wants to be in the 7th grade because that where she is suppose to be and I think it would help her mentally… Like I said on the medical side she is holding her own, but she does still have a lot of mental issues she is dealing with.. She just feels so different than everyone else, which is totally understandable…

O.h. one important thing is Christina did some art work for the Children’s Cancer Center and 2 of her drawings got picked as winners.. YEAH CHRISTINA… A flower drawing got picked for the everyday card selection and then a drawing of a reindeer got picked for a Christmas card… She was so VERY excited.. … If you would like to get a pack of cards with Christina’s art work You can do so by going to www.thechildrenscancercenter.org

Ashley made her 8th grade Basketball team… YEAH ASHLEY!!!!! She is so very excited…. She goes to practice twice a week and she has her first game Nov 1st… GOOD LUCK ASHLEY… Ashley also did very well on her repot card All A’s and B’s, she had 1 C…but she says she will do better.. All we ask of the girls is to do there best… We are so proud of both of them….

O.k. more good news… This is something I have NOT shared with our caring bridge family.. Mike has been going to College for the past year getting all of his prerequisites done trying to get into the RN nursing program to become a nurse to work with the transplant team at All Children’s Hospital… Well, he is part of the Honor Society and has kept a 4.0 for the last year and with some letters of recommendations (Thanks Doctor Petrovic) Mike just found out Friday he was excepted for the Nursing program that starts this January… CONGRATULATIONS MIKE!!!! A lot of Christina’s Nurses and Dr. Petrovic have really pushed Mike to go into nursing, he pretty much took over Christina’s care when she was very sick and I think he will be amazing… I have been trying to keep the family going while Mike has become a full time college student at the age of 33... Better late than never.. Ha ha… No excuses, but it just seems I never get a chance to update… I think if I update at least once a week maybe I wouldn’t write a novel every time… ha ha..

Well as far as me… I am here and I thank God everyday for allowing us all be together.. That’s all I need in my life is us to be together Happy, Healthy and Safe…


Well, I guess that is about all for now…. For those of you who still come by, thanks for being patient with me on the updates, over the summer I will be much better at updating… Thank you for still caring and praying and leaving words of encouragement, you will never know just how much it means to me and our Family…..

Thank you ALL again for the continual support and well wishes you give Christina and our Family…

Love, Sherry




CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….


Again, Thank you ALL for your continual support, well wishes and prayers…. Christina and our family THANK YOU….

Love, Sherry


************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>**********************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>****











************************************************************************

HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>


IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773



***************>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<******************>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<


I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site









Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>







THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!




The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…









Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003






Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love








Thursday, September 22, 2005 8:08 AM CDT

731days post transplant


NEW PICTURE ABOVE IS OF MY GIRLS AND MY NIECES, WE NOW HAVE 4 GIRLS IN THE HOUSE... INFO IN THE UPDATE...
Hello,

Wow I can’t believe it has been so long since I’ve updated… I apologize for the lack of updates.. Right now I am being pulled in about 5 different directions and it seems like I never have a moment to breathe half of the time.. But yet there is now excuse.. I do truly apologize… Christina keep s yelling at me about updating.. So I told her she can start typing things, so she should be starting that soon…

First, we will start with Christina’s health.. Christina had all of her 2 year post bone marrow test done last week, we spent a lot of time in St. Pete and she missed 4 days of school… Her pulmonary function test (lung test) stayed about the same, she still has some problems but they are not getting any worse, so we will take that… Her creatine clearance ( kidneys and liver test) was about the same which is not good, she is worse than when she was right out of transplant, but yet again it is not getting any worse, we are just having to keep a close eye on her… Her bone marrow aspiration so far looked pretty good, I haven’t seen the official results yet, and the rest of her labs looked pretty good… I was a little scared for a few weeks because her platelets and her red blood had dropped a good amount and they were actually out of range for the first time in a long time, but everything went back up a week later, so I don’t know what was going on…. Since Christina had all of these test done last week she has not being feeling good.. As she calls it she doesn’t feel like herself… So I don’t know what is going on, if it continues over the weekend, I will be calling Dr. Petrovic to see what she thinks… You can tell a lot about how Christina’s is feeling by her eyes and around her eyes and she just has not looked good at all… I’m not saying she looks sick, but she just doesn’t look like herself… Anyway we will just play it by ear…

O.k. now, the other thing is both girls are doing good in school, Christina had all A’s on her interim, which is just the half way report before the report card comes out.. She is having a little bit of a hard time with math, but Mike has been helping her through it… Christina is also in Chorus instead of P.E. and she likes it very much…. Ashley is doing good in school too, she is going to try out for the girls basketball team, actually they were suppose to have try out Tuesday, but they got canceled due to Hurricane Rita, we have gotten some rain and strong wind from the storm…

We now have Mike’s 2 nieces living with us, one is in College and the other is a senior in High school… The one in high school, Mike gets up at 5;45 in the morning to take her to school, then I go get her from school at 4:30 and then she works too, so we are running her back and forth from school, home, and work.. I’ve rearranged the girls rooms, so we have 2 girls per room, poor Mike is in a house with 6 girls… But he doesn’t mind, he practically helped raise his 2 nieces, so he is already a father figure to them, so it all works out o.k.….




Well, I guess that is about all for now…. For those of you who still come by, thanks for being patient with me on the updates, over the summer I will be much better at updating… Thank you for still caring and praying and leaving words of encouragement, you will never know just how much it means to me and our Family…..

Thank you ALL again for the continual support and well wishes you give Christina and our Family…

Love, Sherry




CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….


Again, Thank you ALL for your continual support, well wishes and prayers…. Christina and our family THANK YOU….

Love, Sherry


************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>**********************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>****


O.H I almost forgot Ashley wanted to say Hello to everyone and to Thank You for stopping by her web page too…. She really enjoys when people write to her too.. It make her feel special and it puts a smile on her face too…. So THANK YOU from Ashley..
Christina‘s Leukemia & Lymphoma Fundraising Web Site…. THANK YOU ALL WHO ARE DONATING….


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------








************************************************************************

HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>


IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773



***************>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<******************>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<


I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site









Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>







THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!




The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…









Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003






Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love








Tuesday, August 2, 2005 6:57 AM CDT

680 days post transplant



HAPPY BIRHTDAY CHRISTINA!!!!!!!!

I CAN’T BELIEVE IT WAS 12 YRS AGO TODAY (8:12 am) THAT I HAD CHRISTINA… I THANK GOD EVERYDAY FOR GIVING ME CHRISTINA AND I THANK GOD EVERY MOMENT OF EVERYDAY FOR ALLOWING HER TO STAY IN OUR LIVES…. IF YOU HAVE FOLLOWED HER STORY FOR ANY TIME NOW YOU KNOW I WOULD ALWAYS SAY SHE AMAZES ME, WELL SHE STILL DOES, HER LOVE FOR EVERYTHING JUST PUTS A SMILE ON ANYONES FACE.. HER STRENGTH, COURAGE AND FAITH IS AMAZING AND WE ARE TRULY BLESSED TO HAVE CHRISTINA IN OUR LIVES… AFTER 3 YRS OF THIS NIGHTMARE (cancer) I CAN NOW LOOK BACK AND SAY, YES THE MEDICINE,CHEMO, RADIATION,TRANSPLANT WORKED AND YES THE DOCTORS AND NURSES HELPED KEEP HER WITH US, BUT IT WAS CHRISTINA’S WILL, STRENGTH AND NEVER GIVING UP THAT KEEP HER HERE WITH US …

HAPPY BIRHTDAY BABY GIRL… WE LOVE YOU SO VERY MUCH….




UPDATE FROM JULY 27TH

Hello,

I Can’t believe it is almost August…

I guess I should start with I am glad July is almost over… Christina has made it through this July with no major medical scares.. YEAH!!! Christina did go to St.Pete to clinic last week for her latest 2 shots and she did very well with them.. She also had her blood work checked and everything still looks like it is doing well… Christina will go back to clinic on August 2nd, which is her Birthday for her next shots, I didn’t make that appointment, Daddy did… And then the last week in August will be when Christina will have a bone marrow aspiration done and all the other test that go along with post transplant studies…
Christina will also be going to see Dr. Letson about her leg on the 11th of August, her leg is getting worse and she is becoming very uneven, the one leg is much is visibly shorter than the other leg, so we will discuss with him what the next step will be as far as the hip replacement and the stopping of the growth plates in both legs…. Even though it looks like the “Cancer” worry is easing up some, Christina will continue to battle this hip/leg problem… She gets very frustrated because it is now starting to physically hurt her… So hopefully we will get some answers when we see Dr. Letson…

O.K… On a HAPPY NOTE…. Christina’s BIRTHDAY is coming up (aug 2nd)… I look back at some many time that I didn’t know if she would ever see another Birthday and now she is turning 12!!!! Christina is very excited about having a little party this coming Saturday… She said not to by party stuff, that she didn’t want me to spend the money that she would make her own decorations… She is so sweet and caring, she still amazes me everyday….

More good news…
Both girls start school on August 3rd…. They both were to go to this Charter school, the one Ashley started half way through last year, but unfortunately they closed the doors on that school… That’s the one bad thing about Charter schools, they seem to never last for more than a year or two… The girls will be going to the Middle school they are zoned for, which I was not to thrilled about because it is such a BIG school and I just worry so much about Christina fitting in… I worry about Ashley to, but Christina really has not been in a school environment since the end of 3rd grade and she should be going into the 7th grade, but we are holding her back so she will be starting the 6th grade…. Middle school is scary enough, but when you haven’t had that interaction with all the kids your age, Christina is scared and worried and so am I… I know she will do fine and deep down she knows it too…. School will be a very interesting journey for Christina so I will keep you all posted…. I know I will be crying the first day of school, just like I did when they started kindergarten… Christina has been home for 3 yrs, it’s going to be hard on all of us… But I am VERY HAPPY for her…. I am THANKFUL I can type about her going to school and me worrying… versus me typing about hospital stays….

I am still working on the Light The Night web site for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society… Don’t forget that we have a team “Christina’s Walker’s” Our Goal is 2,000.00 If you would like to make a donation you can make it out to the Society and mail it to the P.O Box at the bottom of this update or you can wait until you can go to our donation site and do it online… CLICK HER FOR Christina‘s Leukemia & Lymphoma Fundraising Web Site…. CHRISTINA IS VERY EXCITED ABOUT RAISING MONEY FOR THE SOCIETY, SHE KNOWS THEY HELPED US OUT SO MUCH THE PAST 3 YRS..THANK YOU ALL WHO ARE DONATING….



O.H Christina has not been doing her swim meets or swim practice because her leg has been hurting her to much… I was hoping this would not happen, but it did… She is very disappointed about it too… So that will be another thing we will discuss with the doctors…


Well, I guess that is about all for now…. For those of you who still come by, thanks for being patient with me on the updates, over the summer I will be much better at updating… Thank you for still caring and praying and leaving words of encouragement, you will never know just how much it means to me and our Family…..

Thank you ALL again for the continual support and well wishes you give Christina and our Family…

Love, Sherry

You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773






CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….


Again, Thank you ALL for your continual support, well wishes and prayers…. Christina and our family THANK YOU….

Love, Sherry


************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>**********************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>****



------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------








************************************************************************

HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>


IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison














***************>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<******************>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<


I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site














THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!




The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…









Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003






Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love








Wednesday, July 27, 2005 3:16 PM CDT

680 days post transplant





Hello,

I Can’t believe it is almost August…

I guess I should start with I am glad July is almost over… Christina has made it through this July with no major medical scares.. YEAH!!! Christina did go to St.Pete to clinic last week for her latest 2 shots and she did very well with them.. She also had her blood work checked and everything still looks like it is doing well… Christina will go back to clinic on August 2nd, which is her Birthday for her next shots, I didn’t make that appointment, Daddy did… And then the last week in August will be when Christina will have a bone marrow aspiration done and all the other test that go along with post transplant studies…
Christina will also be going to see Dr. Letson about her leg on the 11th of August, her leg is getting worse and she is becoming very uneven, the one leg is much is visibly shorter than the other leg, so we will discuss with him what the next step will be as far as the hip replacement and the stopping of the growth plates in both legs…. Even though it looks like the “Cancer” worry is easing up some, Christina will continue to battle this hip/leg problem… She gets very frustrated because it is now starting to physically hurt her… So hopefully we will get some answers when we see Dr. Letson…

O.K… On a HAPPY NOTE…. Cristina’s BIRTHDAY is coming up (aug 2nd)… I look back at some many time that I didn’t know if she would ever see another Birthday and now she is turning 12!!!! Christina is very excited about having a little party this coming Saturday… She said not to by party stuff, that she didn’t want me to spend the money that she would make her own decorations… She is so sweet and caring, she still amazes me everyday….

More good news…
Both girls start school on August 3rd…. They both were to go to this Charter school, the one Ashley started half way through last year, but unfortunately they closed the doors on that school… That’s the one bad thing about Charter schools, they seem to never last for more than a year or two… The girls will be going to the Middle school they are zoned for, which I was not to thrilled about because it is such a BIG school and I just worry so much about Christina fitting in… I worry about Ashley to, but Christina really has not been in a school environment since the end of 3rd grade and she should be going into the 7th grade, but we are holding her back so she will be starting the 6th grade…. Middle school is scary enough, but when you haven’t had that interaction with all the kids your age, Christina is scared and worried and so am I… I know she will do fine and deep down she knows it too…. School will be a very interesting journey for Christina so I will keep you all posted…. I know I will be crying the first day of school, just like I did when they started kindergarten… Christina has been home for 3 yrs, it’s going to be hard on all of us… But I am VERY HAPPY for her…. I am THANKFUL I can type about her going to school and me worrying… versus me typing about hospital stays….

I am still working on the Light The Night web site for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society… Don’t forget that we have a team “Christina’s Walker’s” Our Goal is 2,000.00 If you would like to make a donation you can make it out to the Society and mail it to the P.O Box at the bottom of this update or you can wait until you can go to our donation site and do it online… CLICK HERE FOR Christina‘s Leukemia & Lymphoma Fundraising Web Site…. THANK YOU ALL WHO ARE DONATING…CHRISTINA IS VERY EXCITED ABOUT RAISING MONEY FOR THE SOCIETY, THEY HAVE HELPED US SO MUCH THE PAST 3 YEARS.




O.H Christina has not been doing her swim meets or swim practice because her leg has been hurting her to much… I was hoping this would not happen, but it did… She is very disappointed about it too… So that will be another thing we will discuss with the doctors…


Well, I guess that is about all for now…. For those of you who still come by, thanks for being patient with me on the updates, over the summer I will be much better at updating… Thank you for still caring and praying and leaving words of encouragement, you will never know just how much it means to me and our Family…..

Thank you ALL again for the continual support and well wishes you give Christina and our Family…

Love, Sherry

You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773






CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….


Again, Thank you ALL for your continual support, well wishes and prayers…. Christina and our family THANK YOU….

Love, Sherry


************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>**********************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>****



------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------








************************************************************************

HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>


IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison














***************>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<******************>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<


I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site














THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!




The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…









Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003






Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love








Wednesday, July 6, 2005 2:16 PM CDT

659days post transplant




Hello,
(Christina typed a little something close to her heart down at the end of this update..) She did it on her own and wanted me to post it..

Wow it has been awhile since I’ve update… Sorry…
The summer sure is going by fast…
Speaking of going fast, I just want the Month of JULY to go AWAY….. I am always so scared when it comes to July, with good reason of course… July 9th, 2002 is when Christina was officially diagnosed and then July 17th of 2003 is when we found out that Christina had relapsed…. I just get this sinking feeling in my stomach when it comes to July, so needless to say I will be glad when Christina goes to the doctor next week and when the Month is GONE…..

Let’s see where to begin, Christina did go see Dr. Petrovic a few weeks ago and all the test from that visit show that her body responded well to the first immunization shot she received, so we are all cleared to do the next 5 shot and then there are more rounds of shots after that… But what I didn’t realize was Christina is a year behind on getting the shots, I knew we had been delayed a few times due to her being sick, but I didn’t realize it had backed us up that much… O.H well, she is getting them done know and hopefully there will be no more delays and hopefully she will respond to the shot with no problems…

The other test that was done was her creatine clearance, that is where I collect her urine for 24 hrs and then they have it tested for different things, but mainly kidney and liver functions and that test did not come back as well as we had hoped… The results were not worse than what they had been the past year, but we had hoped for some improvement.. I think this is a sure sign that her kidneys and liver have been damaged and there is not getting better…. So we just pray they don’t get worse, so that will be something to keep an eye on…

In September Christina will have a bone marrow aspiration done and a whole lot of other blood test and then all the ultrasound and the pulmonary function test and all that good stuff… So in September we will see how well her body has improved over the last year… And most importantly she will be having the bone marrow biopsy done so we make sure everything is still o.k. there….

Christina will be going to clinic this coming Monday for lab work and to receive one of her shots, so hopefully that all goes well….

O.k. now for the FUN stuff…
Ashley and Christina went to K.I.T.E. Camp last week, it is a camp that the Children’s Cancer Center has for a week, it is a day camp in Tampa, Ashley was a CIT (counselor in training) and Christina was a camper… Both girls had so much fun and the Children’s Cancer Center just means so much to them… They feel so comfortable there and like they fit in better than any where else they go…. Thank you Children’s Cancer Center….

Right now Christina is at Boggy Creek Camp, it is on the other side of Orlando and it is for kids who have/had cancer… It is a week long and there is no communication between parent or child…. Which Christina might be happy about, but I MISS HER TERRIBABLY!!!!!! We go pick her up Friday morning.. I know she is having the best time and I am so happy that she got to go this year… She was promised to go last year, but then she got to sick at the last minute… I’m sure she will have some stories to share when she gets back… I will have her do a little story about camp and I will post it on here…

Well, I guess that is all for now….
Please pray for one of our friends Amanda, she was diagnosed with a different Cancer back when Christina was in transplant and she had a very long hard road, but then she was doing so well, off treatment and working at the local Mall anyway, we just found out Monday that she has relapsed and they are looking at doing a transplant…. Please say an extra prayer for Amanda for us… Thank You….


Well, I guess that is about all for now…. For those of you who still come by, thanks for being patient with me on the updates, over the summer I will be much better at updating… Thank you for still caring and praying and leaving words of encouragement, you will never know just how much it means to me and our Family…..

Thank you ALL again for the continual support and well wishes you give Christina and our Family…

Love, Sherry

CHRISTINA WROTE THIS AND WANTED ME TO POST IT THE NEXT TIME I DID AN UPDATE...
Hi thank you all so much for signing my guest book and sending me things I appreciate it so much well we have a leukemia and lymphoma society walk coming up in September its called light the night and its were a bunch of people get together and make teams to earn money for a cure for leukemia and we have a team called Christina’s walkers and I am trying to raise two thousand dollars and if any of you want to donate money you can just go down to the bottom of my web page and there is a p.o box number just send it to that. Make the checks payable to The Leukemia Lymphoma Society. I would appreciate it thanks so much for everything I will type again later. My Mom will have more information later and I think we will have a web site where you can donate straight to the Light the night web site , but for my team. LLOVE CHRISTINA
*******^^^^^********^^^^^^^*******
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….


Again, Thank you ALL for your continual support, well wishes and prayers…. Christina and our family THANK YOU….

Love, Sherry


************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>**********************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>****



------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------








************************************************************************

HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>


IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773



***************>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<******************>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<


I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site









Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>







THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!




The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…









Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003






Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love








Thursday, June 2, 2005 9:07 AM CDT

625days post transplant




Hello,

Well, I hope everyone had a Happy Memorial Day weekend… Things around here were pretty quite… We did go to Universal Studio’s and Island of Adventure on Friday.. We had received some tickets through Give Kids the World in Orlando.. Friday was the last day to use the tickets.. We had planned on going sooner, but with Chris and this virus she is fighting it just never seemed to work out… Needless to say She was still sick when we went, but I think we all still had a good time… We finished with both parks by two o’clock in the afternoon, because they gave us this special pass where we went to the front of the line for all the rides… That was awesome… You could get spoiled very easily doing amusement parks that way… ha ha…

Well, Christina finished her antibiotic on Sunday, and it had seemed like she was doing better, she had 2-3 days of no blowing her nose constantly or no coughing and then all of a sudden it was all back again… No fevers this time, just all the nasty congestion with her sinus’s and lungs… Mike listened to her lungs last night and she is wheezing a lot, so I will be giving Dr. Petrovic a call about that… She does go back to see Dr. Petrovic next Friday (10th).. Hopefully we can wait until then… I did let Christina go to swim practice last night… It finally stopped raining long enough for her to go… She struggled at practice, She had been doing so good and was happy with how well she was swimming, but now that she has been sick for the past month, she hasn’t been able to practice and it shows, and it frustrates her… I told her she will get her strength back, but what do Mom’s know anyway… ha ha.. Christina did have some pretty bad head pains during practice and even after we got home, so yet another question for the doctor…

Other than all of that, the only other thing going on is we are getting ready for Ashley’s 13th Birthday on June 6th… I can NOT believe she will be 13... Boy time sure does fly… We are going to have a little get together at the house on the 10th of June… This coming weekend didn’t work out…

Speaking of this coming weekend, if any of you are from the Bay area on Sunday the 5th watch the All Children’s Telethon (news channel 8 ).. We will be there from 10 -2 for an Oncology reunion and from what I hear the reunion will be on live… So keep you eyes open for Christina and all her friends…



Well, I guess that is about all for now…. For those of you who still come by, thanks for being patient with me on the updates, over the summer I will be much better at updating… Thank you for still caring and praying and leaving words of encouragement, you will never know just how much it means to me and our Family…..

Thank you ALL again for the continual support and well wishes you give Christina and our Family…

Love, Sherry



O.K. her is Christina’s story…..



MY TRIP TO WISCONSIN




Tuesday February 15th, 2005 at 8:00 pm I got dropped of at Springhill suites to stay the night and we had so much fun that night we stayed up till midnight and the next morning we had a wake up call for 6:00 am to go to the Tampa airport to depart for Green Bay Wisconsin so at about 9:30 am we departed and we arrived in Missouri for a layover and then we got back on an airplane and flew to Green Bay. We landed at about 2:00 pm Florida time and 1:00 pm Wisconsin time.

February 16th right after we landed we got on a bus and went to a restraint called krolls it was really weird they put butter on there burger buns and they have these things called cheese curds there round mozzarella sticks I don’t really like cheese but I tried the cheese balls the burger was really good after we finished lunch we went to the green bay packers field which was right next door to krolls we got a tour of the hole stadium including the field which mind you was huge and we got to see there locker room which was a lot nicer and bigger then I thought it would be. Later that day after visiting lambo field we sat on a bus for about one hour and a half to Wausau WI once we got there we went to are hotel lodge thing it was a best western it was really cool it had a pool inside and an arcade kind of the girls rooms circled the pool and the boys room ways down a long straight hall way we got settled in and slept.

February 17th we woke up and had a nice breakfast and left to go down hill skiing and that I didn’t really like but it was only 8 degrees that day without the wind an it was really windy then after we finished skiing we ate lunch we rode a bus to a farm and rode on an old fashion slay ride the horses took us to a big bon fire and we had hot dogs and these things called pudgy pies you take two pieces of bread and pizza toppings and sauce and put it in the fire and eat it after we ate there was a huge firework show then we went back to the hotel and swam or played games.

February 18th we got up and ate bacon pancakes and cereal then we left to go tubing and tubing was so awesome that was my favorite event I did that for about two to three hours after that we ate pizza and went back to the hotel once we got back we did arts and crafts then swam the craft was painting a heart two hang on a Christmas tree after we did that we left the hotel to go disco bowling which was fun because I had only been once in a long time after that we when to the hotel to go to bed.

February 19th we left to go snow mobile and for wheeling which the people let us drive and I drove once it was really fun I went 45 miles an hour after we did that we had lunch and a snow ball fight which was really cold because I kept getting shoved in the snow after we left there we went back to the hotel to get ready for the dinner dance the food was good and the dance was really fun after we got back to the hotel there was an end of trip ceremony they gave out awards and we had a candle lighting and we each had are own candle and the lighting started at one end and the person with the lit candle says what ever they wanted to say then after we did that we hung out around the hotel and went to bed.

February 20th we ate brunch and said good byes which was sad and left for home at 2:40pm and got home at midnight
THE END.

Love, Sherry and Family..

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….


Again, Thank you ALL for your continual support, well wishes and prayers…. Christina and our family THANK YOU….

Love, Sherry


************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>**********************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>****


O.H I almost forgot Ashley wanted to say Hello to everyone and to Thank You for stopping by her web page too…. She really enjoys when people write to her too.. It make her feel special and it puts a smile on her face too…. So THANK YOU from Ashley..
ASHLEYS WEB SITE, STOP BY AND SAY HELLO IF YOU GET A CHANCE….


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------








************************************************************************

HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>


IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773



***************>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<******************>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<


I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site









Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>







THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!




The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…









Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003






Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love








Wednesday, May 25, 2005 6:46 PM CDT

617 days post transplant




Hello,

Just a quick update…

Christina has still been very sick, this is going on over 2 weeks now and it is getting very frustrating and scary… I did take her to Tampa clinic last Monday because if her eyes and she was given eye drops and that has seemed to improved, but then the next day she started with a different symptom and then every day after that now for 8 days it is something new… First her eyes, then very bad headaches, then dizziness, then nausea, diarrhea, then fevers 103.0 fevers, and then this weekend her lymph node is swollen again and her cough is uncontrollable, to the point of it is gagging her…. I feel so sorry for all that she is going through and it just seems like there is nothing I can do to help… I did break down and call Dr. Petrovic a few times and even once at home over the weekend, just because Christina is very scared.. She knows she is just sick, but it scares her when she looks in the mirror, because she looks sick, kind of like she did when she was getting chemo…

Well, that first paragraph I typed last week and never got to post it.. So the continuation is…

I did take Christina to see Dr. Petrovic last week and as it turns out Christina had major sinus issues going on, but they were considered viral, so no medication, her body just needs to fight it off, but then when Dr.Petrovic did an exam on Christina she looked in her ears and she had an ear infection in her left ear, there was puss behind the ear drum, so then Dr.Petrovic siad she needed to go on an antibiotics for 2 weeks… I hated to her that she had an ear infection, but at the same time I was glad she was finally getting so antibiotics.. The 5 days of 103 fevers had about done me in…

Well, now Christina has been on the antibiotics for a week now and she is doing much better, the first 2 days of the antibiotics she kept throwing them up, so I did have to call the doctor one night and ask if we could change her meds, and so off to Walgreen’s at 9:45 p.m. Mike went… Christina took this new med. With no problem and the vomiting stopped, something in the other med. Just did not agree with her… Christina did lose some weight in the past 3 weeks, just from being sick and not having an appetite, but her appetite is working it’s way back… Yea…

So basically I don’t think it was allergies, she just wound up with a sinus infection and then the bacterial ear infection was a secondary infection… We kept kidding Christina about having a secondary infection.. If one thing is ever wrong with her you can guarantee a secondary thing will happen… So Christina says she just likes 2 things, not just 1.… we all laughed at her…

Hopefully by next week Christina can start back at swim practice, she has already missed 2 swim meets, so she hopes to make the next one, she just needs to build her strength back up…

The other thing is ASHLEY>>>>
Ashley last day of school was Friday and they had an awards ceremony, so Mike, Christina and I go not knowing what to expect, because she has only been going for 2 semesters.. I didn’t even bring my camera… I was so mad…
Well, Ashley’s Award List consist of…
1. Principal’s Award for Positive Attitude
2.President’s Education Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement (with this award she also received the Presidential pin and a metal)
3.High Honor Roll for maintaining an A average…
4.A trophy with High Honors with Distinction for having a G.P.A. of 4.0 and a certificate for the 4.0...

WAY TO GO ASHLEY!!!!!!!!
I was so proud of her I just had tears running down my face… For a little girl taken out of school in the 4th grade and forced to listen to her parents on the schooling issues… She has done an amazing job jumping back into school especially jumping into 7th grade.. Ashley turns 13 on June 6th, I can’t believe how much she has grown up…She was 9 yrs old when Chris got sick, I look back at pictures and can’t believe how much she grew up at the hospital, Ronald McDonald house and our home… She is an amazing young lady… I love you Ash….

Well, I guess that is about all for now…. For those of you who still come by, thanks for being patient with me on the updates, over the summer I will be much better at updating… Thank you for still caring and praying and leaving words of encouragement, you will never know just how much it means to me and our Family…..

Thank you ALL again for the continual support and well wishes you give Christina and our Family…

Love, Sherry



O.K. her is Christina’s story…..



MY TRIP TO WISCONSIN




Tuesday February 15th, 2005 at 8:00 pm I got dropped of at Springhill suites to stay the night and we had so much fun that night we stayed up till midnight and the next morning we had a wake up call for 6:00 am to go to the Tampa airport to depart for Green Bay Wisconsin so at about 9:30 am we departed and we arrived in Missouri for a layover and then we got back on an airplane and flew to Green Bay. We landed at about 2:00 pm Florida time and 1:00 pm Wisconsin time.

February 16th right after we landed we got on a bus and went to a restraint called krolls it was really weird they put butter on there burger buns and they have these things called cheese curds there round mozzarella sticks I don’t really like cheese but I tried the cheese balls the burger was really good after we finished lunch we went to the green bay packers field which was right next door to krolls we got a tour of the hole stadium including the field which mind you was huge and we got to see there locker room which was a lot nicer and bigger then I thought it would be. Later that day after visiting lambo field we sat on a bus for about one hour and a half to Wausau WI once we got there we went to are hotel lodge thing it was a best western it was really cool it had a pool inside and an arcade kind of the girls rooms circled the pool and the boys room ways down a long straight hall way we got settled in and slept.

February 17th we woke up and had a nice breakfast and left to go down hill skiing and that I didn’t really like but it was only 8 degrees that day without the wind an it was really windy then after we finished skiing we ate lunch we rode a bus to a farm and rode on an old fashion slay ride the horses took us to a big bon fire and we had hot dogs and these things called pudgy pies you take two pieces of bread and pizza toppings and sauce and put it in the fire and eat it after we ate there was a huge firework show then we went back to the hotel and swam or played games.

February 18th we got up and ate bacon pancakes and cereal then we left to go tubing and tubing was so awesome that was my favorite event I did that for about two to three hours after that we ate pizza and went back to the hotel once we got back we did arts and crafts then swam the craft was painting a heart two hang on a Christmas tree after we did that we left the hotel to go disco bowling which was fun because I had only been once in a long time after that we when to the hotel to go to bed.

February 19th we left to go snow mobile and for wheeling which the people let us drive and I drove once it was really fun I went 45 miles an hour after we did that we had lunch and a snow ball fight which was really cold because I kept getting shoved in the snow after we left there we went back to the hotel to get ready for the dinner dance the food was good and the dance was really fun after we got back to the hotel there was an end of trip ceremony they gave out awards and we had a candle lighting and we each had are own candle and the lighting started at one end and the person with the lit candle says what ever they wanted to say then after we did that we hung out around the hotel and went to bed.

February 20th we ate brunch and said good byes which was sad and left for home at 2:40pm and got home at midnight
THE END.

Love, Sherry and Family..

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….


Again, Thank you ALL for your continual support, well wishes and prayers…. Christina and our family THANK YOU….

Love, Sherry


************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>**********************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>****


O.H I almost forgot Ashley wanted to say Hello to everyone and to Thank You for stopping by her web page too…. She really enjoys when people write to her too.. It make her feel special and it puts a smile on her face too…. So THANK YOU from Ashley..
ASHLEYS WEB SITE, STOP BY AND SAY HELLO IF YOU GET A CHANCE….


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------








************************************************************************

HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>


IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773



***************>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<******************>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<


I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site









Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>







THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!




The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…









Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003






Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love







Saturday, May 7, 2005 8:17 PM CDT

599 days post transplant




Hello,

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY TO ALL THE WONDERFUL MOM’S OUT THERE….

I can't believe that on May 2nd marked 3 years of this Journey our family has been on.. Thank you all for being apart of our lives and going along for the roller coaster ride... May 2nd was when Christina was first admitted to All Children's Hospital , but it wasn't until July 9th she was finaly Diagnosed...

It’s been awhile since I have updated, nothing really new and exciting has been going on… Christina has joined a swim team, she practices 2 days a week and her swim meets start May 21st… So far she is doing pretty good at practice, she hasn’t been timed on anything yet, but she looks pretty fast…

Ashley is still doing well in school, I am actually chaperoning her field trip to Disney’s Animal Kingdom on Tuesday… Ashley and I both are excited about going… Mike and Christina went to Busch Gardens Friday all by themselves.. It had been almost 2 yrs since Christina has been.. We have the 2 yr passes but they expire in July, we use to go a couple of times a month before Christina got sick, Christina was so excited Friday it was like her going for the very first time.. Kind of which I could have been there, but Ashley has school… Next time I’ll make sure we all go…

On Christina’s medical side of things..
It seems like something is going on with her right now, she has not been herself for the pst week and her eyes started looking funny and then they got dark circles around them and then the next day it looked like someone punched her in both eyes and then the next day they were just swollen and not as dark and now they look a little better, but they are still very red and puffy still… I know it is not pink eye, I know what that looks like, I think it is her allergies, at least I hope it is just allergies.. She never had a problem before, but since transplant her body is different so we might have to have some test done… I am just praying it is not a GVHD flare up… I have been doing some researching, so I am calling Dr. Petrovic Monday morning so we can get to the bottom of this… I also want a CBC done (lab work), just because she hasn’t looked that good to me the past week or so… I know I will forever worry and wonder is something bad happening, is the cancer coming back.. But it is very hard not to think these things especially going through one relapse already… The FEAR is just there… So please say an extra prayer and let’s pray it is just allergies…

Well, Again I hope ALL Mom’s out there have a very Happy Mother’s Day…

Thank you ALL again for the continual support and well wishes you give Christina and our Family…

Love, Sherry



O.K. her is Christina’s story…..



MY TRIP TO WISCONSIN




Tuesday February 15th, 2005 at 8:00 pm I got dropped of at Springhill suites to stay the night and we had so much fun that night we stayed up till midnight and the next morning we had a wake up call for 6:00 am to go to the Tampa airport to depart for Green Bay Wisconsin so at about 9:30 am we departed and we arrived in Missouri for a layover and then we got back on an airplane and flew to Green Bay. We landed at about 2:00 pm Florida time and 1:00 pm Wisconsin time.

February 16th right after we landed we got on a bus and went to a restraint called krolls it was really weird they put butter on there burger buns and they have these things called cheese curds there round mozzarella sticks I don’t really like cheese but I tried the cheese balls the burger was really good after we finished lunch we went to the green bay packers field which was right next door to krolls we got a tour of the hole stadium including the field which mind you was huge and we got to see there locker room which was a lot nicer and bigger then I thought it would be. Later that day after visiting lambo field we sat on a bus for about one hour and a half to Wausau WI once we got there we went to are hotel lodge thing it was a best western it was really cool it had a pool inside and an arcade kind of the girls rooms circled the pool and the boys room ways down a long straight hall way we got settled in and slept.

February 17th we woke up and had a nice breakfast and left to go down hill skiing and that I didn’t really like but it was only 8 degrees that day without the wind an it was really windy then after we finished skiing we ate lunch we rode a bus to a farm and rode on an old fashion slay ride the horses took us to a big bon fire and we had hot dogs and these things called pudgy pies you take two pieces of bread and pizza toppings and sauce and put it in the fire and eat it after we ate there was a huge firework show then we went back to the hotel and swam or played games.

February 18th we got up and ate bacon pancakes and cereal then we left to go tubing and tubing was so awesome that was my favorite event I did that for about two to three hours after that we ate pizza and went back to the hotel once we got back we did arts and crafts then swam the craft was painting a heart two hang on a Christmas tree after we did that we left the hotel to go disco bowling which was fun because I had only been once in a long time after that we when to the hotel to go to bed.

February 19th we left to go snow mobile and for wheeling which the people let us drive and I drove once it was really fun I went 45 miles an hour after we did that we had lunch and a snow ball fight which was really cold because I kept getting shoved in the snow after we left there we went back to the hotel to get ready for the dinner dance the food was good and the dance was really fun after we got back to the hotel there was an end of trip ceremony they gave out awards and we had a candle lighting and we each had are own candle and the lighting started at one end and the person with the lit candle says what ever they wanted to say then after we did that we hung out around the hotel and went to bed.

February 20th we ate brunch and said good byes which was sad and left for home at 2:40pm and got home at midnight
THE END.

Love, Sherry and Family..

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….


Again, Thank you ALL for your continual support, well wishes and prayers…. Christina and our family THANK YOU….

Love, Sherry


************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>**********************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>****


O.H I almost forgot Ashley wanted to say Hello to everyone and to Thank You for stopping by her web page too…. She really enjoys when people write to her too.. It make her feel special and it puts a smile on her face too…. So THANK YOU from Ashley..
ASHLEYS WEB SITE, STOP BY AND SAY HELLO IF YOU GET A CHANCE….


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------








************************************************************************

HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>


IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773



***************>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<******************>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<


I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site









Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>







THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!




The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…









Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003






Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love







Monday, April 11, 2005 7:02 PM CDT

573 days post transplant




Hello,

Wow!!! I can’t believe it has been so long since I updated…

Let’s see where to begin… First, I hope everyone had a very HAPPY EASTER.. The girls decorated 24 eggs, well O.K. not all 24 of them, I had to do some too.. Ha ha… Easter morning the girls woke to lovely baskets nicely filled by the Easter Bunny himself… The both got sling shots… I know, I am just asking for trouble with that one..

Christina is doing pretty good health wise.. She has been sick for the past 2 weeks, but NO fevers just a very nasty cough that is just not wanting to go away…

Christina did go to St.Pete today to see Dr.Petrovic and all of Christina’s blood worked looked pretty good.. Christina did get her first shot today .. YEA!!! Like many of you know she has to start all over with her immunizations, so she is one her way with that… We will have to go back in 6 weeks for more blood work to see how well her body is excepting the shot… It looks like this immunization process is going to be very long, but at least it is happening…

The other major concern today was I am worried about Christina feeling depressed and emotional… Everyday it seems to get worse… She puts on a VERY big smile when she is around people, but then when we are home she just mopes and pouts and cries about being alone, bored and not being around other kids or having friends… She is driving me absolutely nuts and at the same time my heart is breaking for her…. So anyway, we talked to Dr. Petrovic and she said get her in SCHOOL…. YEA!!!!! Since Ashley started back to school over 6 weeks ago, all Christina has wanted was to go to school too… So we are working on getting her back into school this week… There are only about 30 more days left, but maybe it will help with her spirits some.. Something has to help… Hopefully School and making new friends will help..

Ashley is doing very well in school she made the Honor Roll.. Straight A’s… GO ASHLEY!!!!

Other than that things have been quite , but yet crazy here at the Gates household…

O.h. I almost forgot Christina was in a Fashion show last Tuesday night . It was a fundraiser for the Pediatric Cancer Foundation.. It was Called “Fashion Funds The Cure” They dedicated this show to Casie Snow and 2 other young ladies that where in the show last year and have since pasted away… Hearing Casie’s name mentioned like that just made the tears start rolling… Christina felt extra special knowing it was dedicated to Casie and the 2 other young ladies… Anyway, Christina had a fabulous time and she got to walk down the cat walk with NONE OTHER THAN BRAD RICHARD’S her Tampa Bay Lightning Buddy… Brad you are Awesome…

Thank you ALL again for the continual support and well wishes you give Christina and our Family…

Love, Sherry



O.K. her is Christina’s story…..



MY TRIP TO WISCONSIN




Tuesday February 15th, 2005 at 8:00 pm I got dropped of at Springhill suites to stay the night and we had so much fun that night we stayed up till midnight and the next morning we had a wake up call for 6:00 am to go to the Tampa airport to depart for Green Bay Wisconsin so at about 9:30 am we departed and we arrived in Missouri for a layover and then we got back on an airplane and flew to Green Bay. We landed at about 2:00 pm Florida time and 1:00 pm Wisconsin time.

February 16th right after we landed we got on a bus and went to a restraint called krolls it was really weird they put butter on there burger buns and they have these things called cheese curds there round mozzarella sticks I don’t really like cheese but I tried the cheese balls the burger was really good after we finished lunch we went to the green bay packers field which was right next door to krolls we got a tour of the hole stadium including the field which mind you was huge and we got to see there locker room which was a lot nicer and bigger then I thought it would be. Later that day after visiting lambo field we sat on a bus for about one hour and a half to Wausau WI once we got there we went to are hotel lodge thing it was a best western it was really cool it had a pool inside and an arcade kind of the girls rooms circled the pool and the boys room ways down a long straight hall way we got settled in and slept.

February 17th we woke up and had a nice breakfast and left to go down hill skiing and that I didn’t really like but it was only 8 degrees that day without the wind an it was really windy then after we finished skiing we ate lunch we rode a bus to a farm and rode on an old fashion slay ride the horses took us to a big bon fire and we had hot dogs and these things called pudgy pies you take two pieces of bread and pizza toppings and sauce and put it in the fire and eat it after we ate there was a huge firework show then we went back to the hotel and swam or played games.

February 18th we got up and ate bacon pancakes and cereal then we left to go tubing and tubing was so awesome that was my favorite event I did that for about two to three hours after that we ate pizza and went back to the hotel once we got back we did arts and crafts then swam the craft was painting a heart two hang on a Christmas tree after we did that we left the hotel to go disco bowling which was fun because I had only been once in a long time after that we when to the hotel to go to bed.

February 19th we left to go snow mobile and for wheeling which the people let us drive and I drove once it was really fun I went 45 miles an hour after we did that we had lunch and a snow ball fight which was really cold because I kept getting shoved in the snow after we left there we went back to the hotel to get ready for the dinner dance the food was good and the dance was really fun after we got back to the hotel there was an end of trip ceremony they gave out awards and we had a candle lighting and we each had are own candle and the lighting started at one end and the person with the lit candle says what ever they wanted to say then after we did that we hung out around the hotel and went to bed.

February 20th we ate brunch and said good byes which was sad and left for home at 2:40pm and got home at midnight
THE END.

Love, Sherry and Family..

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….


Again, Thank you ALL for your continual support, well wishes and prayers…. Christina and our family THANK YOU….

Love, Sherry


************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>**********************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>****


O.H I almost forgot Ashley wanted to say Hello to everyone and to Thank You for stopping by her web page too…. She really enjoys when people write to her too.. It make her feel special and it puts a smile on her face too…. So THANK YOU from Ashley..
ASHLEYS WEB SITE, STOP BY AND SAY HELLO IF YOU GET A CHANCE….


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------








************************************************************************

HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>


IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773



***************>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<******************>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<


I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site









Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>







THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!




The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…









Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003






Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love







Sunday, March 13, 2005 2:24 PM CST

558 days post transplant




Hello,


HAPPY EASTER!!!!!!!
We hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday……


O.K. her is Christina’s story…..



MY TRIP TO WISCONSIN




Tuesday February 15th, 2005 at 8:00 pm I got dropped of at Springhill suites to stay the night and we had so much fun that night we stayed up till midnight and the next morning we had a wake up call for 6:00 am to go to the Tampa airport to depart for Green Bay Wisconsin so at about 9:30 am we departed and we arrived in Missouri for a layover and then we got back on an airplane and flew to Green Bay. We landed at about 2:00 pm Florida time and 1:00 pm Wisconsin time.

February 16th right after we landed we got on a bus and went to a restraint called krolls it was really weird they put butter on there burger buns and they have these things called cheese curds there round mozzarella sticks I don’t really like cheese but I tried the cheese balls the burger was really good after we finished lunch we went to the green bay packers field which was right next door to krolls we got a tour of the hole stadium including the field which mind you was huge and we got to see there locker room which was a lot nicer and bigger then I thought it would be. Later that day after visiting lambo field we sat on a bus for about one hour and a half to Wausau WI once we got there we went to are hotel lodge thing it was a best western it was really cool it had a pool inside and an arcade kind of the girls rooms circled the pool and the boys room ways down a long straight hall way we got settled in and slept.

February 17th we woke up and had a nice breakfast and left to go down hill skiing and that I didn’t really like but it was only 8 degrees that day without the wind an it was really windy then after we finished skiing we ate lunch we rode a bus to a farm and rode on an old fashion slay ride the horses took us to a big bon fire and we had hot dogs and these things called pudgy pies you take two pieces of bread and pizza toppings and sauce and put it in the fire and eat it after we ate there was a huge firework show then we went back to the hotel and swam or played games.

February 18th we got up and ate bacon pancakes and cereal then we left to go tubing and tubing was so awesome that was my favorite event I did that for about two to three hours after that we ate pizza and went back to the hotel once we got back we did arts and crafts then swam the craft was painting a heart two hang on a Christmas tree after we did that we left the hotel to go disco bowling which was fun because I had only been once in a long time after that we when to the hotel to go to bed.

February 19th we left to go snow mobile and for wheeling which the people let us drive and I drove once it was really fun I went 45 miles an hour after we did that we had lunch and a snow ball fight which was really cold because I kept getting shoved in the snow after we left there we went back to the hotel to get ready for the dinner dance the food was good and the dance was really fun after we got back to the hotel there was an end of trip ceremony they gave out awards and we had a candle lighting and we each had are own candle and the lighting started at one end and the person with the lit candle says what ever they wanted to say then after we did that we hung out around the hotel and went to bed.

February 20th we ate brunch and said good byes which was sad and left for home at 2:40pm and got home at midnight
THE END.

Love, Sherry and Family..

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….


Again, Thank you ALL for your continual support, well wishes and prayers…. Christina and our family THANK YOU….

Love, Sherry


************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>**********************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>****


O.H I almost forgot Ashley wanted to say Hello to everyone and to Thank You for stopping by her web page too…. She really enjoys when people write to her too.. It make her feel special and it puts a smile on her face too…. So THANK YOU from Ashley..
ASHLEYS WEB SITE, STOP BY AND SAY HELLO IF YOU GET A CHANCE….


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------








************************************************************************

HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>


IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773



***************>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<******************>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<


I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site









Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>







THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!




The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…









Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003






Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love







Wednesday, February 16, 2005 6:42 AM CST

519 days post transplant




Hello,

Well, As I type Christina should be on her way to the Tampa airport for her trip to Wisconsin…. She has been so excited about this for such a long time… She has know about his trip for 3 yrs now and she is finally well enough to go… I know she is in very good hands with the Children’s Cancer Center and the Wunch Family Foundation I have NO worries about her safety at all… I know she will have the time of her life… She said she was going to take lots of pictures and I know she will… As a Mom I wish I could be there to experience her seeing snow for the first time, pictures will be nice, but you can’t hear the excitement and laughter in pictures and I know she will be laughing a lot.. That is just Christina for you… We will be picking her up around 11 pm on Sunday night at the airport, so it will be a few VERY quite days around here…. I want to do some thing special with Ashley, but we haven’t figured anything out yet..

This past Saturday (12th) Christina threw me a little surprise Birthday party.. My Birthday is actually the 18th, but Christina knew she wouldn’t be here, so my Mom and I went to yard sales and while we were gone Christina baked me a cake and Ashley iced it and when I got home there was a beautiful Winnie the pooh birthday table cloth on the table, balloons, and even a Winnie the pooh birthday banner hanging over the window… Christina was so excited because she was able to pull the surprise off, with the help of my Mom (oma)… Christina has the biggest heart, she just wants everyone around her to be HAPPY!!! Boy, I miss her already and it has only been 12 hrs… ha ha…

Ashley has another Basketball game on Friday night, GO ASHLEY!!!!

IMPORTANT INFO!!!!!!>>>>
And then on Saturday if any of ya’ll are local and have not heard that our dear friend Casie Snow that pasted away almost 6 months ago, her family is holding the CARS AGAINST CANCER 2..
It’s the second annual cars against cancer event…
It is a Car and Bike show and BUT THE MAIN GOAL IS TO GET PEOPLE ON THE BONE MARROW REGISTRY AND ALSO GET PEOPLE TO DONATE BLOOD…
Last year they had this event for Casie, because she needed to find a match, this year it is in HONOR of Casie, so others out there can hopefully find the match that they are desperately needing to help save there lives….
THIS EVEN IT GOING TO BE SAT FEB 19th AT HILLSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE DALE MABRY CAMPUS FROM 10 am till 3 pm…. The event is free, if you are already on the registry just come by and say HELLO!!! My parents will be set up there selling oldies CD”S and other stuff, and there should be other vendors there as well… Christina won’t be there due to her trip, but me and Ashley will, so I hope to see some of you there.. And if I have never met you before, just come up and say I am …. I know you from caring bridge.. That would be awesome…

Well, I guess that is about all for now…. O.H Dr.Petrovic did call the other night from a conference out of state just to let me know that she had NOT heard of any results yet on Christina’s biopsy, the dermatologist had said it would take 2 weeks and Thursday would make 2 weeks, so Dr. Petrovic said she would get up with him then… I’ll keep you posted, the rash is still there, even with using the cream they gave us… So I have no ideal what is going on with that… Hopefully we will know something soon….

I almost forgot Christina has been playing around on the computer and she started a little journal kind of like Ashley’s journal online, She wanted me to tell everyone that they don’t have to feel like they have to sign both journal.. Christina’s journal is just HERS, I am not allowed to give updates and stuff on it, but she reads the guest book about 50 times a day on this caring bridge site, so she doesn’t want ya’ll to stop coming here, but if you would like to go to “HER” journal it is CLICK HER FOR CHRISTINA'S JOURNAL From Christina's journal you can also go to Ashley's newest Journal too...

Well, I will update after I know some more info on Christina and the rash and platelet situation… THANK YOU all for you continual ride on this Wild and crazy roller coaster!!!

Love, Sherry and Family..

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….


Again, Thank you ALL for your continual support, well wishes and prayers…. Christina and our family THANK YOU….

Love, Sherry


************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>**********************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>****


O.H I almost forgot Ashley wanted to say Hello to everyone and to Thank You for stopping by her web page too…. She really enjoys when people write to her too.. It make her feel special and it puts a smile on her face too…. So THANK YOU from Ashley..
ASHLEYS WEB SITE, STOP BY AND SAY HELLO IF YOU GET A CHANCE….


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------








************************************************************************

HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>


IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773



***************>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<******************>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<


I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site









Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>







THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!




The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…









Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE (AML relapse) a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital


CASIE’S SITE (AML) Leukemia a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center, Please stop by if you get a chance.. She has just learned she has relapsed and will have to have a bone marrow transplant


Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love







Wednesday, February 2, 2005 6:54 PM CST

505 days post transplant




Hello,

I can’t believe it is already February… Where does time go????
Things around here have been pretty crazy still, it just seems like we will have a week or two of nothing happening and then all of a sudden something comes up… I guess that is what you would call life.. right???

To start with, Christina is suppose to be going on a ski trip to Wisconsin on the 15 th of February with the Children’s Cancer Center and the Jerry Wunch Foundation (he is a former Buccaneers player) Every year he takes a group of cancer kids on a ski trip to his home town of Wausau Wisconsin. There are I think 5 other NFL players from different teams that do this too… Anyway all the kids wind up together for a very FUN time… Christina has waited 2 years for this and now she is finally able to go… YEAH!!!! I am so excited for her and she is counting down the days….

Well, Sunday night Christina comes to me about a few spots (rashes on her leg and butt cheeks… Needless to say I called Dr. Petrovic Monday morning and she wanted to see her, so we went to St. Pete today and the rash has spread, but Dr. P is not really sure what it is, she has an ideal, but not sure, so I have to make an appointment for Christina to see a dermatologist next week. Dr. Petrovic wants her to be seen before the trip…. Well, since we were at clinic they did Christina’s Lab (blood) work and needless to say my stomach flipped because her platelets have dropped again… They have been dropping since the beginning of December, but now they are below normal , normal range starts at 150 and she is 133, yes this is not far from normal range, but she was up to 288 and after experiencing 2 ½ yrs of this nightmare and platelet drop is what stated the first relapse so I AM SCARRED!!! Dr. Petrovic tried explaining that Christina could be fighting off a virus, which could be causing the rash so then the virus could also be effecting her platelet count… I understand it could be a number of things, but me as Mom and the fear of something bad is always in the back of my mind, I can’t help it… I pray to GOD it is a virus, or some other crazy thing… Dr.Petrovic said that if it would make me feel better I could take Christina to Tampa clinic next week and get them checked again… I told her I had planned on it…

I have tried to give Christina as much normalcy as possible, I don’t inspect her body after every shower looking for rashes (which could be GVHD), I don’t make her take her temperature any more only if she feels the need too… She know to tell me if something doesn’t seem right and that is why she showed me the rash Sunday night and said she just didn’t feel like herself… At times like that is when your stomach does flip… There is just NO way around it, any of you Cancer Moms out there know what I mean or can understand my fear…

Well, enough of that.. Thank you for listening to me ramble on… This is my outlet… and I thank you for being there…

O.H Ashley had her second basketball game this past Friday, her team lost by ONE point… But All the girls played so well, Ashley got about 12 rebounds and 10 of them where offensive rebounds, so that was pretty awesome.. I’m going to start calling her my “little worm”.. Dennis Rodman the famous controversial basketball player was called the worm… I liked him as a player, not a person, but he was one heck of a rebounder…
Ashley did sprain her left pinky finger during the game, but no one knew it until after the game, I was so proud of her.. Her finger was so very swollen and black and blue, but she didn’t asked to be pulled from the game or anything… Way to go Ashley!!!

Well, I will update after I know some more info on Christina and the rash and platelet situation… THANK YOU all for you continual ride on this Wild and crazy roller coaster!!!

Love, Sherry and Family..

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….


Again, Thank you ALL for your continual support, well wishes and prayers…. Christina and our family THANK YOU….

Love, Sherry


************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>**********************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>****


O.H I almost forgot Ashley wanted to say Hello to everyone and to Thank You for stopping by her web page too…. She really enjoys when people write to her too.. It make her feel special and it puts a smile on her face too…. So THANK YOU from Ashley..
ASHLEYS WEB SITE, STOP BY AND SAY HELLO IF YOU GET A CHANCE….


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------








************************************************************************

HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>


IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773



***************>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<******************>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<


I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site









Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>







THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!




The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…









Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE (AML relapse) a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital


CASIE’S SITE (AML) Leukemia a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center, Please stop by if you get a chance.. She has just learned she has relapsed and will have to have a bone marrow transplant


Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love







Sunday, January 23, 2005 3:32 PM CST

495 days post transplant




Hello,

Sorry for the lack of updates… It has not been intentional… Things have been very crazy around here the past few weeks, I just don’t know where time goes any more..

First, Christina did go to see Dr. Petrovic last Monday, her clinic appointment went pretty good.. All of Christina’s lab work (blood work) looked pretty good.. Her platelets are back down to 160 which is in the normal range, but they had gotten up to 280 for a while, so I don’t like to see that drop even though they are in the normal range… Just something to keep an eye on… Christina has finally finished the medicine for the spots on her lungs, I am so glad she is done with that because it started to cause her to be EXTA sensitive to the sun and her face is now 6 different shades, because her face and her neck are peeling so bad… But hopefully it was the medicine and that to will begin to clear up… Christina did have a CT scan done Monday and it showed the spots seem to be gone.. So it looks like the anit fungal medicine did it’s job… Christina also did go see Dr. Letson her leg doctor too and there really is not much change there.. She will eventually have to have a hip replacement and at some point maybe soon they will have to stop the growth plates in both of her legs because her left leg is now shorter than the right leg due to the head of the femur being dead… So her leg situation will be a wait and see thing.. I do have to make an appointment for her to have bone scans done next week to get actual measurements of her legs… Other than that Christina is doing pretty good..

Now we have a little situation with Ashley, she did gymnastics for a long time and has been complaining about her back, so I finally took her to her pediatrician and he said that the left back muscle was half the size of the right muscle, which I could see it too, because she is so skinny it is easy to see her muscles… So her doctor just gave her some exercises to due and said if it is not better in a few months come back.. Well needless to say I wasn’t pleased with that answer so when we took Chris to see Dr. Letson I talked to him about it and he looked at Ashley’s back and has referred us to an All Children’s Doctor.. He said it could be the starting stages of scoliosis… He said that is usually how it starts, one muscles is stronger than the other and then it causes the spine to turn… So I will be making Ashley an appointment at All Children’s for next week too.. Plan is to have Chris’s appointment and Ashley’s on the same day…

Ashley had her first Basketball game last Friday night she scored 2 points, which is awesome, for not ever playing on a team before and for only having 3 practices… She did not have a game this pst Friday, but she will have a game for the next 5 or 6 Friday nights coming up… It was really exciting to see her active and on a team…

Christina is hoping to join a swim team, she wants to be part of a team so bad.. And swimming is about the only team sport she will be able to do, so we are checking on that now.. Hopefully we can find a swim team that is not outrageously priced… I’ve heard it is pretty expensive. But we will do whatever it takes so she can be part of a team and have friends.. She has been isolated enough she wants to have friends and be apart of something and who could blame her.. She has been way more patient than I could have ever been…

Also, this past Tuesday my Grandfather pasted away, so we made a road trip Friday and Saturday to Georgia for the services… I hated that it was under those circumstances, but it was a good trip for just the 4 of us all being together for a while… It seems like we are all always going different directions here lately…

I again want to THANK EVERYONE who made CHRISTMAS so amazing for the girls…. You kindness is amazing… and our Family Thanks you greatly…
Well, I guess that’s about it…



THANK YOU ALL FOR YOU WORDS OF PRAYERS AND SUPPORT….. THANK YOU ALL WHO HAVE SENT HAPPY MAIL AND CHRISTMAS MAIL TO CHRISTINA AND OUR FAMILY….

Love, Sherry and Family..

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….


Again, Thank you ALL for your continual support, well wishes and prayers…. Christina and our family THANK YOU….

Love, Sherry


************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>**********************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>****


O.H I almost forgot Ashley wanted to say Hello to everyone and to Thank You for stopping by her web page too…. She really enjoys when people write to her too.. It make her feel special and it puts a smile on her face too…. So THANK YOU from Ashley..
ASHLEYS WEB SITE, STOP BY AND SAY HELLO IF YOU GET A CHANCE….


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------








************************************************************************

HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>


IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773



***************>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<******************>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<


I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site









Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>







THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!




The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…









Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE (AML relapse) a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital


CASIE’S SITE (AML) Leukemia a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center, Please stop by if you get a chance.. She has just learned she has relapsed and will have to have a bone marrow transplant


Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love







Sunday, January 23, 2005 3:28 PM CST

495 days post transplant




Hello,

Sorry for the lack of updates… It has not been intentional… Things have been very crazy around here the past few weeks, I just don’t know where time goes any more..

First, Christina did go to see Dr. Petrovic last Monday, her clinic appointment went pretty good.. All of Christina’s lab work (blood work) looked pretty good.. Her platelets are back down to 160 which is in the normal range, but they had gotten up to 280 for a while, so I don’t like to see that drop even though they are in the normal range… Just something to keep an eye on… Christina has finally finished the medicine for the spots on her lungs, I am so glad she is done with that because it started to cause her to be EXTA sensitive to the sun and her face is now 6 different shades, because her face and her neck are peeling so bad… But hopefully it was the medicine and that to will begin to clear up… Christina did have a CT scan done Monday and it showed the spots seem to be gone.. So it looks like the anit fungal medicine did it’s job… Christina also did go see Dr. Letson her leg doctor too and there really is not much change there.. She will eventually have to have a hip replacement and at some point maybe soon they will have to stop the growth plates in both of her legs because her left leg is not shorter than the right leg due to the femur being dead… So her leg situation will be a wait and see thing.. I do have to make an appointment for her to have bone scans done next week to get actually measurements of her legs… Other than that Christina is doing pretty good..

Now we have a little situation with Ashley, she did gymnastics for a long time and has been complaining about her back, so I finally took her to her pediatrician and he said that the left back muscle was half the size of the right muscle, which I could see it too, because she is so skinny it is easy to see her muscles… So her doctor just gave her some exercises to due and said if it is not better in a few months come back.. Well needless to say I wasn’t pleased with that answer so when we took Chris to see Dr. Letson I talked to him about it and he looked at Ashley’s back and has referred us to an All Children’s Doctor.. He said it could be the starting stages of scoliosis… He said that is usually how it starts, one muscles is stronger than the other and then it causes the spine to turn… So I will be making Ashley an appointment at All Children’s for next week too.. Plan is to have Chris’s appointment and Ashley’s on the same day…

Ashley had her first Basketball game last Friday night she scored 2 points, which is awesome, for not ever playing on a team before and for only having 3 practices… She did not have a game this pst Friday, but she will have a game for the next 5 or 6 Friday nights coming up… It was really exciting to see her active and on a team…

Christina is hoping to join a swim team, she wants to be part of a team so bad.. And swimming is about the only team sport she will be able to do, so we are checking on that now.. Hopefully we can find a swim team that is not outrageously priced… I’ve heard it is pretty expensive. But we will do whatever it takes so she can be part of a team and have friends.. She has been isolated enough she wants to have friends and be apart of something and who could blame her.. She has been way more patient than I could have ever been…

Also, this past Tuesday my Grandfather pasted away, so we made a road trip Friday and Saturday to Georgia for the services… I hated that it was under those circumstances, but it was a good trip for just the 4 of us all being together for a while… It seems like we are all always going different directions here lately…

I again want to THANK EVERYONE who made CHRISTMAS so amazing for the girls…. You kindness is amazing… and our Family Thanks you greatly…
Well, I guess that’s about it…



THANK YOU ALL FOR YOU WORDS OF PRAYERS AND SUPPORT….. THANK YOU ALL WHO HAVE SENT HAPPY MAIL AND CHRISTMAS MAIL TO CHRISTINA AND OUR FAMILY….

Love, Sherry and Family..

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….


Again, Thank you ALL for your continual support, well wishes and prayers…. Christina and our family THANK YOU….

Love, Sherry


************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>**********************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>****


O.H I almost forgot Ashley wanted to say Hello to everyone and to Thank You for stopping by her web page too…. She really enjoys when people write to her too.. It make her feel special and it puts a smile on her face too…. So THANK YOU from Ashley..
ASHLEYS WEB SITE, STOP BY AND SAY HELLO IF YOU GET A CHANCE….


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------








************************************************************************

HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>


IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773



***************>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<******************>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<


I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site









Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>







THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!




The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…









Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE (AML relapse) a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital


CASIE’S SITE (AML) Leukemia a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center, Please stop by if you get a chance.. She has just learned she has relapsed and will have to have a bone marrow transplant


Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love







Sunday, January 2, 2005 12:47 AM CST

474 days post transplant




Hello,

Our Family hopes everyone had a Very Merry Christmas and hopefully a good start to the New Year!!!

Christina did go back to St.Pete on the 27th of December and she was very disappointed because we didn’t get to see Dr.Petrovic we had to see the new transplant doctor.. He is very nice too, but we are just use to Dr. Petrovic… So after the appointment when we got back home I called Dr. Petrovic and talked to her on the phone…
We did not learn much new at the appointment, just that her lungs sound good and that the pneumonia has cleared it’s self up nicely… But my concern was the “initial” spots on her lungs.. Which I didn’t really get any answers on, so that is why I called Dr. Petrovic and she gave us a game plan… Christina will go back to clinic on the 17th for a repeat CT scan to make sure that the fungus “spots” are going away.. She will be done with her 6 weeks of medication at that point… This medicine has been very rough on her system so we all will be glad when she is done with it… She did finally finis the medicine she was on for the pneumonia, that was one of the ones that kept making her fell nauseas…

Christina does go to Tampa clinic on the 14th to see Dr. Letson about her leg, which has really been giving her a hard time… We had Mike’s best friends 2 kids over for 2 days and Christina got really wore out trying to keep up with the kids… She was breaking my heart because she just wants to run and play and can’t… Well, she does but then she pays for it later… I took the kids to two different parks and I would sit up on this hill and just watch them play and Christina would go up 2 steps on something and yell MOMMY LOOK AT ME… It was like watching a 2 year old on the play ground for the first time… Her face would light up…. I had to explain to the other kids that it has been almost 2 years since Christina has been able to just go and play on a play ground, so it is like a whole new experience for her, were it is something normal kids do all the time… It broke my heart, but made me smile all at the same time… I truly got a first hand look at just how much she has slowed down and how weak she really is… she just could not keep up, but it didn’t bother her to much she was just so excited to be on a play ground playing… And I was just glad to be sitting there watching her…

Christmas was very good this year.. Santa out did himself again… I can tell the girls are growing up so much because this year they wanted us to open our gifts more than they wanted to open any of there’s… We had to keep telling them to open some of there gifts and then we would open ours… YES, Christina got one of the main things she wanted, a telescope…. She also wanted a set of drums, but maybe for her Birthday…. And YES, Mommy got her pajama’s she wanted… So it all worked out good…

Ashley starts her Basketball team on Monday, this should be exciting to see… Right Now Mike has both girls at the local recreation center giving Ashley a few Basketball pointers… I told them None better come home hurt… Yea right… ha ha…

Well, I guess that is about all for now…..




THANK YOU ALL FOR YOU WORDS OF PRAYERS AND SUPPORT….. THANK YOU ALL WHO HAVE SENT HAPPY MAIL AND CHRISTMAS MAIL TO CHRISTINA AND OUR FAMILY….

Love, Sherry and Family..

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….


Again, Thank you ALL for your continual support, well wishes and prayers…. Christina and our family THANK YOU….

Love, Sherry


************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>**********************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>****


O.H I almost forgot Ashley wanted to say Hello to everyone and to Thank You for stopping by her web page too…. She really enjoys when people write to her too.. It make her feel special and it puts a smile on her face too…. So THANK YOU from Ashley..
ASHLEYS WEB SITE, STOP BY AND SAY HELLO IF YOU GET A CHANCE….


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------








************************************************************************

HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>


IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773



***************>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<******************>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<


I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site









Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>







THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!




The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…









Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE (AML relapse) a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital


CASIE’S SITE (AML) Leukemia a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center, Please stop by if you get a chance.. She has just learned she has relapsed and will have to have a bone marrow transplant


Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love







Sunday, January 2, 2005 12:47 AM CST

474 days post transplant




Hello,

Our Family hopes everyone had a Very Merry Christmas and hopefully a good start to the New Year!!!

Christina did go back to St.Pete on the 27th of December and she was very disappointed because we didn’t get to see Dr.Petrovic we had to see the new transplant doctor.. He is very nice too, but we are just use to Dr. Petrovic… So after the appointment when we got back home I called Dr. Petrovic and talked to her on the phone…
We did not learn much new at the appointment, just that her lungs sound good and that the pneumonia has cleared it’s self up nicely… But my concern was the “initial” spots on her lungs.. Which I didn’t really get any answers on, so that is why I called Dr. Petrovic and she gave us a game plan… Christina will go back to clinic on the 17th for a repeat CT scan to make sure that the fungus “spots” are going away.. She will be done with her 6 weeks of medication at that point… This medicine has been very rough on her system so we all will be glad when she is done with it… She did finally finish the medicine she was on for the pneumonia, that was one of the ones that kept making her feel nauseas…

Christina does go to Tampa clinic on the 14th to see Dr. Letson about her leg, which has really been giving her a hard time… We had Mike’s best friends 2 kids over for 2 days and Christina got really wore out trying to keep up with the kids… She was breaking my heart because she just wants to run and play and can’t… Well, she does but then she pays for it later… I took the kids to two different parks and I would sit up on this hill and just watch them play and Christina would go up 2 steps on something and yell MOMMY LOOK AT ME… It was like watching a 2 year old on the play ground for the first time… Her face would light up…. I had to explain to the other kids that it has been almost 2 years since Christina has been able to just go and play on a play ground, so it is like a whole new experience for her, were it is something normal kids do all the time… It broke my heart, but made me smile all at the same time… I truly got a first hand look at just how much she has slowed down and how weak she really is… she just could not keep up, but it didn’t bother her to much she was just so excited to be on a play ground playing… And I was just glad to be sitting there watching her…

Christmas was very good this year.. Santa out did himself again… I can tell the girls are growing up so much because this year they wanted us to open our gifts more than they wanted to open any of there’s… We had to keep telling them to open some of there gifts and then we would open ours… YES, Christina got one of the main things she wanted, a telescope…. She also wanted a set of drums, but maybe for her Birthday…. And YES, Mommy got her pajama’s she wanted… So it all worked out good…

Ashley starts her Basketball team on Monday, this should be exciting to see… Right Now Mike has both girls at the local recreation center giving Ashley a few Basketball pointers… I told them no one better come home hurt… Yea right… ha ha…

Well, I guess that is about all for now…..




THANK YOU ALL FOR YOU WORDS OF PRAYERS AND SUPPORT….. THANK YOU ALL WHO HAVE SENT HAPPY MAIL AND CHRISTMAS MAIL TO CHRISTINA AND OUR FAMILY….

Love, Sherry and Family..

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….


Again, Thank you ALL for your continual support, well wishes and prayers…. Christina and our family THANK YOU….

Love, Sherry


************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>**********************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>****


O.H I almost forgot Ashley wanted to say Hello to everyone and to Thank You for stopping by her web page too…. She really enjoys when people write to her too.. It make her feel special and it puts a smile on her face too…. So THANK YOU from Ashley..
ASHLEYS WEB SITE, STOP BY AND SAY HELLO IF YOU GET A CHANCE….


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------








************************************************************************

HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>


IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773



***************>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<******************>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<


I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site









Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>







THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!




The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…









Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE (AML relapse) a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital


CASIE’S SITE (AML) Leukemia a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center, Please stop by if you get a chance.. She has just learned she has relapsed and will have to have a bone marrow transplant


Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love







Thursday, December 23, 2004 4:06 PM CST

464 days post transplant




Hello,

Sorry, for the delay in updating, Christina being in the hospital all last week kind of threw things off so now I am playing catch up…

On Monday they did another chest x ray on Christina and there was an improvement, so which led the doctors to believe it was pneumonia we were dealing with. If it was fungal then her lungs would have not looked improved already… We are still dealing with the initial “spot/spots” on her lungs which they do believe is fungus… and we are still dealing with her sinuses, but they seem to be improving everyday… So Christina cam home on 3 different medicines and unfortunately one of them is making her sick (nauseous, throwing up)… It seems to happening more with her morning pill, which is funny because she takes the same pills at night and it doesn’t seem to bother her… I haven’t figured that one out yet, except maybe that shortly after she takes her night pills she is a sleep…

We take her back to St. Pete on the 27th, so I will know more of what lays ahead then..

Ashley did do her winter Olympics gymnastics performance the Saturday Chris was in the hospital, Mike and I both went to it… Ashley did an awesome job… She was the only girl in her group that did NOT fall doing a cartwheel on the balance beam.. She nailed it.. YEAH !! Ashley!!! She also did very well on the vault, bars and her floor routine… I think her being back involved in gymnastics has been good for her, plus she start playing in a church basketball league in January… That will be pretty exciting for her…

Well, here we sit on the Eve of Christmas Eve and I still have to go out tonight to get a few little things… Like I said last week threw everything off… Christina is so funny, I told her while she was in the hospital “remember the 2 main things you wanted for Christmas, well you just might not get them, because of us not working and being up here in the hospital” and she said ”that’s o.k.” “no big thing” Well, the day we were driving down the interstate coming home Christina says “Mom remember how you said I might not get the main things I want” I said “yes” then she says “well that night gown you wanted you just might not get either” I couldn’t stop laughing… I said “that’s o.k..” She was so serious, but I just kept laughing…

Christina’s smile and laughter is ALL I need for Christmas and for everyday of my life….

Well, we want to wish EVERYONE HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!! And may the New Year bring Happier and Healthier Times….

P.S. My Dad is getting better everyday, he is still in a lot of pain and has no appetite…But Mom seems to think he is improving… Thank you again for your support and prayers concerning my Dad…




THANK YOU ALL FOR YOU WORDS OF PRAYERS AND SUPPORT….. THANK YOU ALL WHO HAVE SENT HAPPY MAIL AND CHRISTMAS MAIL TO CHRISTINA AND OUR FAMILY….

Love, Sherry and Family..

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….


Again, Thank you ALL for your continual support, well wishes and prayers…. Christina and our family THANK YOU….

Love, Sherry


************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>**********************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>****


O.H I almost forgot Ashley wanted to say Hello to everyone and to Thank You for stopping by her web page too…. She really enjoys when people write to her too.. It make her feel special and it puts a smile on her face too…. So THANK YOU from Ashley..
ASHLEYS WEB SITE, STOP BY AND SAY HELLO IF YOU GET A CHANCE….


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------








************************************************************************

HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>


IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773



***************>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<******************>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<


I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site









Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>







THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!




The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…









Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE (AML relapse) a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital


CASIE’S SITE (AML) Leukemia a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center, Please stop by if you get a chance.. She has just learned she has relapsed and will have to have a bone marrow transplant


Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love







Tuesday, December 21, 2004 10:18 AM CST

Hello,
Just wanted everyone to know that Christina is HOME!!!! Yeah!!!
I have to go back to Tampa today to get her medicines, but I will update with all the happenings of the past few days when I get back...

Thank you all for the support and prayers, you will never know how much it all means to our family..
Love, Sherry

Friday, December 17, 2004 9:47 PM CST

Friday Update....


Hello,
Nothing really new.. The sinus doctor said that the bacteria in her sinuses is not a type of bacteria that would cause pneumonia.. But they are thinking she has a type of pneumonia bacterial or viral or it still could be fungi.. But also the first spot on her lung that was biopsied 2 weeks ago is not connected to any of this.. So that means Christina is fighting 3 different things... So they now have her on 3 different meds... The transplant doctor said we should get to go home Monday or Tuesday.. They will either repeat the scan of her lungs on Sunday or Monday and then it will determine if she can go home.. Hopefully the scan will show an improvement.. She is still not needing any oxygen but she does get very short of breathe when she walks and she still starts coughing so bad she chokes..
So basically it is a waiting game to see if anything grows that they sent off and to see if any of these meds help...

Tomorrow Ashley has a gymnastics performance at 2:30 so Mike and I are going to go to that and Mike's mom is going to stay with Chris.. Christina did start throwing up tonight, I don't know what that was about, but if it continues then I probably will just stay here and Mike can video tape Ashley..

Christina's spirits were pretty good today, she had some visiters THANK YOU Charlene, Mary Jane and Jane Snow... And THANK you Hugs and HOpe for the beautiful ballons.. They sure did put a smile on her face and so did the visits...

When Christina started throwing up tonight it really scared her, it has been a while since she got sick like that.. I kept telling her she was o.k. That's all I could do..

Thank you all for the words of support and the prayers... I have been telling Christina about her messages...



Well, I guess that is about all..

Love, Sherry and Family


New update..

Christina had her prosedures done around 11:00 this morning... She made it through all of them o.k... She kind of scared the crap out of me right before they toke her back to the O.R .. Mike was not here yet, and she was upset over that and then she started coughing so bad she was choking and that scared her so much she almost passed out on me and then her nose started bleeding and all of this was happening in the rest room down the hall from the holding room she was in.. So I am standing ouside the door SCREAMING for a nurse.. any nurse, we needed a wheel chair and "the bucket" and she was so pale and shaking so bad she couldn't stand up... We finally got her back into her lodling room and she calmed down.. I think it was just a mixture of things that caused this, but all I know is that after almost 3 years of this nightmare I still PANIC and my legs got week and I know I was pale too... She was hyperventalating and so was I.. What a scene it must have been... Needless to say they felt like she was calm enough to go back and have her prosedures done..

The E.N.T doctors that did the sinus work said that they toke alot of the crap out of her sinus and that will all be sent off for fungi, viral and bacterial test and they also biopsied some of the tissue..

The lung part of the prosedure went well, they don't know anything yet, but she did need a little bit of oxygen for a while, but now she is on room air and she is holding stats around 95 to 98.. Which is pretty good for all that she went through today.. We have oxygen on stand by...

We will definatly be here through the weeken, past that we don't know..

Right now it is just a waiting game on all of these test... They also started her on another med..

Well, I better get back up to the room, she was sound asleep when I came down here, Mike is up there with her now...O.H. Mike did make it here in time to see her in recovery.. The resaon her wasn't here to start with is he went home last night to be with Ashley and they were not scheduled to do the prosedures until 2... But like I said they got moved to 11..

Thank you all for the words of encouragment and prayers... I will update again tommorrow...

Love, Sherry and Family





Hello,
Just a very quick update...
I am on the hospital computer right now.. Christina got admitted late last night with difficulty breathing... Ct Scan and x ray shows something very bad going on in her lungs... What it is we don't know... The doctors are competely stumped, so A LOT of different test are going to be run today.. She will also go in to surgery to have a biopsy of her sinus's and they are also going to flush her lungs out... That is were they put solution in her lungs and then suck it back out and then they will send that off to be tested too... Pretty much I DON"T have a clue as to what is going on all I know is Christina is very scared and so are all of us.... Please say an extra prayer for Christina, please let this be something controlable... What doesn't make sence is she had a chest x ray last Wedensday and nothing was there except the spot and now there are lines/smoke effect all through BOTH lungs... Her sinus are fully packed too...

I just can NOT decrible the feelings I am having... So much can run through your mind... It's enough to drive you insane...

Our Lap top is broke so I will update more when I know more... and I will let Christina know the messges that are left for her...

Thank you ALL again for your support and prayers..
Christina is in room 265 All Children's Hospital extention 2265 1-800-456-4543
Love, Sherry and Family

Thursday, December 16, 2004 8:58 PM CST

New update..

Christina had her prosedures done around 11:00 this morning... She made it through all of them o.k... She kind of scared the crap out of me right before they toke her back to the O.R .. Mike was not here yet, and she was upset over that and then she started coughing so bad she was choking and that scared her so much she almost passed out on me and then her nose started bleeding and all of this was happening in the rest room down the hall from the holding room she was in.. So I am standing ouside the door SCREAMING for a nurse.. any nurse, we needed a wheel chair and "the bucket" and she was so pale and shaking so bad she couldn't stand up... We finally got her back into her lodling room and she calmed down.. I think it was just a mixture of things that caused this, but all I know is that after almost 3 years of this nightmare I still PANIC and my legs got week and I know I was pale too... She was hyperventalating and so was I.. What a scene it must have been... Needless to say they felt like she was calm enough to go back and have her prosedures done..

The E.N.T doctors that did the sinus work said that they toke alot of the crap out of her sinus and that will all be sent off for fungi, viral and bacterial test and they also biopsied some of the tissue..

The lung part of the prosedure went well, they don't know anything yet, but she did need a little bit of oxygen for a while, but now she is on room air and she is holding stats around 95 to 98.. Which is pretty good for all that she went through today.. We have oxygen on stand by...

We will definatly be here through the weeken, past that we don't know..

Right now it is just a waiting game on all of these test... They also started her on another med..

Well, I better get back up to the room, she was sound asleep when I came down here, Mike is up there with her now...O.H. Mike did make it here in time to see her in recovery.. The resaon her wasn't here to start with is he went home last night to be with Ashley and they were not scheduled to do the prosedures until 2... But like I said they got moved to 11..

Thank you all for the words of encouragment and prayers... I will update again tommorrow...

Love, Sherry and Family





Hello,
Just a very quick update...
I am on the hospital computer right now.. Christina got admitted late last night with difficulty breathing... Ct Scan and x ray shows something very bad going on in her lungs... What it is we don't know... The doctors are competely stumped, so A LOT of different test are going to be run today.. She will also go in to surgery to have a biopsy of her sinus's and they are also going to flush her lungs out... That is were they put solution in her lungs and then suck it back out and then they will send that off to be tested too... Pretty much I DON"T have a clue as to what is going on all I know is Christina is very scared and so are all of us.... Please say an extra prayer for Christina, please let this be something controlable... What doesn't make sence is she had a chest x ray last Wedensday and nothing was there except the spot and now there are lines/smoke effect all through BOTH lungs... Her sinus are fully packed too...

I just can NOT decrible the feelings I am having... So much can run through your mind... It's enough to drive you insane...

Our Lap top is broke so I will update more when I know more... and I will let Christina know the messges that are left for her...

Thank you ALL again for your support and prayers..
Christina is in room 265 All Children's Hospital extention 2265 1-800-456-4543
Love, Sherry and Family

Wednesday, December 15, 2004 11:57 AM CST

Hello,
Just a very quick update...
I am on the hospital computer right now.. Christina got admitted late last night with difficulty breathing... Ct Scan and x ray shows something very bad going on in her lungs... What it is we don't know... The doctors are competely stumped, so A LOT of different test are going to be run today.. She will also go in to surgery to have a biopsy of her sinus's and they are also going to flush her lungs out... That is were they put solution in her lungs and then suck it back out and then they will send that off to be tested too... Pretty much I DON"T have a clue as to what is going on all I know is Christina is very scared and so are all of us.... Please say an extra prayer for Christina, please let this be something controlable... What doesn't make sence is she had a chest x ray last Wedensday and nothing was there except the spot and now there are lines/smoke effect all through BOTH lungs... Her sinus are fully packed too...

I just can NOT decrible the feelings I am having... So much can run through your mind... It's enough to drive you insane...

Our Lap top is broke so I will update more when I know more... and I will let Christina know the messges that are left for her...

Thank you ALL again for your support and prayers..
Christina is in room 265 All Children's Hospital extention 2265 1-800-456-4543
Love, Sherry and Family

Friday, December 10, 2004 6:29 PM CST

451 days post transplant




Hello,

Well, I took Christina back to clinic on Monday and she had her lab work done and saw Dr. Petrovic… Pretty much the game plan is to keep Christina on this very toxic anti viral med for 3 weeks and then she goes back on the 27th of December to have a repeat CT scan done of her lungs…

One thing we did find out on Monday that there is more than one spot.. How many, I am not sure Dr.Petrovic just said there were a few spots… Which I had kind of figured that because I had done some research online and it said that usually if you see one spot there are more, so I wasn’t that surprised.. Dr. Petrovic was going to talk to some Doctors from Duke University because they do the most cord blood transplants to figure out why with Christina being this far out of transplant this would be happening to her lungs…. Her immune system has been fairly good for a while now, so this should not be happening… I just pray that this medicine will get rid of it, if not they will have to remove it…

Then to top things off I had to take Christina back to St. Pete on Wednesday because she was running a low grade fever and looked very bad to me… So Dr. Petrovic ordered blood cultures, they swabbed her throat and stuck the little (but very long) q-tip up Christina’s nose and made her pee in a cup… Christina was an emotional basket case that morning… O.H. and she had to get stuck with a needle twice, because old faithful (her left arm vein) did not want to work so they used the top of her hand OUCH!!! She also had a chest x ray done.. Yes… She did get a special gift that day because it was a lot to go through…

So far nothing has grown in the cultures, so it looks like she is just fighting off a viral infection…. She has been so miserable this week… The chest x ray just showed the spots on her lungs , nothing else… One other very frustrating thing is that this medicine Christina is on makes her VERY emotional.. I mean one minute happy next minute having a breakdown… I just hate all of this… She was doing so well and this just really scares me and I know it is scaring Christina because she has told me that it is…

Right now we are just touching base with Dr. Petrovic by phone and if anything comes up I will update…

UPDATE ON MY DAD….
First Thank You very much for the prayers and support regarding my Dad… He is now home, he is in a lot of pain where they cut his chest bone.. I can’t even imagine how that feels…
Dad and Mom haven’t slept much this week because he can only sleep for a few hours and then he wakes up in pain.. Needless to say my Mom has her hands VERY full…. My Mom has always been there for me and I hate that I am not there for her now… I talk to her about 20 times a day, but it’s just not the same… Again Thank you for your prayers…

Well, the girls are defiantly ready for Christmas… I want to say THANK YOU to those who have already started sending Christmas cards Christina’s way… She has been so excited when we go to the P.O. Box…. And this year is even better, because she can now go into the post office herself and check her mail…. Code_Blue Online family you have been so Awesome… SO has Hugs and Hope and Make a Child Smile…. Thank you to EVERYONE who helps put a SMILE on Christina face..and Ashley’s face too…

Well, I guess that is about all for now… Pretty much we sit and wait and see if this medicine works… I just hate the way Christina looks right now… She looks so sick and it just scares me so very much… I know she is fighting this yeast in her lungs and she is fighting this viral thing and that is why she looks bad to me, but it just reminds me of when she was fighting Cancer… I hate the way my stomach has been flipping these past 2 weeks… I thought we were finally on the smooth part of this roller coaster ride.. I guess not… Like I have said before…. NORMAL life just will never exists for us again…



THANK YOU ALL FOR YOU WORDS OF PRAYERS AND SUPPORT…..
Love, Sherry and Family..

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….


Again, Thank you ALL for your continual support, well wishes and prayers…. Christina and our family THANK YOU….

Love, Sherry


************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>**********************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>****


O.H I almost forgot Ashley wanted to say Hello to everyone and to Thank You for stopping by her web page too…. She really enjoys when people write to her too.. It make her feel special and it puts a smile on her face too…. So THANK YOU from Ashley..
ASHLEYS WEB SITE, STOP BY AND SAY HELLO IF YOU GET A CHANCE….


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------








************************************************************************

HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>


IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773



***************>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<******************>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<


I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site









Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>







THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!




The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…









Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE (AML relapse) a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital


CASIE’S SITE (AML) Leukemia a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center, Please stop by if you get a chance.. She has just learned she has relapsed and will have to have a bone marrow transplant


Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love







Friday, December 3, 2004 7:56 PM CST

444 days post transplant




Hello,

Sorry it has taken a few days to update things have been VERY crazy around here.. Needless to say…
First, Christina did have the biopsy done, they went in with a needle by her shoulder blade through her ribs to get to the spot on her lung, well it took 3 pokes at her to get what they wanted… Well, poking holes in the lung is never a good thing and some air leaked so a little part of Christina’s lung collapsed. She did not need a chest tube (THANK GOD), but she did have to stay in MICU overnight for observation… They kept taking x-rays of her lung to make sure that it was fully inflated again… and it was so we got to come home on Thursday afternoon….. So far the test has shown that it is a Yeast fungus infection in her lung… How the heck it got there… How long has it been there I have NO clue… But she is starting on some VERY strong anit-fungul medication tonight and then we go back to see Dr.Petrovic in St.Pete on Monday to find out more…. I am so glad they found something, because if nothing would have grown in the labs they were going to have to cut that piece out… They may still do that I don’t know yet… I will update when I know more….
Christina’s spirits are down a little…. She was not scared about the surgery but she said she was scared of the results…. And then today she told Mike that she didn’t mind visiting the hospital, but she did not want to be in there any more because it sucked the life out of her… WOW what powerful words…. And I must say when she is in the hospital she looks so sick… I don’t know why that is…. We get home 2 hours later and she looks 10 times different.. Amazing how that is…

Anyway, the other thing going on in our lives is.. My Dad has just went through an Emergency double bypass heart surgery in Tennessee…. My dad had an ekg a week ago and it was very erratic so they sent him to a cardiologist and they did a cardiogram and came and told my mom he needed and emergency double bypass…. So that took place today.. So far he is doing well… He had some more bleeding than they had hoped and his blood pressure was an issue for awhile but mom says he is stable and is in ICU and will be there for at least a couple of days… I just hate that my Mom is going through this by herself.. I wish I could be there…. Please say an extra prayer for OMA and Opa (my Mom and Dad) tonight…

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOU WORDS OF PRAYERS AND SUPPORT…..
Love, Sherry and Family..

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….


Again, Thank you ALL for your continual support, well wishes and prayers…. Christina and our family THANK YOU….

Love, Sherry


************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>**********************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>****


O.H I almost forgot Ashley wanted to say Hello to everyone and to Thank You for stopping by her web page too…. She really enjoys when people write to her too.. It make her feel special and it puts a smile on her face too…. So THANK YOU from Ashley..
ASHLEYS WEB SITE, STOP BY AND SAY HELLO IF YOU GET A CHANCE….


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------








************************************************************************

HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>


IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773



***************>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<******************>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<


I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site









Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>







THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!




The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…









Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE (AML relapse) a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital


CASIE’S SITE (AML) Leukemia a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center, Please stop by if you get a chance.. She has just learned she has relapsed and will have to have a bone marrow transplant


Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love







Tuesday, November 30, 2004 7:41 PM CST

441 days post transplant




Hello,

Just a quick update… More like a prayer request for Christina…
I took her for all of her CT scans yesterday at the hospital, well it looks like she has a lesion (spot on her one of her lungs… So Dr. Petrovic wants to do a biopsy of the lesion tomorrow (Wednesday)… Christina will have to go to the hospital and be in short stay, she will be put under for the procedure and then afterwards she will have to go to recovery for a little while… So if all goes well she will be able to come home tomorrow evening….

What could the lesion be???? That is the mystery…. It could be so many different things, but I think they are thinking a fungus… Please pray that it is not that.. Please pray that it is NOTHING!!!!!
My mind is just going crazy.. My nerves are going crazy… Dr. Petrovic said she would have the biopsy sent STAT so we will find out the results soon….

It just never ENDS… This far out and after every appointment when things are going good, I always feel like I am waiting for the other shoe to drop…. I HATE THAT FEELING…… I don’t dwell on it, but reality is anything could happen at anytime….. It just goes to show I don’t think our lives can ever be “NORMAL” again….. People can say what they want , but “normal” will never exist for us every again……

Please pray….

Love, Sherry and Family..

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….


Again, Thank you ALL for your continual support, well wishes and prayers…. Christina and our family THANK YOU….

Love, Sherry


************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>**********************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>****


O.H I almost forgot Ashley wanted to say Hello to everyone and to Thank You for stopping by her web page too…. She really enjoys when people write to her too.. It make her feel special and it puts a smile on her face too…. So THANK YOU from Ashley..
ASHLEYS WEB SITE, STOP BY AND SAY HELLO IF YOU GET A CHANCE….


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------








************************************************************************

HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>


IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773



***************>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<******************>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<


I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site









Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>







THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!




The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…









Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE (AML relapse) a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital


CASIE’S SITE (AML) Leukemia a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center, Please stop by if you get a chance.. She has just learned she has relapsed and will have to have a bone marrow transplant


Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love







Wednesday, November 24, 2004 8:32 PM CST

435 days post transplant




Hello,

Last week I had both girls write a story about what they are Thankful for.. This was part of there homework, Christina miss understood what I meant and she actually made a list and here it is…..

I AM THANKFUL FOR BEING ABLE TO HAVE TURKEY.
IAM THANKFUL FOR HAVING A FAMILY.
I AM THANKFUL FOR HAVING ALL THE FRIENDS I HAVE.
I AM ALSO THANKFUL TO HAVE A HOUSE TO LIVE IN.
I AM THANKFUL THAT I HAVE A DOG.

I AM THANKFUL I HAVE CANCER…….
I AM THANKFUL FOR ALL THE DOCTORS AND NURSES.
I AM THANKFUL FOR THE CHILDRENS CANCER CENTER.
I AM THANKDFUL FOR ALL THE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.
I AM THANKFUL FOR ALL THE PEOPLE THAT CARE ABOUT ME.
I AM THANKFUL FOR STILL BEING HERE…..
WRITTEN BY :CHRISTINA GATES

WOW!!!!!!! That last one really gets to me… VERY strong words for such a little innocent child…

I AM THANKFUL FOR HAVING MY FAMILY, FRIENDS, ALL THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN ON THIS JOURNEY WITH US FOR THAT PAST 3 YEARS…. BUT MOST OF ALL I AM THANKFUL CHRISTINA IS STILL HERE TOO….

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!!!!!!!!

O.k. now for a brief update…
Christina went to Clinic this past Monday and all her counts looked about the same.. Nothing new there… But, she did get some WONDERFUL news…. SHE CAN GO INTO PLACES NOW!!!! Yeah!!!!! YEAH!!!!
Well, we are not going to let her run wild, but Ashley and I did take her to the Mall yesterday morning as soon as it opened and we were not there for very long… Needless to say the Limited too gift card that she has for over a year is now GONE…. SO of course all she is asking for Christmas is gift cards so she can go shopping… We will see what Santa brings her….
Back to her going in places, she is still NOT allowed to eat food from anywhere, and we are using our best judgment on what stores she goes into and at what times….

The other news is I have to take Christina back to St.Pete on Monday for a CT Scan of her lymph nodes again, remember she had a problem with one of them a few months ago, well it is still swollen a little and it is longer than the other one. So Dr. Petrovic what to keep an eye on all her lymph nodes to make sure nothing else is happening…

Well, I guess that is all for now, Both girls just got done making a Pumpkin pie, from a real pumpkin NOT a can… It still has 40 minutes of baking time but BOY does the house smell so good…. Christina is going to make Deviled eggs in the morning so that will be fun… Last year she made them and when it was time to sit down and eat she started not feeling well so she slept all through Thanksgiving… And the year before that was when she had just got back to 2 sw floor after being in ICU so she didn’t have any Thanksgiving food, so this year will be even more extra special….

Thank you for continuing to pray for Christina and please hold close to your hearts the families who have lost a loved one.. I could not even begin to imaging the Holidays without Christina… Jane and the whole Snow family we LOVE YOU……My heart aches for you it is almost indescribable….






CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….


Again, Thank you ALL for your continual support, well wishes and prayers…. Christina and our family THANK YOU….

Love, Sherry


************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>**********************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>****


O.H I almost forgot Ashley wanted to say Hello to everyone and to Thank You for stopping by her web page too…. She really enjoys when people write to her too.. It make her feel special and it puts a smile on her face too…. So THANK YOU from Ashley..
ASHLEYS WEB SITE, STOP BY AND SAY HELLO IF YOU GET A CHANCE….


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------








************************************************************************

HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>


IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773



***************>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<******************>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<


I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site









Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>







THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!




The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…









Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE (AML relapse) a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital


CASIE’S SITE (AML) Leukemia a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center, Please stop by if you get a chance.. She has just learned she has relapsed and will have to have a bone marrow transplant


Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love







Wednesday, November 10, 2004 6:24 PM CST

421 days post transplant




Hello,

Today, November 10th marks the one year anniversary of Christina coming home from the hospital post transplant…. I can’t believe she has been home for a year… It’s still hard to believe this is our life, but with each step Christina take forward it’s just amazing to me how far she has come… The Journey is FAR from over, but we take each day as a true blessing…


I hope everyone had a Happy and safe Halloween… Christina and Ashley had a lot of fun, they both went trick or treating in our neighborhood and then Ashley went to her best friends neighborhood for a little while..

Nothing really exciting has been going on here.. I have been pretty sick, but so far no one else in the family has come down with what ever this is I have going on… So that is a good thing.. As far as Christina’s health, she is doing about the same, we go back to the eye doctor next week to check on how “Bob” is doing (the spot she sees) and then the following week we are scheduled to go back to St.Pete to see Dr. Petrovic and to have a how bunch of test done to check how far along her immune system has come… She is still very limited to what she can and can not do, and what she can eat and where from… We are hoping that some of her results will come back a little better so she can have a little more freedom…

The girls are getting so excited about Christmas coming up… I had to sit down and explain to them that this Christmas will not be as big as the past two.. Christmas 2002 Chris was in the hospital so she really got spoiled, Christmas 2003 she had just gone through transplant so she really got spoiled.. After I said all that, Christina looked at me and said “Mom all that matters is that we are ALL together”.. I told her she was right… But I was just kind of put back on the fact that she looks at things, life etc… so differently than your “normal” 11 yr old.. All I know is that I am the luckiest Mom in the whole wide world to have such and amazing child… One thing is for sure there is never a dull moment around here…

We are suppose to go to the Steve Yerrid fishing Derby on Friday in St.Pete, and Christina wants me to call Dr. Petrovic because she has a few spots that have shown up on her leg and it is freaking her out… I told her she will see her in 2 weeks, but I have a feeling we will be popping in at clinic on Friday morning.. I told Christina that she could call her Doctor and talk to her, so we will see what she does…I am keeping an eye on them and Christina is counting her spots every 10 minutes and is writing down the numbers… I think she has become more nervous than me.. If that is possible.. Ha ha…

Well, I guess that is all for now, I hope all is well with everyone else..
Lots of love, Sherry


CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….


Well, I guess that’s all for now… Thank you ALL for your continual support, well wishes and prayers…. Christina and our family THANK YOU….

Love, Sherry


************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>**********************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>****


O.H I almost forgot Ashley wanted to say Hello to everyone and to Thank You for stopping by her web page too…. She really enjoys when people write to her too.. It make her feel special and it puts a smile on her face too…. So THANK YOU from Ashley..
ASHLEYS WEB SITE, STOP BY AND SAY HELLO IF YOU GET A CHANCE….


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------








************************************************************************

HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>


IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773



***************>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<******************>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<


I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site









Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>







THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!




The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…









Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE (AML relapse) a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital


CASIE’S SITE (AML) Leukemia a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center, Please stop by if you get a chance.. She has just learned she has relapsed and will have to have a bone marrow transplant


Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love







Saturday, October 30, 2004 9:53 AM CDT

1 year 45 days post transplant




Hello,

I am so sorry for the lack of updates…

First, Christina went to St.Pete clinc ion Wednesday to see Dr.Petrovic and had all her blood counts done.. So far all her counts are just staying the same.. Nothing really changed on them.. Next month is when she will have more extensive test done to really see how well her new marrow is doing and see how much stronger her immune system has gotten. As of right now her immune system is still not where the doctors want it to be, so she is still not going to be able to go into places or eat anything from anywhere but home… She was SO hoping some of these limitations would be lifted soon… It has been soooo very long since she has been into stores or a restaurant… It is really starting to get to her… And I just feel helpless.. I just try and make her as happy as I can with what she can and can not do.. That’s the best we can do…. Her out look on life and her spirit makes things so much easier to handle , but it is still hard… Her smile on her face just puts a smile on my face everyday….

On a sadder note our dear sweet friend Deseray passed away on Friday.. She had her transplant a week after Christina… We all had know for awhile that the leukemia had come back… I went and visited with Deseray and her mom Tammy on Wednesday and at that point they were calling all family in… It just breaks my heart because all through Deserays hospital stays, she just ran the halls, you could here her laughter from one hall way to the next or even if she was in here room with the door closed… Her smile and laughter brought a smile to everyone’s face… Deseray you will be missed sweet one…..We all love you dearly…. I am so glad that the last time the girls saw Deseray was about a month ago we went up to the hospital and Christina had to wait at the end of the hallway, but Desray kept running out of her room saying Hello and Ashley and I went to her room to buy 5 seashells for $!.00... So Mike, Ashley , Christina and I all have our own collection of sea shells from an angel now… We will cherish them forever….

Well, I guess that is about all for now, after Halloween I will post a new picture of Christina in her costume… She is going to be a Monarch Butterfly… Imagine that…. Ashley is going to be a punk… That fits her too…

I hope everyone has a Happy and safe Halloween….



CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….


Well, I guess that’s all for now… Thank you ALL for your continual support, well wishes and prayers…. Christina and our family THANK YOU….

Love, Sherry


************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>**********************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>****


O.H I almost forgot Ashley wanted to say Hello to everyone and to Thank You for stopping by her web page too…. She really enjoys when people write to her too.. It make her feel special and it puts a smile on her face too…. So THANK YOU from Ashley..
ASHLEYS WEB SITE, STOP BY AND SAY HELLO IF YOU GET A CHANCE….


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------








************************************************************************

HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>


IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773



***************>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<******************>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<


I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site









Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>







THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!




The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…









Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE (AML relapse) a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital


CASIE’S SITE (AML) Leukemia a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center, Please stop by if you get a chance.. She has just learned she has relapsed and will have to have a bone marrow transplant


Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love







Tuesday, October 12, 2004 5:39 PM CDT

392 days post transplant




Hello,

Well let’s see where to begin….

Wow! I can’t believe I haven’t updated in so long, I apologize…

First, Christina has been doing pretty good on the medical side of things. She was suppose to go to St.Pete clinic last week to see Dr. Petrovic, but that got canceled due to Dr. Petrovic being out of town, so we just took her to Tampa clinic for a CBC (blood counts) and all looked pretty good. Everything is pretty much staying the same, so Like I have said a million times before staying the same is just fine with me… Christina has a few spots show up on her bottom again, I have been keeping an eye on them, it does not appear to be shingles again, plus she is on maintenance doses of medicine for that virus, so I am not sure what is going on there. I haven’t had a chance to talk to the doctor about them yet, like I said I am just keeping an eye on them and keeping track of her temperature and stuff like that. The situation with her leg is staying about the same too, her leg bothers her when she does a lot of walking of other activities. Last Sunday I took Christina to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers game and it was a lot of walking for her so her leg was bothering her most of the night and next day… It’s just one of those things we have to take day by day… About the Bucs game, she was so excited she got permission from the doctor to go, it is outside so I think that helped a lot… Where we sit we don’t have anyone in front of us so that makes it nice too… so she wasn’t wedged in between a lot of people… She was so funny at the game she did a lot of yelling and giving me funny looks, I guess she couldn’t believe I could yell like that too… It was just me and her and we had an awesome time….

I have been doing a lot of school work with both girls, we are trying to get into some kind of routine… I know both girls will be so happy when they can go back to school, mainly so they can be social again… I thinks still to this day the hardest part of transplant has been the isolation for Christina and for the rest of the family too… I was just saying today that Mike and I have only been out to dinner by ourselves once since Christina came home almost a year ago… Well, November will be a year, but still that’s along time.. I can only imagine how Christina feels it has now been15 months since she has had a happy meal from McDonalds and since she has been in any stores…. Her Christmas list consists of money and gift cards, because she hopes by Christmas she will be allowed to go to some stores, maybe not the mall yet but maybe some other stores… We shall see….


I guess that is pretty much it, we did go to the St.Petersburg “light the Night walk” to walk in memory of Casie Snow, We had a team for Christina this year, but our Polk County walk got cancelled due to all the hurricanes… So it was nice that Christina got to participate in a walk anyway…

Christina wanted me to say “HELLO” to everyone and “THANK YOU” for the cards she still gets in the PO Box… She still gets very excited about her mail…. Thank You all for continuing on this journey with us…




CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….


Well, I guess that’s all for now… Thank you ALL for your continual support, well wishes and prayers…. Christina and our family THANK YOU….

Love, Sherry


************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>**********************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>****


O.H I almost forgot Ashley wanted to say Hello to everyone and to Thank You for stopping by her web page too…. She really enjoys when people write to her too.. It make her feel special and it puts a smile on her face too…. So THANK YOU from Ashley..
ASHLEYS WEB SITE, STOP BY AND SAY HELLO IF YOU GET A CHANCE….


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------








************************************************************************

HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>


IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773



***************>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<******************>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<


I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site









Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>







THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!




The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…









Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE (AML relapse) a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital


CASIE’S SITE (AML) Leukemia a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center, Please stop by if you get a chance.. She has just learned she has relapsed and will have to have a bone marrow transplant


Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love







Wednesday, September 29, 2004 2:32 PM CDT

Hello,
I am having to use our cousins computer at her house to update real quick...
As many might know we had a hurricane blow through Polk county sunday, we had no power for over 50 hrs and when power came back on we lost our phone and cable, so no internet either.... We all did fine.. It was So very scary.. We did have water coming in the house from the roof down into a hallway and Ashley's room, but it all can be fixed.. The MOST important thing is we ALL are O.k....

I will update when we finally have phone or cable back, which we have been told it could be a month...

I hope ALL who weathered the storm are all o.k. and I hope everyone else is doing good too...

Love, Sherry and Family

Wednesday, September 15, 2004 8:44 PM CDT

1 year 13 days post transplant


You can click her to donate to "CHRISTINA"S WALKERS" our team for the light the night walk for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society…. I am team captain agin this year.. I was team captain last year, but after I signed up for the job Christina relapsed.. Ashley and I attended the walk last year while Christina was just 1 week post tranplant… So this year is going to be so special to Christina.. She is trying to raise money, she wants to raise more than any of the other friends and family on our team.. So if you would Like to sponsor Christina please do, it would mean so much to her…. If you do not want to do it online the you can just make a check payable to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society BUT mail it to the P.O. Box address below….THANK YOU SO MUCH….


THE NEW PICTURE ON TOP WAS TAKEN OUTSIDE DURING HURRICANE FRANCES...

Hello,

Well let’s see where to begin….

First we made it through Hurricane Frances o.k.…. Just a lot of rain and pretty strong winds, but no damage to the house or yard with the exception of our Magnolia tree that feel over, but that was because it hasn’t rooted yet and the stakes were not strong enough for the wind …

The girls kept going outside to see if they would get blown away and few times it did blow them pretty much down… Once the rains started I made them come in…

I am so glad that this hurricane Ivan has passed us by, I do pray for those in it’s path…

On the medical side of things for Christina, we did wind up having to take her to St.Pete to see Dr.Petrovic late Friday afternoon because her right side of her neck was so swollen and her gland was very enlarged… This was in the middle of everyone here still thinking the hurricane Ivan was headed our way, it’s amazing how you can be focusing on one thing and then all of a sudden Christina says Mom look at my neck and the whole world comes to a complete stop…. So off to the hospital we went, Dr. Petrovic ordered a CT scan of all her lymphoid, so which meant Christina had to receive a contrast through an IV… SO the first time she gets stuck with a needle since getting her broviac out was with an Iv line…. Needless to say she wasn’t pleased about that, but she did fine… She just hates the rubber band they put at the top of your arm worse than the whole long needle thing…. Anyway, we waited around for the results and it looked like all of her other lymphoid looked fine, so we are thinking just a bacterial infection in the one noid… So we got a prescription for an antibiotic… That was almost a week ago and the swelling has gone down just a little, so we take her back to see Dr. Petrovic in the morning (Thursday) and she will then decide if Christina needs to have a biopsy done….

Other than that scare everything else has been going well… Christina’s leg gives her some discomfort every night, but it doesn’t seem to slow her down much… We do have to limit how often she takes the dog for a walk and she is getting upset about that….

As far a schooling, both girls have been working on reading chapter books and they have been doing very well with that…

It has been a VERY long time since I have done a Christina Moment, but I have one now…
Both girls where fighting so I told them to get a book and go to there rooms… Well about an hour later Ashley comes out of her room to me and says “no fair I have been in my room reading and Christina has been in her room playing cards” So I yelled for Christina and asked her what she had been doing and she said “ you said to get a book and go to our rooms, but I didn’t know you meant for us to read the book”… I could not believe it… I was laughing so hard… I said how could you not know what I meant and she was like “I wasn’t thinking”…. The moral of the story is, number one I must be more specific on my orders and number two Christina is turning into a sneaky little thing…. We all got a good laugh out of it anyway, well Ashley didn’t but we did.. Ha ha….

Well, I guess I better go for now, I will update after we know some more info on this whole lymphoid thing… Please pray that it is just an infection and not something worse… And please keep our special friends Desarey and Chris Becker and all the kids fighting this horrific disease in your prayers
I am also adding some pictures from the last month to the photo album I created, there is a link down bellow….


CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….


Well, I guess that’s all for now… Thank you ALL for your continual support, well wishes and prayers…. Christina and our family THANK YOU….

Love, Sherry


************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>**********************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>****


O.H I almost forgot Ashley wanted to say Hello to everyone and to Thank You for stopping by her web page too…. She really enjoys when people write to her too.. It make her feel special and it puts a smile on her face too…. So THANK YOU from Ashley..
ASHLEYS WEB SITE, STOP BY AND SAY HELLO IF YOU GET A CHANCE….


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------








************************************************************************

HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>


IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773



***************>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<******************>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<


I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site









Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>







THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!




The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…









Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE (AML relapse) a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital


CASIE’S SITE (AML) Leukemia a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center, Please stop by if you get a chance.. She has just learned she has relapsed and will have to have a bone marrow transplant


Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love







Sunday, September5, 2004 12:00 PM CDT

1 year 3 days post transplant


You can click her to donate to "CHRISTINA"S WALKERS" our team for the light the night walk for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society…. I am team captain agin this year.. I was team captain last year, but after I signed up for the job Christina relapsed.. Ashley and I attended the walk last year while Christina was just 1 week post tranplant… So this year is going to be so special to Christina.. She is trying to raise money, she wants to raise more than any of the other friends and family on our team.. So if you would Like to sponsor Christina please do, it would mean so much to her…. If you do not want to do it online the you can just make a check payable to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society BUT mail it to the P.O. Box address below….THANK YOU SO MUCH….

New update....

So far we are surviving the Hurricane O.K. A LOT of very strong wind and rain.... We all didn't sleep much through the night and it looks like it will be another long day of wind and rain... I did want to make a correction I said we are on the Eastern part of Polk County, we are atually on the Western part of Polk County in Lakeland.... Anyway, for those who are braving the storm I wish you all well....

Love, Sherry
UPDATE FROM Sept 3rd 2004 Hello,

Well we are finally all moved into the new house….. I am glad that the past few weeks are now behind us.. Moving is NOT fun at all…

Christina has a busy week with doctors visits…
First, Monday she went to St.Pete for all of her post transplant test, Lung function test, ultrasound of her spleen (which is still enlarged), echo, EKG and about 20 valves of blood drawn and to finish the day she had a spinal… The spinal was a tuff one, Dr.Petrovic had to stick her twice and still couldn’t get it so they called another doctor in and she got it on the first try.. But to Dr. Petrovics defence she has never done a spinal on Christina before… Once that was done with Dr.Petrovic did the bone marrow aspiration… So far all the bone marrow and spinal test have come back looking pretty good… We will not know until some time next week how her T cells and B cells (immune cells) are doing… And we also will find out sometime next week the STR’S which is how many donor cells she is…. So please keep praying for 99.9onor cells… Well, Christina made it through Monday pretty good, she was a little sore on Tuesday…

Then on Wednesday Christina got her Broviac (central line in chest) OUT!!!!!!!!!
YEAH!!!!! That was a very BIG thing for her…. With the exception of 2 months last year she has basically had a broviac for almost 3 yrs…. She can not wait to jump in a POOL!!! But she will have to wait a little while to make sure it heals up good first… She has already been promised a swim in the President of the Tampa Bay Lightning’s pool…. The Campbell’s are so special to Christina and our family… Thank you Campbell Family….

Well, as many of you know we have yet another hurricane headed our way… We are in Eastern Polk County, so hopefully we won’t get it to bad… I know we don’t have to worry about flooding, because the new house is high and dry, but the winds are a different story…. Just please say and extra prayer tonight for all of us… Power of prayer has helped us so far….

Yesterday was Christina’s 1 year Anniversary since transplant, or as we call it her 1 st birthday…. Thank you so much for those who sent her a special anniversary/birthday card/ gifts…. One special lady made Christina a Beautiful quilt for the anniversary… Christina loved the quilt, but what also made it special was the different fabric squares were some of the fabric Christina had used to make pillows for some of her Cancer friends while they were in the hospital….
As many of you might already know we lost our friend Casie Snow a week and a half ago.. Casie had AML leukemia and had a bone marrow transplant just a few months ago… Casie was such an amazing young lady and so full of love and life, I just don’t understand this…. She had so much to offer the young kids and even the adults…. Christina did go to the viewing/wake with me and she did not handle it to well, she did good there, but she did a lot of talking to me later… Ashley is my quite, keeps things bottled up child, so she was just very angry.. Casie would give Ashley rides home form the Cancer Center when Christina was in Transplant…. I just don’t understand why this keeps happening…. Please also say an extra prayer for our friend Deseray and Chris Becker….. Christina has a very special place in her heart for Chris Becker and he is in the hospital right now….He is her buddy from clinic…

Well, I am just rambling.. I guess that is what happens when I don’t update more often.. ha ha…. I did have an excuse this time….remember one hurricane, moving and doctor appointments…. Ha ha… Now that things are settling down I will be back sooner….

I am also adding some pictures from the last month to the photo album I created, there is a link down bellow….


CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….


Well, I guess that’s all for now… Thank you ALL for your continual support, well wishes and prayers…. Christina and our family THANK YOU….

Love, Sherry


************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>**********************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>****


O.H I almost forgot Ashley wanted to say Hello to everyone and to Thank You for stopping by her web page too…. She really enjoys when people write to her too.. It make her feel special and it puts a smile on her face too…. So THANK YOU from Ashley..
ASHLEYS WEB SITE, STOP BY AND SAY HELLO IF YOU GET A CHANCE….


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------








************************************************************************

HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>


IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773



***************>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<******************>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<


I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site









Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>







THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!




The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…









Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE (AML relapse) a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital


CASIE’S SITE (AML) Leukemia a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center, Please stop by if you get a chance.. She has just learned she has relapsed and will have to have a bone marrow transplant


Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love







Thursday, August 26, 2004 10:29 AM CDT

DAY 361 post transplant


You can click her to donate to "CHRISTINA"S WALKERS" our team for the light the night walk for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society…. I am team captain agin this year.. I was team captain last year, but after I signed up for the job Christina relapsed.. Ashley and I attended the walk last year while Christina was just 1 week post tranplant… So this year is going to be so special to Christina.. She is trying to raise money, she wants to raise more than any of the other friends and family on our team.. So if you would Like to sponsor Christina please do, it would mean so much to her…. If you do not want to do it online the you can just make a check payable to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society BUT mail it to the P.O. Box address below….THANK YOU SO MUCH….


Hello,
CAN YOU BELIEVE CHRISTINA’S 2nd BIRTHDAY IS COMING UP ON SEPTEMBER 2nd….. CHRISTINA WILL BE ONE YEAR POST TRANSPLANT, SO SHE GETS 2 BIRTHDAYS A YEAR…..

Sorry it has been awhile since I’ve update… Things have been pretty crazy and busy here…
Let’s see where to start..
FIRST, on a good, but scary note Christina will be getting her Broviac (central line) out on September 1st… This is a very exciting thing for Christina, but it is also kind of scary just because last year when she got it out that is when things started going down hill again and then she relapsed.. SO it’s very exciting for Christina but it makes Mike and I nervous.. Which I am sure it is hard for anyone in our situation to understand… Christina also goes to clinic on Monday August 30th for her one year post transplant follow up.. It will be a VERY long day with, pulmonary function test, echo, ekg, ultrasound, about 20 different blood labs, a bone marrow aspiration and a spinal tap…

O.K next, we are in the middle of a move… We are just moving a few miles away, but it has been a nightmare… Mike’s mom bought a just built, much larger house than what we are in now.. So Christina will finally have her own room… For those who don’t know she has been sleeping in the living room since she came home for the hospital.. The old house is just that old, with a lot of health issues.. SO this move is a good thing… Moving stuff from one house to another wasn’t that bad, but Mike and I had 2 storage units of stuff from before Christina was diagnosed and going through all that was a major nightmare… Needless to say we are having one major yard sale this weekend….

Christina wanted me to tell everyone that she pained her room Purple and we got her these wall paper cutouts of butterflies and flowers and her room looks like a princesses room…. So she is happy… And Ashley painted her room sky blue… It actually turned out very pretty too… For those who watch TLC clean sweep, well that what we did, we did a major clean sweep….

Back to Christina’s medical situation.. She will have all these test done next week and it will show us how well her immune system is doing and how well her bone marrow is doing and how much donor cells she still is…. SO please say an extra prayer for still 99.9 percent donor cells…

Well, I gotta go and get more stuff packed we have to be out by Sunday….

Love, Sherry




************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>**********************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>****


O.H I almost forgot Ashley wanted to say Hello to everyone and to Thank You for stopping by her web page too…. She really enjoys when people write to her too.. It make her feel special and it puts a smile on her face too…. So THANK YOU from Ashley..
ASHLEYS WEB SITE, STOP BY AND SAY HELLO IF YOU GET A CHANCE….


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….








************************************************************************

HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>


IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773



***************>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<******************>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<


I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site









Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>







THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!




The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…









Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE (AML relapse) a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital


CASIE’S SITE (AML) Leukemia a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center, Please stop by if you get a chance.. She has just learned she has relapsed and will have to have a bone marrow transplant


Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love







Friday, August 13, 2004 8:59 AM CDT

DAY 348 post transplant


You can click her to donate to "CHRISTINA"S WALKERS" our team for the light the night walk for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society…. I am team captain agin this year.. I was team captain last year, but after I signed up for the job Christina relapsed.. Ashley and I attended the walk last year while Christina was just 1 week post tranplant… So this year is going to be so special to Christina.. She is trying to raise money, she wants to raise more than any of the other friends and family on our team.. So if you would Like to sponsor Christina please do, it would mean so much to her…. If you do not want to do it online the you can just make a check payable to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society BUT mail it to the P.O. Box address below….THANK YOU SO MUCH….


Hello,
Well, the Birthday surprise turned out to be a great surprise to Christina…And to my Mom… My brother who lives in Japan with his Japanese wife and there 3 daughter, youngest being 9 months old Treated us to a nice little vacation on Madeira Beach on the west coast… My brother usually only comes back to the states every 2 years and he was just here last year for Christina’s birthday when her took us all to Disney, well he decided to make another trip over before his new baby got to big, my Mom (oma) hadn’t seen the new baby yet either.. SO we told my Mom who lives in Tennessee, that we were having a surprise Birthday party for Christina at the beach so I need her and my dad to come down and Christina really didn’t know anything until the day before when we told her that we were just going fishing for a few days…. So my Mom and Christina had NO clue my brother had flown in on Saturday and when we got to the Condo my brother and his family open the door and yelled SURPRISE!!… You should have seen the look on my Mom’s face and on Christina’s face…. I can’t believe I pulled one over on my mom and trust me it was hard, seeing as how I talk to her at least 5 times a day and I have been keeping this surprise a secret for over 2 months… It was hard on my dad, he was in on it and my Mom started not wanting to drive down so it took a lot of convincing on his part.. Good job dad….

Christina had an awesome time, she did a lot of fishing and walking the beach and we took a dolphin cruise on the bay… Unfortunately our trip was cut a little short because of Hurricane Charley… Right where we were staying will be under water later today.. It hard to imagine.. IF you hear anything on the news about Pinellas County or Johns Pass, Pass a grill area we were right there yesterday.. Yesterday they made it a mandatory evacuation… SO we are back home… I will put a lot of pictures in my photo album in the next few days.. Right now I just wanted to update real quick and then I need to go ahead and shut the computer down for the day as we brace for the storm….. Wee are in Polk County so we have to worry about winds up to 70 mph and tornadoes and heavy rain…

On the medical side, Christina seems to be doing o.k.… We did get the MRI done last week and it just conformed that her femur was dead and dying more… But the MRI did show that the head of the femur has a divot (hole) in it, meaning that the bone is already shattered and gone.. SO she is ABSOLUTEY NOT allowed to run, jump or do anything that will put impact on here hip or her femur… Basically, nothing can be done about it, she will have pain and pretty much has been told she will have to deal with it, now if the pain gets to severe then something will have to be done… A hip replacement wouldn’t take place until she is older…. Christina’s blood counts looked good and sometime next week she will have all of her 1 year post transplant lab work done, bone marrow, spinal tap, and blood work etc….. I can’t believe that September 2nd will be ONE year since transplant…. Christina went in the hospital on August 25th…. We will have another little birthday party for Christina on the 2nd of September Because it is considered her 2nd Birthday…. Here second Chance of life happened that day, so we will defiantly celebrate it….


I will update more later and talk more about the trip later…

Love, Sherry




************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>**********************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>****


O.H I almost forgot Ashley wanted to say Hello to everyone and to Thank You for stopping by her web page too…. She really enjoys when people write to her too.. It make her feel special and it puts a smile on her face too…. So THANK YOU from Ashley..
ASHLEYS WEB SITE, STOP BY AND SAY HELLO IF YOU GET A CHANCE….


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….








************************************************************************

HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>


IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773



***************>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<******************>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<


I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site









Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>







THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!




The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…









Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE (AML relapse) a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital


CASIE’S SITE (AML) Leukemia a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center, Please stop by if you get a chance.. She has just learned she has relapsed and will have to have a bone marrow transplant


Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love







Monday, August 2, 2004 12:15 AM CDT

DAY 337 post transplant



HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY SWEET, BEAUTIFUL BABY GIRL CHRISTINA!!!!!!

At 8:16 am August 2nd, 1993 God gave me one of the best gifts in the world a 8 lbs 14 oz, blue eyed, snow white blonde haired baby girl that we named Christina Maria Gates…

I look back at the last 11 years of our life with Christina and there are so many memories and emotions it would take a lifetime to share them all… But, on things I do want to express is just how amazing I think you are Christina.. You were special from the beginning, you always wanted everyone around you to be happy and laugh.. You have always had a heart of gold, the cancer did not bring that out in you , it has just helped you through your journey…. You amaze me every moment I look at you, your strength, determination, devotion, compassion, laughter, love, and life you share with me as your Mom and with family and friends is something words will never describe.. In your journey of 11 years of life the last 3 have been pretty rough, but you have not only pulled yourself through it, you have pulled your family through it with your ever lasting spirit..

Every now and then I go back to old journal entries and I just can’t believe all that you have had to endure and yet here you are smiling and loving life and all it has to offer… Just one year ago we didn’t even know if you would be here for your 11th Birthday and you showed us all that you were not a quitter, you are one heck of a FIGHTER and I Thank God for your strength everyday… You have touched so many lives for such a young lady and you have done it all with the beautiful smile you like to grace us with… May your smile always be there and may God continue to allow you to be with us and all that love you so dearly my sweet baby girl…. My heart aches so badly when I think of you in any kind of pain, but then you look at me and smile and you go on.. That to me is amazing how you can just deal with things like you do… I am so proud of how you have become such an amazing young lady.. The cancer has made you grow up way to fast, but you have handled it so well…You are an amazing daughter, granddaughter, cousin, niece and friend and we ALL love you so very much…
I am so very proud of you…Your heart has so much love in it and I am so Thankful to be apart of your Life and I am so very Thankful God chose me to be your Mom… I love you Christina.. You will never know just how much.. I love you baby…. I hope you have a Wonderful Birthday!!!!!

Love, Mommy





July 30, 2004 Day 334 post transplant
Hello,


Again I ask is JULY over with???? Just another day or two…

I can’t believe Christina’s Birthday is Monday (2nd)… My baby is growing up so fast, it’s hard to believe…

Well, we took Christina to clinic today and it looks like the rashes are making an improvement, not much but at least they are not getting worse… So we will take it… As far as he blood/lab work everything looked about the same as last week except her platelets did drop by 40 something.. SO a little concern there… It will just be something to keep an eye on… The other issue with her leg is becoming one HUGE nightmare… Christina has been complaining about pain in her leg and in her hip… So now it looks like her leg problems are not going to wait until she is 17 or 18 yrs old like the doctor had hoped… Of course not, this is Christina we are talking about.. She has NEVER been by the book.. Why should she be now… ha ha… Christina has always beat to the sound of her own drum that is for sure…. Anyway, Dr. Letson and the hemoc doctors are going to set up an MRI for some time next week, they said an MRI would be better than doing just an x-ray, so we will head to St.Pete next week… She is limping a lot so I hope that things don’t start getting worse like they did way in the beginning of this roller coaster ride…

Well, I am working on a little something for Christina’s birthday.. It won’t be until the weekend after her birthday, but I think she will be very happy… I can’t say much because she reads the updates and guest book so much… I will let everyone know how it turns out… and I will take a lot of pictures… So for Monday the day of her Birthday we will have some cake and presents…

I guess that is about all for now… I will update after she get’s the MRI done, I am hoping it will be set up for Monday, so we all don’t have to wait to get answers…

Please pray for our friend Casie… Mike and I went to visit her parents on Sunday because Casie is in ICU not doing very well… She is fighting with all her might, but it just seems like things aren’t going to well…. Christina thinks the world of Casie and of course in true Christina fashion.. Christina says” I know Casie will be fine, I feel it.. SO that’s it, she will be fine..” SO please say an extra prayer for Casie tonight…

Well, I guess that’s about all for now… Thank you ALL for the words of encouragement and prayers left behind in the guest book.. Christina and our Family greatly appreciate it…
And THANK YOU for the Cards that have been sent to Christina for her Birthday… The Thank you cards will be on there way…



Love, Sherry


You can click her to donate to “CHRISTINA”S WALKERS” our team for the light the night walk for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society…. I am team captain again this year.. I was team captain last year, but after I signed up for the job Christina relapsed.. Ashley and I attended the walk last year while Christina was just 1 week post transplant… So this year is going to be so special to Christina.. She is trying to raise money, she wants to raise more than any of the other friends and family on our team.. So if you would Like to sponsor Christina please do, it would mean so much to her…. If you do not want to do it online the you can just make a check payable to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society BUT mail it to the P.O. Box address below….THANK YOU SO MUCH….





************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>**********************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>****


O.H I almost forgot Ashley wanted to say Hello to everyone and to Thank You for stopping by her web page too…. She really enjoys when people write to her too.. It make her feel special and it puts a smile on her face too…. So THANK YOU from Ashley..
ASHLEYS WEB SITE, STOP BY AND SAY HELLO IF YOU GET A CHANCE….


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….








************************************************************************

HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>


IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773



***************>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<******************>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<


I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site









Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>







THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!




The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…









Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE (AML relapse) a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital


CASIE’S SITE (AML) Leukemia a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center, Please stop by if you get a chance.. She has just learned she has relapsed and will have to have a bone marrow transplant


Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love







Friday, July 30, 2004 3:33 PM CDT

You can click here to donate to "CHRISTINA'S WALKERS” our team for the Light the Night Walk for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society…. I am team captain again this year.. I was team captain last year, but after I signed up for the job Christina relapsed.. Ashley and I attended the walk last year while Christina was just 1 week post transplant… So this year is going to be so special to Christina.. She is trying to raise money, she wants to raise more than any of the other friends and family on our team.. So if you would Like to sponsor Christina please do, it would mean so much to her…. If you do not want to do it online the you can just make a check payable to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society BUT mail it to the P.O. Box address below….THANK YOU SO MUCH….




DAY 334 post transplant


Hello,


Again I ask is JULY over with???? Just another day or two…

I can’t believe Christina’s Birthday is Monday (2nd)… My baby is growing up so fast, it’s hard to believe…

Well, we took Christina to clinic today and it looks like the rashes are making an improvement, not much but at least they are not getting worse… So we will take it… As far as he blood/lab work everything looked about the same as last week except her platelets did drop by 40 something.. SO a little concern there… It will just be something to keep an eye on… The other issue with her leg is becoming one HUGE nightmare… Christina has been complaining about pain in her leg and in her hip… So now it looks like her leg problems are not going to wait until she is 17 or 18 yrs old like the doctor had hoped… Of course not, this is Christina we are talking about.. She has NEVER been by the book.. Why should she be now… ha ha… Christina has always beat to the sound of her own drum that is for sure…. Anyway, Dr. Letson and the hemoc doctors are going to set up an MRI for some time next week, they said an MRI would be better than doing just an x-ray, so we will head to St.Pete next week… She is limping a lot so I hope that things don’t start getting worse like they did way in the beginning of this roller coaster ride…

Well, I am working on a little something for Christina’s birthday.. It won’t be until the weekend after her birthday, but I think she will be very happy… I can’t say much because she reads the updates and guest book so much… I will let everyone know how it turns out… and I will take a lot of pictures… So for Monday the day of her Birthday we will have some cake and presents…

I guess that is about all for now… I will update after she get’s the MRI done, I am hoping it will be set up for Monday, so we all don’t have to wait to get answers…

Please pray for our friend Casie… Mike and I went to visit her parents on Sunday because Casie is in ICU not doing very well… She is fighting with all her might, but it just seems like things aren’t going to well…. Christina thinks the world of Casie and of course in true Christina fashion.. Christina says” I know Casie will be fine, I feel it.. SO that’s it, she will be fine..” SO please say an extra prayer for Casie tonight…

Well, I guess that’s about all for now… Thank you ALL for the words of encouragement and prayers left behind in the guest book.. Christina and our Family greatly appreciate it…
And THANK YOU for the Cards that have been sent to Christina for her Birthday… The Thank you cards will be on there way…



Love, Sherry





************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>**********************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>****


O.H I almost forgot Ashley wanted to say Hello to everyone and to Thank You for stopping by her web page too…. She really enjoys when people write to her too.. It make her feel special and it puts a smile on her face too…. So THANK YOU from Ashley..
ASHLEYS WEB SITE, STOP BY AND SAY HELLO IF YOU GET A CHANCE….


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….






************************************************************************

HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>


IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773



***************>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<******************>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<


I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site









Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>







THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!




The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…









Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE (AML relapse) a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital


CASIE’S SITE (AML) Leukemia a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center, Please stop by if you get a chance.. She has just learned she has relapsed and will have to have a bone marrow transplant


Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love







Friday, July 23, 2004 8:53 PM CDT

DAY 327 post transplant


Hello,

IS JULY OVER WITH YET??????????

Let’s see once again where do I begin…
As far as the shingles, it looks like that his clearing up and she is now on oral meds for that 4 times a day.. But we had to take her back to clinic today because around the same area as the last break out she is now inflamed and itching so bad that she wakes up at 2 in the morning screaming… The doctor thinks it is a fungus on her skin and prescribed ointment to try for a week and if it doesn’t clear up she will have to go on some oral or IV meds, which will once again be very toxic to her liver and kidney’s and they will do a biopsy of the area…So please pray that this ointment works.. She is breaking out under her arms and on her bottom and lower back….

The other news is that we did find out 2 weeks ago that her leg was becoming a problem again with the head of her left femur dying again, well we found out this week that there is only a miracle chance that her leg will ever recover due to the chemo and radiation pre transplant and the doctor hopes that he can wait until she is at least 17 yrs old to do a hip replacement on her…. So her leg will have to be watched very closely and now she is being told that she can NOT RUN,RIDE A BIKE, ROLLERBLADE, or PLAY ANY SPORTS the rest of her adolescents…. Her leg could shattered if it would get injured.. I thank GOD every day that she is still with us, but it gets really hard dealing with the emotions of her limitations… She just wants to be a KID…. She tries to understand, but it is so hard sometimes and she has every right to get upset… It just really stinks….

Back to the fungus rash on her body…. Two times yesterday and then just a few minutes ago she all of a sudden screamed in a horrific panic cry… It was because she had scratched herself to hard and it hurt her… Well, at 2:20 in the morning Mike and I got woke up to her screaming like that… We came flying out of bed to her, and she was crying and screaming in her sleep because her bottom hurt so bad… Needless to say it took awhile before Mike and I fell back asleep.. We did a lot of talking and it’s amazing what goes through your mind those 1.5 seconds it took to get to her when she was screaming… The fear just never goes away… and I truly think it will never go away…

O.H we did go back to the eye doctor to see how “Bob” was doing… “Bob” is still there, but he is just hanging around, so far he has not made himself into an active virus again… So that is a good thing… As long as “Bob” behaves Christina will just have to get use to him being there… There is nothing they can do to make him go away…. They just don’t want him to become an active virus again, so she will see the eye doctor again in a month…

I just want the month of July to leave Christina alone…. I just want my daughter to be happy and to be allowed to be a child…. You only have your childhood once and almost 3 yrs have been robbed from her and it just breaks my heart… She will never get those years back…. Your youth is about friends, playing, laughing and having fun… I just want those things for her and some days it seems like we are getting closer to that then, we are waken by a horrific scream of pain….
I truly can not believe she is getting ready to turn 11.… She is way to wise for her years and that at time scares me too.. ha ha… It is hard to believe sometimes she was only 8 when this all started and now she will be 11...

I say all these things and share my feelings with you all and I know some of you have lost your loved ones or are dealing with a sick child too….In no way do I want to sound like I am whining or that I don’t feel blessed to have Christina here with me…. I DO.. I truly Do feel blessed every moment I look into her beautiful blue eyes… But at the same time it just tares me up inside to see her hurt, struggle and be sad… Any Parent would just want the same things I do… A HAPPY, Healthy Child….

We just are taking things day by day…I want to plan something for the weekend after her birthday, but we will just have to take things day by day…. It is just to hard to plan things still…. I can’t believe she is 327 days post transplant and she still can’t go in anywhere and pure kid hasn’t had a Happy Meal in almost a year.. That just isn’t right… I don’t know what I thought transplant would be like down the road, but I know I didn’t think we would be almost a year out and still going to the doctor 2 to 3 times a week and getting IV meds and IV fluids and all these limitations…

Well, I have rambled long enough…It has been an emotional past couple of weeks and I guess I needed to vent…. SO thank you for listening….. Christina said she was going to type the next update so keep an eye out for it….


Thank you all for the words of encouragement that are left in the guest book.. It means so much to Christina and our family… When we got home the first think she did was check her web page… And it put a BIG smile on her face… THANK YOU….

Love, Sherry





************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>**********************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>****


O.H I almost forgot Ashley wanted to say Hello to everyone and to Thank You for stopping by her web page too…. She really enjoys when people write to her too.. It make her feel special and it puts a smile on her face too…. So THANK YOU from Ashley..
ASHLEYS WEB SITE, STOP BY AND SAY HELLO IF YOU GET A CHANCE….


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….






************************************************************************

HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>


IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773



***************>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<******************>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<


I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site









Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>







THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!




The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…









Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE (AML relapse) a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital


CASIE’S SITE (AML) Leukemia a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center, Please stop by if you get a chance.. She has just learned she has relapsed and will have to have a bone marrow transplant


Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love







Tuesday, July 13, 2004 7:03 PM CDT

DAY 317 post transplant


Hello,

Well, let’s see where to begin… First Christina is very disappointed because Boggy Creek Camp in now out of the question… I think she would have made it, but with this virus showing it’s ugly face the answer is now NO… It just breaks my heart because all she focused on during transplant was getting to go to camp again… She knows and I know that there is always next year but it just stinks!!!! So anyway we have been dealing with that emotional roller coaster..

Next, the rash is getting better, not gone yet, but better… Monday we went to see Dr.Petrovic and now Christina just has to take 2 pills 4 times a day instead of getting the medicine through her broviac 3 times a day.. But she is still on IV fluids 12 hrs a day and that will last for a least another week or more…This medicine is very toxic so it is very important for her system to keep flushing the meds out…

Now about her eye and her eye friend “Bob”.. Bob is still there and from what I understand “Bob” will always be there.. She does go back again to see the eye doctor on the 26th, to see if there has been any changes…

O.K. the next BIG medical news is… I took Christina Friday to see Dr.Letson (bone doctor from Moffit cancer center) Dr.Letson is the one who did the first bone biopsy of Christina’s leg when this whole nightmare started with her having leg pain…Anyway, back then the head of her left femur was dead.. NO blood running through it… Well, after time it had started to heal it’s self and in all of that time is when she was finally diagnosed with Aml Leukemia… Anyway, now it looks like the bone is dying AGAIN… Can you believe it… What a NIGHTMARE… I went totally numb I couldn’t believe what I was being told… Well, the game plan is to keep a close eye on her with x-rays and yet another limitation, she can’t ride her bike or doing anything really active on her legs, because a dead bone can just shatter…. Doesn’t that sound great.. I just can’t believe it… I am still trying to soak it all in…. So basically the doctor wants to wait and see if her body and bone will heal itself, because of all the chemo and total body radiation pre transplant… Christina’s body , NOT just marrow is still trying to recover…So we will just take this all as it comes, what the options are I don’t know, but trust me I will be doing some major searching…. It’s called avascular necrosis…

Well, on a BRIGHTER side.. Christina’s 11th Birthday is just around the corner.. August 2nd… I can’t believe she is turning 11, she was just 8 when she first got sick.. Boy time sure does go by so fast…. We don’t have anything specific planned yet, but I am sure we will figure something out… Everyday that Christina is with us is so special, and with the lose of so many special children just makes me count our blessings even more and more…

I guess that’s about all for now… Again thank you all for going through this journey with us… I’m afraid as time goes on more things are starting to happen again and it is scaring the heck out of me… So thank you for all the encouragement for Christina and our Family….


Thank you all for the words of encouragement that are left in the guest book.. It means so much to Christina and our family… When we got home the first think she did was check her web page… And it put a BIG smile on her face… THANK YOU….

Love, Sherry





************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>**********************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>****


O.H I almost forgot Ashley wanted to say Hello to everyone and to Thank You for stopping by her web page too…. She really enjoys when people write to her too.. It make her feel special and it puts a smile on her face too…. So THANK YOU from Ashley..
ASHLEYS WEB SITE, STOP BY AND SAY HELLO IF YOU GET A CHANCE….


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….






************************************************************************

HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>


IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773



***************>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<******************>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<


I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site









Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>







THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!




The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…









Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE (AML relapse) a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital


CASIE’S SITE (AML) Leukemia a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center, Please stop by if you get a chance.. She has just learned she has relapsed and will have to have a bone marrow transplant


Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love







Friday, July 2, 2004 5:57 PM CDT

DAY 306 post transplant


Hello,

Well, I want it to be known that I absolutely HATE the month of JULY… I know hate is such a strong word, but July 2002 is when Christina was finally diagnosed after months of low counts, then July 2003 is when Christina relapsed and know we started off the month of July 2004 in the hospital… Mike and I just want to go to sleep and wake up and July to be over…

I took Christina to the hospital Tuesday night because she had a rash on her bottom (private area).. And some of the spots were starting to blister… Here I was worried about her fighting a cold and fever meanwhile this rash is brewing… We know she is a carrier of the CMV virus and the HHV6 virus, which both are in the herpes family (chicken pox, shingles, cold sores etc..) So for some reason this virus decided to flare up.. We usually give her an anti viral at home when the CMV virus is flared up, but Dr. Petrovic wanted to give her a stronger anti viral right away and fluids 24 hrs for a few days… This stronger anti viral is very toxic to the kidney s and liver, so her creatine levels need to be watched very closely.. So we spent Tuesday and Wednesday night at the hospital and got home Thursday evening…. We are now giving Christina her IV meds 3 times a day through her broviac and she is back on fluids for 16 hours a day… It looks like it Christina will be on this schedule for about 2 weeks… We already talked to her about her not going to Boggy Creek camp, Dr.Petrovic keeps saying let’s see, but camp in on the 17th and I just don’t see it happening….Can you believe that home health just picked up the fluids pump last week.. SO I say they jinxed us… Ha ha…

Well, Christina woke up this morning complaining about a black spot she sees when she has her eyes open.. SO yet another call to the doctor and she wanted her to see an eye doctor, so off we went to St.Pete again today… The eye doctor said it looks like scar tissue from a previous virus, he didn’t think it was an active virus, but he wants to see her again on Wednesday… Of course Christina and her crazy personality, she named the spot she sees.. She named it Bob.. She said Bob even listens to her, when she says go up, all she has to do is look up and Bob is there… She has her own personal entertainer…

So now the agenda is for us to take Christina back to the hospital tomorrow (Saturday) to see Dr.Petrovic and for lab/blood work and then we will take her back to St.Pete on Wednesday to see the eye doctor and Dr.Petrovic for more lab/blood work and for her to see how this rash is doing…

Needless to say for me personally the last 2 weeks have been a nightmare.. 2 funerals of amazing kids, and so far a hospital stay and 2 other trips to the doctor… Like I said I just want July to be OVER!!!!

Thank you all for the words of encouragement that are left in the guest book.. It means so much to Christina and our family… When we got home the first think she did was check her web page… And it put a BIG smile on her face… THANK YOU….

Love, Sherry





************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>**********************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>****


O.H I almost forgot Ashley wanted to say Hello to everyone and to Thank You for stopping by her web page too…. She really enjoys when people write to her too.. It make her feel special and it puts a smile on her face too…. So THANK YOU from Ashley..
ASHLEYS WEB SITE, STOP BY AND SAY HELLO IF YOU GET A CHANCE….


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….






************************************************************************

HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>


IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773



***************>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<******************>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<


I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site









Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>







THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!




The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…









Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE (AML relapse) a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital


CASIE’S SITE (AML) Leukemia a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center, Please stop by if you get a chance.. She has just learned she has relapsed and will have to have a bone marrow transplant


Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love







Wednesday, June 30, 2004 12:38 AM CDT

Hello everyone this is Ashley christina's sister my mom wanted me to update her journal so you would know my sister is in the hospital nothing big she needed to get an Anti Viral medicene so we arent't Totally sure when shes going home but my mom's laptop is broke so she can't update but All is good. Thanks for signing her guestbook. Have a good day.

Monday, June 28, 2004 4:18 PM CDT

DAY 302 post transplant


Hello,

I know it is strange to see another update so soon…ha.. Ha…

I took Christina to clinic on Friday to drop off her urine test and to have her breathing treatment, so while we were there I asked the nurses to do a CBC blood/lab work… I just had a weird Mommy feeling… Well, Christina’s platelets dropped from 154 on Monday to 118 on Friday and her hemoglobin dropped too.. Well, I had planned to call and talk to Dr.Petrovic today (Monday) about this, but I didn’t have too…

Yesterday Mike and I went to Donovan’s “Celebration of Life” service and Dr.Petrovic pulled up right after we did… I was shocked to see her there.. It was Dr.Petrovic, her husband and two of the transplant coordinators…and there were about 6 nurses there too… I was trying my hardest to hold myself together through this, but then they had a few people speak if they wanted too and Dr.Petrovic wanted to say something… Well, as soon as she said she was Donovan’s physician she started crying and then I lost it… I have felt so MANY emotions through the last 2 years, but that was an emotion I don’t think I had ever experienced… What an AMAZING WOMAN Dr.Petrovic is… She truly Loves these kids and the families and she amazes us daily… I just had to share that…

Tomorrow I will be attending yet another funeral.. Bradley Harmon was a very special and amazing young man who during Christina’s transplant we watched him go from being basically paralyzed to him walking down the hall way the day Christina left the hospital in November… But we had learned that Bradley had relapsed (leukemia) a few weeks ago and they started him on more chemo and he went into septic shock and just didn’t make it… His family is so wonderful and they were always so wonderful to Ashley, yet another family Ashley got close to because of wondering the halls… When Ashley got to meet Toby Keith the country singer in September she received 2 autographed pictures from Toby and she gave one to Bradley to hang in his hospital room, he was a true Cowboy… Ashley looked at me the other night when we were talking about Donovan and Bradley and she said "it just never ends does it?"... and the sad thing is, it just doesn't seem like it will ever end... The word CANCER will be with us forever Our lifes have been so effected not only because of Christina , but because of all the other amazing Children that have touched our lives... Bradley you will be truly missed….

Well, back to today.. Christina is fighting a little cold and she is flirting with a fever so everyone keep your fingers crossed.. Because a fever will land us in the hospital for a min. of 3 days… Other than that Christina will go back to clinic later this week for lab/blood work….

Thank you ALL for the continual support and prayers and for riding on this roller coaster with us…. Christina really enjoys reading the journal entries and they always puts a BIG smile on her face… THANK YOU ALL…
Love, Sherry

************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>**********************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>****


ASHLEYS‘S WEB SITE, STOP BY AND SAY HELLO IF YOU GET A CHANCE….


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….






************************************************************************

HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>


IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773



***************>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<******************>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<


I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site






<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>






YOU CAN NOW ORDER THE CARDS AND CALENDARS FROM THE CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTER WEB SITE…


You can Click here to go to the Children’s Cancer Center web site to order cards and the CALENDAR…Christina is June and Ashley is September


Christina's Drawing


Ashley's Drawing






Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>







THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!




<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…











Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE (AML relapse) a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital


CASIE’S SITE (AML) Leukemia a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center, Please stop by if you get a chance.. She has just learned she has relapsed and will have to have a bone marrow transplant


Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love







Wednesday, June 23, 2004 11:24 AM CDT

DAY 282 post transplant


Hello,

Last night we were invited to the Campbell’s house for a little Stanley Cup get together…. We all had such a wonderful time… It was pretty neat to see the Stanley Cup that up close… Thank You Mary Jane and Family for a night that will never be forgotten….

I know it has been awhile since I’ve updated… The days are just flying by, before I know it summer will be over… Christina is doing pretty much the same.. She went to St.Pete on Monday to see Dr.Petrovic and she also had an echo and ekg done of her heart.. All of Christina lab/blood work is staying pretty much the same.. Some things go up one week and then the next week something drops back down.. It just seems like she is stuck in the one range.. The echo and ekg looked normal, we were concerned because her heart rate has been staying higher than normal.. Her kidney’s and liver are staying about the same, still along ways to go before being normal if they ever will be that is… On Thursday I have to collect her urine for 24 hrs for a creatine clearance (test), and we will turn it in on Friday when she goes back to Clinic for labs and her breathing treatment… So this week is 2 trips to clinic…

Both girls are not able to go to KITE camp, well we figured Christina couldn’t go, but Ashley was going to until we found out that a few of the kids and volunteers had been exposed to chicken pox… So Dr.Petrovic said we did not need to risk Ashley being around them either… Chicken pox could be deadly to Christina.. Ashley was upset and mad at first, but then we explained the seriousness of this and then she was fine… Ashley did enjoy the camp she went to last week, she had so many wonderful stories to tell and it was nice to see her so happy and excited….

As far as Christina going to Boggey Creek camp, that is still up in the air.. Dr.Petrovic said if some of her immune test that where run 3 weeks ago improve when they run them again in 2 weeks then she could go… So we keep explaining to Christina the test have to improve, not just stay the same, but IMPROVE… So she is happy with that right now because she wasn’t told no….

Other than all that we just keep going… This past week has been pretty emotional for us, because a friend by the name of Donovan pasted away last Thursday morning… He was only 11 yrs old….He had his transplant in January, I just can’t get over him being 6 months post transplant and now he is gone…. We first met Donavon and his family when Christina was in the hospital Christmas of 2002... Donavon was 2 rooms down and the girls had gotten 2 of the same hand held game and so Ashley wanted to give one to Donavon… Donavon’s Mom would always rant and rave about how Ashley could walk down the halls of 2 sw just smiling and up beat and talking to everyone… Christina didn’t know Donavon that well, because they were always to sick when they were in the hospital at the same time… But, Ashley knew him and his family well… I just can’t imagine the pain, nor do I want to… May God hold his family strong… And Donavon RUN!!!! PLAY!!!!!CANCER FREE!!!! You will be truly missed….

Love, Sherry

************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>**********************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>****


O.H I almost forgot Ashley wanted to say Hello to everyone and to Thank You for stopping by her web page too…. She really enjoys when people write to her too.. It make her feel special and it puts a smile on her face too…. So THANK YOU from Ashley..
ASHLEYS‘S WEB SITE, STOP BY AND SAY HELLO IF YOU GET A CHANCE….


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….






************************************************************************

HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>


IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773



***************>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<******************>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<


I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site






<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I also Don’t know how we would be making it through all this with out the HELP and SUPPORT of the girls elementary school…THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL… YOU ALL HAVE BEEN AMAZING!!!! THANK YOU!!!!







YOU CAN NOW ORDER THE CARDS AND CALENDARS FROM THE CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTER WEB SITE…


You can Click here to go to the Children’s Cancer Center web site to order cards and the CALENDAR…Christina is June and Ashley is September


Christina's Drawing


Ashley's Drawing






Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>







THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!




<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…








THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..




Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE (AML relapse) a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital


CASIE’S SITE (AML) Leukemia a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center, Please stop by if you get a chance.. She has just learned she has relapsed and will have to have a bone marrow transplant


Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love







Thursday, June 10, 2004 11:46 AM CDT

DAY 284 post transplant


Hello,

Let’s see where to begin…
Christina did have her bone marrow aspiration last Thursday (3rd).. The procedure itself went well, but then afterwards we had a long discussion with Dr.Petrovic about Christina’s Do’s and Don’ts.. Needless to say Christina was VERY upset because she was told that she can NOT go to Kite camp (Children’s Cancer Center camp)… Most of there activities are in so many different locations and are inside places… Christina was an emotional wreck and so was I…. And then we started discussing getting her Broviac (central line) out, well now she is being told that it won’t be taken out until October… Then she really lost it.. She was breaking my heart… I absolutely HATE seeing her cry like that and nothing I said made things better… We understand the reasoning why she has to wait so long, and deep down so does Christina, but it is still very upsetting… So now that leaves us with the topic of Boggy Creek Camp…. Christina’s focus and determination to get to go to that camp is what got her through the hard times of transplant and now there is a chance she will NOT be able to go to that either… It is in July so we will keep our fingers crossed that things will continue to go well and that Dr.Petrovic will let her go… And if she does get to go there will be a lot she can not do because of not being able to get wet because of her Broviac…

When Christina had her bone marrow aspiration done a lot of different test where run to check how her immune system is doing and just how much immunities she had built up in her body to different things… It’s hard to explain it all, but hopefully we will find out some of those test results this week…

One test result we did find out today when Christina went to clinic was she is GREATER THAN 99% DONOR CELLS!!!!!!! Which means she is still ALL donor marrow.. The test will NEVER say 100% donor so 99% is the best you can get…. YEAH!!!!!!

We were so glad to here this, I had started to get a little worried because her Blood counts are just NOT doing anything.. They are not going UP, but yet they are NOT going down either… So we will take the fact that they are just staying the same…. The same is GOOD….

O.K let’s see what else… HOW ABOUT THE TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING WINNING THE STANLEY CUP!!!!!!! WAY TO GO LIGHTNING!!!!! WAY TO GO BRAD RICHARDS FOR GETTING MVP OF THE PLAYOFFS!!!!!!

The Lightning had a parade in downtown Tampa yesterday and I took the Girls to it… I couldn’t get over how many people where there… It was so awesome to see… THANKS to a VERY special family The Campbell’s…The girls and I got to go behind the scenes of the parade.. We got to see the players after they got out of the Very nice PT Cruisers they were riding on… Christina got to talk to Brad Richards and tell him Congratulations… and she got to see all the other players.. Christina and Ashley where just overwhelmed… They just can’t stop talking about how truly amazing the Lightning Family has been….. It was truly a special treat after the past few weeks Christina has been having emotionally…. The Campbell Family and Brad Richards will never know just how much they have touched our life’s.. THANK YOU!!!!

Ashley had a nice Birthday.. Nothing much, we did go to the All Children’s Tampa clinic for a Carnival they were having for the All Children’s telethon… The girls had a VERY fun time and Christina brought along a friend too, so that made it extra special for her…

On a more serious note PLEASE say an EXTRA prayer for our friend Casie Snow… She was in ICU for a few days, but as of last night she got moved back up to 2 sw and was going to receive her transplant around 10 pm last night… Casie has not updated her site in a long time, she has been very sick and just hasn’t been able too, but she does know a lot of people are praying and pulling for her… I know a lot of people sent Christina cards in the mail during transplant and it helped her SO much, so if you would like I know Casie would LOVE some mail… The hospital address is below and just put attention Casie Snow 2 southwest….

Well, I guess that’s about all for now… Thank you all who continue to go on this journey with us…. And THANK YOU ALL who sent Ashley Happy Birthday wishes…. It truly meant a lot to her….



Love, Sherry

************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>**********************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>****


O.H I almost forgot Ashley wanted to say Hello to everyone and to Thank You for stopping by her web page too…. She really enjoys when people write to her too.. It make her feel special and it puts a smile on her face too…. So THANK YOU from Ashley..
ASHLEYS‘S WEB SITE, STOP BY AND SAY HELLO IF YOU GET A CHANCE….


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….






************************************************************************

HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>


IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773



***************>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<******************>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<


I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site






<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I also Don’t know how we would be making it through all this with out the HELP and SUPPORT of the girls elementary school…THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL… YOU ALL HAVE BEEN AMAZING!!!! THANK YOU!!!!







YOU CAN NOW ORDER THE CARDS AND CALENDARS FROM THE CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTER WEB SITE…


You can Click here to go to the Children’s Cancer Center web site to order cards and the CALENDAR…Christina is June and Ashley is September


Christina's Drawing


Ashley's Drawing






Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>







THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!




<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…








THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..




Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE (AML relapse) a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital


CASIE’S SITE (AML) Leukemia a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center, Please stop by if you get a chance.. She has just learned she has relapsed and will have to have a bone marrow transplant


Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love







Wednesday, June 2, 2004 12:08 AM CDT

DAY 276 post transplant


Hello,

Well, not that much to update.. This past week and a half have been pretty uneventful… Christina went to clinic last week and all her lab work was still the same… again, the same is better than worse… so we will take it… Christina is still on the antiviral for the cmv virus, but luckily she still hasn’t need to go back on IV fluids… SO that is a BIG positive… Christina does go to St.Pete tomorrow (3rd) to see the transplant doctor.. She will have a lot of different test run.. Today marks 9 months since transplant, so there are a lot of different test they need to run… Christina is also having a bone marrow aspiration done tomorrow… It has been a few months since she has had one done so we are all a little nervous… Christina will also have her breathing treatment done tomorrow too.. SO needless to say tomorrow will be a very long day…

Christina and I both had a little cold over the weekend, but we both have now made a full recovery… It is good to report that her fever never got over 100, so that was again a BIG positive… It has been a few months since any hospital stays, so I had my fingers crossed all weekend… Otherwise medically nothing else new…

It is already getting so hot here, in the upper 90’s… We all can’t wait until Christina gets her Broviac (central line) out…. Ashley has been going to a neighbors house swimming and it has been very upsetting to Christina, but I can’t just tell Ashley no… There is just so much she is missing out on and it stinks!!!! But she understands and some how after a little bit of pouting Christina then puts a smile on her face and goes on with the day…. Tough kid…. That’s all I gotta say…

Ashley’s Birthday is Sunday (6th)…. I can’t believe she is going to be 12.…. It just doesn’t seem possible…We don’t have much planned for her Birthday, I told her she can have her best friend spend the night.. We will just play it by ear… I know she wants this big party and all her friends over, but We can’t have a house full of people either… On a bright side, Ashley really wanted to go to this camp with her best friend and so that was her Big Birthday present.. She goes to camp on June 14th (which is Mike’s Birthday)… She will be gone for 6 days.. She is very excited about it… And then a week after she gets back Both girls have KITE camp at the Children’s Cancer Center in Tampa… We have to take the Kite camp schedule to Christina’s doctor because A LOT of the activities are in different places and restaurants… SO Christina is very upset because it looks like she won’t be able to do much or even go… So once again she feels left out.. She wants to see her friends from the cancer center so bad, but it just seems to never happen or work out…. We ALL are so tired of this isolation…. It is effecting ALL of us in so many different ways…. But with Christina she just wants to PLAY and HAVE FUN!!!! Can you blame her she is 10 and it is SUMMER!!!!!!!

Well, I guess that is ablout all for now.. I will update once I know how the Bone marrow aspiration results turned out… PLEASE PRAY FOR STILL 100% DONOR CELLS!!!!!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ASHLEY….

Love, Sherry

************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>**********************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>****


O.H I almost forgot Ashley wanted to say Hello to everyone and to Thank You for stopping by her web page too…. She really enjoys when people write to her too.. It make her feel special and it puts a smile on her face too…. So THANK YOU from Ashley..
ASHLEYS‘S WEB SITE, STOP BY AND SAY HELLO IF YOU GET A CHANCE….


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….






************************************************************************

HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>


IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773



***************>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<******************>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<


I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site






<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I also Don’t know how we would be making it through all this with out the HELP and SUPPORT of the girls elementary school…THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL… YOU ALL HAVE BEEN AMAZING!!!! THANK YOU!!!!







YOU CAN NOW ORDER THE CARDS AND CALENDARS FROM THE CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTER WEB SITE…


You can Click here to go to the Children’s Cancer Center web site to order cards and the CALENDAR…Christina is June and Ashley is September


Christina's Drawing


Ashley's Drawing






Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>







THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!




<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…








THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..




Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE (AML relapse) a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital


CASIE’S SITE (AML) Leukemia a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center, Please stop by if you get a chance.. She has just learned she has relapsed and will have to have a bone marrow transplant


Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love







Sunday, May 23, 2004 6:18 PM CDT

DAY 266 post transplant


Hello,

Sorry for the long delay in an update… The last week has been pretty busy for us.. Christina went to clinic on Tuesday and all her lab/blood work is just staying the same… Nothing is really normal yet, but at least things are not getting worse… We did however find out last Saturday that the CMV virus has flared up again.. SO Christina is once again back on an anti-viral that she gets through her broviac.. It runs for about an hour once a day.. This med is very toxic to her Kidneys and liver so she is now having to drink even more fluids through out the day to keep her from having to get hooked back up to fluids at night… Then on Friday, Christina went to St.Pete to see the transplant doctor because there were a couple of other things medically we were concerned about.. She has this rash under her armpits and on her eye lids.. and it looks like her big toe has an infection or something going on… So a couple of other meds were prescribed… Christina asked me the other day… Does someone out there Hate me? I said NO why.. and she said well I am doing everything I am told to do and things still keep happening to me… I think she is just getting very tired of all of this… It is starting to really get to her… I think like everyone else, she thought by now being this far out of transplant things would be a lot better and different… And she still has such a long way to go…

On a HAPPY note… Christina’s School. Scott Lake Elementary, well I should say the 5th graders at the school voted on who the yearbook should be dedicated to and they all voted for Christina!!!!! She was SO excited… So on Wednesday 5th grade was having field day on the P.E field so we took Christina out there and all the kids started screaming ”CHRISTINA!!” and they were clapping and screaming for her… needless to say she was so happy and I was crying… It was very emotional.. This was the first time she had gotten to go to the school and see any of her classmates this year…. All the students have been so amazing to her through this whole nightmare… On Friday Ashley and I went back up to the school for 5th grade graduation, by request of the school because they were presenting us with a year book… I got up on stage and rambled… I don’t know what I said, but all I was trying to say was THANK you to all of the students, staff and family for everything they have done this year to help our Family… How my speech came out. I have NO idea!!!! Ha ha… My Mom asked if I had Ashley video tape it and I didn’t, I totally didn’t even think about that…. Now of course I wish I did…. Being there at graduation made me realize just how lucky we are to have Christina in our lives… But in the same since it made me so Sad and Angry to see ALL that she has missed out on… They showed a slide show of the 5th grades throughout the year and I just cried… Knowing that Christina should have been there… But yet I am just THANKFUL that she is able to be HOME to drive me nuts… ha ha…..

Let’s see what all else has been going on… We have been working on our Butterfly pond, we now have 5 Koi fish and a sucker fish in the pond… We don’t have much rock around the pond, because we have found that that is the most expensive part to making your own pond… So we have used rocks we have around the house and then we are filling in with flowers and plants… So far it looks beautiful and it is not even close to being done… Christina and I planted a few bulbs last month, some gladiolas and some other type of lilies and they are growing so nice… Every morning Christina goes running outside to see how much more of the plants have grown and this morning we spotted a new growth popping up, she was so excited… Ashley has a olive grape tomato plant that has a lot of tomatoes on it, but not ready for picking just yet… We have had a few hummingbirds come to the feeder, tomorrow we will have to make up some new sugar water for the hummingbirds… So basically we are enjoying the outdoors… We did go to the old sky way last weekend fishing… Someone gave us some shrimp to use as bait and Christina and I would drop the line just barely in the water and we kept catching red snapper and grouper… Christina and I had a honey spot and we were very happy!!! Ha ha…. Mike hooked into a VERY large stingray it was at least 5 feet wide; we couldn’t even get it up to the bridge…

Other than all of that things have just been staying the same…. For Christina some days are harder than others… The mental aspect of all of this never goes away and it doesn’t take much to trigger a break down… How can you blame a 10 yr old for wanting to be a “normal” 10 yr old…. That is if there is such a thing a “normal”.. ha ha … But, she usually bounces back pretty quick… No matter how down she is, she seems to find some way of putting a smile on her face and on the faces of anyone near her… She is just an amazing young lady!!!!!

And let’s not forget about the TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING HOCKEY TEAM!!!!!
WAY TO GO LIGHTNING!!!!!! They have made it to the Stanley Cup Finals!!!! All of the guys who have been so wonderful to Christina and our family did awesome… Christina was so proud of Vinny, Brad, Marty and Habby…. Way to go guys and the whole LIGHTNING TEAM AND ORGANIZATION!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, I guess I will wrap this up… Again sorry for the delay in the update…

Love, Sherry

************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>**********************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>****


O.H I almost forgot Ashley wanted to say Hello to everyone and to Thank You for stopping by her web page too…. She really enjoys when people write to her too.. It make her feel special and it puts a smile on her face too…. So THANK YOU from Ashley..
ASHLEYS‘S WEB SITE, STOP BY AND SAY HELLO IF YOU GET A CHANCE….


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….






************************************************************************

HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>


IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773



***************>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<******************>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<


I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site






<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I also Don’t know how we would be making it through all this with out the HELP and SUPPORT of the girls elementary school…THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL… YOU ALL HAVE BEEN AMAZING!!!! THANK YOU!!!!







YOU CAN NOW ORDER THE CARDS AND CALENDARS FROM THE CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTER WEB SITE…


You can Click here to go to the Children’s Cancer Center web site to order cards and the CALENDAR…Christina is June and Ashley is September


Christina's Drawing


Ashley's Drawing






Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>







THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!




<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…








THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..




Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE (AML relapse) a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital


CASIE’S SITE (AML) Leukemia a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center, Please stop by if you get a chance.. She has just learned she has relapsed and will have to have a bone marrow transplant


Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love







Wednesday, May 12, 2004 8:09 PM CDT

DAY 255 post transplant


Hello,

****The new picture was taken on Mothers Day.. We all were working on the new pond and Ashley had put a toad in some bushes... Well, she went looking for the toad later and found this wonderful SNAKE.... ****


Christina FINALLY got to go to a Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey Game on Monday!!!!! YEAH!!!!
I would have posted a picture, but in typical Sherry fashion I left the house without my camera... Can you believe it,,, She has been waiting for almost a year to go to a game and I walk out without the camera.... We got down the interstate a ways when I realized it, so Mike Got off at an exit with a Publix grocery store so I bought a disposable one with a CD, so once I get them developed I will post them.... Back to the game... Christina had an awesome time... She did everything the doctor ordered and still had a good time... Christina got to see Mr. Joe Henderson again (he is the wonderful writer for the Tampa Tribune that did the amazing articles on Christina and Brad Richards).... Christina was so happy to get to see him... Christina did get to see Mrs.Campbell and her family too... I think it was all very overwhelming to her... It has been 9 months since she has been around a lot of people, but she did really good... I think I was the one that was having the panic attacks...ha ha... Mike and I both were nervous the whole night... But so far, she is doing well...
Christina did go to clinic on Tuesday and all her blood/lab work looks pretty much the same... Her kidneys and liver test are still not the greatest, but we are just watching that carefully... That's pretty much all we can do.. that and keep asking her are you drinking something..... I feel like that is all I say all say long.... But she needs to drink, so I'll keep on asking.....
I had a wonderful Mother's Day... I hope all you Moms out there did too..... Mike and the girls got me a Butterfly pond.... So Mike spent all day Sunday digging a big whole in our yard... But it looks beautiful... It still needs a lot of work, but it is really nice... We all spend so much time out in the front yard, so it only makes sense... Christina, Ashley and I have been doing a lot of planting, so now we can add more plants around the pond... We all are enjoying so much already and it is not even half way completed....
Well, I guess that's about all for now....
Love, Sherry


************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>**********************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>****


O.H I almost forgot Ashley wanted to say Hello to everyone and to Thank You for stopping by her web page too…. She really enjoys when people write to her too.. It make her feel special and it puts a smile on her face too…. So THANK YOU from Ashley..
ASHLEYS‘S WEB SITE, STOP BY AND SAY HELLO IF YOU GET A CHANCE….


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….






************************************************************************

HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>


IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773



***************>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<******************>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<


I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site






<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I also Don’t know how we would be making it through all this with out the HELP and SUPPORT of the girls elementary school…THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL… YOU ALL HAVE BEEN AMAZING!!!! THANK YOU!!!!







YOU CAN NOW ORDER THE CARDS AND CALENDARS FROM THE CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTER WEB SITE…


You can Click here to go to the Children’s Cancer Center web site to order cards and the CALENDAR…Christina is June and Ashley is September


Christina's Drawing


Ashley's Drawing






Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>







THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!




<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…








THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..




Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE (AML relapse) a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital


CASIE’S SITE (AML) Leukemia a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center, Please stop by if you get a chance.. She has just learned she has relapsed and will have to have a bone marrow transplant


Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love





Wednesday, May 5, 2004 6:34 PM CDT

DAY 255 post transplant


Hello,


****The new picture was taken on Sunday (mother's day)when we all were working on the pond... Ashley had put a big toad in the bushes and she went back looking for the toad and found this lovely snake.. She took of running so fast yelling "snake"BIG Snake....*****

Let's see where to begin...
Nothing really new and exciting here...
Christina went to clinic on Tuesday for IVIG (MED) which takes about 5 hrs to transfuse and she had her usual lab/blood work done.. Her blood counts are still staying the same.. Christina has been off of fluids for a week now, so they checked her creatine levels (kidneys/liver test) those results were not as good as we had hoped.. They went up a little, but Dr.Petrovic wants to wait another week and see how she does before deciding on weather to put her back on fluids again... Christina has been having to drink at least 60 ounces of fluids a day and she has been doing that pretty good.. LIke everything else some days are better than others.. So next Monday we have to collect her urine for 24 hours for a creatine clearance (test) so then we will get a better picture on just how well her kidney's and liver are functioning... Other than that Christina seems to be doing well... She is still not aloud to do most things she wants to, but yesterday we did get the O.K. to let her go to an upcoming Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey game... YEAH!!! Christina is so VERY excited about this.. She has waited so very long for this... I don't know if we are going to Saturdays game or Mondays.. But I know it is one of them and Christina can't wait.... To see the excitement and the smile on her face will be so very nice... We also found out that it will still be about a month and a half before she gets her central line out... Dr.Petrovic said she would get it out before Boggy Creek Camp and that is in July... But she did tell her that there are some things she will not be able to do at camp, mainly NO riding the horses.. Christina wasn't that thrilled about that, but we keep telling her at least your getting to go.. so be happy.... and she understands that... I think she just forgets sometimes... I tell her all the time "you just don't know how lucky you are" "things could be worse, you could not be here right now.." that is reality.... and she know that...

This past weekend marked the 2nd anniversary of when our world was turned upside down... Man what an amazing, sad, happy, emotional 2 yrs it has been... We have met so many WONDERFUL people (kids and adults)... Christina has made so many friends, but also she has lost so many friends... It's amazing when I look back over the last 2 yrs.. And for those who have been with us through it all THANK YOU.. and those who have come into our lives at some point these past 2 yrs... we THANK YOU TOO... All the friendships, words of encouragement, support and prayers have meant the WORLD to our FAMILY... I don't think I can ever say that enough... It is so very easy to get down... But you all keep us up and going...

Well, I have rambled on long enough... Thanks for listening....

Love, Sherry

************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>**********************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>****


O.H I almost forgot Ashley wanted to say Hello to everyone and to Thank You for stopping by her web page too…. She really enjoys when people write to her too.. It make her feel special and it puts a smile on her face too…. So THANK YOU from Ashley..
ASHLEYS‘S WEB SITE, STOP BY AND SAY HELLO IF YOU GET A CHANCE….


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….






************************************************************************

HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>


IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773



***************>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<******************>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<


I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site






<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I also Don’t know how we would be making it through all this with out the HELP and SUPPORT of the girls elementary school…THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL… YOU ALL HAVE BEEN AMAZING!!!! THANK YOU!!!!







YOU CAN NOW ORDER THE CARDS AND CALENDARS FROM THE CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTER WEB SITE…


You can Click here to go to the Children’s Cancer Center web site to order cards and the CALENDAR…Christina is June and Ashley is September


Christina's Drawing


Ashley's Drawing






Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>







THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!




<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…








THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..




Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE (AML relapse) a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital


CASIE’S SITE (AML) Leukemia a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center, Please stop by if you get a chance.. She has just learned she has relapsed and will have to have a bone marrow transplant


Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love





Wednesday, May 5, 2004 6:34 PM CDT

DAY 248 post transplant


Hello,

Let's see where to begin...
Nothing really new and exciting here...
Christina went to clinic on Tuesday for IVIG (MED) which takes about 5 hrs to transfuse and she had her usual lab/blood work done.. Her blood counts are still staying the same.. Christina has been off of fluids for a week now, so they checked her creatine levels (kidneys/liver test) those results were not as good as we had hoped.. They went up a little, but Dr.Petrovic wants to wait another week and see how she does before deciding on weather to put her back on fluids again... Christina has been having to drink at least 60 ounces of fluids a day and she has been doing that pretty good.. LIke everything else some days are better than others.. So next Monday we have to collect her urine for 24 hours for a creatine clearance (test) so then we will get a better picture on just how well her kidney's and liver are functioning... Other than that Christina seems to be doing well... She is still not aloud to do most things she wants to, but yesterday we did get the O.K. to let her go to an upcoming Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey game... YEAH!!! Christina is so VERY excited about this.. She has waited so very long for this... I don't know if we are going to Saturdays game or Mondays.. But I know it is one of them and Christina can't wait.... To see the excitement and the smile on her face will be so very nice... We also found out that it will still be about a month and a half before she gets her central line out... Dr.Petrovic said she would get it out before Boggy Creek Camp and that is in July... But she did tell her that there are some things she will not be able to do at camp, mainly NO riding the horses.. Christina wasn't that thrilled about that, but we keep telling her at least your getting to go.. so be happy.... and she understands that... I think she just forgets sometimes... I tell her all the time "you just don't know how lucky you are" "things could be worse, you could not be here right now.." that is reality.... and she know that...

This past weekend marked the 2nd anniversary of when our world was turned upside down... Man what an amazing, sad, happy, emotional 2 yrs it has been... We have met so many WONDERFUL people (kids and adults)... Christina has made so many friends, but also she has lost so many friends... It's amazing when I look back over the last 2 yrs.. And for those who have been with us through it all THANK YOU.. and those who have come into our lives at some point these past 2 yrs... we THANK YOU TOO... All the friendships, words of encouragement, support and prayers have meant the WORLD to our FAMILY... I don't think I can ever say that enough... It is so very easy to get down... But you all keep us up and going...

Well, I have rambled on long enough... Thanks for listening....

Love, Sherry

************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>**********************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>****


O.H I almost forgot Ashley wanted to say Hello to everyone and to Thank You for stopping by her web page too…. She really enjoys when people write to her too.. It make her feel special and it puts a smile on her face too…. So THANK YOU from Ashley..
ASHLEYS‘S WEB SITE, STOP BY AND SAY HELLO IF YOU GET A CHANCE….


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….






************************************************************************

HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>


IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773



***************>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<******************>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<


I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site






<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I also Don’t know how we would be making it through all this with out the HELP and SUPPORT of the girls elementary school…THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL… YOU ALL HAVE BEEN AMAZING!!!! THANK YOU!!!!







YOU CAN NOW ORDER THE CARDS AND CALENDARS FROM THE CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTER WEB SITE…


You can Click here to go to the Children’s Cancer Center web site to order cards and the CALENDAR…Christina is June and Ashley is September


Christina's Drawing


Ashley's Drawing






Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>







THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!




<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…








THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..




Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE (AML relapse) a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital


CASIE’S SITE (AML) Leukemia a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center, Please stop by if you get a chance.. She has just learned she has relapsed and will have to have a bone marrow transplant


Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love





Tuesday, April 27, 2004 4:15 PM CDT

DAY 240 post transplant


Hello,

Let’s see where to begin…
First let’s start with our weekend… We went over to Mike’s cousins house to repaint there front door… A project that should only take about a couple of hours at most wound up taking about 8 hrs… Here we thought OH a quick easy little side job…NOT.. Stripping the paint off a door that had many layers of paint on it is a major JOB… At least it was for us… ha ha… So even though it was taking all day long to do, it was an enjoyable Saturday afternoon… Christina and Ashley got to play with there cousin and had a lot of fun… All the girls had been riding bikes, but then Christina got on a mountain bike (one with the BAR straight across the middle… Anyway, around 7:30 pm Christina went to get off of the bike and hopped off the seat and hit the bar.. OUCH!!! On her (private area)…Double OUCH!!! Well, after all the crying and trying to breathe again I told her she needed to go to the bathroom and make sure she wasn’t bleeding.. Her platelets are at 120,000 so good, just not normal yet… Well, needless to say she started crying and yelling for me because she was bleeding… She hit that bar just right and when she came down it put a nice size cut in her…So I called Dr.Petrovic and with this not being a HEMOC issue she wasn’t sure who should see her, so she called back and said bring her to All Children’s Emergency room and she would meet us there… So about 9:30 we got there and the doctors checked her out and THANK GOD because it was an external cut she did NOT need stitches they said it would heal up nicely… I was looking at it going that is a pretty wide cut are you sure she doesn’t need stitches and they were like oh yea we have seen much worse.… But the whole ordeal was a nightmare and very embarrassing and painful for Christina… It just broke my heart… After all that she has went through, and now this a typical childhood accident just stinks….
Well, Dr.Petrovic ordered an antibiotic for her to get through her central line right away and then she is to take antibiotics at home for 5 days… She also has to sit in warm water twice a day for 20 minutes and use antibiotic ointment… SO, yet another PILL!!! YUCK!!!

O.K. Now we are to today… We went to St.Pete to see Dr. Petrovic and she looked at the wound and said it was healing well…YEAH.. All her blood/lab work so far is still the same, her hemoglobin has dropped some it is now 9.6 and her platelets are at 120,000 and Anc is 1,900... Which like I have said many times before they all just seem to be staying the same…. All her other lab work we won’t know the results of until tonight… The doctor said she would let us know tonight if we can stop the FLUIDS… and if that is the case then we would need to take her to Tampa clinic on Friday just to get her electrolytes checked to make sure her kidneys, liver, potassium etc… levels are doing ok…
Also today she started her liquid cyclosphorine (skunk pills in liquid form)… She took her dose this morning and then a few hours later she started feeling sick and she threw up, so I don’t know if it was caused by the medicine or if something else is going on…. She is now curled up in bed asleep… She never takes naps, so I know she is not feeling well…

Well, I guess that’s about all for now.. Thank you again for continuing this Journey with us…. What a wild ride it has been and continues to be….

Love, Sherry


************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>**********************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>****


O.H I almost forgot Ashley wanted to say Hello to everyone and to Thank You for stopping by her web page too…. She really enjoys when people write to her too.. It make her feel special and it puts a smile on her face too…. So THANK YOU from Ashley..
ASHLEYS‘S WEB SITE, STOP BY AND SAY HELLO IF YOU GET A CHANCE….


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….






************************************************************************

HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>


IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773



***************>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<******************>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<


I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site






<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I also Don’t know how we would be making it through all this with out the HELP and SUPPORT of the girls elementary school…THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL… YOU ALL HAVE BEEN AMAZING!!!! THANK YOU!!!!







YOU CAN NOW ORDER THE CARDS AND CALENDARS FROM THE CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTER WEB SITE…


You can Click here to go to the Children’s Cancer Center web site to order cards and the CALENDAR…Christina is June and Ashley is September


Christina's Drawing


Ashley's Drawing






Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>







THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!




<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…








THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..




Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE (AML relapse) a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital


CASIE’S SITE (AML) Leukemia a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center, Please stop by if you get a chance.. She has just learned she has relapsed and will have to have a bone marrow transplant


Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love






Friday, April 23, 2004 11:12 AM CDT




DAY 236 post transplant


Hello,

Christina went to clinic on Monday and had her usual lab/blood work done and as expected everything is staying the same… We were kind of hoping that her counts would be a little better since she is now off of one of her anti-rejection med, but maybe it will just take time to get out of her system… We are still waiting on the results of a few of the other test that were run, but we did find out that Christina’s thyroids are not working like they should so starting Monday she will have to take yet another pill… The Doctor said it was most likely caused by the TBI (total body irradiation post transplant) Which scares me a little because so many things can now start showing up do to the transplant.… But also on Monday she will get to start weaning off of the other anti-rejection med. (skunk pills)…
We do know that her CMV Virus test came back negative so it is now sitting dormant, but we haven’t gotten the results of the HHV6 virus test.. The HHV6 virus is the one that was in her bone marrow, so we are hoping it too is now sitting dormant… With these viruses they never go away, they just sit dormant or they flair up… So it is always a waiting game…

We are going to St.Pete on Monday to see Dr.Petrovic the transplant doctor, which is good because Mike and I have a lot of questions for her… Christina did call her at home the other night because she really wants to go to a Lightning Hockey game… We agreed with the doctor to wait at least another week… Needless to say Christina was an emotional wreck because of the decision.. We keep trying to explain to her that she has gone all these months why risk it now… When the doctor feels it is safe to expose her to a large crowd of people indoors then we will let her go… It will take about 3 months for her to be weaned off of this last anti-rejection med… Sounds like a long time, but look how long it has been since transplant…7 months……

I can’t believe we are coming up on the 2 year anniversary of when this whole nightmare started… May 2nd….. Some days it seems like it was forever ago and then other days it seems like it was just yesterday.. But I guess we all can look back at different things in our lives and feel that way…. All I know it has been one heck of a journey and it isn’t about to be over anytime soon…..

Let’s see what else has been going on….
I had written a letter to the President of the Lakeland Sun and Fun Air Show and explained alittle bit about Christina and that she can do things outside and that we live only a couple of miles away and that I thought she would enjoy going… So a few days later he sent me a letter with 4 wrist bands so we could go for the whole week… Christina was so thrilled… Ashley didn’t get into it as much, but Christina and I went 3 days by ourselves and watch the air show that would start everyday at 2 pm and she really like the planes that did all the tricks in the air… There was this woman that was a wing walker, she would stand on the top of the plane while it was doing rolls and flips.. Christina kept saying “I want to do that”… I just laughed… Anyway, we had a wonderful time and really enjoyed the shows…. Thank You John Burton and the Lakeland Sun and Fun!!!!!!

Well, I guess that’s about all for now… Thank you again for all the support and encouraging words… It means the World to Christina and our Family… You all are AMAZING!!!!!

Love, Sherry




************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>**********************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>****


O.H I almost forgot Ashley wanted to say Hello to everyone and to Thank You for stopping by her web page too…. She really enjoys when people write to her too.. It make her feel special and it puts a smile on her face too…. So THANK YOU from Ashley..
ASHLEYS‘S WEB SITE, STOP BY AND SAY HELLO IF YOU GET A CHANCE….


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….






************************************************************************

HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>


IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773



***************>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<******************>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<


I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site






<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I also Don’t know how we would be making it through all this with out the HELP and SUPPORT of the girls elementary school…THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL… YOU ALL HAVE BEEN AMAZING!!!! THANK YOU!!!!







YOU CAN NOW ORDER THE CARDS AND CALENDARS FROM THE CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTER WEB SITE…


You can Click here to go to the Children’s Cancer Center web site to order cards and the CALENDAR…Christina is June and Ashley is September


Christina's Drawing


Ashley's Drawing






Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>







THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!




<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…








THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..




Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE (AML relapse) a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital


CASIE’S SITE (AML) Leukemia a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center, Please stop by if you get a chance.. She has just learned she has relapsed and will have to have a bone marrow transplant


Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love





Wednesday, April 14, 2004 9:21 PM CDT




DAY 227 post transplant


Hello,

Well Christina went to clinic in St.Pete on Tuesday to see the transplant doctor and all went well…… Well, I say it went well pretty much everything is just the same… So as long as things haven’t gotten worse we will take it…. All her lab/blood work looks the same and her creatine (kindneys and liver) level has stayed the same, it is still not improving, but we did get the o.k. to switch her fluids down to 8 hrs at night…YEAH!!!
Christina has just this week left of weaning off the first anti rejection med… and then in 2 weeks she will start weaning off of the other anti rejection med (the skunk pills) that will take 3 months, the only thing that is concerning her is that when they start weaning her off of those pills it will then go to liquid and it is NASTY!!!! I mean nasty… She is already getting her self worked up over it and it’s not until another 2 weeks…

On a funny note…
When Dr.Petrovic came in the room Tuesday, she said that she had went to Christina’s web site a few weeks ago and it just so happened to be when I had put the update in about Christina breaking doctors orders and us taking her to the St.Pete Times Forum to watch the Tampa Bay Lightning do there morning practice skate… Dr.Petrovic was like, So I saw the pictures of you and the Hockey players… My face turned so red.. We all were laughing so hard… Christina kept saying I told you Mom that you shouldn’t have put it on my web site.. I kept telling Christina that the doctor never goes to the site… Well, I guess I was wrong… So I was BUSTED…. Then Dr. Petrovic said so how was the game??? I started pleading my case.. I said oh no we didn’t push it that far, and Christina is sitting there going see Mom we could have gone to the game… But all in all Dr.Petrovic still says NO to going to a game at least for a couple of weeks… The Lightning won again tonight so they just need to win one more game and they will go onto the 2nd round of the playoffs and that is when Christina will be able to go to a game… GO LIGHTNING!!!!!!

On a sadder note….
One of the boys from the Children’s Cancer Center who had just went through a transplant passed away… May God bless his Family with Strength right now… His name is Michael and I had only met him a few times, but he was such an amazing young man and he will be forever missed… Run free now Michael and give VERY BIG HUGS to Taylor, Brittany, Jacob, Vanessa, Robert, Angel, James, JR, Morgan, and all of the other VERY SPECIAL ANGELS UP IN HEAVEN….You to now know ALL the answers to your questions ……

For some odd reason it has been a very rough few weeks for me… My emotions have just been crazy.. I don’t mean to make it sound like a pity party or whoa is me… or anything like that….I almost feel like I have become the type of person that no one wants to be around… I think I just have a little to much time on my hands and my mind is working overtime… I have a wonderful, amazing and Loving Husband, 2 VERY amazing daughters, I couldn’t begin to ask for anything more, but I guess I just need a friend… That’s what my wonderful husband tells me anyway… Don’t get me wrong I have friends, but all my friendships are different now because of Christina… I guess I just don’t feel like anyone understands me… Mike does and bless his heart he is amazing.. But a husband doesn’t make a great girl friend.. ha ha…I think I need to find something to throw my self into… Which reminds me… I am forming a team again this year for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s “Light the Night” walk… I was team captain last year and the walk was held while Christina was in the hospital for her transplant, so this year will be even more special because CHRISTINA will be there and she will be holding a WHITE balloon which represents a SURVIVOR!!!!…. What an awesome sight that will be… I will update more on this and if you have any questions about it just email me… If you would like to donate money make the Checks payable to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and send it to our PO box Address down below….

Well, I guess I have rambled on long enough…. I was never one for having a diary or keeping a journal… But some how, me typing all of this has made me feel much better… So THANK YOU for listening and THANK YOU for being there for Christina and our Family….

Love, Sherry






************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>**********************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>****


O.H I almost forgot Ashley wanted to say Hello to everyone and to Thank You for stopping by her web page too…. She really enjoys when people write to her too.. It make her feel special and it puts a smile on her face too…. So THANK YOU from Ashley..
ASHLEYS‘S WEB SITE, STOP BY AND SAY HELLO IF YOU GET A CHANCE….


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


PHOTO ALBUM

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….






************************************************************************

HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>


IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773



***************>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<******************>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<


I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site






<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I also Don’t know how we would be making it through all this with out the HELP and SUPPORT of the girls elementary school…THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL… YOU ALL HAVE BEEN AMAZING!!!! THANK YOU!!!!







YOU CAN NOW ORDER THE CARDS AND CALENDARS FROM THE CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTER WEB SITE…


You can Click here to go to the Children’s Cancer Center web site to order cards and the CALENDAR…Christina is June and Ashley is September


Christina's Drawing


Ashley's Drawing






Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>







THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!




<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<********************************>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…








THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..




Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE (AML relapse) a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital


CASIE’S SITE (AML) Leukemia a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center, Please stop by if you get a chance.. She has just learned she has relapsed and will have to have a bone marrow transplant


Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love





Saturday, April 10, 2004 8:19 PM CDT





DAY 223 post transplant


Hello,

HAPPY EASTER TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY FROM CHRISTINA AND OUR FAMILY!!!!!!

Christina has a pretty good week… Christina went to clinic on Monday and on Thursday for regular lab/blood work and a few things were a little out of whack but over all every thing looked the same as it has been… Like I said before hopefully once she is off all of these medicines her counts will be able to go up… Her marrow is good it is just suppressed… Her Creatine level (kidneys and liver) is not getting any better so it looks like yet another week of 10 hrs of IV fluids at night…Again like I said before I just don’t see an end to the IV fluids… One day…hopefully one day soon….

It looks like we will be going to St.Pete this week to see the transplant doctor, not sure what day yet, but I will update after that appointment,,,

Other than that, Mike and I have just been trying to keep Christina occupied… Ashley went to spend the night at a friends house Friday night and didn’t get home until 6 on Saturday night, so Christina was a little sad that her sister got to go to a friends house… So once again Mike and I loaded the car and took Christina to the old skyway fishing pier in St.Pete.. We got there around 5 p.m. so we could watch the sunset and we fished until midnight… We had a wonderful time even though the fishing stunk…. Christina caught a saltwater catfish and she dept catching greenbacks (baitfish) I caught a toad fish and we all caught a few crabs… Christina was so exhausted… She didn’t get hooked up to her fluids until 1 in the morning but that’s o.k. because she didn’t get up until almost 11 the next morning…. IN THE PHOTO ALBUM I CREATED IS NEW PICTURES FROM THIS WEEK AND THIS WEEKEND… I HOPE YOU ENJOY THEM…LINK TO PICS ARE BELOW…

Christina and Ashley wanted to say THANK YOU for those who have sent Easter cards to the girls… They both get so excited when we check the mail…. THANK YOU again for making them light up…..


I also wanted to take a minute and Thank those who still continue to go on this Journey with Christina and our Family…. The words of encouragement and caring thoughts have been amazing and it sure has helped Christina and our Family…I do know when Christina feels alone she always knows she has her quest book friends to cheer her up and for that I THANK YOU….

O.H I almost forgot Ashley wanted to say Hello to everyone and to Thank You for stopping by her web page too…. She really enjoys when people write to her too.. It make her feel special and it puts a smile on her face too…. So THANK YOU from Ashley..
ASHLEYS‘S WEB SITE, STOP BY AND SAY HELLO IF YOU GET A CHANCE….


Well, I guess I better go…
Until then, THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING!!!!!!!
I added the pictures from fishing to the photo album link below….
Love, Sherry

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….






HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>


IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773




I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site




I also Don’t know how we would be making it through all this with out the HELP and SUPPORT of the girls elementary school…THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL… YOU ALL HAVE BEEN AMAZING!!!! THANK YOU!!!!







YOU CAN NOW ORDER THE CARDS AND CALENDARS FROM THE CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTER WEB SITE…


You can Click here to go to the Children’s Cancer Center web site to order cards and the CALENDAR…Christina is June and Ashley is September


Christina's Drawing


Ashley's Drawing






Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…









THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…








THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..




Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE (AML relapse) a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital


CASIE’S SITE (AML) Leukemia a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center, Please stop by if you get a chance.. She has just learned she has relapsed and will have to have a bone marrow transplant


Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love





Monday, April 5, 2004 8:38 PM CDT




DAY 218 post transplant


Hello,
FIRST I NEED TO ASK IF WHO EVER PUT THE GREEN BACKGROUND ON CHRISTINA'S GUESTBOOK WOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE IT GO BACK TO BEING WHITE??? CHRISTINA REALLY LIKES THE COLOR BUT I HAVE SOME PEOPLE TELLING ME THAT THE COLOR IS MAKING IT HARD FOR THEM TO OPEN THE GUESTBOOK... I ALSO DON'T KNOW HOW THE MUSIC GOT THERE TOO... I HATE TO ASK THIS BUT IT WOULD HELP WITH THE GUESTBOOK.. THANKS... SHERRY


Where does time go????? It just seemed like I updated and I looked and it had been a week already… I apologize…

On the medical side..
Christina had her breathing treatment on Thursday and that went fine…
Then today (Monday) I took Christina to Tampa clinic for her regular blood/lab work and also for her monthly dose of IVIG (it’s a blood product that helps her body build immunities to different things.. Very hard to explain… Anyway, the transfusion takes about 5 hours and she gets benadryle before it because it is a blood product… So needless to say Christina has a very nice and long nap (3 hrs)… But, before she got her sleepy medicine she did manage to make a few Easter arts and crafts so she was happy about that… She decorated a few eggs and made a bonnet…. Then it was nap time… I finally got to watch the movie Holes while she slept.. All of Christina’s blood work looked about the same not much change in anything… Everything is still so suppressed.. Her creatine level is staying the same, glad it is not going up but I really wish it would go down so we can lower the fluids at night… It looks like another week of 10 hour fluids a day… I just don’t see an end to the IV fluids…. One day…One day…
Other than that Christina is doing good… She has been having a harder time lately with not getting to do things she wants and she just really wants to be with friends and have friends.. I think she is having a really hard time with loneliness… As her Mom I can only do so much, and trust me I have tried everything… It is just all so very frustrating…. I just want her HAPPY…. What’s wrong with that?????? Simple right…. Not quite….

So in our strides to make things fun….
On Saturday Ashley had to be dropped off at the Children’s Cancer Center at 8:15 in the morning to go to MGM Studios with her BIG Buddy, so Mike and I loaded the car up with the fishing gear and after dropping Ashley off we headed to the Old Sky Way fishing pier… Christina hasn’t been out there since before transplant so she was so excited… And what a beautiful day God gave us… It was very windy which helped keep it cool, but not cold and the sun was shinning so very bright the water was just sparkling… It felt so GOOD watching Christina look out at the ocean and fish… 6 months ago we didn’t know if she would ever be out there again… It was just an amazing and wonderful day… Oh and the fishing was good too… Christina caught a 20 inch Grouper it was beautiful and we caught some Mackerel and I caught a Lady fish… There was a dolphin that kept swimming under the pier chasing the Mackerel so that was an extra added bonus….

Well, I guess that’s about all for now, we are waiting for the doctor to call tonight to find out how her other lab work looks, then we will know when the doctor wants her to go back to clinic…

I also wanted to take a minute and Thank those who still continue to go on this Journey with Christina and our Family…. The words of encouragement and caring thoughts have been amazing and it sure has helped Christina and our Family…I do know when Christina feels alone she always knows she has her quest book friends to cheer her up and for that I THANK YOU….

O.H I almost forgot Ashley wanted to say Hello to everyone and to Thank You for stopping by her web page too…. She really enjoys when people write to her too.. It make her feel special and it puts a smile on her face too…. So THANK YOU from Ashley..

ASHLEYS‘S WEB SITE, STOP BY AND SAY HELLO IF YOU GET A CHANCE….


Well, I guess I better go…
Until then, THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING!!!!!!!
I added the pictures from fishing to the photo album link below….
Love, Sherry


CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….






HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>


IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773




I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site




I also Don’t know how we would be making it through all this with out the HELP and SUPPORT of the girls elementary school…THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL… YOU ALL HAVE BEEN AMAZING!!!! THANK YOU!!!!







YOU CAN NOW ORDER THE CARDS AND CALENDARS FROM THE CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTER WEB SITE…


You can Click here to go to the Children’s Cancer Center web site to order cards and the CALENDAR…Christina is June and Ashley is September


Christina's Drawing


Ashley's Drawing






Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…









THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…








THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..




Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE (AML relapse) a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital


CASIE’S SITE (AML) Leukemia a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center, Please stop by if you get a chance.. She has just learned she has relapsed and will have to have a bone marrow transplant


Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love





Monday, March 29, 2004 6:55 PM CST




DAY 211 post transplant


Hello,

Christina went to clinic in St.Pete on Friday for her normal blood/lab work and also for the pulmonary Function Test (PFT).. All her lab work looked about the same as on Monday, everything is just pretty much staying the same and like I said before, with the immune suppressant drugs she is on, her counts probably won’t do much more than what they are doing.. Her platelets are just hanging around 100 to 110.. So I am happy with that as long as they don’t drop any more… The other concern is still this HHV6 virus in her bone marrow, it looks like we won’t be doing anything different medicine wise for that because her kidney’s and liver can’t take anything much stronger than what she is on…

As far as the PFT they saw a little bit of improvement in her test, they were wanting to rule our Asthma and it looks like she doesn’t have that.. Time will only tell, but since she has already improved, they are hoping she will continue to improve… She still gets short of breathe pretty easy, but as she gets more active she should get better… If that makes any since…

Well, Saturday we broke a major rule of the doctors, but It was worth it for Christina… As many of you know we absolutely LOVE our Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey Team.. And the players and personal have been absolutely amazing to Christina and our Family for the past year and a half.. Well, Saturday morning the players had there morning skate before there game Saturday night… At the morning skate only media is allowed in, so there are not many people there, so we got to take Christina through the back way in and she got to watch the players practice skate and then afterwards we went to this room next to the ice and some of the players came in and visited with her.. Christina was so excited and surprised… She had no Idea that I had set this up… Brad Richards who is one of her favorite players and he is the one that made a special visit to her during her transplant hospital stay visited with her and gave her an autographed hockey stick… Then Vincent Lecavalier
visted and signed autographs, then Cory Sarich came in and said do you want me to sign anything, And I said I don’t have anything for you to sign so he left and came back with one of his hockey sticks and he signed it too… Marty St.Louis signed some game pucks and so did Goalie Nikolai Khabibulin
…. Christina who is usually a motor mouth of course didn’t say more than 2 words… She was being so shy and trust me she is not a shy child… I asked her why didn’t you talk more and she just said I don’t know… I think she was just in Aw over it all… The players and the personal of the Lightning are ALL just AMAZING…. And our Family THANKS you from the bottom of our hearts….In the photo albun I have a link to at the bottom of this update is some more pictures from Saturday...

On the fishing side of things I took the girls fishing today and as usual I caught the first fish… But Ashley who usually doesn’t catch anything caught 2 nice bluegills… So it was Mom 2 fish, Ashley 2 fish and Christina one…. But we all had a good time…

Christina goes back to clinic on Wednesday and then Thursday for her breathing treatment.. SO I will update more then…

Well, I guess I better go…
Until then, THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING!!!!!!!

P.s. Click on the photo album link below to see the newest pics…
Love, Sherry

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….


HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>

CASIE’S SITE (AML) Leukemia a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center, Please stop by if you get a chance.. She has just learned she has relapsed and will have to have a bone marrow transplant


CHRISTINA’S SISTER ASHLEY’S WEB PAGE….
Here is My sister Ashleys Web Page... she just wants people to sign it if they want to...she’s had it for a long time and only had like ten people sign it so thanks.


HERE IS A FOLLOW UP ARTICLE FROM THE TAMPA TRIBUNE, WRITTEN BY A WONDERFUL MAN, JOE HENDERSON…… THANK YOU JOE FOR SUCH A SPECIAL ARTICLE…. Mr. Henderson had written an article about Christina back in January… Every since then he has been keeping in touch with us…. Thank You again Joe and the Tampa Tribune…



IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773




I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site




I also Don’t know how we would be making it through all this with out the HELP and SUPPORT of the girls elementary school…THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL… YOU ALL HAVE BEEN AMAZING!!!! THANK YOU!!!!







YOU CAN NOW ORDER THE CARDS AND CALENDARS FROM THE CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTER WEB SITE…


You can Click here to go to the Children’s Cancer Center web site to order cards and the CALENDAR…Christina is June and Ashley is September


Christina's Drawing


Ashley's Drawing






Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…









THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…








THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..




Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE (AML relapse) a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital



Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love





Wednesday, March 24, 2004 5:34 PM CST





DAY 206 post transplant


Hello,

Sorry for the delay for an update.. It seems like the days are just going by so fast and are none stop…

Let me start with Christina’s Bone Marrow aspiration she had last Friday… She is still 100% donor YEAH!!!!! Her marrow looked good and healthy…
On a not so good note, the HHV6 virus is still on her marrow, so that is still a major concern and worry.. She is still getting an anti viral and they don’t want to increase it or change it to a stronger one because her Kidney’s and Liver just can not take it.. So we will just have to watch her marrow very closely.. Like I said before this virus can cause her marrow to reject the transplant…

I sit here and think how amazing it is that Christina is 206 days post transplant and at the same token I look at all that is still happening to her and all that she is still going through… she still has nights of vomiting, she is still on IV fluids 12 hours a night, she still goes to clinic 2 to 3 times a week, she is still on 13 pills and one liquid a day… She is still not able to go in to any buildings or eat any food from anywhere but home…. And for Mike and I we still hold our breathe every time she doesn’t seem like her self.. The fear is still so strong… In NO way am I complaining… I am SO very THANKFUL she is here home with us… I just can’t get over how far she has come but yet she has so much farther to go… She just amazes me how she deals with everything…

Friday we take her to St.Pete to see the transplant doctor and for her to have another Pulmonary Function Test (PFT)… The reason for the PFT is the last one she had 2 months ago showed a couple of things not right with her breathing.. So the doctor is wanting her to do some exercises and inhale some other things before the test this will show just how bad her lungs and stuff are… It is to hard to explain really, all I know it is a problem people with asthma have… Christina evidently shows some signs of this problem.. The doctor said it is most likely due to the total body radiation she had before transplant…

Christina did go to clinic on Monday and her counts looked pretty good, just staying about the same.. Her platelets did drop back down to 108 but we think it is due to the anti viral suppressing her counts…

Well, I guess that’s about all for now.. I have taken Christina fishing a few times since the last update and YES she is now beating me on the fish catching… Not by many, but she is now in the lead.. ha ha…


Well, I guess I better go…
Until then, THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING!!!!!!!

P.s. Click on the photo album link below to see the newest pics…
Love, Sherry

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….


HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>

CASIE’S SITE (AML) Leukemia a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center, Please stop by if you get a chance.. She has just learned she has relapsed and will have to have a bone marrow transplant


CHRISTINA’S SISTER ASHLEY’S WEB PAGE….
Here is My sister Ashleys Web Page... she just wants people to sign it if they want to...she’s had it for a long time and only had like ten people sign it so thanks.


HERE IS A FOLLOW UP ARTICLE FROM THE TAMPA TRIBUNE, WRITTEN BY A WONDERFUL MAN, JOE HENDERSON…… THANK YOU JOE FOR SUCH A SPECIAL ARTICLE…. Mr. Henderson had written an article about Christina back in January… Every since then he has been keeping in touch with us…. Thank You again Joe and the Tampa Tribune…



IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773




I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site




I also Don’t know how we would be making it through all this with out the HELP and SUPPORT of the girls elementary school…THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL… YOU ALL HAVE BEEN AMAZING!!!! THANK YOU!!!!







YOU CAN NOW ORDER THE CARDS AND CALENDARS FROM THE CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTER WEB SITE…


You can Click here to go to the Children’s Cancer Center web site to order cards and the CALENDAR…Christina is June and Ashley is September


Christina's Drawing


Ashley's Drawing






Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…









THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…








THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..




Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE (AML relapse) a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital



Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love





Monday, March 15, 2004 8:10 AM CST




DAY 197 post transplant


THE NEW PICTURE ABOVE IS OF CHRISTINA BETWEEN HER 2 DRAWINGS ON THE HALO..
Hello,

Christina finally had her Bone Marrow Aspiration done on Friday.. We really don’t have any results yet, but Dr.Petrovic said it looked like good healthy marrow…YEAH!!.. I am not sure how long it will take to find out if the HHV6 virus is still in her marrow, that is the main reason for the aspiration.. Christina’s Liver and Kidney’s lab work is still coming back high because of the anti viral med she is on, so she is still on IV fluids 12 hours at night and we are still having to measure her ins and outs… We are also having to make sure she drinks a lot during the day.. For the longest time she didn’t care for Gatorade, but she has found a few flavors she now likes so that has been helping too..

Christina is at clinic right now just for her normal blood/lab work and we all have our fingers crossed we won’t have to go back to clinic again until Friday.. Last week was exhausting with us going 4 out of 5 days…

On Friday night, Mike and I got to go to the Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey game and what an AWESOME time we had… It was a very much needed escape after the past few weeks.. THANK YOU so much Mary Jane and Ron for Everything… The WHOLE Lightning organization has been so incredible to our family, we can never Thank You enough…

On Saturday Mike’s nieces had there JROTC Drill meet at one of our local schools… We went to that and Ashley and Christina really enjoyed getting to see them compete… Congratulations Mulberry High School for taking 1st place 3 times….

On Sunday we went to the Dedication Ceremony for the City of Tampa Richard and Annette Bloch Cancer Survivors Plaza… (the Park is located at the corner of Dale Mabry and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard )It is a beautiful park where people can go and reflect and see that you CAN be a survivor!!!
The girls got to help plant some flowers in the park too… There is also a Monument that displays art work from local Cancer Kids it’s called “Understanding Cancer Halo” Christina has 2 drawings on the Halo… I have added pictures to the photo album below… We will have to go back at night because the Halo lights up and we heard that it is even more beautiful all light up… Dr.Petrovic and her family even came to see it, it meant so much to Christina and our family to have her there and be apart of the excitement… That just proves to me even more that she is an AMAZING doctor… And for those who remember me telling about a male nurse that Christina really adores (he is the one that made her broviac pop in the hospital a few weeks ago, the same day he officially became a nurse..) Well, his name is Ed and he came to the park too… We all thought that was so wonderful too.. I think it is wonderful for the Doctors and Nurses to get to see the kids outside of clinic and the hospital… It is nice for them to see them when they are HAPPY and having fun too…

After that we drove back to Lakeland to a local lake because the Local group of Weight Watchers were having a walk and they had been following Christina’s story through one of the teachers at Scott Lake Elementary (the girls school) So this year they wanted to help raise money to help Christina and our family… It is just so amazing how a group of total strangers want to reach out and help.. THANK YOU ALL WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE WALK… OUR FAMILY THANKS YOU ALL!!!!

So as you see we had a very busy weekend…. OH but I did manage to squeeze in a fishing outing for Christina… I took her Saturday and she beat me on the fish catching… I caught one Bass and she caught 2 nice size Bluegill’s… I have to say I caught the first fish.. So that made her determined to beat me.. Ha ha…

Well, I guess I better go…
Until then, THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING!!!!!!!

P.s. Click on the photo album link below to see the newest pics…
Love, Sherry

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….





HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>

CASIE’S SITE (AML) Leukemia a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center, Please stop by if you get a chance.. She has just learned she has relapsed and will have to have a bone marrow transplant


CHRISTINA’S SISTER ASHLEY’S WEB PAGE….
Here is My sister Ashleys Web Page... she just wants people to sign it if they want to...she’s had it for a long time and only had like ten people sign it so thanks.


HERE IS A FOLLOW UP ARTICLE FROM THE TAMPA TRIBUNE, WRITTEN BY A WONDERFUL MAN, JOE HENDERSON…… THANK YOU JOE FOR SUCH A SPECIAL ARTICLE…. Mr. Henderson had written an article about Christina back in January… Every since then he has been keeping in touch with us…. Thank You again Joe and the Tampa Tribune…



IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773




I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site




I also Don’t know how we would be making it through all this with out the HELP and SUPPORT of the girls elementary school…THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL… YOU ALL HAVE BEEN AMAZING!!!! THANK YOU!!!!







YOU CAN NOW ORDER THE CARDS AND CALENDARS FROM THE CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTER WEB SITE…


You can Click here to go to the Children’s Cancer Center web site to order cards and the CALENDAR…Christina is June and Ashley is September


Christina's Drawing


Ashley's Drawing






Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…









THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…








THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..




Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE (AML relapse) a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital



Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love





Wednesday, March 10, 2004 8:02 AM CST




DAY 192 post transplant


Hello,

Well, Christina did NOT have a Bone Marrow aspiration done on Monday like planned… The transplant doctor called us early Monday morning telling us not to drive all the way to St.Pete because she was not feeling well and didn’t want to expose Christina to anything.. So Christina went to Tampa clinic Monday instead and had her blood/lab work done.. Everything looked o.k. Her potassium level is now to high, so new IV fluids had to be delivered yesterday with the potassium out of it.. So it is Now Wednesday morning and Christina and Mike are now at the Tampa clinic again to get her lab work done again… Then tomorrow (Thursday) Christina goes back to Tampa for her breathing treatment (meds that protect her lungs)… Then on Friday we will go to St.Pete for her to get her Bone Marrow aspiration done… Which is fine it just stinks that we will have to wait over the weekend for any results, so that part stinks… But her counts are looking good, so we are hoping that this new virus in her marrow is gone…

I took Christina fishing yesterday and we found a new pond to fish at, at the Lakeland airport (where the Sun and Fun is).. Christina kept getting made at me because I kept catching the fish.. I caught 3 nice size bluegills.. They are about 2 to 3 times bigger than the ones we had been catching.. Christina caught one, but when you start reeling it in you have to go through some weeds and grass in the water and her fish wiggled itself off of her hook before she got it to land.. So the rule is that it doesn’t count as a catch… SO she was mad.. And it looked like a pretty big fish too… I have a feeling she will be bugging me to take her out there again today after clinic… I am so glad she loves fishing.. It is so good for her, it is relaxing, fun and it is OUTSIDE… Where we go is about 2 miles from the house, so we are close to home if anything happens, so that makes it nice too..

I have 2 extra prayer request… First, A little girl named Desiree who had a bone marrow transplant a week after Christina has just found out that her transplant is now failing.. Her older sister was a Perfect match, I don’t know what the game plan is now, I haven’t had a chance to talk to her Mom again yet.. This scares me so much….

Second, our little friend Bailee (her link at bottom with Christina’s other friends from the Cancer Center) Bailee has battled ALL for the last 3 yrs and now she has just found out she has relapsed… The family goes next week to discuss there options…

All I know is that with the constant bad news we hear, makes it even more important to LIVE life to the FULLEST… Say an extra I LOVE YOU, give an extra hug to those who are special to you… Day by Day, Hour by Hour and at times Minute by Minute… Time goes by so fast, even if you are not dealing with this nightmare called CANCER.. Live Happy.. Be Happy make someone Happy… Make yourself Happy… Enjoy LIFE….

Sorry had to put my little 2 cents in…ha ha.. My mind is just racing with thoughts.. One thing I do know is that I am VERY THANKFUL for all of you who care about Christina and our Family.. You ALL have helped us make it through this nightmare and you all continue to be there for Christina and Us… and we THANK YOU…


Well, I guess I better go…
Until then, THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING!!!!!!!

Love, Sherry

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….


HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>

CASIE’S SITE (AML) Leukemia a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center, Please stop by if you get a chance.. She has just learned she has relapsed and will have to have a bone marrow transplant


CHRISTINA’S SISTER ASHLEY’S WEB PAGE….
Here is My sister Ashleys Web Page... she just wants people to sign it if they want to...she’s had it for a long time and only had like ten people sign it so thanks.


HERE IS A FOLLOW UP ARTICLE FROM THE TAMPA TRIBUNE, WRITTEN BY A WONDERFUL MAN, JOE HENDERSON…… THANK YOU JOE FOR SUCH A SPECIAL ARTICLE…. Mr. Henderson had written an article about Christina back in January… Every since then he has been keeping in touch with us…. Thank You again Joe and the Tampa Tribune…



IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773




I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site




I also Don’t know how we would be making it through all this with out the HELP and SUPPORT of the girls elementary school…THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL… YOU ALL HAVE BEEN AMAZING!!!! THANK YOU!!!!







YOU CAN NOW ORDER THE CARDS AND CALENDARS FROM THE CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTER WEB SITE…


You can Click here to go to the Children’s Cancer Center web site to order cards and the CALENDAR…Christina is June and Ashley is September


Christina's Drawing


Ashley's Drawing






Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…









THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…








THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..




Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE (AML relapse) a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital



Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love





Sunday, March 7, 2004 8:36 PM CST





DAY 189 post transplant


Hello,

Christina did get to come home Saturday afternoon…
She is on a different anti viral that she gets twice a day through her broviac and her fluids have been moved up to 12 hours at night.. We are having to keep track of her in put and out put (I’s and O’s).. We are having to weight her everyday too… We just have to make sure she is not getting fluid over load, but at the same time these meds have really messed her kidney’s and liver functions up so we are having to make sure these meds are getting flushed through her system…

Today, we took her fishing for a little while down at the pond not far from home… She did catch a few bluegill, it was just a beautiful day to be outside… Her feet did swell up pretty good today, so she now has them propped up…

Tomorrow (Monday) we have to go back to St.Pete to see the transplant doctor again, Christina is going to have a Bone Marrow Aspiration done tomorrow… The doctor wants to send off some more of her marrow to see if this HHV6 virus is still in her marrow… I have done a lot of research on this and it has scared the crap out of me… Pretty much everything just keeps saying it can cause rejection of the transplant…. NO NO NO!!!! that is NOT going to happen!!!!! I am finally going to take a stand and say I am not going to allow this to happen…. I’m her Mom right??? I have that right, right???? God, I wish it was that easy….

I know we need to stay positive and we are…Please don’t ever doubt that.. But we also have to be on top of everything, one thing is for sure we don’t want to be blindsided by anything…

Christina’s spirits have been pretty good… She has her moments like usual, but when I took her to the hospital Thursday while I was in admitting she went to the gift shop with her own money because her friend Casey is there too, so she wanted to get Casey a special gift… She said “Mom I brought my own money and I didn’t even buy something for myself…” She was so proud of herself… And then the next day she heard me telling Mike that another little girl just got rushed back up to the floor and I had talked to the family.. Well, later that night Christina made me go check on this girl because she was so worried about her… I use to say it all the time and haven’t in a while… Christina just amazes me.. I am in Aw over how much love she has to give…With all that she has been through and still going through, she just wants to LOVE…. And for that I Love You OH so much Christina!!!!! You amaze us ALL…..

Here is Christina’s update she typed…
Hey everyone how are you I know im great so I hope you are to I got to go fishing two days in a row it was cool I caught a bass the first time and a bunch of bluegill today I have a bone marrow Monday ill update when we get the results back and ill probably write before that I didn’t feel good Saturday night I woke up and then got sick but I feel great now so ill have to see how tonight goes I hope it goes well I hope everything goes well tomorrow with my bone marrow well its late ill talk to you soon bye bye CHRISTINA

Well, that’s about all for now… THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THE WORDS LEFT BEHIND IN THE GUEST BOOK, IT TRULY MEANS THE WORLD TO CHRISTINA AND OUR FAMILY…..

P.S… Christina typed this next part up a few days ago and she wanted me to copy and paste it…
Hey everyone thanks so much for all the signatures but we just need a little more so if you haven’t signed please sign or if you haven’t told every one please tell everyone you know thanks so much for everything you guys talk to you later bye bye CHristina

Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…



Well, I guess I better go…
Until then, THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING!!!!!!!

Love, Sherry

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….


HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>

CASIE’S SITE (AML) Leukemia a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center, Please stop by if you get a chance.. She has just learned she has relapsed and will have to have a bone marrow transplant


CHRISTINA’S SISTER ASHLEY’S WEB PAGE….
Here is My sister Ashleys Web Page... she just wants people to sign it if they want to...she’s had it for a long time and only had like ten people sign it so thanks.


HERE IS A FOLLOW UP ARTICLE FROM THE TAMPA TRIBUNE, WRITTEN BY A WONDERFUL MAN, JOE HENDERSON…… THANK YOU JOE FOR SUCH A SPECIAL ARTICLE…. Mr. Henderson had written an article about Christina back in January… Every since then he has been keeping in touch with us…. Thank You again Joe and the Tampa Tribune…



IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773




I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site




I also Don’t know how we would be making it through all this with out the HELP and SUPPORT of the girls elementary school…THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL… YOU ALL HAVE BEEN AMAZING!!!! THANK YOU!!!!







YOU CAN NOW ORDER THE CARDS AND CALENDARS FROM THE CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTER WEB SITE…


You can Click here to go to the Children’s Cancer Center web site to order cards and the CALENDAR…Christina is June and Ashley is September


Christina's Drawing


Ashley's Drawing













THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…








THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..




Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE (AML relapse) a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital



Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love





Friday, March 5, 2004 10:00 PM CST



DAY 186 post transplant


MINI UPDATE #2.….

Hello,
Well Christina had to stay another night in the hospital.. Her potassium levels just weren’t high enough yet for the doctor to let us go home… We are now hoping to get to go home Saturday sometime… Let’s all cross our fingers… The doctor did decided to stop the strong anti viral and they are putting her back on the anti viral that she had been on since we went home after transplant, But now she will get this med 2 times a day instead of once a day… Other than that nothing much else has changed… We did a lot of coloring today and Christina put together a few puzzles.. She is really on a puzzle kick… It keeps her mind occupied so that is good….
Well, I hope the next time I update I will be able to say we are home!!!!!

Love, Sherry



Mini Update::::::Thursday 11:55 P.M

Christina had to receive a potassium bolus and then they rechecked her levels and hour later and they are still critically low so they are getting ready to hang another 2 hour potassium bolus… When your potassium is critically low like this it effect ALL of your muscles and your heart is one of the most important muscle in your body and they said it could cause palpitations, murmurs and damage all together so that is why it was important to get her here to the hospital to get potassium in her fast… We are still hoping to go home on Friday, but the doctor did say that if things didn’t level off we might be here longer… So please Pray we go home tomorrow…. Christina’s kidney’s and live test are all coming back NOT good either.. So this new anti viral has really messed her up… But she needs it so badly because the virus it is trying to fight is actually in the Bone Marrow… And having a virus in her Bone Marrow could cause her body to reject the transplant…. To be totally honest … I am Frightened… I am absolutely scarred… It is like a no win situation… She needs this very toxic med to get rid of a virus, yet the med is causing so much internal damage . But we don’t want her to reject the marrow…So we will do what ever needs to be done… It looks like when we do go back home she will have to be on IV fluids for 20 hrs a day… Which is fine as long as she is home….

Tonight was a Children’s Cancer Center meeting and boy did I need to go, but couldn’t… I am just hanging on by a thread these days… OH well…. One Day at a time…..One day at a time…..

Love, Sherry



Hello,
Christina is back in the hospital…(She will be around 4 p.m.)

Well, it has been yet another CRAZY week for us… Christina went to clinic in St.Pete on Monday and that appointment went good.. All her blood counts are staying pretty much the same.. Her platelets are pretty much at a stand still at 86..
Christina has been doing pretty good on this much stronger anti viral, she has had a few episodes of throwing up and just feeling like crap, but the doctor said that this med could be causing this…Other than that the girls have been enjoying Oma and Opa’s visit this week, now they have headed back down to the Keys…NO FAIR!!!!!

Now to today…. Christina went to clinic this morning and her blood counts again looked the same…Everything is just at a stand still… Better than dropping more at least… Anyway, I just got a call from the doctor and she wants Christina admitted back in the hospital at least over night because her potassium and other electrolytes are all messed up… Plus they want to do a 24 hour creatine clearance Urine test (kidney/liver test) to make sure this new med is not damaging her even more…

So like usual…Never a dull moment around here… On a brighter side, the weather here has been absolutely beautiful and the girls have been enjoying it…

Well, that’s about all for now… THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THE WORDS LEFT BEHIND IN THE GUEST BOOK, IT TRULY MEANS THE WORLD TO CHRISTINA AND OUR FAMILY…..

P.S… Christina typed this next part up a few days ago and she wanted me to copy and paste it…
Hey everyone thanks so much for all the signatures but we just need a little more so if you haven’t signed please sign or if you haven’t told every one please tell everyone you know thanks so much for everything you guys talk to you later bye bye CHristina

Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…



Well, I guess I better go…
Until then, THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING!!!!!!!

Love, Sherry

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….


HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>

CASIE’S SITE (AML) Leukemia a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center, Please stop by if you get a chance.. She has just learned she has relapsed and will have to have a bone marrow transplant


CHRISTINA’S SISTER ASHLEY’S WEB PAGE….
Here is My sister Ashleys Web Page... she just wants people to sign it if they want to...she’s had it for a long time and only had like ten people sign it so thanks.


HERE IS A FOLLOW UP ARTICLE FROM THE TAMPA TRIBUNE, WRITTEN BY A WONDERFUL MAN, JOE HENDERSON…… THANK YOU JOE FOR SUCH A SPECIAL ARTICLE…. Mr. Henderson had written an article about Christina back in January… Every since then he has been keeping in touch with us…. Thank You again Joe and the Tampa Tribune…



IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773




I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site




I also Don’t know how we would be making it through all this with out the HELP and SUPPORT of the girls elementary school…THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL… YOU ALL HAVE BEEN AMAZING!!!! THANK YOU!!!!







YOU CAN NOW ORDER THE CARDS AND CALENDARS FROM THE CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTER WEB SITE…


You can Click here to go to the Children’s Cancer Center web site to order cards and the CALENDAR…Christina is June and Ashley is September


Christina's Drawing


Ashley's Drawing













THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…








THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..




Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE (AML relapse) a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital



Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love





Friday, February 27, 2004 10:05 PM CST



DAY 179 post transplant


Mini update...

Hello,
I just wanted to let everyone know that Christina is back home!!! YEA!!!!
We got home this afternoon..
It will take some getting use to her new med schedule... She will get this new anti viral 3 times a day 7 a.m 3 p.m and then 11 p.m.. This is a med that she gets through her broviac.. And because of this medicine she is back to 10 hours of fluids at night...

Christina won bingo twice last night and when you win your name gets put into a hat and then after the 2 games they play they draw winners.. Christina's name was not draw, but she did answer a trivia question right and she won a very cute bassett hound stuffed animal... She gave the stuffed animal to her Transplant doctor who just had a baby... What a sweet little girl, all I know is that if Ashley would have been there it wouldn't have went anywhere but home with us... ha ha... Speaking of Ashley, she seems to be having a wonderful time with Oma and Opa at the tractor show... I've talked to her about 10 times today... Christina and I will ride out to Ft.Meade to pick her up tomorrow... I haven't seen her since Wednesday, so I can't wait...

Well, that's about it... THANK YOU AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING....
Love, Sherry



Thursday, February 26th...
MINI UPDATE…..

Hello,

Well, today has been pretty good.. Christina had a good night we finally went to bed about 1:30 this morning because pharmacy kept sending up the wrong medicines… So after all of that we finally went to bed… So far Christina seems to be doing o.k. with the stronger anti viral med. But it will take a few days to see if it is really effecting her kidney’s and liver… This is a med that she will be on for a while (meaning weeks or months).. Other than all of that the day has gone by pretty fast… Christina did ha a CT scan of her lungs and everything looked pretty good…OH I almost forgot , for those of you that don’t know Christina has a Broviac (central line in her chest, actually 2 lines) anyway, the nurse last night was flushing one of the lines with saline and it wouldn’t flush really good, so he pushed harder on the syringe and the next thing we hear a loud POP… the external part of her line exploded…it burst, it popped how ever you want to say it… All I know is it scarred the HECK out of all of us… So IV team came and tried to fix it and it still wouldn’t work, so now they have some special medicine in the line to try and break up a clot, if that is what is blocking it… IT JUST NEVER ENDS…..

Well, I guess that about all…Love, Sherry

CHRISTINA TYPED THIS UP TODAY….
Hey everyone I get to leave tomorrow morning and then we have to get the meds at home witch is better than here but I wont be able to do very much but play with my dog and video games and bored games I guess I am lucky that I have a dog and games we went to the mulberry jubilee and there was this guy and lady that would carve with a saw thing and almost are hole family got a key chain that says cancer sucks club and then I got a big one for the cancer center that says welcome friends children’s cancer center I think they will like it. Talk to you later bye

LOVE ,
Christina



WEDNESDAY, February 25th...
Hello,
CHRISTINA IS IN THE HOSPITAL…

I have been meaning to update, but things have been just plain crazy…
First, Christina went to clinic on Monday in St.Petersburg to see the transplant doctor.. The visit went pretty well except her platelets have taken a drop again… So she had to go to clinic again today (Wednesday) in Tampa, so we went to clinic and her platelets have dropped even more.. They are down to 76... So we left clinic headed home, not even an hour after being home we were told to take her to the HOSPITAL… So we called the doctor to find out what was going on and why she needed to be admitted.. It seems that the CMV virus has flared up again, plus she has 2 other viruses that she can’t seem to get rid of.. So they wanted her admitted so she can get this other anti viral medicine, it is very toxic to her kidney’s and liver and it causes high blood pressure, so the doctor wants to see how she reacts to this medicine… If she does pretty well with it then she can go home on it, where we can give it to her at home… So we are ALL praying that this hospital stay will be Very short… Maybe 2 days…

We have been here for 2 hours and still haven’t talked to the doctor, so I don’t have much of a game plan yet, but when I know more I will mini update… Christina’s spirits are up for the most part, she was very disappointed about going back in the hospital, but then she got excited when she realized that Thursday night is BINGO night at the hospital… This is why I still say we take everything DAY BY DAY... We had a few things planned for the next couple of days and ALL of those plans just got thrown out the window... The hour and a half drove over to the hospital, Christina kept saying "well I guess we won't be doing this or we won't be doing that".. I told her that's why I try not to plan things.. I think my favorite saying now is "WE WILL SEE"... Anything the girls ask...WE WILL SEE.. Oh Well... My dad was there when I found out that Christina needed to go back to the hospital and I told him, this is what people don't see or understand about our lifes... One minute everything is fine and I am planning dinner then the next we are driving to St.Pete..

Ashley stayed home with Mike’s Mom (memaw) so that she could go to gymnastics tonight and then tomorrow (Thursday) night My Dad (opa) is picking her up so she can go to the tractor show again and camp out with Oma and Opa like she did last month…

Well, that’s about all for now… THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THE WORDS LEFT BEHIND IN THE GUEST BOOK, IT TRULY MEANS THE WORLD TO CHRISTINA AND OUR FAMILY…..

P.S… Christina typed this next part up a few days ago and she wanted me to copy and paste it…
Hey everyone thanks so much for all the signatures but we just need a little more so if you haven’t signed please sign or if you haven’t told every one please tell everyone you know thanks so much for everything you guys talk to you later bye bye CHristina

Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…



Well, I guess I better go…
Until then, THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING!!!!!!!

Love, Sherry

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….


HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>

CASIE’S SITE (AML) Leukemia a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center, Please stop by if you get a chance.. She has just learned she has relapsed and will have to have a bone marrow transplant


CHRISTINA’S SISTER ASHLEY’S WEB PAGE….
Here is My sister Ashleys Web Page... she just wants people to sign it if they want to...she’s had it for a long time and only had like ten people sign it so thanks.


HERE IS A FOLLOW UP ARTICLE FROM THE TAMPA TRIBUNE, WRITTEN BY A WONDERFUL MAN, JOE HENDERSON…… THANK YOU JOE FOR SUCH A SPECIAL ARTICLE…. Mr. Henderson had written an article about Christina back in January… Every since then he has been keeping in touch with us…. Thank You again Joe and the Tampa Tribune…



IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773




I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site




I also Don’t know how we would be making it through all this with out the HELP and SUPPORT of the girls elementary school…THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL… YOU ALL HAVE BEEN AMAZING!!!! THANK YOU!!!!







YOU CAN NOW ORDER THE CARDS AND CALENDARS FROM THE CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTER WEB SITE…


You can Click here to go to the Children’s Cancer Center web site to order cards and the CALENDAR…Christina is June and Ashley is September


Christina's Drawing


Ashley's Drawing













THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…








THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..




Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE (AML relapse) a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital



Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love





Wednesday, February 18, 2004 1:38 PM CST




DAY 170 post transplant


THE NEW PHOTO WAS TAKEN THIS PAST SATURDAY, AT THE GOLF THING CHRISTINA WAS WORKING SO HARD ON.. NEEDLESS TO SAY THE WEEK IN THE HOSPITAL DIDN'T HELP ANY, SHE DID GOOD, BUT NOT AS WELL AS SHE HAD HOPED...AT LEAST SHE GOT OUT OF THE HOSPITAL JUST IN TIME TO GO.. ASHLEY DID WELL TOO.. BOTH GIRLS ENJOYED IT AND THAT IS ALL THAT MATTERS, THEY ARE ALREADY TALKING ABOUT DOING IT AGAIN NEXT YEAR...

Hello,

Well, Christina went to clinic on Monday for normal lab work and some extra lab work, it seems she has tested positive for some type of virus.. The doctor is still waiting on some of the results, she is looking to see if this virus is in Christina’s marrow too.. So far her bone marrow aspiration looked good, her marrow is very suppressed, which is from all of the anti rejection meds and the anti viral meds that she is on, all of her meds suppressed her immune system… And her marrow is wanting to do what it needs to do, but it can’t with all these meds… Anyway, the marrow report showed NO signs of cancer, so that was great… We will have to wait for the results on how much is her cells and how much is the donors cells… I don’t know how long that will take, but it couldn’t come fast enough…

So today we had to go back to clinic for more lab/blood work done, the nurses said that the doctor was ordering test that they have not even heard of… I absolutely love her doctor… She has been so wonderful and on top of everything… I just got off the phone with her and she wants Christina to go back to clinic Friday for more lab work… So this week is full of clinic appointments..

My parents the girls (oma and Opa) just got back for a nice long stay down in the Keys, today is my Birthday and my Mom always takes me to breakfast for our yearly Lox, bagel and cream cheese.. Well that didn’t happen because of Christina’s appointment, but we did go to lunch and we enjoyed some wonderful escargots (snails)… Believe it or not Ashley even likes them… The girls baked me a cake yesterday, I stayed OUT of the kitchen, they did it ALL by themselves… We haven’t cut into it yet, but it sure does look good… I did go into the kitchen after the cake had been baking for awhile and one cake was rising MUCH higher than the other cake pan… They didn’t put an even amount in both pans.. We all got a good laugh at the very thick bottom, thin top lopsided cake…. BUT I know it will taste wonderful, because it was made with such love…

On Monday we went to our local park with some friends and we fished and Ashley and the 2 friends ran around, climbed trees and hills and played so much while Christina just sat and watched, because she wasn’t able to do all of that… I felt bad for her, but she seemed o.k. with all that was going on at least I though she did…
Later that night she had a mental breakdown again, she just kept crying and she wouldn’t talk to me… Finally after over and hour of her crying, she just kept saying “it’s not fair” I said what’s not fair and she just kept saying “it’s all not fair”… All I could say to her was you are right it’s not fair.. She just wants to play, run, climb trees, roll down hills, be with other kids playing not sitting watching from the sidelines… I talked to one of my friends later that night and I told her, it just NEVER ends… Mentally all of this never ends.. It just breaks my heart… and there is not a damn thing I can do… Yes, we spoil Christina, yes, she has gotten to do things, meet people that she would have never met because of this damn cancer BUT all of that does NOT make up for her not getting to be a typical kid… I am SO THANKFUL her health is getting better, we have our ups and downs, BUT I THANK GOD EVERYDAY for her getting better.. But the last 2 ½ years of her childhood are gone and she CAN NOT get those years back.. And that sucks…
Sorry I am rambling… I guess I just have a lot of emotions built up… ONE DAY AT A TIME…. We will just keep going one day at a time….

P.s. CHRISTINA TYPED THIS UP YESTERDAY AND SHE WANTED ME TO POST IT….THE PETITION LINK IS ON THIS PAGE…
Hi everyone I have a favor to ask you guys if you will tell everybody about the petition for the child hood cancer awareness stamp because they had a petition for sea turtles and seals and they got over 12,000 in a month and we only got 9,000 in over a year and now we have a deadline of April 10 2004 thank you very much ill update later thanks every one bye cHRISTINA
Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…



Well, I guess I better go…
Until then, THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING!!!!!!!

Love, Sherry

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….


HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>

CASIE’S SITE (AML) Leukemia a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center, Please stop by if you get a chance.. She has just learned she has relapsed and will have to have a bone marrow transplant


CHRISTINA’S SISTER ASHLEY’S WEB PAGE….
Here is My sister Ashleys Web Page... she just wants people to sign it if they want to...she’s had it for a long time and only had like ten people sign it so thanks.


HERE IS A FOLLOW UP ARTICLE FROM THE TAMPA TRIBUNE, WRITTEN BY A WONDERFUL MAN, JOE HENDERSON…… THANK YOU JOE FOR SUCH A SPECIAL ARTICLE…. Mr. Henderson had written an article about Christina back in January… Every since then he has been keeping in touch with us…. Thank You again Joe and the Tampa Tribune…



IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773




I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site




I also Don’t know how we would be making it through all this with out the HELP and SUPPORT of the girls elementary school…THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL… YOU ALL HAVE BEEN AMAZING!!!! THANK YOU!!!!







YOU CAN NOW ORDER THE CARDS AND CALENDARS FROM THE CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTER WEB SITE…


You can Click here to go to the Children’s Cancer Center web site to order cards and the CALENDAR…Christina is June and Ashley is September


Christina's Drawing


Ashley's Drawing













THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…








THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..




Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE (AML relapse) a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital



Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love





Friday, February 13, 2004 8:15 PM CST




DAY 166 post transplant


ANOTHER MINI UPDATE......

YEAH!!!! CHRISTINA IS HOME!!!!
We got home this afternoon, we all are happy to be back home.. I will update with information on the bone marrow aspiration when we know more.. We did talk to the doctor, but there are more issues we need to talk about and understand better... We just have to really watch her temperture closely..

Again, I will update when I know and understand more...
Thank you all for the support while Christina was in the hospital... The words of encouragement makes the days ALOT easier....

Love, Sherry


FRIDAY, 13 1:30 AM
MINI UPDATE::::::::

Hello, Christina is still in the hospital, they did the bone marrow aspiration about 10:30 p.m.
They had to do it twice because the doctor forgot that she wanted to send some of the marrow off to be tested for viruses… Christina whimpered some, but nothing like the last aspiration when she screamed and cried, but it still was so hard to sit there and see and hear the doctor sticking a BIG needle into her bones… I was just sitting there thinking I can’t believe I am watching this… She has had so many done, but they just never seem to get any easier emotionally for me or Mike… Then of course because of all of the drugs they gave her to try and knock her out she wanted to just sleep, but she still had her 6 pills to take…. It took about an hour of arguing and crying for her take them, but then she finally did… I hate when I have to get mean with her, she kept saying NO and I kept saying YES… That went on for an hour… But like I said she finally realized she wasn’t going to win this fight… And of course in typical Christina fashion she kept apologizing to me for acting that way and giving me a hard time… I know it is all so hard on her and there is not a damn thing I can do… I told her I wouldn’t make her do or take things if they weren’t SO very important… And she said she knows that… It just breaks my heart when she cries, she all ready has been through so much I just don’t want to see her cry ANY MORE…

Today has been very mentally exhausting for ALL of us… I just can’t wait to go to bed… As I type this it is 1:30 am and she still has 2 more skunk pills to take… The game plan is for us to leave here hopefully around 11 am or so…. We will see….

Love, Sherry


Thursday 12th 2004
Hello Everyone,

Well it looks like we might get to go home some time tonight…
The doctor said if temperatures stayed below 100.4 she could go home.. Her doctor is at a conference all day today and won’t be back until this evening and when she gets back she wants to do a bone marrow aspiration… FINALLY!!!!!

I am glad she is finally going to have it done, plus her counts have come down.. Her hemoglobin, platelets and white count… Mike and I are NOT happy about the platelets, we could see when she was running a higher fever because fevers eat up your platelets.. But they were 131 when we got here and today they are 86.. So the bone marrow aspiration will let us know if something is going on… Hopefully we will hear something tomorrow if not we will have to wait until Monday for any info..

Other than all of that, she has just been trying to stay busy doing art and crafts and SLEEPING… She has become a very BIG sleepy head in here… Boredom will do that to you I guess…

Again, Christina says “HELLO” and a BIG THANK YOU for the guest book entries.. Those DO CHEER her up…. THANKS….

Well, I guess I better go…
Until then, THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING!!!!!!!

Love, Sherry
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….


HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>

CASIE’S SITE (AML) Leukemia a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center, Please stop by if you get a chance.. She has just learned she has relapsed and will have to have a bone marrow transplant


CHRISTINA’S SISTER ASHLEY’S WEB PAGE….
Here is My sister Ashleys Web Page... she just wants people to sign it if they want to...she’s had it for a long time and only had like ten people sign it so thanks.


HERE IS A FOLLOW UP ARTICLE FROM THE TAMPA TRIBUNE, WRITTEN BY A WONDERFUL MAN, JOE HENDERSON…… THANK YOU JOE FOR SUCH A SPECIAL ARTICLE…. Mr. Henderson had written an article about Christina back in January… Every since then he has been keeping in touch with us…. Thank You again Joe and the Tampa Tribune…



IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773




I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site




I also Don’t know how we would be making it through all this with out the HELP and SUPPORT of the girls elementary school…THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL… YOU ALL HAVE BEEN AMAZING!!!! THANK YOU!!!!







YOU CAN NOW ORDER THE CARDS AND CALENDARS FROM THE CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTER WEB SITE…


You can Click here to go to the Children’s Cancer Center web site to order cards and the CALENDAR…Christina is June and Ashley is September


Christina's Drawing


Ashley's Drawing













THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…








THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..








Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…




Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE (AML relapse) a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital



Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love





Thursday, February 12, 2004 10:19 AM CST




DAY 165 post transplant


Hello Everyone,

Well it looks like we might get to go home some time tonight…
The doctor said if temperatures stayed below 100.4 she could go home.. Her doctor is at a conference all day today and won’t be back until this evening and when she gets back she wants to do a bone marrow aspiration… FINALLY!!!!!

I am glad she is finally going to have it done, plus her counts have come down.. Her hemoglobin, platelets and white count… Mike and I are NOT happy about the platelets, we could see when she was running a higher fever because fevers eat up your platelets.. But they were 131 when we got here and today they are 86.. So the bone marrow aspiration will let us know if something is going on… Hopefully we will hear something tomorrow if not we will have to wait until Monday for any info..

Other than all of that, she has just been trying to stay busy doing art and crafts and SLEEPING… She has become a very BIG sleepy head in here… Boredom will do that to you I guess…

Again, Christina says “HELLO” and a BIG THANK YOU for the guest book entries.. Those DO CHEER her up…. THANKS….

Well, I guess I better go…
Until then, THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING!!!!!!!

Love, Sherry
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….


HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>

CASIE’S SITE (AML) Leukemia a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center, Please stop by if you get a chance.. She has just learned she has relapsed and will have to have a bone marrow transplant


CHRISTINA’S SISTER ASHLEY’S WEB PAGE….
Here is My sister Ashleys Web Page... she just wants people to sign it if they want to...she’s had it for a long time and only had like ten people sign it so thanks.


HERE IS A FOLLOW UP ARTICLE FROM THE TAMPA TRIBUNE, WRITTEN BY A WONDERFUL MAN, JOE HENDERSON…… THANK YOU JOE FOR SUCH A SPECIAL ARTICLE…. Mr. Henderson had written an article about Christina back in January… Every since then he has been keeping in touch with us…. Thank You again Joe and the Tampa Tribune…



IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773




I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site




I also Don’t know how we would be making it through all this with out the HELP and SUPPORT of the girls elementary school…THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL… YOU ALL HAVE BEEN AMAZING!!!! THANK YOU!!!!







YOU CAN NOW ORDER THE CARDS AND CALENDARS FROM THE CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTER WEB SITE…


You can Click here to go to the Children’s Cancer Center web site to order cards and the CALENDAR…Christina is June and Ashley is September


Christina's Drawing


Ashley's Drawing













THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…








THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..








Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…




Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE (AML relapse) a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital



Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love





Tuesday, February 10, 2004 1:41 PM CST




DAY 163 post transplant


Hello Everyone,

Christina had an O.K night, she slept pretty good, but her fever just kept hanging around… Finally this morning it looked like it was trying to come down again and just a few hours ago it was the lowest it has been since we got here(99.2)… YEAH!!!! LET’S JUST PRAY IT STAYS THAT WAY AND LOWER……

Here spirits are DOWN… I hate seeing her like this, she is not talking as much again and we just got moved to another room way in no mans land (as we call it here on 2sw).. The room she was in she could put her bed up as high as it would go and she would have the blinds open and watch everyone walking by.. She liked it because she felt like she was around people again… So the move to the new room is NOT helping her spirits at all… This ALL STINKS !!!!!!

I just hope she gets out of here SOON…..

Again, Christina says “HELLO” and a BIG THANK YOU for the guest book entries.. Those DO CHEER her up…. THANKS….

Well, I guess I better go…
Until then, THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING!!!!!!!

Love, Sherry
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….


HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>

CASIE’S SITE (AML) Leukemia a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center, Please stop by if you get a chance.. She has just learned she has relapsed and will have to have a bone marrow transplant


CHRISTINA’S SISTER ASHLEY’S WEB PAGE….
Here is My sister Ashleys Web Page... she just wants people to sign it if they want to...she’s had it for a long time and only had like ten people sign it so thanks.


HERE IS A FOLLOW UP ARTICLE FROM THE TAMPA TRIBUNE, WRITTEN BY A WONDERFUL MAN, JOE HENDERSON…… THANK YOU JOE FOR SUCH A SPECIAL ARTICLE…. Mr. Henderson had written an article about Christina back in January… Every since then he has been keeping in touch with us…. Thank You again Joe and the Tampa Tribune…



IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison







You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773




I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site




I also Don’t know how we would be making it through all this with out the HELP and SUPPORT of the girls elementary school…THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL… YOU ALL HAVE BEEN AMAZING!!!! THANK YOU!!!!







YOU CAN NOW ORDER THE CARDS AND CALENDARS FROM THE CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTER WEB SITE…


You can Click here to go to the Children’s Cancer Center web site to order cards and the CALENDAR…Christina is June and Ashley is September


Christina's Drawing


Ashley's Drawing













THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…








THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..








Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…




Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE (AML relapse) a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital



Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love





Monday, February 9, 2004 7:28 AM CST




DAY 162 post transplant


Hello Everyone,

Well, Christina just can’t seem to break this fever…. So far all of her blood and urine cultures have come back negative, which is a good thing, but then what the heck is causing this fever!!!! This is one time that it would be fine for something to show up so we know what we are dealing with…. That is the frustrating part and it is starting to get Christina pretty upset… She just keeps say she wants to go HOME!!! We have know idea when that will be, first we have to get the fever to break…
Well, that’s about all for now, she is still on 2 antibiotics and 24 hours iv fluids… SO we will just have to sit and wait…and wait…

Christina did want me to tell EVERYONE “HELLO” and she says THANK YOU for signing her guest book, the entries cheer her up… THANK YOU….
Well, I guess I better go…
Until then, THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING!!!!!!!

P.S...
Please say an extra prayer for our friend Emily Lester (link below with all of the other Cancer friends) She is the girls friend who was also going to be in the golf challenge and she was admitted Saturday night and she is having a VERY hard time, she is having alot of breathing treatments and is on oxygen and running fevers too... She is in the room right next to us... I don't know if her mom has been able to update... But I know Emily would enjoy some words of encouragment and her Mom too... THANKS...
Love, Sherry
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….


HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>

CASIE’S SITE (AML) Leukemia a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center, Please stop by if you get a chance.. She has just learned she has relapsed and will have to have a bone marrow transplant


CHRISTINA’S SISTER ASHLEY’S WEB PAGE….
Here is My sister Ashleys Web Page... she just wants people to sign it if they want to...she’s had it for a long time and only had like ten people sign it so thanks.


HERE IS A FOLLOW UP ARTICLE FROM THE TAMPA TRIBUNE, WRITTEN BY A WONDERFUL MAN, JOE HENDERSON…… THANK YOU JOE FOR SUCH A SPECIAL ARTICLE…. Mr. Henderson had written an article about Christina back in January… Every since then he has been keeping in touch with us…. Thank You again Joe and the Tampa Tribune…



IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773




I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site




I also Don’t know how we would be making it through all this with out the HELP and SUPPORT of the girls elementary school…THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL… YOU ALL HAVE BEEN AMAZING!!!! THANK YOU!!!!







YOU CAN NOW ORDER THE CARDS AND CALENDARS FROM THE CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTER WEB SITE…


You can Click here to go to the Children’s Cancer Center web site to order cards and the CALENDAR…Christina is June and Ashley is September


Christina's Drawing


Ashley's Drawing













THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…








THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..








Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…




Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE (AML relapse) a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital



Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love





Sunday, February 8, 2004 7:10 AM CST





DAY 161 post transplant


Hello Everyone,

Christina slept pretty good through the night, she still did a lot of whimpering, but I think it is just the fever that is making her do that, because she says nothing hurts and she is not having bad dreams… The fever is just hanging around, it goes up and it comes down a little…. It still hasn’t broke yet…. She just kept saying all day yesterday that she just wanted to go HOME…. I think she is starting to get scared… Well, I am going to make this short for now Christina is pretty restless and is getting aggravated at me typing…, I will update more later today….


Well, I guess I better go…
Until then, THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING!!!!!!!

Love, Sherry
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….


HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>

CASIE’S SITE (AML) Leukemia a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center, Please stop by if you get a chance.. She has just learned she has relapsed and will have to have a bone marrow transplant


CHRISTINA’S SISTER ASHLEY’S WEB PAGE….
Here is My sister Ashleys Web Page... she just wants people to sign it if they want to...she’s had it for a long time and only had like ten people sign it so thanks.


HERE IS A FOLLOW UP ARTICLE FROM THE TAMPA TRIBUNE, WRITTEN BY A WONDERFUL MAN, JOE HENDERSON…… THANK YOU JOE FOR SUCH A SPECIAL ARTICLE…. Mr. Henderson had written an article about Christina back in January… Every since then he has been keeping in touch with us…. Thank You again Joe and the Tampa Tribune…



IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison













You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773




I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site


I also Don’t know how we would be making it through all this with out the HELP and SUPPORT of the girls elementary school…THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL… YOU ALL HAVE BEEN AMAZING!!!! THANK YOU!!!!







YOU CAN NOW ORDER THE CARDS AND CALENDARS FROM THE CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTER WEB SITE…


You can Click here to go to the Children’s Cancer Center web site to order cards and the CALENDAR…Christina is June and Ashley is September


Christina's Drawing


Ashley's Drawing













THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…








THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..








Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…




Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE (AML relapse) a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital



Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love





SATURDAY, February 7, 2004 12:11 PM CST


MINI UPDATE!!!!
We had to take Christina to All Children't Hospital in St.Pete at 1:30 this morning, because she was running a 102.9 fever.... She got admitted pretty guick and they started her on IV fluids and on an antibiotic right away... So far everything is o.k... We all didn't go to sleep until 4 this morning, and back up at 7 so it will be a long day needless to say....

DAY 159 post transplant


FRIDAY February 6, 2004
Hello Everyone,

O.k. Well, we took Christina back to St.Petersburg on Thursday for the Ct scan of her sinus’s and everything looked fine… YEAH!!!! I hate that we had to make that trip again, but I would much rather be safe than sorry… So pretty much nothing is on the medical agenda until Next Thursday when we go back to St.Pete for the ultra sound of her kidney’s, liver and spleen, echo of her heart and pulmonary (lung) function test and other usual lab/blood work….

Other than that things have been pretty much the same… We just got back from fishing… we DID NOT catch anything… BUT it was a beautiful day and we were outside for a long time.. We all are pretty exhausted… Christina and Ashley are going to be competing in The Golf Channels Putt, Drive and Chip contest on February 14th at a golf course in St.Petersburg…. Christina really wanted to do it so I signed her up and Ashley wasn’t really interested, but then Ashley found out that there friend Emily Lester was going to do it, so Ashley was then so excited about signing up…. At least all 3 girls are in different age groups so they won’t be competing against each other… We mentioned this to the doctor and she gave Christina permission so Christina is VERY excited… She has been practicing A LOT with her Daddy… When she gets her mind set on something, she becomes very determined… Which is good… She needs something to look forward to, and golf is good, because it is OUTSIDE and it is helping build her strength back up…

Ashley and I went to the Children’s Cancer Center for our parent’s meeting… It was so nice to see everyone, but it still just didn’t feel the same with Mike and Christina not there…. But it did me good to see some of the other Mom’s, I really needed it…. I can’t wait until Christina can see some of her friends from the Cancer Center again, she REALLY misses them ALL… She talks about them all so much, I just wish we didn’t live so far away from them all… Christina was laying with me the other night on the couch and she started crying about not getting to go anywhere, see people or do things she wanted to and I said to her “I would much rather sit here and have you cry about everything than NOT be here at ALL, so go ahead and cry” She looked up at me like, I can’t believe you just said that… But, she did stop crying…. Silly little girl…..

Christina says HELLO to everyone and that she will type something up for me to copy and paste.. I wish you could see how much she ENJOYS reading her guestbook... It puts the BIGGEST smile on her face... THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!


Well, I guess I better go…
Until then, THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING!!!!!!!

Love, Sherry
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….


HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>

CASIE’S SITE (AML) Leukemia a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center, Please stop by if you get a chance.. She has just learned she has relapsed and will have to have a bone marrow transplant


CHRISTINA’S SISTER ASHLEY’S WEB PAGE….
Here is My sister Ashleys Web Page... she just wants people to sign it if they want to...she’s had it for a long time and only had like ten people sign it so thanks.


HERE IS A FOLLOW UP ARTICLE FROM THE TAMPA TRIBUNE, WRITTEN BY A WONDERFUL MAN, JOE HENDERSON…… THANK YOU JOE FOR SUCH A SPECIAL ARTICLE…. Mr. Henderson had written an article about Christina back in January… Every since then he has been keeping in touch with us…. Thank You again Joe and the Tampa Tribune…



IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison



















You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773




I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site


I also Don’t know how we would be making it through all this with out the HELP and SUPPORT of the girls elementary school…THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL… YOU ALL HAVE BEEN AMAZING!!!! THANK YOU!!!!







YOU CAN NOW ORDER THE CARDS AND CALENDARS FROM THE CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTER WEB SITE…


You can Click here to go to the Children’s Cancer Center web site to order cards and the CALENDAR…Christina is June and Ashley is September


Christina's Drawing


Ashley's Drawing













THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…








THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..








Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…




Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE (AML relapse) a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital



Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love





Tuesday, February 3, 2004 1:12 PM CST




IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison


DAY 156 post transplant


Hello Everyone,

Well, Christina went to clinic this past Monday and the appointment went pretty well… All her lab worked looked pretty much the same her platelets did come up to 98 so I was happy to see them go up by a few rather than drop by one…. Other good news is that her IV fluids got moved down to 8 hrs at night instead of 10 hrs, so that is an improvement….

But, there was one bit of bad news, well not bad just disappointing news to Christina…. We learned that at 180 days post transplant she will start weaning only one of her anti rejection meds… And this weaning process will take 3 month… Then at the end of that weaning process they will start weaning her off of the other anti rejection med (the stinking pills) and that process will also take 3 months… So basically Christina is looking at 6 more months of having limitations on what she can do, go and eat… Needless to say she did NOT take this news well… She had one of her little break downs… As an adult I understand the importance of all of the precautions, but as a 10 yr old little girl, Christina is getting very frustrated… Christina knows the importance of all of this, but she also wants to just be a KID again… She just wants to have fun and be around other people… I have said MANY times before Christina is a VERY social kid and this has been the hardest part of all of this… She wants to be with her friends and go to Cancer Center meetings and just have fun with other people… We try the best we can to keep her occupied and take her to do the things that she is allowed to do, but they are all starting to get pretty boring… I keep telling her that these next few months will go by fast, just look at how fast time has already gone by…

The other thing that has come up today is, Christina woke up with a very bad headache, she said she tried going back to sleep, but her head hurt to much… She has complained all morning, so I called the doctor and she is setting up an appointment for a sinus ct scan tomorrow in St.Petersburg… Of course after I call the doctor Christina starts throwing up.. She is asleep right now, so maybe that will help.. The doctor is going to call back later and check on Christina, so that is when I will tell her about the vomiting… I think it was from her crying so much, let’s hope so anyway… Here we finally were not going to have to go to clinic until Thursday of NEXT week… We had finally made it to going only once this week and then this happens… OH WELL…. Life goes on…

That was the other thing, when Christina goes to Clinic Next Thursday, she is having an Echo of her heart, ultrasound of her kidney’s, live, and spleen and a pulmonary function test of her lungs…. The transplant doctor just wants to see if there has been any improvements since the last test a few months ago…

I can Not believe yesterday marked 5 months since transplant… What a roller coaster ride these last 5 months have been… It has been unreal… Every once in awhile I look back at the past journal entries and I’m just amazed Christina is here today… and after looking back I now understand why I am on anxiety meds…HA HA…

When we went to clinic in St.Pete Monday, I stopped in the Hospital and visited with Casie… She is feeling pretty crappy… She looked pretty good to me and was so excited she had received some cards and stuff in the mail She was also thrilled over her guest book entries.…Friends of Christina’s guest book THANK YOU SO MUCH for helping cheer Casie up…. Christina’s friend Emily (link below) is also in the hospital, Ashley visited with her for awhile… Emily and her family are the ones that would take Ashley for the weekend when we were in the hospital for a long time… They are a wonderful family and Emily is an Amazing young lady… If you get a chance stop by her page too.. I know she would love to read entries….

Well, I guess I better go…
Until then, THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING!!!!!!!

Love, Sherry
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, I will add new photos every few days…HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….


HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>

CASIE’S SITE (AML) Leukemia a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center, Please stop by if you get a chance.. She has just learned she has relapsed and will have to have a bone marrow transplant


CHRISTINA’S SISTER ASHLEY’S WEB PAGE….
Here is My sister Ashleys Web Page... she just wants people to sign it if they want to...she’s had it for a long time and only had like ten people sign it so thanks.


HERE IS A FOLLOW UP ARTICLE FROM THE TAMPA TRIBUNE, WRITTEN BY A WONDERFUL MAN, JOE HENDERSON…… THANK YOU JOE FOR SUCH A SPECIAL ARTICLE…. Mr. Henderson had written an article about Christina back in January… Every since then he has been keeping in touch with us…. Thank You again Joe and the Tampa Tribune…














You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773




I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site


I also Don’t know how we would be making it through all this with out the HELP and SUPPORT of the girls elementary school…THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL… YOU ALL HAVE BEEN AMAZING!!!! THANK YOU!!!!







YOU CAN NOW ORDER THE CARDS AND CALENDARS FROM THE CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTER WEB SITE…


You can Click here to go to the Children’s Cancer Center web site to order cards and the CALENDAR…Christina is June and Ashley is September


Christina's Drawing


Ashley's Drawing













THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…








THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..








Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…




Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE (AML relapse) a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital



Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love





Thursday, January 29, 2004 11:39 AM CST



IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison


DAY 150 post transplant


Hello Everyone,

Christina went to Clinic this past Monday for her usual lab work… Everything seems to be looking good, her platelets did drop a little, which I was NOT happy about at all… So we will just have to keep watching her lab work… My stomach just turns when I see her platelets go down… After she went into remission last year her platelets only got up to the 90’s and then started dropping again… Well,her platelets finally got over 100(114) last week and now on Monday they were 94 and today (Thursday) they are 92... Doesn’t sound like much of a drop, but even going down by 1 is enough to worry me… When Christina looked at her lab work she even said ”oh I don’t like that”… The fear is just indescribable… We can’t live our lives in fear and we don’t… The days will go on and we will laugh and play, but the fear is always there NO matter what… So we just do the best we can… Live life to the fullest, because you just never know what God has planned for us the next day…

Christina had to go back to clinic today (Thursday) for her breathing treatment… She has to get this med every 2 weeks, she had been getting it through IV, but it is one of the meds that makes her sick and throwing up… So Christina decided she was ready to go back to doing the breathing type verses the IV type… She did the breathing treatment all last year and never had a problem, they just switched her to the IV form while she was in the hospital to make it a little easier on her… and at the time it did… Now it just makes her sick… While we were at clinic they ran another CBC (lab work) on her, again everything else is looking good, except the platelets dropping a little….
Christina goes back to St.Petersburg Monday to see the Transplant doctor and then maybe we will know when she is finally going to get a bone marrow aspiration done… Christina is really wanting one done and so do we…

Well, I guess that is about all for now.. Thank you all for signing Christina’s guest book, she is really enjoying reading all the entries… I have all her cards that were sent to her since she went into the hospital and we are going to start going through them today… The more we talk to Christina the more we see that she has absolutely NO memory of being in the hospital, she remember the first week and the last week and that’s all…. The other day she had an x ray of her foot and there was a portable x ray machine in the room and she was looking at it funny.. I said “you don’t know what that is??” And she said “NO“… I said “you don’t remember them bringing one of those in your room almost everyday and sometimes 2 times a day” and she said “NO“… I was shocked, because she always had to wake up and sit up straight and put this hard cold board behind her back for the x ray… I just couldn’t believe she didn’t remember any of it..

Some people have asked what the name of the song that plays while you are at her guest book, it is “in the arms of an Angel” I don’t know the exact name of the song, I have NO idea how it got on there, but it is nice…

Also some have asked about the fishing… Christina can fish as long as she doesn’t touch the bait or the fish, so in other words we do all the work for her and she has all the fun catching them… I should say Daddy does all the work…ha ha… Some of the worms are even to big for me to pick up… The last batch of worms we got where as fat as a pencil or even fatter than that…




Well, I guess I better go…
Until then, THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING!!!!!!!

P.S. Christina’s friend Casie (link below) is having a very difficult time right now, the chemo she has received has been VERY hard on her and her body… I know she hasn’t updated in a while, but I know she has been reading the guest book entries… She has a long road ahead of her and she is already having difficulty… So if you get a chance please stop by to leave some words of encouragement… Christina and Ashley absolutely adore her….

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS…I ADD NEW PHOTOS ALMOST DAILY.


Love, Sherry

HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON … SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>

CASIE’S SITE (AML) Leukemia a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center, Please stop by if you get a chance.. She has just learned she has relapsed and will have to have a bone marrow transplant


CHRISTINA’S SISTER ASHLEY’S WEB PAGE….
Here is My sister Ashleys Web Page... she just wants people to sign it if they want to...she’s had it for a long time and only had like ten people sign it so thanks.


HERE IS A FOLLOW UP ARTICLE FROM THE TAMPA TRIBUNE, WRITTEN BY A WONDERFUL MAN, JOE HENDERSON…… THANK YOU JOE FOR SUCH A SPECIAL ARTICLE…. Mr. Henderson had written an article about Christina back in January… Every since then he has been keeping in touch with us…. Thank You again Joe and the Tampa Tribune…














You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773




I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site


I also Don’t know how we would be making it through all this with out the HELP and SUPPORT of the girls elementary school…THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL… YOU ALL HAVE BEEN AMAZING!!!! THANK YOU!!!!







YOU CAN NOW ORDER THE CARDS AND CALENDARS FROM THE CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTER WEB SITE…


You can Click here to go to the Children’s Cancer Center web site to order cards and the CALENDAR…Christina is June and Ashley is September


Christina's Drawing


Ashley's Drawing













THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…








THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..








Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…




Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE (AML relapse) a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital



Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love





Saturday, January 24, 2004 10:43 AM CST



IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….


DAY 144 post transplant


Hello Everyone,

Christina did go to clinic on Monday and we got a few of our questions answered, she is back on one of the meds to help here stomach and so far it seems to be working… She only felt nauseas once this week… But, because of one of the other meds we had to take her back to Tampa clinic for blood work… We were told that she will have a bone marrow aspiration done sometime next week or the week afte Christina is very ready for one, and so are we… It has been since she was 30 days post transplant that she had one done… All in all I think she is doing pretty good.. Her spirtis get down every once in a while, but that is to be expected with all that she has been through… She has been trying to spend a lot of time outside… Her and Ashley got out front on the drive way a lot through out the day to play… She did get on roller blades the other day and of course she fell… She panicked, I was proud of myself I held it together… She just scraped her arm, knees and hip, we told her that if she was going to skate we didn’t want to hear anything when she fell… She whimpered all night like a little baby… It’s been along time since she has fallen, so it was kind of scary for her… Christina has always been the type of child that has NO FEAR what’s so ever… Cancer, Chemo, radiation etc…. Has NOT changed that part of her at all… We did take her down the road fishing for about an hour the other day, the picture up above with the fish is a little blue gill… They didn’t catch and bass that day… We did see some wild hogs that day too.. The girls thought that was pretty cool…

Ashley is at the Florida Aquarium today with the Children’s Cancer Center, Christina couldn’t go because of it being mostly in doors, but she wanted Ashley to go… I figured she would have had a fit all day, but she is now outside walking the dog…
I told Christina we would leave early to pick up Ashley so that maybe she can see some of her friends before they get picked up….. It has been over a month and a half since she has seen some of her friends from the cancer center… She says all the time she wished we lived closer to some of her Cancer friends… Trust me I wish that too…But we live about an hour or more away from most of them… So it makes it hard to get together… Maybe one day we can have a cook out and all get together… That sounds like fun…I’ll have to work on that one…

Well, I guess I better go so I can check on Christina walking the dog… The poor dog has become the main entertainment for the girls…. I told them both the other day that they are going to drive the dog nuts because they just won’t leave her alone… All they want to do is play with her or fight…


Well, I guess I better go…
Until then, THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING!!!!!!!

Love, Sherry
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW PHOTO ALBUM I HAVE STARTED, HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS….



HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON TODAY… SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had now idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a mach and we found out that there is a match it was a 5 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>

CASIE’S SITE (AML) Leukemia a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center, Please stop by if you get a chance.. She has just learned she has relapsed and will have to have a bone marrow transplant



p.s. here is a link to Christina’s sisters page…
Here is My sister Ashleys Web Page... she just wants people to sign it if they want to...she’s had it for a long time and only had like ten people sign it so thanks.


HERE IS A FOLLOW UP ARTICLE FROM THE TAMPA TRIBUNE, WRITTEN BY A WONDERFUL MAN, JOE HENDERSON…… THANK YOU JOE FOR SUCH A SPECIAL ARTICLE…. Mr. Henderson had written an article about Christina back in January… Every since then he has been keeping in touch with us…. Thank You again Joe and the Tampa Tribune…














You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773




I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site


I also Don’t know how we would be making it through all this with out the HELP and SUPPORT of the girls elementary school…THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL… YOU ALL HAVE BEEN AMAZING!!!! THANK YOU!!!!







YOU CAN NOW ORDER THE CARDS AND CALENDARS FROM THE CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTER WEB SITE…


You can Click here to go to the Children’s Cancer Center web site to order cards and the CALENDAR…Christina is June and Ashley is September


Christina's Drawing


Ashley's Drawing













THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…








THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..








Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…




Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE (AML relapse) a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital



Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love





Sunday, January 18, 2004 7:10 PM CST



IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.
When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

By~ Clay Harrison

I CAME ACROSS THIS POEM ON ANOTHER SITE AND REALLY LIKED IT, SO I THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE IT WITH ALL OF YOU... YOU WILL NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH YOUR PRAYERS, SUPPORT, WORDS OF ENCOURAGMENT MEANS TO OUR FAMILY...WE WILL BE FOREVER THANKFUL..


DAY 138 post transplant


Hello Everyone,

Christina goes to St.Petersburg in the morning (Monday) for her clinic appointment with the transplant doctor… I am actually glad we are going to see the transplant doctor, because I have a few concerns.. Mainly one I guess, Christina has been having these spells of all of a sudden not feeling well, sometimes she gets real nauseous and then it goes away, but over the weekend she has thrown up a few times and now it is really worrying me… She has no fever or any other complaints, Mike thinks it might be because 2 weeks ago the doctor said because she was eating better we could have her stop taking prevacit ( helps control the stomach acid)… Maybe because of everything, the chemo, radiation, not eating for so long etc… Christina might still need some help with the stomach acids… So we will find out tomorrow if this is a possibility.. If not then I don’t know what could be causing this… All I know is that my stomach sinks whenever Christina gets that look on her face and says I don’t feel good…I HATE THAT FEELING… I HATE THE FEELING OF FEAR…..

Ashley got a nice break from us this weekend, she stayed with Oma and Opa (my parents) in Ft.Meade at an Antique Tractor show… My parents just got a pull behind camper and so Ashley did the whole camping thing with them.. Plus, she had some time to herself without all the Christina attention… But of course as soon as the girls were together for 5 minutes the arguing started… OH well, 3 months ago as Christina laid in her hospital bed NOT talking, I begged and prayed for the day to hear her and her sister playing and fighting… And now I am yelling at both of them to stop and be quiet…. Funny how that works…ha ha…

Well, I guess I better go…
Until then, THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING!!!!!!!

Love, Sherry

HERE IS A STORY THAT CHRISTINA WORKED ON TODAY… SHE WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE IS JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF OUT OF HER HEAD…. SO HERE IS CHRISTINA’S STORY….

Hey everybody this is my story about my life with cancer it was strange when I found out I had AML leukemia. I had know idea what it was so I had to learn all about what it was. So we got an book about meds and a book about how to be clean. The first year of my cancer they thought I would have an transplant and so I had to learn all about that. Once I found out. That I would not be able to go into stores I got upset and I didn’t understand why and then they told me if I got sick with a cold or sneezes I could get really sick and die. Which kind of scared me a lot so I could not go to school and see all my friends. which really stunk I missed over a year of school and I hated it I now some of the kids said I would love to be out of school but I hated it. After I went in for a stay in the hospital I got really sick and almost died I had to go down to ICU I really don’t now what happened because I think I passed out and everything happened so fast.

Next we go back to the doctors and they decided not to do transplant and I did chemo for almost a year. All of my hair fell out all of the hair on my legs and all of the hair on my head my eye brows and eye lashes and loosing my eye lashes were falling out they really bugged me because they kept falling out. And finally after all my chemo my hair started to come back and luckily it came back the same culler and still really shiny. One day they did a bone marrow and it showed some blasts but my blood count was still good so they waited a little while and did another bone marrow and it was a little worse and my counts were starting to act funny and then one last time and it came back very bad.

So they decided to do a bone marrow transplant so we had to search for a match and we found out that there is a match it was a 4 out of 6 cord blood match so they said I would need to have a couple of rounds of chemo and radiation and then my transplant so before I went in I went to all the stores and food stores that I could and bowling and every thing you could think of and then I went in and I decorated my room till you could not see the walls any more and then after like 80 days I got out of the hospital and was home now I have to take a lot of pills and one of them smell like skunk and it use to be hard to take them but now its not. Now its real easy to take my pills. Now it is 138 days post transplant and I am doing great.

Written By:Christina Gates
<<<<<<<*********>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<**********>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<*******>>>>>>

CASIE’S SITE (AML) Leukemia a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center, Please stop by if you get a chance.. She has just learned she has relapsed and will have to have a bone marrow transplant



p.s. here is a link to Christina’s sisters page…
Here is My sister Ashleys Web Page... she just wants people to sign it if they want to...she’s had it for a long time and only had like ten people sign it so thanks.


HERE IS A FOLLOW UP ARTICLE FROM THE TAMPA TRIBUNE, WRITTEN BY A WONDERFUL MAN, JOE HENDERSON…… THANK YOU JOE FOR SUCH A SPECIAL ARTICLE…. Mr. Henderson had written an article about Christina back in January… Every since then he has been keeping in touch with us…. Thank You again Joe and the Tampa Tribune…







You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773




I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site


I also Don’t know how we would be making it through all this with out the HELP and SUPPORT of the girls elementary school…THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL… YOU ALL HAVE BEEN AMAZING!!!! THANK YOU!!!!







YOU CAN NOW ORDER THE CARDS AND CALENDARS FROM THE CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTER WEB SITE…


You can Click here to go to the Children’s Cancer Center web site to order cards and the CALENDAR…Christina is June and Ashley is September


Christina's Drawing


Ashley's Drawing













THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…








THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..








Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…




Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE (AML relapse) a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital



Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love





Thursday, January 15, 2004 8:17 pm CST

MINI UPDATE...
Christina and our family just learned of a friends relapse, her name is Casie Snow and she is such a wonderful, beautiful, full of life and love tennager who also has AML... She was just admitted yesterday and now they are talking about transplant... Please if you get a moment please stop by her page for words of encouragemant... I know she would be forever greatful...
All her friends went off to college this year and she had to stay behind because of the Cancer and now the relapse on top of it all, just really sucks... CHristina really adores her and Christina is very upset to here the news, but in CHristina fashion, she said "casie will be o.k. I know it" so there you have it....

Casie Snow's SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center





Thursday 15th,2003 7:45 am
DAY 135 post transplant


Hello Everyone,

Well, Christina went to clinic yesterday (Wednesday) it was a very long day we left home at 8:30 in the morning and got back home at 5:45 that evening..
The first med. Made Christina sick so she threw up twice, but then they gave her benadryle before the IVIG med and that made her sleep for about 3 hours… Well, at least I finally got to watch a movie I hadn’t seen yet… Then after she woke up we did a lot of arts and craft… I even made a necklace and bracelet while she was asleep… Christina made a necklace and bracelet, a felt banner that says CANCER SUCKS on it and then she decorated this cute foam purse that she can carry her bag of masks and her pills and stuff in when we are on the road… So all in all it was a long, but crafty day…

As far as all Christina’s blood work everything looked good…. Her platelets are up to 94, which is only how high they got last year before she relapsed so it will be exciting to see them get over 100 on there own…. Her red blood count was good, not normal, but good and her white count was really good, so we are stopping the GCSF until this coming Monday when we go to St.Pete again to see the transplant doctor…. So we will really get to see how Christina’s immune system is doing all by it’s self without the help of any white cell booster medicine…. That’s what the GCSF does, boost the white cell count…
Anyway, I just hope it stays up and she doesn’t get sick… So I think over the weekend I will be a little more cautious with her.. Not that we aren’t already, I mean she is already pretty isolated, but I just don’t want a weekend trip to the hospital…

We are still waiting on some more results from some other test that were run yesterday, hopefully we will hear something today or tomorrow… Christina did go down a little on her weight, which is what I had figured, I just knew she wasn’t eating like she had been, and plus she has had those spells of all of a sudden not feeling well and then they pass…
So she really need to work on her eating and drinking… I just hate sounding like a broken record.. But, she knows it is very important, so she said she would do her best… And that is all we are asking…

I did go to the Hospital Monday to be with Katia’s family during Katia’s surgery and as many of you know, everything went very well… So I definitely believe in the power of prayers… Now I pray that she can heal good and fast so she can get to transplant, so this wonderful family can FINALLY get home….

Well, hopefully the Home bound teacher will be coming out to the house starting next week, I think this will help Christina’s spirit a lot too… It will give her something to look forward to… And it is suppose to be the same teacher from last year and Christina really liked her, so that is an extra bonus…

I am now really wishing I would have done a internet home schooling program for Ashley, but they are like $600.00, Katia’s mom told me I might be able to get a half year program cheaper so I am going to look into it… Some kids and parents are good for home schooling, but we are not the parents for it and Ashley is not the kid for it… I admire the Family’s that do this with there kids all the time… We had no choice on the home schooling.. This was the only way for all of us to be together while Christina was in the hospital… And we have been advised to home school Ashley next year too, because of what she might bring home to Chris… So I defiantly will be looking into the internet home schooling… IF any of you have info on this please email me… Or if you know someone that does… It would be greatly appreciated….

Well, That’s about all for now.. Christina said she would update later and I will post it then…

Until then, THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING!!!!!!!

Love, Sherry

p.s. here is a link to Christina’s sisters page…
Here is My sister Ashleys Web Page... she just wants people to sign it if they want to...she’s had it for a long time and only had like ten people sign it so thanks.


HERE IS A FOLLOW UP ARTICLE FROM THE TAMPA TRIBUNE, WRITTEN BY A WONDERFUL MAN, JOE HENDERSON…… THANK YOU JOE FOR SUCH A SPECIAL ARTICLE…. Mr. Henderson had written an article about Christina back in January… Every since then he has been keeping in touch with us…. Thank You again Joe and the Tampa Tribune…














You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773




I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site


I also Don’t know how we would be making it through all this with out the HELP and SUPPORT of the girls elementary school…THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL… YOU ALL HAVE BEEN AMAZING!!!! THANK YOU!!!!







YOU CAN NOW ORDER THE CARDS AND CALENDARS FROM THE CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTER WEB SITE…


You can Click here to go to the Children’s Cancer Center web site to order cards and the CALENDAR…Christina is June and Ashley is September


Christina's Drawing


Ashley's Drawing













THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…








THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..








Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…




Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE (AML relapse) a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital



Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love





Sunday, January 11, 2004 7:16 PM CST

DAY 131 post transplant


Hello Everyone,

Just a quick update, I just wanted to ask everyone to please say an extra prayer for Christina’s friend Katia Solomon, Katia has AML too and is waiting for a cord blood transplant, but things are being delayed do to a fungus on her lungs… So tomorrow Morning, Monday 12th she is having part of her lobe of her lung removed and possibly more…I have a link to Katia’s page down below with all of Christina’s other friends too….

As far as Christina she has been doing o.k…. The past to days she has had a few episodes of not feeling to well… I kind off hold my breathe when she says she doesn’t feel very good… I guess I am just waiting for the next ball to drop…..
She is still eating o.k., she has slowed down just a little bit, but she is eating… We will just have to watch her weight… My parents (oma and opa) have been visiting since Monday, so the girls have been enjoying there time with them… They were here for Christmas and then they went to Key West for 2 weeks, and now it looks like they enjoyed the Keys so much that they are heading back there again tomorrow…

Well, Christina is getting upset with me because she wanted to do the main update part and I have been typing away so I will say Good-bye for now…

Love, Sherry

And here is CHRISTINA……..

hey everybody its Christina here just wanting to say hey and thanks for checking up on me and for signing my page I haven't been to the doctors since Monday and I don’t think I’m going back till Wednesday we just talked to Dr.Petrovic on the phone about my blood pressure because its been hi the last couple of days and now its back to normal so that’s is so good. Please pray for Katia she’s has a bad fungus in her lungs and she’s having a surgery Monday 12th and my mom is going to support Katia and her family. Wednesday is going to be a looonnngggg day because I have to get pentamadine treatment that takes over an hour (med to protect my lungs) and IVIG takes over 5 hours (for CMV virus).

I hope to start school at home soon because I think my dad is going to call my homebound teacher soon did you now my sister has her own web page it is Here is My sister Ashleys Web Page... she just wants people to sign it if they want to...she’s had it for a long time and only had like ten people sign it so thanks. Thanks for sending me those gifts all of YOU are so NICE and I THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!!!
LOVE,CHRISTINA

HERE IS A FOLLOW UP ARTICLE FROM THE TAMPA TRIBUNE, WRITTEN BY A WONDERFUL MAN, JOE HENDERSON…… THANK YOU JOE FOR SUCH A SPECIAL ARTICLE…. Mr. Henderson had written an article about Christina back in January… Every since then he has been keeping in touch with us…. Thank You again Joe and the Tampa Tribune…














You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773




I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site


I also Don’t know how we would be making it through all this with out the HELP and SUPPORT of the girls elementary school…THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL… YOU ALL HAVE BEEN AMAZING!!!! THANK YOU!!!!







YOU CAN NOW ORDER THE CARDS AND CALENDARS FROM THE CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTER WEB SITE…


You can Click here to go to the Children’s Cancer Center web site to order cards and the CALENDAR…Christina is June and Ashley is September


Christina's Drawing


Ashley's Drawing













THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…








THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..








Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…




Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE (AML relapse) a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital



Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love





Monday, January 5, 2004 12:31 AM CST





DAY 125 post transplant


Hello Everyone,

Christina went to clinic today in St.Pete to see the transplant doctor… So far everything is still looking good.. Last week they ran a urine test (creatine clearance), to see how her liver and kidney’s are doing and the results came back worse than they have in awhile… The doctor feels that it is do to all the different medicines she is on. Our main concern was is this going to be a on going battle with her liver and kidneys or are they going to start functioning normally again… The doctor feels that they will start getting better after she is taken off of some of the meds… A lot of the meds are very toxic to her system, that’s another reason why she has to get her blood checked twice a week, to see how high the toxicity level is because of the one med called cyclosphorine (anti rejection med) ,But we won’t know for sure how damaged they are until months after all the meds are out of her system… So basically about 6 months or more of worrying about her kidney’s and liver… Christina is starting to drink a little more through out the day so the IV fluids have been moved to 10 hours at night instead of 12 hours… But, because of the kidney and liver issue I don’t see her getting off the fluids for a while yet… Mike and I joke all the time and say he needs to go to the Ronald McDonald house to get a full nights sleep… With Christina on the fluids at night, she gets up to go to the bathroom through out the night and Mike helps her with the IV bag and machine, so he hasn’t had a full nights sleep yet… If you are wondering why I don’t get up with her… Because once I go to sleep I don’t hear anything… and plus Christina calls for Daddy on the baby monitor… That’s why it was so easy for me to sleep at the hospital, I never heard the nurses or the machines beeping once I feel asleep… It would only take Christina calling my name once or twice and I was a awake, but as far as everything else… I didn’t hear a thing..

Other than those issues, Christina has been doing pretty good… Mike has taken her to hit golf balls a few times and we try and take her fishing as much as possible… She is getting very stir crazy being confined to the house… But like I tell her it’s much better than being confined to a hospital room… But remember she is just only 10... She wants to play, run, ride her bike, and be around other kids…
I keep telling her it won’t be long, but she just gets more frustrated…

Christina said she was going to type up an update later for me to copy and paste…. So it will be interesting to see what she has to say…



Well, I guess that’s about all for now…. Thank you again for signing Christina’s guest book, she reads it about 5 times a day or more…. The words of thoughts, prayers and encouragements means the world to her and our family….

HERE IS A FOLLOW UP ARTICLE FROM THE TAMPA TRIBUNE, WRITTEN BY A WONDERFUL MAN, JOE HENDERSON…… THANK YOU JOE FOR SUCH A SPECIAL ARTICLE…. Mr. Henderson had written an article about Christina back in January… Every since then he has been keeping in touch with us…. Thank You again Joe and the Tampa Tribune…


THANK YOU AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING….


Love, Sherry








You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773




I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site


I also Don’t know how we would be making it through all this with out the HELP and SUPPORT of the girls elementary school…THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL… YOU ALL HAVE BEEN AMAZING!!!! THANK YOU!!!!







YOU CAN NOW ORDER THE CARDS AND CALENDARS FROM THE CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTER WEB SITE…


You can Click here to go to the Children’s Cancer Center web site to order cards and the CALENDAR…Christina is June and Ashley is September


Christina's Drawing


Ashley's Drawing













THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…








THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..








Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…




Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital



Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love





Sunday, December 28, 2003 6:55 PM CST





DAY 117 post transplant


Hello Everyone,

I hope Everyone had a Very Merry Christmas…. Our family had a nice Christmas, as some of you know we live with Mike’s Mom so of course she was there, and then my parents (oma and opa) came down from Tennessee…. The girls got up bright and early around 6:30 am… As usual they got way to much, but that’s O.K. the way I see it even if Christina wasn’t sick is , Kids are only kids for so long….

The secret Santa thing worked out pretty good, Christina picked my name and she made me a beautiful card and wrote some very nice things in it, one of the lines said “thank you for helping me stay alive” Wow, what a strong sentence from an amazing 10 year old… I picked Ashley’s name and I basically wrote her a novel about how amazing I think she is and how proud I am of her and how strong she has been through all of this too… And how she has sacrificed some of her childhood too because of this horrible decease…. And then I added a picture of me and her to it and then framed it… She didn’t say much about it, but everyone else that read it was in tears, maybe one day when she is older she will understand more… Mike picked his mom and he made her a very nice card and Ashley picked Christina and she made a few things and also looked around her room and wrapped some stuff of hers that she thought Christina would like… One of the things Ashley wrapped to give Christina was a book Christina actually bought one year at a school book fair… Ashley said well, I thought you would like to read this book and Christina knocked her on the head with the book and said your silly “ I bought that book” We all Laughed so much…. O.h.. Well, it’s the thought that counts right…

Christina went to Clinic twice last week and her blood work is looking pretty good, everything is pretty much staying the same, her platelets did come up some more… I can’t even remember the last time they were that high on there own…. Still not close to being normal, but hey we will take it….
Christina goes back to clinic on Tuesday, so we will see how things are going… She has been eating a lot better, still eating a lot of turkey sandwiches, but now she is also on a chicken nugget kick… I am anxious to see what her weight is on Tuesday, her face looks fuller to me already…

Christina, Ashley and our Family received so many Christmas cards and we want to THANK YOU ALL WHO SENT THEM….”THANK YOU !!!!!!” Christina and Ashley also received some Christmas Packages and I am doing my very best to send out Thank You’s… But until then, “THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!!!”

Christina was in the Tampa Tribune Newspaper on Christmas day, it was kind off a follow up article from the beginning of the year… Mr. Joe Henderson from the Tampa Tribune wrote the article and when we read it there was not a dry eye in the house… THANK YOU Joe Henderson for doing such a wonderful job on the article…..

HERE IS A FOLLOW UP ARTICLE FROM THE TAMPA TRIBUNE, WRITTEN BY A WONDERFUL MAN, JOE HENDERSON…… THANK YOU JOE FOR SUCH A SPECIAL ARTICLE…. Mr. Henderson had written an article about Christina back in January… Every since then he has been keeping in touch with us…. Thank You again Joe and the Tampa Tribune…


Well, I guess that’s about all for now…. Thank you again for signing Christina’s guest book, she reads it about 5 times a day or more…. The words of thoughts, prayers and encouragements means the world to her and our family….


THANK YOU AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING….


Love, Sherry








You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773




I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site


I also Don’t know how we would be making it through all this with out the HELP and SUPPORT of the girls elementary school…THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL… YOU ALL HAVE BEEN AMAZING!!!! THANK YOU!!!!







YOU CAN NOW ORDER THE CARDS AND CALENDARS FROM THE CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTER WEB SITE…


You can Click here to go to the Children’s Cancer Center web site to order cards and the CALENDAR…Christina is June and Ashley is September


Christina's Drawing


Ashley's Drawing













THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…








THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..








Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…




Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital



Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love





Sunday, December 21, 2003 9:33 PM CST






DAY 110 post transplant


Hello Everyone,

Well, Me updating sooner, like usual went right out the window…. It has been totally crazy here at home this week.. We have been going in about 50 different directions… But, the good news is Christina is doing well.. She has been to clinic twice this past week and her blood work is pretty much staying the same… We would hope that her blood counts would be going up more, but because of a lot of the anti rejection meds she is on is keeping her blood counts lower…

She has been eating better, still a lot of turkey sandwiches, but it is keeping and putting weight on her so that is just fine…. She is starting to eat a little bit of other stuff too… She is still on fluids 12 hours at night, because she is not drinking enough to keep her kidneys and liver working better…. Other than that we are just taking things day by day… So far that seems to be what works best for us….

Ashley and Christina are so excited about Christmas… What a BIG difference one year makes, last year we were in the hospital…. So we are VERY THANKFUL we are all home together this year…
The girls have really gotten pretty good at wrapping gifts too… They grow up so fast, it just amazes me… Tomorrow the girls are going to make cookies and decorate them, a couple of nights ago we went driving around looking at Christmas lights… We try and do that every year, it has become a tradition…. Besides last year we would always go to Mike’s grandmothers for Christmas eve, but she passed away this past year so we won’t be doing that… So Christina thought of a new Christmas Eve tradition… Christina put all our names in a hat (mike, Ashley, Christina, Mike’s mom and my name).. And then we picked name to do secret Santa, we have to make the gift, weather it be a poem, card or art project… And then on Christmas Eve we will exchange those gifts… We all thought that was a good idea…. And Christina thought of it all on her own… I can’t say who I got, but I will let you know after Christmas how it all turned out….

Well, I guess that’s about all for now….

Christina goes to St. Pete for clinic in the morning and then again on Wednesday (Christmas Eve)… Hopefully all will go well at clinic…

Christina and OUR Family want to wish YOU and YOUR Families a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and A SAFE HOLIDAY WEEK…….

Christina and Ashley have received some very special gifts this week and they want to say THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!!! The girls have been just glowing this week when mail comes or when we go to the P.O. Box…. Thank you so much for ALL the SUPPORT, PRAYERS and ENCOURAGEMENT…. You all have made this holiday season so VERY special….. THANK YOU!!!

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING….


Love, Sherry








You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773




I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site


I also Don’t know how we would be making it through all this with out the HELP and SUPPORT of the girls elementary school…THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL… YOU ALL HAVE BEEN AMAZING!!!! THANK YOU!!!!







YOU CAN NOW ORDER THE CARDS AND CALENDARS FROM THE CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTER WEB SITE…


You can Click here to go to the Children’s Cancer Center web site to order cards and the CALENDAR…Christina is June and Ashley is September


Christina's Drawing


Ashley's Drawing













THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…








THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..








Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…




Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital



Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love





Saturday, December 13, 2003 3:11 PM CST






DAY 102 post transplant


Hello Everyone,

Well, things have been VERY, VERY crazy around hereÂ… So thatÂ’s my excuse for the lack of updatingÂ… I know I have said it before, but it is so much harder, stressful and exhausting being home and not in the hospitalÂ… DonÂ’t get me wrong I would rather be home than anywhere else in the world, but it is just not slowing downÂ…

Christina has been holding her own, she has gained about 1 lbÂ… YEAH!!!! All she is really been eating is turkey sandwiches, but thatÂ’s o.k.Â… As long as it puts weight on her and she keeps it down..
She is still getting a lot of her meds. At home and she is still getting hooked up to fluids for 16 hours a dayÂ… They ran some more test on her liver and kidneyÂ’s and they still have a long way to go so that is the main need for the fluidsÂ… Her blood pressure has been staying under control with the help of her medicine..

We took Christina to St.Pete on Monday to see her doctor and they visit went pretty good except Christina was told some very upsetting newsÂ… I know a lot of people have been saying congratulations on 100 days, which is a good thing, but for Christina her mark she is aiming for is 180 daysÂ…

See with having a CORD BLOOD (virgin/no immune system cells) UNRELATED (not family) donor she has a harder and longer fightÂ… A little friend of ours had a transplant, but her sister was her donor and she is already getting weaned off a lot of her medicines and she is getting to go places and go inside stores and stuffÂ… Christina wonÂ’t be able to do any of that stuff for 3-4 more monthsÂ…

So basically Christina will be in her isolation like she is now for 3-4 more months and that did not go over well with her at the doctors officeÂ… She had a major breakdownÂ… We try to do as much outside with her as possible.. And when someone wants to visit we try and do it outsideÂ… But what I have to remember is she is still only a 10 year old little girl who just wants to go and doÂ…play with her friends, go to the store etcÂ…. When you talk to Christina she does not come across as a 10 yr old, she is mature beyond her years because of this horrible cancerÂ…. But at times the little girl comes out and that is when it totally breaks my heartÂ… Mike and I spend half the day having to tell her NO to something she wants to doÂ… I know people would say well itÂ’s better than being in the hospital, well of course but remember she is only 10.Â….

Last year Christina was in the hospital for Christmas and it was very hard, but this year being home is even harder… Go a head and say it “your crazy”…maybe…
All I know is this Christmas is already very hard for usÂ… We have so much happiness, love and joy having Christina home for the holidays, but we also have so much hurt, heartache and compassion for our friends whoÂ’s children are in heaven this ChristmasÂ… Christina and our family have lost so many wonderful, courageous and amazing children this year that itÂ’s just sometimes more than we can handleÂ… I can ONLY imagine how there families are dealing with the holidaysÂ… I know how it is effecting Mike and I, and that is just a drop compared to there pain and heartache they are sufferingÂ….May god hold your strongÂ… As the holidays go on please know YOU ALL are in our hearts today and foreverÂ…

And to our friends that unfortunately are stuck in the hospital, I know it sucks to be there, but as long as your family is together everything will be alrightÂ… Plus the Hospital spoils the heck out of the kidsÂ… You to will be in our Hearts this holiday seasonÂ…

I need to THANK so many people for the cards, packages and email that have been sent to Christina, Ashley and Mike and IÂ….

THERE IS JUST NO WAY I CAN POSSIBLE THANK YOU ALL INDIVIDUALLYÂ… I HOPE YOU UNDERSTANDÂ… THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHINGÂ…

I took my self to the emergency room on Thursday night because I thought I was having a heart attackÂ… I made Mike stay with Christina and Ashley so they wouldnÂ’t be freaking outÂ… Well, needles to say I wasnÂ’t having a heart attack, I was having a stress attackÂ… Imagine thatÂ…ha ha..
I have to follow up with my doctor next week, but I am on some anxiety medicine and I am feeling much betterÂ…. I have had problems with breaking out in hives because of stress in the past, so the big joke while Christina was in the hospital was I kept saying IÂ’m surprised IÂ’m not one huge hive by nowÂ…. Well, no hives, just chest pain and difficulty breathingÂ… So o.k. maybe IÂ’m not super womanÂ… I have always been one to say, deal with your problems, but this one was whooping my buttÂ… I canÂ’t imagine whyÂ…. Ha haÂ…

Holidays are normally stressful, but when you have family and some friends that has fallen off of the face of the earth and Christina can’t understand why…That makes the holidays even more stressful… and I have to try and explain it all… I finally told Christina “if you want to know why someone doesn’t call or visit, the next time you talk to them flat out ask” I can’t do it anymore, because I am looked at as the evil one, in that person’s eyes… No, I am not evil, I am just the Mom that wants her Child Happy… The same as any other mother would…

Like I have said SO MANY times beforeÂ…. You who reads this update and takes the time to sign the guest book and then go above and beyond that and send a snail mail card or even a packageÂ…MAY GOD BLESS YOUÂ… Many of you are TOTAL strangers and Christina and our family are forever THANKFUL for all that you do from a word of encouragement to happy mailÂ… Knowing that someone cares and is cheering you on makes the biggest differenceÂ… I know it has helped Christina through all that she has been through and she has told me that herselfÂ… It has helped all of us, our lives have forever been changed because of cancer, but also because of ALL OF YOUÂ….

I promise I will update sooner next time, it has just been very difficult for meÂ… I will do betterÂ….
I will also add some more photos soonÂ…

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR EVERYTHINGÂ….


Love, Sherry








You can send mail to our PO BoxÂ…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773




I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site


I also DonÂ’t know how we would be making it through all this with out the HELP and SUPPORT of the girls elementary schoolÂ…THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLÂ… YOU ALL HAVE BEEN AMAZING!!!! THANK YOU!!!!







YOU CAN NOW ORDER THE CARDS AND CALENDARS FROM THE CHILDRENÂ’S CANCER CENTER WEB SITEÂ…


You can Click here to go to the ChildrenÂ’s Cancer Center web site to order cards and the CALENDARÂ…Christina is June and Ashley is September


Christina's Drawing


Ashley's Drawing













THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!


The mail she has received has been so wonderfulÂ… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packagesÂ… What a Blessing to see her SMILEÂ… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and giftsÂ… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole FamilyÂ…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kidsÂ… The strength that they have is truly unbelievableÂ… I am honored to know the ones I knowÂ… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kidsÂ… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLEÂ…. She truly is an inspirationÂ… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young LadiesÂ…








THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILYÂ…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO USÂ….THANK YOU SO MUCHÂ…..








Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOWÂ…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANTÂ….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADEÂ….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUTÂ…Â…THANK YOUÂ…




Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE a friend from the Hospital and ChildrenÂ’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


OliviaÂ’s SITE a friend from the hospital



Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love





Sunday, December 7, 2003 8:50 AM CST






DAY 96 post transplant


Hello Everyone,

Hi its Christina I went to clinic today every thing is just fine I made a magic wand its a clear tube with baby oil and glitter inside the tube I am doing good we have not finished putting up are Christmas decorations yet but were almost finished I hope everybody has a good Christmas thank you for keeping up to date with me.
LOVE< CHRISTINA

p.s. My mom will update more later



Hello,
Christina wrote this the other day and She keeps bugging me to post it.. I told her she could start writing things in word document and then I would copy and paste it…

Christina has had a pretty good week.. She is still losing weight, but she is eating pretty good, so I don’t know what is going to happen…
We have to take her to St.Pete on Monday so she can see her doctor who has been on maternity leave, so I am sure we will get some answers then….

Other than that we have spent the last few days putting up Christmas decorations… Christina is really wanting to make up for not being home last year for Christmas… I know we have never had this many lights on the house ever…. But it’s all worth it.. It puts a big smile on her face so that is all the matters….

Well, I guess that’s about all for now.. Thank you ALL so much for the continual support, prayers and words of encouragement… You will NEVER know just how much it all means to Christina and our Family…. Christina goes to her guest book through out the day to read what has been written…
Christina also has been working on sending cards to those who have really gone above and beyond sending her cards and encouragement…. So in the next few weeks, if you have not received a card from Christina PLEASE send me an email…. I am trying to keep up with who she is writing but we have A LOT going on and I don’t want any of you left out…. You know who you are, and so do we…. And we THANK YOU…..



Love, Sherry








You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773




I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site


I also Don’t know how we would be making it through all this with out the HELP and SUPPORT of the girls elementary school…THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL… YOU ALL HAVE BEEN AMAZING!!!! THANK YOU!!!!







YOU CAN NOW ORDER THE CARDS AND CALENDARS FROM THE CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTER WEB SITE…


You can Click here to go to the Children’s Cancer Center web site to order cards and the CALENDAR…Christina is June and Ashley is September


Christina's Drawing


Ashley's Drawing













THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…








THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..








Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…




Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital



Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love





Monday, December 1, 2003 10:58 AM CST





DAY 90 post transplant


Hello Everyone,

I hope EVERYONE had a Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

Our Thanksgiving was very nice, it was just me, Mike, Ashley, Christina and Mike’s mom (memaw)..
The girls helped me in the kitchen, Christina did make her deviled eggs and Ashley made homemade mashed potatoes…. All in all the dinner turned out very nice and we are so THANKFUL that we were home…

Christina is doing pretty good, she went to clinic Wednesday, Sunday and today (Monday… She was not supposed to go to the doctor on Sunday, but we had to take her up to the hospital to get her blood drawn because the doctor is concerned about her kidneys and liver function… SO while we were there we had to pick up a container to catch her urine for 12 hours so they can do more tests…
The doctor said today that she is giving Christina one week to gain some weight or they will have to do the feeding tube… She has lost some more weight, Christina is getting very frustrated with this because she is eating, but what she doesn’t realized is she is also more active than she was in the hospital… I’m going to go to the store later and get some boost or ensure and she if she will try that… The doctors said that it could take 9 months to a year before her taste buds are back to normal…

Christina’s blood lab work is still looking good, she still has a VERY long way to go… At least she hasn’t had to have any transfusions in a while… YEAH!!! Christina is very excited about Christmas coming up, she is bugging us everyday to put up the tree and lights outside, so that will be what we do this week… Christina was in the hospital last year for Christmas, so this to will be a very special Christmas… Both girls have been working very hard on there Christmas wish lists, both girls are wanting to get into scrap booking… I think that is a pretty good idea, plus Christina can make different scrapbooks about everything that she has been through… And then 20 years from now she can look back and say “Wow I truly was an amazing kid”…. At least that is what I would say…

On a sadder note, we just learned that another one of our hospital friends passed away… He was a very loving little boy who no matter what put a smile on your face… I am not saying his name because the girls do not know and this would absolutely devastate them… Even though he was full of cancer he was so VERY full of Life and Love…. His family will forever be in our Hearts… They taught us A LOT about being an advocate for your child’s medical needs… You will never be forgotten….. We love you guys….

Saturday I actually went to the mall by myself to wonder around, window shop… It was nice to just go and be by myself for a little while… I did find this really cool hat for Christina so I couldn’t resist… She is really into funky hats, I will post a picture of her wearing the hat…

Well, I guess that’s all for now… Christina wanted me to tell you THANK YOU for the cards she is still getting… She was scared that when she got home that she wouldn’t get anymore mail… She still gets so very excited over mail… I need to get her some note card sets so she can start writing letters back… Maybe when she starts doing school work that can be some of her writing assignments… Not a bad idea….

Again, I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving… I am Thankful everyday for Everything…. I taken nothing for granted…. Christina has taught me that….




Love, Sherry








You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773




I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site


I also Don’t know how we would be making it through all this with out the HELP and SUPPORT of the girls elementary school…THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL… YOU ALL HAVE BEEN AMAZING!!!! THANK YOU!!!!







YOU CAN NOW ORDER THE CARDS AND CALENDARS FROM THE CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTER WEB SITE…


You can Click here to go to the Children’s Cancer Center web site to order cards and the CALENDAR…Christina is June and Ashley is September


Christina's Drawing


Ashley's Drawing













THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…








THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..








Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…




Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital



Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love





Tuesday, November 25, 2003 6:11 PM CST






DAY 84 post transplant


Hello Everyone,

Well it has been a very busy week for the Gates Gang…But busy is good… Christina had her appointment on Friday and Monday and things are still going as well as they can… Her blood work has been coming back pretty good, she hasn’t had to have any transfusions in a while…YEAH!!!

On Monday she had to see a cardiologist because of the fluid around her heart and apparently there was something else that showed up on the echo she had done last week… The left wall of Christina’s heart is thicker than the other side, this is something new, none of the other echo’s showed this problem… We don’t know what all of this means yet, or what will if anything be done about it… It is just another problem to add to the long list… I was telling someone the other day, Christina’s transplant is going well, it’s just her liver, kidney’s, spleen, gallbladder, and heart that are all having complications now, but the transplant went well… All I know is I THANK GOD every moment of everyday that we have Christina here with us… We will take and deal with any issues that come up along the way…

Christina is still struggling with her eating and drinking.. The vomiting problems are slowing down YEAH!!! We are still giving her fluids 10 hours at night.. The doctor did tell us today that if after Thanksgiving Christina didn’t start gaining some weight they would have to think seriously about a feeding tube.. That is the last thing Christina wants, so maybe she will realized how serious her lack of eating is… Here is a kid that could have ANYTHING she wants at ANY time of the day or night and she doesn’t want anything…not even chocolate or any candy… I think she is losing her mind too…ha ha…

Christina goes back to clinic on Wednesday, so we will see how everything else is going… Mike and I celebrate our 10th Wedding Anniversary on Wednesday too… Boy time sure does fly when your having fun…. Ha ha… What an amazing 10yrs it has been….. We have been together for almost 12 yrs, I think we get stronger everyday that passes….

I guess that’s pretty much all for now..
Mike is going to deep fry the turkey and the girls and I are going to make all the side dishes… Christina has decided she wants to make deviled eggs and I have no clue what Ashley is going to make… She has been watching a lot of cooking shows to get ideas… ALL Thanksgivings are special, but this year we have even more to be Thankful for… Last Thanksgiving Christina got out of ICU the day before Thanksgiving so she could be back up on 2 southwest to be with her favorite nurses…. Please remember those who are not as lucky as us this year to be home for the holiday… But what I learned about last year is, we could have been in a cardboard box and it wouldn’t have mattered, because what mattered was the fact we were ALL together…. The place, the food etc.. doesn’t matter if you don’t have your family together….

I hope all of you have a Very Happy Thanksgiving…..




Thank you ALL for EVERYTHING!!!!!!!




Love, Sherry








You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773




I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site


I also Don’t know how we would be making it through all this with out the HELP and SUPPORT of the girls elementary school…THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL… YOU ALL HAVE BEEN AMAZING!!!! THANK YOU!!!!







YOU CAN NOW ORDER THE CARDS AND CALENDARS FROM THE CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTER WEB SITE…


You can Click here to go to the Children’s Cancer Center web site to order cards and the CALENDAR…Christina is June and Ashley is September


Christina's Drawing


Ashley's Drawing













THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…








THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..








Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…




Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital



Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love





Wednesday, November 19, 2003 6:09 PM CST






DAY 78 post transplant


Hello Everyone,

Well, Christina is starting to settle back into being at home again and so are we… Things have seemed to settle down a little bit over the weekend…

Christina did have to go to clinic on Monday to St.Pete and again today… Actually, Mike and her are still there.. They left at 6:30 this morning, Christina had a 8:30 am ultrasound of her spleen, liver, kidneys and gallbladder… Mike called and said that her spleen and liver are still enlarged, they will just have to keep checking her every couple of weeks… Then after all of that, Christina had her clinic appointment and all her blood lab work is looking good, far from normal, but good for her…. Christina also had to get IVIG (med for the CMV virus) today which takes about 5 hours to run through her broviac (central line)… We give her one of the meds here at home for the cmv virus that runs for an hour, but this other medicine they have to do at clinic… and finally after all of that, Christina had to have an echo done of her heart… Something I don’t think I have mentioned, but Christina still has fluid around her heart… This is a result of everything that has happened to her in the past 3 months, nothing is being done about it right now… The doctors are just going to keep a close watch over her… Christina’s blood pressure has been running high again, even on the blood pressure medicine, so the whole Heart situation has me worried… The doctor says it will take care of it’s self, so I guess we will see…Yet another wait and see situation….

Christina has gotten A LOT better at taking her pills…YEAH!!!! She wanted me to say THANKS for all the encouragement… Even a Code_Blue (group online) friend let Christina name his new baby llama if she started taking her pills… She thought that was the coolest thing, he is going to send us some pictures of the baby llama soon.. Christina named it “Kuzco” from the movie The Emperor’s New Grove…

We are still working on getting her to eat a little more, but she is definitely trying, I have to give her that…. She is having to keep the fluids going at night, just because of the lack of drinking and all the vomiting that she is doing… Hopefully that will get better too before to long….

I did forget to mention that we stopped by Steve Yerrid’s Fishing Derby he has for cancer kids on Friday afternoon… Christina got to go to the back of his Yacht and fish… She caught a snake fish and a sheepshead… I think she might have pushed her self a little that day, but I know she absolutely loved every minute of it… Wade Boggs (former baseball player) was even there and so was Mickey Mouse and the group from Radio Disney…. All the kids had a wonderful time… By the way Ashley caught 2 fish also…
The weather was beautiful and it was just so nice to be outside with friends and see Christina enjoying life again….

Well, I stopped typing a little while ago because Mike and Christina got back home… Christina is pretty tired, she is in the living room playing a video game with her sister now…

I guess that’s pretty much all for now, with Thanksgiving approaching please take a moment to look around and appreciate ALL that you have to be Thankful for….

Someone I know called me the other day and said “I just wanted you to know that there are other things going on in this world” which this was very hurtful to me I was just shocked, blown away by this … because it’s not like I live in a bubble secluded from the outside world… Plus, our family has seen more loss in the last 2 years than any family should have to endure… Reality and life are in my face everyday…. I am so Thankful for my husband, my 2 beautiful daughters and for my life…. I am Thankful for EVERYONE that reads this and says a prayer for Christina… I am Thankful for total strangers, because reality IS total strangers have a way of caring more than family does sometimes… ALL of YOU that sign Christina’s guest book hold a VERY special place in our hearts and forever will…. You don’t know us, probably will never meet us, but yet you care…. You take time out of your schedule, busy or not and you care…For that we THANK YOU….

Things in life come and go…People in your life come and go…. But you only get ONE life… Cherish it, Cherish the ones you love….

Oh I almost forgot…A Christina moment….
Saturday night when I wasn’t feeling well, I fell asleep on the couch and Christina was sleeping on the chase lounge chair… Well, it was about 3 in the morning and Christina was throwing up and had to go to the bathroom, so Mike was helping her… On the way back from the bathroom Christina rubbed my leg and said “I hope you feel better Mommy”… I told her I was fine… But I thought, here you just threw up and you feel like crap, but yet you are worrying about how I feel at 3 am in the morning…. What an Amazing child…




Thank you ALL for EVERYTHING!!!!!!!




Love, Sherry








You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773




I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site


I also Don’t know how we would be making it through all this with out the HELP and SUPPORT of the girls elementary school…THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL… YOU ALL HAVE BEEN AMAZING!!!! THANK YOU!!!!







YOU CAN NOW ORDER THE CARDS AND CALENDARS FROM THE CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTER WEB SITE…


You can Click here to go to the Children’s Cancer Center web site to order cards and the CALENDAR…Christina is June and Ashley is September


Christina's Drawing


Ashley's Drawing













THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…








THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..








Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…




Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital



Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love





Sunday, November 16, 2003 10:25 AM CST




DAY 75 post transplant


Hello Everyone,


Well, things have gotten just a little bit better here at home…Yea.. We will take that.. A little bit better is better than not better at all….

Christina is still struggling with her pills, but she IS taking them, it’s just a long process and the end result is usually her throwing up… But somehow the pills stay down.. I call it selective vomiting.. Ha ha.. She is still get 2 medicines through her broviac (central line) and her fluids 12 hrs at night… Christina has made a little improvement in trying to eat… This morning she had 4 bites of an egg sandwich and 2 bits of bacon… So that is awesome… Now hopefully she will eat something else later today…

She goes back to clinic on Monday (St.Pete), we had hoped to get to go to Tampa, but the doctor still wants her to go to St.Pete, so that means getting up at 6 am… it looks like we will get to go to Tampa on Wednesday and Friday.. So that will we good…

On a crappier note, we lived in a hospital for 79 days and we were exposed to everything and never got sick… Well, now we are finally home and I am sick… Can you believe it… How is that possible… I think a lot of it is just from the last 3 months catching up with me… I laid in bed Friday night and couldn’t even move.. My body didn’t ache, I just couldn’t move… But, I am starting to feel better now… I definitely CAN NOT complain about anything, after seeing everything Christina has endured….

Well, I guess that’s all for now… Thank you ALL who have been leaving suggestions, prayers and concerns behind…. They ALL help so much…

I know a lot of people have asked about a feeding tube… Christina refused one from the beginning and we have respected her wishes on that… Plus, it is just another source of infection… Plus, she is vomiting to much, she would keep throwing it up and make it come out…. We have had friends that this has happened to… No matter what anyone says, if you are throwing up the feeding tube will NOT stay in…

Thank you ALL for EVERYTHING!!!!!!!




Love, Sherry







You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773




I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site




I also Don’t know how we would be making it through all this with out the HELP and SUPPORT of the girls elementary school…THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL… YOU ALL HAVE BEEN AMAZING!!!! THANK YOU!!!!







YOU CAN NOW ORDER THE CARDS AND CALENDARS FROM THE CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTER WEB SITE…


You can Click here to go to the Children’s Cancer Center web site to order cards and the CALENDAR…Christina is June and Ashley is September


Christina's Drawing


Ashley's Drawing













THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…








THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..








Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…




Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital



Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love





Wednesday, November 12, 2003 3:39 PM CST

DAY 71 post transplant


Hello Everyone,


CHRISTINA IS HOME!!!!!!!

The feeling of being home after so long is indescribable… But unfortunately it has NOT been that good or restful… It has been only a BIG nightmare…. Christina is for the most part Happy to be home, but I think it is all very scary for her, and us… The security blanket of the hospital has been taken away… We got home around 6 p.m. on Monday and it is now 2 pm on Wednesday and we all have only had about 8 hours sleep total… Christina is vomiting all the time, and now she is refusing to take her pills… Mike and I have tried everything imaginable to get her to understand how important her medicine is, but Christina is just tired of it ALL… Last night we fought with her for over 4 hours to take her pills, she told us she just wasn’t going to take them anymore.. So we had to be honest with her and tell her, you either take the pills and there is a good chance you will live or you don’t take them and you will die…. And she just looked at us and said o.k. I am NOT going to take them…The feeling that went through my body when my daughter looked me in my eyes and said she wanted to give up was just horrifying, I don‘t ever want to have that feeling again… I know a lot of this is her playing mind games with us and I feel she is battling with a little bit of depression, which another cancer Mom said could happen…..

Well, last night after losing it with her and crying my eyes out I realized I am not sad I am pissed now… So I went back in the house and told her she had NO choice she had to take them and that we were not going to let her give up… I told her that she did not spend the last year and a half fighting for her life to give up now…. Mike and I said a lot of things to her last night and I think it was the hardest thing mentally we had to do through all of this nightmare… It’s so hard to be mean and firm to a child fighting for her life, but you know what… I told her one day she will look back and be thankful for not only all that we have done to make this easier for her, but also that we never gave up on her… We were mean and firm when we needed to be…. No matter how I say it I still feel like crap for getting so upset with her last night…

Other than all of that… She did go to clinic today, we drove to St.Pete first thing this morning… All her blood work continues to look good… She has lost some more weight, so the lack of eating was a issue… I just don’t know how you make someone eat, when all they do is vomit… Mike is giving her other meds to her through her central line, he takes care of all of that, she also gets hooked up to fluids for 12 hours at night.. So it just seems like it never slows down…

We have to call the doctor later tonight to let her know how Christina’s day went, the doctor will then tell us if she wants to see Christina tomorrow again or if we can wait until Friday… Let’s hope it is Friday… With what time we have free, we have been trying to get the house organized again…

I just wanted to let ya’ll know that if you did send a card to the hospital it WILL find it’s way to the house….

I just hope Christina’s spirit will pick up again soon… I just don’t know how much of this Mike and I can take… I think we are beyond mental and physical exhaustion… Please pray that somehow, someway things will get a little better… We are so Thankful we have Christina home, and that we are all together, but this is so hard…. One would think things would be easier being home…But that is just not the case… and that STINKS!!!!

Well, I guess that’s all for now… I need to get back to taking care of stuff… Thank You ALL for all the encouraging words and ALL the prayers…

Love, Sherry








You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773




I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site




I also Don’t know how we would be making it through all this with out the HELP and SUPPORT of the girls elementary school…THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL… YOU ALL HAVE BEEN AMAZING!!!! THANK YOU!!!!







YOU CAN NOW ORDER THE CARDS AND CALENDARS FROM THE CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTER WEB SITE…


You can Click here to go to the Children’s Cancer Center web site to order cards and the CALENDAR…Christina is June and Ashley is September


Christina's Drawing


Ashley's Drawing













THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…








THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..








Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…




Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital



Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love



Sunday, November 9, 2003 11:02 AM CST

DAY 77 in hospital DAY 68 post transplant


Hello Everyone,

O.k. I have sat down to update a few times this week and every time I do something either comes up or I just don’t know what to say…. So let me start with…

Christina is doing well, unfortunately she is still vomiting a lot. We think that when she gets home she will do much better with eating, at least that is what we are praying for.. She will be on IV fluids at night, but we will have to work hard on getting her to eat more, well at this point we need to get her to eat something…ANYTHING…. All of Christina’s blood counts and other lab work is looking good… She did have to have a blood transfusion on Friday, that was s first in a few weeks, but the doctor said she wasn’t worried… Christina’s blood counts will bounce around for a while… Her platelet count is actually up to 54.… She hasn’t been that high on her own in so long, I can’t even remember the last time she was that high on her own…

I truly can’t believe all what Christina and our family has experienced in the last 77 days, well for that matter the last year and a half looking back at when she first got sick…. One day when I’m up in heaven I will finally get all my questions answered… I gave up a long time ago trying to make any sense out of all of this… They say everything happens for a reason, and that’s good enough for me, well for now anyway… Don’t get me wrong I want to live to be very old and gray and spend the rest of my life with Mike and the girls, but I am looking forward to the day I can face Jesus and have him explain all of this to me… Then I will be satisfied and complete… Until that day, we deal with what lies ahead and make the best out of what we are faced with…. Mike and I have always said as long as we have each other everything will be ok, I know this is true and so I hold on to that…

Something else that has been going through my mind is, I feel like the winners at the Academy awards or something because I want to THANK SO MANY people for helping us get through this very trying time… There have been some amazing people come into our lives and WE will be forever GRATEFUL… I know I will not be able to Thank everyone personally, but you know who you are when you read this… You will be in our hearts and our lives forever and we THANK YOU, for the guest book entries, emails, cards, packages, support and encouragement… I agree with Christina when she says, she did it with the help of all of YOU….

As of right now we are still supposed to go HOME Monday, late afternoon…. We all are so excited… Mike has been going home for the last 4 days trying to get the house cleaned…. It’s funny how now we could have used the help of friends and somehow they have managed to disappear… I had told Mike I would take turns going home and doing some cleaning, but he said he would take care of it, plus there was some electrical things her need to take care of, the bigger items he had to move to dust behind and clean under and he had to fix a patch of ceiling in the garage… I was going to go home today and clean the carpets, but THANKS to the CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTER they had someone come in yesterday and clean the carpets and furniture… You would be amazed at the list of things we had to do to get the house ready for Christina’s Home Coming… But it doesn’t matter… We would do anything just to have her back home.. All of us back under one roof…. I CAN’T WAIT!!!!!

Well, Christina has spent the last hour trying to take these damn pills and now she is throwing up so I better wrap this up…. Please pray the vomiting will stop…..










You can send mail to our PO Box…

The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773




I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site




I also Don’t know how we would be making it through all this with out the HELP and SUPPORT of the girls elementary school…THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL… YOU ALL HAVE BEEN AMAZING!!!! THANK YOU!!!!

Love, Sherry





YOU CAN NOW ORDER THE CARDS AND CALENDARS FROM THE CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTER WEB SITE…


You can Click here to go to the Children’s Cancer Center web site to order cards and the CALENDAR…Christina is June and Ashley is September


Christina's Drawing


Ashley's Drawing













THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…








THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..








Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…




Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital



Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love





Tuesday, November 4, 2003 10:06 PM CST






DAY 72 in hospital DAY 63 post transplant


Hello Everyone,

Well, it has been a very exciting, stressful and down right crazy few days…. I just don’t know were to begin…

Let’s start with, Christina is doing o.k. she is struggling with taking her pills. The vomiting has increased over the past 5 days and we don’t know if it is just the changing all of her meds from IV to pills or what.. I just wish we could figure something out… She has been very emotional the past few days because of all the vomiting again, she just keeps asking WHY am I throwing up so much again… And I hate that I don’t have the answer to her question… Christina’s eating has declined and so has her fluid intake… She is still getting the meds for the CMV virus, this virus will be her BIGGEST battle for a long time to come… But hopefully for now we have it under control, we should know some results by Wednesday or Thursday…

O.k. now the next part…
We had planned on moving Christina over to the RMH this Wednesday (tomorrow), but things have now changed… Christina will have to stay in the hospital until Monday, but the good news is she will get to go HOME!!!!!! We had some issues come up with the transplant rooms they have at the RMH and Mike and I feel like we can control her environment A LOT better at home… If we would have gone to the RMH she would have been pretty much confined into a very little room, and the kitchen we would use could be used by all the other families staying there, we could just lock it when I was in there cooking for her… Which means the other 23 hours of the day anybody and there brother could come in and out… So needles to say THANKS to the GATES FAMILY things will be getting changed as far as future transplant kids…. A little late to help our situation, but if it helps other families, the speaking out about our thoughts was well worth it… Just like we changed things up her on the 2sw transplant area…. Some issues were never brought to the attention of the right people until we got there… Trust me we are NOT trouble makers, we just want what is best for our daughter and all the other kids up here… SO now the doctor wants a member of the transplant team to sit on the board of the RMH so they can have some input on how the transplant families will be taken care of….

SO now back to the fact we are going HOME!!!! The doctor was not thrilled with the situation at the RMH and she is not thrilled we will be over an hour away from the hospital here… So the agreement was, if Christina gets a fever we take her to our local hospital ER and give them our doctors personal number and then they will transport Christina by Helicopter of Ambulance back to St.Pete… I know a lot of this sounds so dramatic, but what people need to realize is a fever one minute can lead to something life threatening an hour later or sooner.. Trust me, we have been there done that… Thank GOD we were already in the hospital when that happened to Christina last year… Christina basically has an immune system of a newborn on immune suppressant drugs.. At least a newborn gets some antibodies from the mother, but with Christina when she was given the cord transplant they took those antibodies out of the cord blood before giving it to her… So a cold, virus, infection etc.. can be life threatening to her… Even though Christina will be Home, she still will be very limited to what she can do.. For at least 6 months or more she can’t go into any stores or any building with a central air conditioning unit… it will be home or something outside…SO, leaving the hospital and going home is going to be pretty scary at first I’m sure… But trust me the 4 of us are SO ready to go home TOGETHER the way it should be…. I just know I will be a nervous wreck for a while, but when am I not anymore…ha ha… That’s Life… Well, that’s our Life anyway….

When we do go home we will have to drive to St. Pete Monday thru Friday for clinic appointments and then on the weekends we will do all of her medications with a pump at home if needed… It’s funny how Mike and I have become instant nurses.. Well, Mike definitely has, his nickname up here is Dr. Mike….

Finally a Christina Moment to report…
2 nights ago Christina has to take the same pill 3 times because she kept throwing it up… Finally at 1 a.m. in the morning she keeps it down… I’m laying in the chair next to her and she had been crying and I just kept telling her how amazing, strong and brave she was… I told her I just don’t know how she does it, she tries so hard, she throws up so much but she just keeps trying and somehow she manages to do it… She looked at me and said “ I can do it because of you, daddy, Ashley, the people that send me mail, people that sign my guest book, people that email me and all the people that care about me” “that’s how I do it because of all of you” I was of course in tears at this point, which she didn’t know because it was dark in the room…. I just wanted to crawl in bed with her and hold her so tight at that moment… Why is it with all that she has been through she still has the BIGGEST heart ever… She should be angry, mad heck even pissed at the world for all that she has endured…But NO she worries about everyone else and is so very loving… Thank You GOD for this amazing child you have blessed me with….

Well, as I was typing this up date Christina managed to hold down the 5 nasty “skunk” pills for 30 minutes and then threw up… The rule of thumb is, if it has been down for at least 30 minutes she doesn’t have to re-take them… For the last 5 minutes she has been asking me has it been 30 minutes yet…. Like I said before, I wish this vomiting would STOP!!!!!

Well, I better go… She has one more pill to take so I need to tend to her…

Christina wanted me to say HELLO to everyone and THANK YOU for all the cards and gifts she has received… You truly just don’t know how much the mail has helped her through this time… When Christina goes home If you want to still send her cards you can do so by sending them to the PO Box address that is listed below..
The P.O. Box address is:
Christina Gates
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773




I also added a link to Tampa Bay Lightning Brad Richards #19 web site, What Brad and the Organization does for the kids in our area is so Amazing and special and we THANK YOU BRAD!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site




I also Don’t know how we would be making it through all this with out the HELP and SUPPORT of the girls elementary school…THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL… YOU ALL HAVE BEEN AMAZING!!!! THANK YOU!!!!

Love, Sherry



YOU CAN NOW ORDER THE CARDS AND CALENDARS FROM THE CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTER WEB SITE…


You can Click here to go to the Children’s Cancer Center web site to order cards and the CALENDAR…Christina is June and Ashley is September


Christina's Drawing


Ashley's Drawing













THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!










************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…








THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..








Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…




Christina wanted to color her hair before she lost it all again..




Christina at Boggy Creek Camp June 2003





HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Olivia’s SITE a friend from the hospital



Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love





Friday, October 31, 2003 10:36 PM CST

Mini Update: Day 68 in hospital Day 59 post transplant

Hello,

I just wanted to update real quick before the weekend...

Christina is doing well, she started taking all of her pills by mouth now, all with the exception of one morning dose which include 4 pills that smell like SKUNK....I am not kidding about the smell... She already takes them at night, and believe me when I say I am TOTALLY amazed she is able to take them.. She is awesome...

Well, I guess that's all for now, I will update over the weekend.. Mainly I just wanted to post her picture in her Halloween costume... Doesn't she make the cutest pumpkin ever...

She was not able to go trick or treating with the other kids, but she did get to watch the other kids go by in there costumes...

Hope everyone has a Happy and Safe Halloween Weekend..

Love, Sherry



Tuesday, October 28 th...DAY 65 in hospital DAY 56 post transplant


Hello Everyone,

Well, the weekend went pretty good… Christina had a major mental breakthrough as far as wanting to do everything possible to get out of here… Her doctor had a heart to heart talk with her on Friday and I think Christina finally realized that she was actually getting better, her body was getting better and now it is time for her emotionally and mentally to get better… Christina has gotten good about taking her pills, there is still on more that she still has to start taking by mouth.. She will start with the pm one tomorrow night and do that for a few days and then they will bring in the am pill for her to start taking… Christina also worked with the physical therapist on Saturday, she is still pretty wobbly on her feet, but getting better everyday. I have been making her use the bathroom in her room during the day instead of the bedside potty.. She wasn’t happy with me on that decision, but I keep telling her that is one more step of improvement..

Like I said the weekend went well, but then Monday we started off with her cyclosphorine (anit rejection med.) level being to high again, so they have been playing with the doses again… The doctors have to find a happy medium with that because that is the last medicine that will be changed over to pill. We haven’t found out the latest results of the CMV virus test yet, we hope to find out something tomorrow.. The rash is still on her arms, so they are going to do a biopsy tomorrow or the next day to rule out GVHD (graft vs. host disease). Still No fevers, the vomiting issue has gotten A LOT better, her blood pressure is being controlled with meds. So basically she just needs to eat more, drink more and take all her pills on time and we should get to go to the RMH (Ronald McDonald house) sometime next week… HOPEFULLY… Our whole family is so ready…
I just can’t wait for ALL 4 of us to be under one roof in the same room at night sleeping…

Going to the RMH will be a major step forward, but it also will be hard.. Christina will have to go to clinic Monday thru Friday and then on the weekends we will give her whatever it is she needs with a medicine pump.. Like I have said before we will be at the RMH until the middle of December… STILL A VERY LONG ROAD AHEAD OF US…. But we are ready……

My Mom and Dad, the girls call them Oma and Opa ( grandparents in German) from Tenn. Came down on Wednesday and surprised the girls… Ashley spent the whole weekend with them at an Octoberfest in Oldsmar… Ashley had a good time and of course enjoyed the time away from the hospital.. My Mom also won the beer stein holding contest, so Ashley got to watch that, she thought that was pretty cool… Like usual grandparents they tend to spoil the girls when they visit… That’s what grandparents are for right????

My brother and sister in law from Japan welcomed the arrival of there 3rd child on October 24th … A healthy beautiful baby girl.. Named after my Oma (German for grandmother) Erika Lynn Contoni….

Well, I think that is all for now, Christina is asleep so I think I will do the same… Thank you ALL so much for EVERYTHING….

Christina wanted me to put a note in here for Brad Richards from the Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey Team… She wanted to say “way to go on getting a goal on the game the other night”.. She really was yelling and cheering so loud… It was the Christina I have Missed for the last 2 months…. I Loved it…. WAY TO GO BRAD!!!! AND THE WHOLE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION!!!!!
GO LIGHTNING …GO….
You can Click here to go to Brad Richards #19 Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey players Web Site






In a lot of the cards Christina and her sister receive are stickers, and one sticker really stood out to me… and it read….

HOURS PASS INTO DAYS
AND TIME SLIPS AWAY,
BUT THE WORDS WE SPEAK
AND THE THINGS WE DO
TOUCH THE LIVES OF OTHERS
AND LIVE ON FOREVER
---Emily Matthews




A lot of people have asked what Christina likes or would like…She pretty much likes anything, Winnie the pooh, butterflies, animals etc… She doesn’t have a VCR in her room, she does have a play station 2 that plays DVD’s and video games… She can have anything that is wrapped in it’s original packaging or that can be wiped down… With the exception of cards.. She can receive them…


I also Don’t know how we would be making it through all this with out the HELP and SUPPORT of the girls elementary school…THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL… YOU ALL HAVE BEEN AMAZING!!!! THANK YOU!!!!

Love, Sherry



YOU CAN NOW ORDER THE CARDS AND CALENDARS FROM THE CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTER WEB SITE…

You can Click here to go to the Children’s Cancer Center web site to order cards and the CALENDAR…Christina is June and Ashley is September



Christina's Drawing


Ashley's Drawing













THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!






Thank you also for all the encouraging words that are being left behind for Christina and our Family… Reading the guest book entries is a bright spot in these long mentally hard days….





************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…


Christina was featured for the month of SEPTEMBER on Make a Child Smile… The web site is www.makeachildsmile.com …





THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..






The P.O. Box address is:
Gates Family
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773







Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love




Christina's New Hair!





Christina at camp




Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.

HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center







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This RingSurf Childhood Cancer Net Ring
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Friday, October 24, 2003 4:00 PM CDT






DAY 61 in hospital DAY 52 post transplant


Hello Everyone,

I am sorry it has been a few days since I’ve updated, things have just been pretty crazy….Just when you think things are starting to get better, your hit with something else….

We found out Tuesday afternoon that the CMV virus is flaring up pretty good again.. We all thought it was under control, but they checked her blood again and it showed it was flared up again… So now they have switched from one antiviral med. To another, the unfortunate thing is this new med. Can cause problems with her kidneys and liver….The CMV virus has to be controlled,like I've said before it could make her body reject the new marrow, which in turn could kill her.... So like everything else, we go from one extreme to the next…. It’s just a vicious cycle that seems to never end…and it stinks!!!!

Christina also has a small rash on both of her arms, they are not sure if it is GVHD (graft vs. host) or a different type of virus… So she is now not allowed to leave the room for a while… Which that stinks too, because she was finally wanting to go outside more… Hopefully this weekend the doctor will let her go on the roof top again just for a few minutes…

Pretty much this week has been a little bit of a set back… She has slept a lot again during the day, the vomiting is the same and some days worse… Still NO fevers, she has gotten pretty close a few times…
She is still not wanting to eat anything, she has eaten a few pretzels here and there, other than that her eating has Not improved…. Her blood pressure is looking like it is starting to be controlled by the medication…YEA!!!!

But like the Christina we all know and Love, her spirits are still up…. Through everything she still puts a smile on Her face and ALL of OURS….. She is getting her sense of humor back, well sometimes… Ha Ha… Other times she is a little grumpy…. She truly amazes me how she has been through a year and a half of fighting Cancer and she still has a heart of Gold… One thing is for sure, we ALL have a Great appreciation for LIFE, PEOPLE, and EVERYTHING!!!!!!

Christina has received some pretty cool packages from people she knows and total strangers…ALL of them TRULY bring out the Christina I used to know… THANK YOU… She even received a Halloween cake from Hawaii( well it was the cake mix and icing)(that would have been a pretty messy package otherwise..)…. And a Halloween card from Brazil…. How cool is that… She definitely thought that was the neatest thing….

Today Christina had the Best Surprise Ever… Brad Richards from the Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey Team came and visited her… He brought her some pretty cool stuff, she was beside herself.. It has been 6 hours since his visit and she is still excited… Brad Richards is the player that was in the Tampa Tribune Newspaper article with Christina back in January… I think I still have that linked at the bottom of the page… He really has a BIG heart and puts the BIGGEST smile on her face…. THANK YOU BRAD!!!!!! And the TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING !!!!!




In a lot of the cards Christina and her sister receive are stickers, and one sticker really stood out to me… and it read….

HOURS PASS INTO DAYS
AND TIME SLIPS AWAY,
BUT THE WORDS WE SPEAK
AND THE THINGS WE DO
TOUCH THE LIVES OF OTHERS
AND LIVE ON FOREVER
---Emily Matthews




A lot of people have asked what Christina likes or would like…She pretty much likes anything, Winnie the pooh, butterflies, animals etc… She doesn’t have a VCR in her room, she does have a play station 2 that plays DVD’s and video games… She can have anything that is wrapped in it’s original packaging or that can be wiped down… With the exception of cards.. She can receive them…


I also Don’t know how we would be making it through all this with out the HELP and SUPPORT of the girls elementary school…THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL… YOU ALL HAVE BEEN AMAZING!!!! THANK YOU!!!!

Love, Sherry



YOU CAN NOW ORDER THE CARDS AND CALENDARS FROM THE CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTER WEB SITE…

You can Click here to go to the Children’s Cancer Center web site to order cards and the CALENDAR…Christina is June and Ashley is September



Christina's Drawing


Ashley's Drawing













THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!






Thank you also for all the encouraging words that are being left behind for Christina and our Family… Reading the guest book entries is a bright spot in these long mentally hard days….





************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…


Christina was featured for the month of SEPTEMBER on Make a Child Smile… The web site is www.makeachildsmile.com …






THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..








The P.O. Box address is:
Gates Family
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773










Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love




Christina's New Hair!





Christina at camp





Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.

HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center












[
Previous 5 Sites
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This RingSurf Childhood Cancer Net Ring
owned by Christina's AML leaukemia Page.


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Wednesday, October 22, 2003 9:43 AM CDT

I AM SAD TO SAY THAT OUR FRIEND VANESSA PASSED AWAY LAST NIGHT A 6:30..THE FAMILY SENT SOMEONE UP TO TELL CHRISTINA AND US..BUT PLEASE DO NOT SIGN CHRISTINA'S GUESTBOOK SAYING ANYTHING ABOUT VANESSA'S PASSING... BOTH GIRLS DO NOT KNOW... THIS IS OUR FAMILY REQUEST... CHRISTINA IS FIGHTNING TO HARD TO SURVIVE HERSELF THERE IS NO WAY I CAN LAY THIS ON HER... IT IS SO HARD FOR MIKE AND I TO DEAL WITH..I COULDN'T IMAGINE CHRISTINA OR ASHLEY TRYING TO DEAL WITH IT... WE WATCHED VANESSA FIGHT WITH ALL HER MIGHT FOR WHAT??? A PLACE IN HEAVEN???? I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND!!!!IT IS ALL SO HARD TO TAKE IN....THIS ALL SUCKS SO BAD.....






Tuesday, October 21, 2003
DAY 58 in hospital DAY 49 post transplant


Hello Everyone,

Well, the weekend was pretty uneventful…. Christina blood pressure has still been a Major issue… They are having a hard time keeping it normal and steady…. It has still been running pretty high even with her taking a blood pressure med., so now they are giving her the blood pressure med. Twice a day… Today will be the first day of taking it twice, so we will have to wait and see if it helps… Like I said before something has to work for her.. She can NOT keep up with these high blood pressures, it’s not good for her body and her organs…

Unfortunately, Christina is still vomiting…But she is trying to eat more, sometimes it stays down and other times it doesn’t… Yesterday, she ate a few little pretzels and managed to keep them down.. YEA!!! She threw up this morning, but 10 minutes later she wanted to try some cereal… So she is trying…

The fevers have managed to stay away….but she is still using the pain pump… Other than all of that, we are just taking things day to day… She is going to try and take one more pill by mouth today.. We will see how that goes… The doctors want her to start taking all of her pills by mouth before she can even think about going to the Ronald McDonald House… She does take her blood pressure medicine pretty easily because it is so tiny, I wish all the pills these kids take would be that tiny…But NO half of them are horse pills.. YUCK!!!

Christina did go on the roof top playground again yesterday late afternoon… She wanted to sit in the sun, it was very windy and a little cool, so it was nice…. We waved at a few of the small planes that flew by and a few of them tipped there wings at us, so that was pretty neat….

I look at how well Christina is doing and it almost scares me… I guess you would have to be in this situation to understand, but the girl I mentioned the other day, the one I held her hand… Well, she had a transplant, 100onor cells, then she got very sick was on a ventilator when Christina was admitted for her transplant… Then the week Christina received her transplant Vanessa got off the ventilator and got moved right next door to us… We have spent the last 2 months watching this girl struggle to survive and doing it all alone… She would walk with the physical therapist and go by in the wheel chair and always would knock on the door to say Hello to Christina… She was showing such improvement, and now the family just signed a DNR on her yesterday… UNREAL!!!!!!!!
She was so sick, then better almost ready to go home and now this…. Things can happen SO fast that is it just plain scary…..One thing we have learned is to cherish the good while it is good and deal with the bad when it is bad… I think that is all we can do…We have No choice…

Well, I guess that’s all for now…Christina just got sick again, unfortunately one of her pills did not stay down… So now she will have to take it again…DARN!!!!!


I want to say a big THANK YOU to the TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING!!!!!! Thank you for making Christina feel so Very special…. GO LIGHTNING!!!!
Kick some Hockey butt!!!!! Christina wanted me to say that….





A lot of people have asked what Christina likes or would like…She pretty much likes anything, Winnie the pooh, butterflies, animals etc… She doesn’t have a VCR in her room, she does have a play station 2 that plays DVD’s and video games… She can have anything that is wrapped in it’s original packaging or that can be wiped down… With the exception of cards.. She can receive them…


I also Don’t know how we would be making it through all this with out the HELP and SUPPORT of the girls elementary school…THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL… YOU ALL HAVE BEEN AMAZING!!!! THANK YOU!!!!

Love, Sherry



YOU CAN NOW ORDER THE CARDS AND CALENDARS FROM THE CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTER WEB SITE…

You can Click here to go to the Children’s Cancer Center web site to order cards and the CALENDAR…Christina is June and Ashley is September



Christina's Drawing


Ashley's Drawing













THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!





BLOOD/PLATELETS INFO



IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DONATE BLOOD OR PLATELETS FOR CHRISTINA, YOU NEED TO EMAIL ME YOUR NAME AND ONCE A WEEK I WILL GO TO THE FBS OFFICE AND ADD THE NAMES…. I HAVE TO ADD THE NAMES IN PERSON… BECAUSE I HAVE TO GO IN PERSON TO ADD THE NAMES I WILL COLLECT NAMES FOR A FEW DAYS THEN GO AN ADD THEM…TO FIND A LOCATION NEAR YOU PLEASE GO TO www.fbsblood.org YOU WILL FIND ALL THE INFO YOU NEED THERE…OR YOU CAN CALL THEM, THEY HAVE AN 800 #……TO DONATE PLATELETS YOU HAVE TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT…. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE ONES THAT HAVE ALREADY EMAILED ME….. EVERY BIT HELPS AND IF CHRISTINA DOESN’T USE THEM IN TIME THEY GO TO ANOTHER PERSON THAT REALLY NEEDS THEM… BY DOING THIS YOU ARE HELPING TO SAVE LIVES !!!

Thank you also for all the encouraging words that are being left behind for Christina and our Family… Reading the guest book entries is a bright spot in these long mentally hard days….





************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…


Christina was featured for the month of SEPTEMBER on Make a Child Smile… The web site is www.makeachildsmile.com …

THANK YOU TO ALL THAT HAVE BEEN SENDING CARDS AND GIFTS TO THE HOSPITAL… CHRISTINA TRULY LIGHTS UP WHEN THE MAIL COMES.. AND SHE DOES GET DOWN WHEN THE MAIL COMES AND THERE IS NOTHING FOR HER… MAKES FOR A LONG DAY… THANK YOU ALSO TO THE ONES THAT HAVE THOUGHT OF CHRISTINA’S SISTER ASHLEY.. SHE IS HERE TOO EXPERIENCING ALL OF THIS WITH US… AND IT REALLY, REALLY LIGHTS HER UP WHEN SHE GETS SOMETHING….



THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..






Click to send a Pooh 'n Friends Card of the Day from AngelWinks






The P.O. Box address is:
Gates Family
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773


Click to send a Quick Card from AngelWinks








Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love




Christina's New Hair!





Christina at camp





Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.

HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center












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Friday, October 17, 2003 10:35 CDT

Mini Update: Day 54 hospital Day 45 post transplant

Hello,

I just thought I would do a mini update before the weekend....
Christina is doing just about the same, she did get to go outside today on the roof top playground... She had to wear a special gown and mask, but hey at least she got to go outside for the first time in 54 days.... We wheeled her out there in a wheel chair, but then she got up and walked a little. So that was Good!!!!

As far as her blood pressure, it is not doing to good... It went Very High again last night so they gave her the stuff to make it go down, which made it drop pretty quick again... Her little body can't take much more of this.... They went ahead and gave her platelets last night because with her blood pressure going So high then dropping So low so fast it can cause bleeding in the brain.... Sometimes it is unreal the things we are being told that could happen...

So now they have Christina on a blood pressure med. that is a very small pill, that should keep her blood pressure more level...Please PRAY this helps and works... Like I said her body can't keep taking this shock... Her organs can't keep handling all of this.... And mentally I don't know if We can either.....

Well, I guess that’s all for now…Thank You again for everything….

Christina wanted me to tell EVERYONE who has been sending her cards and gifts THANK YOU!!!
So THANK YOU FROM CHRISTINA!!!! Like I have said before she Truly lights up when visitors come by and when it is mail time…. Thank You for putting a smile on her beautiful face…..

Love, Sherry








THURSDAY,October 16, 2003 8:52 am

DAY 53 in hospital DAY 44 post transplant


Hello Everyone,

Well, I would like to say that Christina is holding her own, but the last 2 days have been a nightmare for Her and Us…Christina is on this medicine called cyclosporine it is an anti rejection med. That she has been on since transplant and will continue to be on it until at least 180 or more days post transplant…. Anyway, I explained in the last update the problem we were having with her levels in her blood and how high it was, well we are still having a hard time getting the levels back to normal and yesterday around 4 pm Christina’s blood pressure went through the roof again.. The doctors gave her the stuff under her tongue to make her blood pressure go down…They did this a few days ago and it worked pretty good… But a few days ago after she let it sit under her tongue she went to swallow it and then threw up so I don’t think she got the full dose, but it worked… Well, last night she let it sit under her tongue and then swallowed it and DIDN’T throw up so she got the FULL dose… Well, within 10 minutes she started saying she felt dizzy so I got the nurse and they came in and took her blood pressure and it went down FAST… It dropped down to 80 over 30 within minutes… So it was pretty crazy and nerve racking for about 5 hours last night.. They had to run saline fluids through her very fast to get her blood pressure back up… Finally late last night it went back to normal… ALL I KNOW IS I DID NOT LIKE THE FEELING THAT WENT THROUGH MY BODY WHEN I SAW HER BLOOD PRESSURE DROP THAT FAST…. IT WAS TO MUCH OF A SCARE LIKE LAST YEAR WHEN SHE WENT TO ICU…. I DO NOT WANT TO EXPERIENCE THAT FEELING EVER AGAIN…
So now the doctors have totally stopped the cyclosporine for now, they are checking the amount in her blood again this morning and then once she is back to normal range they will start adding it back… The doctor feels like Christina’s liver is not metabolizing fast enough to get it flushed through her system…. So here we go again with the kidneys and liver problems…. It just seems to never end….

I told my Mom last night it has been awhile since I have said “some days we go day to day, hour by hour and or minute by minute” Well, yesterday afternoon was a definite minute by minute experience… It is just SO hard to believe, understand or realized how much of ALL of this is life or death… We sit up here surrounded by life and death situations so much we just get use to it… or a better word would be immune to it… THIS IS OUR LIFE NOW….. And some days the reality of the whole situations just slaps you in the face…I held the hand of a 19 yr old girl while she was being transported to surgery and then to ICU… Because no one was there for her… (we got to know her last year when Chris was in the hospital)…She is in ICU now on a ventilator and fighting for her life…. 2 nights ago I held and rocked a 19 month old little boy who also has AML (his parents didn’t have a way up here, they are having car problems..) Ashley played with him ALL day trying to make him happy…I think that was Ashley first official baby sitting job… The dad is now up here because Mike and Ashley drove an hour to go pick up the Dad so he could be here with his son….

Some days I just sit in amazement at what we have been through this past year and a half….
I just don’t know how we have made it.. BUT I THANK GOD WE HAVE….

All the support, encouragement, prayers and well wishes have been AMAZING!!!! It’s funny how a few words or a visit can just make someone’s day a little nicer…. THANK YOU!!!!

Well, I went on enough… I guess I just have a lot of things going on in my head… see I knew there was something in there after all… Ha ha….

O.k. … Christina has still been vomiting….NO fevers….. Still on the pain pump… Still not walking much…. O.K. the eating situation will be the Christina Moment….

Christina Moment…
Before the whole blood pressure thing started yesterday, she decided she wanted a half of a turkey sandwich, So Mike and I fly out of the room to go get it… It was a piece of white bread with sliced turkey meat folded in half… She took a few bites and kept saying it tasted so go… She ate about half of it… Well, I think she was trying to please us all that she picked it back up and started eating more… Finally she was done, she ate just about it all but the crust… Well, a few minutes past and she yelled for Ashley to leave the room and she threw up… after she threw up she just kept shaking her head and had the most disgusted/sad look on her face…. She looked up at us and said DARN…. THAT TASTED SO GO TOO…. She was SO mad because she had gotten sick… She really tried so hard and actually enjoyed what she was eating… All that hard work just to throw it all back up…
You just had to have seen the look on her face…

Sorry, the Christina moment involved vomiting, but it still was cute…

Well, I guess that’s all for now…. OH I did want to say a big THANK YOU to the TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING!!!!!! Thank you for making Christina feel so Very special…. GO LIGHTNING!!!!
Kick some Hockey butt!!!!! Christina wanted me to say that….





A lot of people have asked what Christina likes or would like…She pretty much likes anything, Winnie the pooh, butterflies, animals etc… She doesn’t have a VCR in her room, she does have a play station 2 that plays DVD’s and video games… She can have anything that is wrapped in it’s original packaging or that can be wiped down… With the exception of cards.. She can receive them…


I also Don’t know how we would be making it through all this with out the HELP and SUPPORT of the girls elementary school…THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL… YOU ALL HAVE BEEN AMAZING!!!! THANK YOU!!!!

Love, Sherry



YOU CAN NOW ORDER THE CARDS AND CALENDARS FROM THE CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTER WEB SITE…

You can Click here to go to the Children’s Cancer Center web site to order cards and the CALENDAR…Christina is June and Ashley is September



Christina's Drawing


Ashley's Drawing













THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!





BLOOD/PLATELETS INFO



IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DONATE BLOOD OR PLATELETS FOR CHRISTINA, YOU NEED TO EMAIL ME YOUR NAME AND ONCE A WEEK I WILL GO TO THE FBS OFFICE AND ADD THE NAMES…. I HAVE TO ADD THE NAMES IN PERSON… BECAUSE I HAVE TO GO IN PERSON TO ADD THE NAMES I WILL COLLECT NAMES FOR A FEW DAYS THEN GO AN ADD THEM…TO FIND A LOCATION NEAR YOU PLEASE GO TO www.fbsblood.org YOU WILL FIND ALL THE INFO YOU NEED THERE…OR YOU CAN CALL THEM, THEY HAVE AN 800 #……TO DONATE PLATELETS YOU HAVE TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT…. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE ONES THAT HAVE ALREADY EMAILED ME….. EVERY BIT HELPS AND IF CHRISTINA DOESN’T USE THEM IN TIME THEY GO TO ANOTHER PERSON THAT REALLY NEEDS THEM… BY DOING THIS YOU ARE HELPING TO SAVE LIVES !!!

Thank you also for all the encouraging words that are being left behind for Christina and our Family… Reading the guest book entries is a bright spot in these long mentally hard days….





************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…


Christina was featured for the month of SEPTEMBER on Make a Child Smile… The web site is www.makeachildsmile.com …

THANK YOU TO ALL THAT HAVE BEEN SENDING CARDS AND GIFTS TO THE HOSPITAL… CHRISTINA TRULY LIGHTS UP WHEN THE MAIL COMES.. AND SHE DOES GET DOWN WHEN THE MAIL COMES AND THERE IS NOTHING FOR HER… MAKES FOR A LONG DAY… THANK YOU ALSO TO THE ONES THAT HAVE THOUGHT OF CHRISTINA’S SISTER ASHLEY.. SHE IS HERE TOO EXPERIENCING ALL OF THIS WITH US… AND IT REALLY, REALLY LIGHTS HER UP WHEN SHE GETS SOMETHING….



THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..






Click to send a Pooh 'n Friends Card of the Day from AngelWinks






The P.O. Box address is:
Gates Family
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773


Click to send a Quick Card from AngelWinks








Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love




Christina's New Hair!





Christina at camp





Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.

HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center












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Monday, October 13, 2003 9:25 PM CDT





THE PICTURE OF CHRISTINA AND ASHLEY UP ABOVE WAS TAKEN ON SEPT 29TH.. THE GIRLS RECEIVED A GOODIE PACKAGE FROM MY BROTHER IN JAPAN...

DAY 50 in hospital DAY 41 post transplant


Hello Everyone,

Would you be surprised to hear me say that Christina is “holding her own” ha..ha..
Well, it’s TRUE….
I am glad to say she has not had any more break downs like she did the other night… She has come close, but nothing like the other night…That was very hard to sit and witness…

I guess I will start with so far NO more Fevers… Unfortunately, she is still vomiting. YUCK!!!
Her poor little body just aches and I know A LOT of it is from the vomiting….
The doctors did give her another dose of the stuff that helps fight the CMV virus today, it is the antibodies that is taken from a persons blood.. ( look at past journals to get the full explanation..) Anyway, she received that today..
Let’s see, her kidneys and liver are becoming a BIG issue again.. They did an ultrasound of them again today, we won’t find anything out until tomorrow… One of the anit-rejection meds. She is on can be toxic, so they take blood so many days a week to check the levels in her blood and today the level was Very high… So needless to say one of the main side effects of the level being to high is High Blood Pressure…Well you guessed it, Christina has had VERY high blood pressure through the day at one point it was 150 over 110...That is even pretty high for an adult… So Christina had to get this medicine (can’t remember the name) it is liquid and it goes under the tongue and is absorbed into the body to drop your blood pressure… IT WORKED, well it has worked so far…
The doctors are skipping the dose (antibody med.) for tonight and they wanted to give her a lower dose tomorrow, which would be O.K., but they aren’t checking the level in her blood again until Wednesday, so Mike and I said NO… We won’t let them give her anymore until they check her levels… I am still waiting to see if the nurse has gotten a hold of the doctor… I told the nurse to tell him that we are refusing until they check the levels in her blood… This is a medicine she absolutely needs to keep her body from rejecting the new marrow, but it also can be VERY toxic to her.. Look at what it has already done to her blood pressure… One thing we learned real quick is, stay on top of EVERYTHING.. We get all her lab results on paper, we check and double check all her meds. We look things up on line, we go behind the nurses and double check what they are doing… I have never been a very outspoken person, but on my child’s behalf you can’t get me to shut up… And that’s our right as her parents!!!!
That is everyone’s right as a parent…

O.K. a Christina moment/story….
Christina has this yawn she does.. It’s like she forgot how to yawn so it comes out so funny… Anyway, the other day I told her she looks and sounds like a baby kitten yawning… So last night she got up every hour on the hour to pee ( thanks to lasix) so when she would go to get out of bed she would yawn and I would start laughing… She kept saying I’m your little kitty or who’s your little kitten… And she would have this cutest look on her face…
Well, then today she slept ALL day… She was finally awake at 5 pm and I told her that she had to get up and get in the chair for a little while and all of a sudden she put her sheet on her head and started laying her bed down.. I said what are you doing and she wouldn’t answer me… So by this time she is totally covered with her sheet and we could see her getting on her hands and knees on the bed… Then she pops her head out from the covers and starts meowing at us and wiggling her bottom.. So by this time we are cracking up at her.. She lays back down and I go stand next to her bed talking to her and telling her how silly she is and with the straightest face she says “ I THINK THAT EARNED ME ANOTHER NAP”… Silly little girl…

Well, I guess that’s all for now…Christina is asleep so I think I will do the same…

A lot of people have asked what Christina likes or would like…She pretty much likes anything, Winnie the pooh, butterflies, animals etc… She doesn’t have a VCR in her room, she does have a play station 2 that plays DVD’s and video games… She can have anything that is wrapped in it’s original packaging or that can be wiped down… With the exception of cards.. She can receive them…


I also Don’t know how we would be making it through all this with out the HELP and SUPPORT of the girls elementary school…THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL… YOU ALL HAVE BEEN AMAZING!!!! THANK YOU!!!!

Love, Sherry



YOU CAN NOW ORDER THE CARDS AND CALENDARS FROM THE CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTER WEB SITE…

You can Click here to go to the Children’s Cancer Center web site to order cards and the CALENDAR…Christina is June and Ashley is September



Christina's Drawing


Ashley's Drawing













THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!





BLOOD/PLATELETS INFO



IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DONATE BLOOD OR PLATELETS FOR CHRISTINA, YOU NEED TO EMAIL ME YOUR NAME AND ONCE A WEEK I WILL GO TO THE FBS OFFICE AND ADD THE NAMES…. I HAVE TO ADD THE NAMES IN PERSON… BECAUSE I HAVE TO GO IN PERSON TO ADD THE NAMES I WILL COLLECT NAMES FOR A FEW DAYS THEN GO AN ADD THEM…TO FIND A LOCATION NEAR YOU PLEASE GO TO www.fbsblood.org YOU WILL FIND ALL THE INFO YOU NEED THERE…OR YOU CAN CALL THEM, THEY HAVE AN 800 #……TO DONATE PLATELETS YOU HAVE TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT…. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE ONES THAT HAVE ALREADY EMAILED ME….. EVERY BIT HELPS AND IF CHRISTINA DOESN’T USE THEM IN TIME THEY GO TO ANOTHER PERSON THAT REALLY NEEDS THEM… BY DOING THIS YOU ARE HELPING TO SAVE LIVES !!!

Thank you also for all the encouraging words that are being left behind for Christina and our Family… Reading the guest book entries is a bright spot in these long mentally hard days….





************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…


Christina was featured for the month of SEPTEMBER on Make a Child Smile… The web site is www.makeachildsmile.com …

THANK YOU TO ALL THAT HAVE BEEN SENDING CARDS AND GIFTS TO THE HOSPITAL… CHRISTINA TRULY LIGHTS UP WHEN THE MAIL COMES.. AND SHE DOES GET DOWN WHEN THE MAIL COMES AND THERE IS NOTHING FOR HER… MAKES FOR A LONG DAY… THANK YOU ALSO TO THE ONES THAT HAVE THOUGHT OF CHRISTINA’S SISTER ASHLEY.. SHE IS HERE TOO EXPERIENCING ALL OF THIS WITH US… AND IT REALLY, REALLY LIGHTS HER UP WHEN SHE GETS SOMETHING….



THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..






Click to send a Pooh 'n Friends Card of the Day from AngelWinks






The P.O. Box address is:
Gates Family
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773


Click to send a Quick Card from AngelWinks








Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love




Christina's New Hair!





Christina at camp





Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.

HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center












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Friday, October 10, 2003 9:14 AM CDT

CaringBridge is moving to a new web server on Saturday, October 11, 2003 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. CST. The move is necessary to update the technology to better serve you.

What does this mean for you? First, it will not change how you use CaringBridge for your day-to-day updates and/or viewing. Second, the CaringBridge Web site will not be available for use on 10/11/03 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. It may take up to 72 hours past the move date for you to be able to make updates. You will know the server change is complete once you are able to update your page with new journal and guestbook entries. Watch this page for the latest news on this change.
This is a temporary web site THANKS to Code_Blue for updates when caringbridge is down...THANK YOU CODE_BLUE_!!!




DAY 47 in hospital DAY 38 post transplant


Hello Everyone.

Well, my plan to update more often went right out the window….sorry….

Christina is holding her own…I had a really good day with her yesterday, she sat in the chair for 4 hours and we colored and watched TV together while Mike and Ashley went to Lakeland to take care of some things… Unfortunately, she is still throwing up… No fevers, but the vomiting just won’t stop…. The doctors ran the CMV virus test again, but we haven’t heard anything on it yet.. Hopefully sometime today we will know if it is still there… I just pray we can keep this virus under control..

For those who don’t really know Christina, she is a very smart kid… Wednesday when the doctor was in looking at her, Christina said that she felt like they should do another bone marrow aspiration in 2 weeks.. The doctor asked why and Christina said, to make sure everything is still alright… Christina at 10 yrs old knows that things can change at any given moment.. She has seen and heard way to much in the last year and a half…. We have seen way to many kids do well at first and then go down hill… The doctor told her that they would wait longer before doing another aspiration and Christina lost it.. She started crying so hard.. She just kept saying she wanted the test done… So we will see what happens…

Even though Christina’s body is doing what it needs to do to survive… Now Christina’s mental outlook is becoming a battle… She had a major break down last night…. She is just having a very hard time dealing with everything she has been through and what lies ahead…. She just kept saying she needed a break, that we just don’t get it… We told her she is right we don’t get it… and can’t help her unless she talks to us… So she did talk a little… As I have said before she is a VERY social child, she depends on her friends and family… And she is very sad that her friends and family have not been visiting her, with the exception of a few people…. This truly breaks my heart…. She told me she feels alone…. To a VERY social child I could only imagine how alone she feels… She has been here for 47 days…. In the same room, looking at the same walls, and looking at Me, Mike and Ashley… I’m about to go insane and I can leave the room when ever I want… So, anyway Mike and I kept telling her last night that she has to stay positive… She can not start feeling sorry for herself and she has to want to get out of here…. She says she is scared to try and eat…Don’t blame her there, But she has to try… It hurts her Very much to walk, but she has to try… So now we have to become the mean parents and make her do these things… And trust me it rips my heart out when she is hurting…But if she doesn’t start walking more than 10 steps a day, she will be here longer and that is what we try to explain to her…

The cards and gifts have been the most wonderful thing for Christina… She does perk up at mail time and she is herself for those few minutes and that is truly a blessing to see… Keep the cards coming!!! A lot of people ask what can I do and this is it… Drop a card in the mail…. Christina has a few faithful card senders and she wanted me to tell those people THANK YOU!!! So Thank You from Christina!!!! And she wanted me to tell everyone who signs her guest book and has sent a card THANK YOU!!! So THANK YOU from Christina…

O.k.… Sorry for going on and on… I was at the RMH last night with Ashley and I wished I had my computer with me.. My mind was going ninety to nothing after Christina’s break down.. I guess this is my little way of helping myself through all of this…

O.K. Medically, Christina is still doing the same… Still on a lot of Meds… still using the pain pump… Still vomiting…. NO fevers… Sleeping a lot, but not as much as last week…YEA!!! Lab/chemistry levels are still up and down, everyday something changes… Other than that she is just holding her own… Her little body has just been through a lot, it will just take a lot to get her back on her feet… A long road lies a head…But we are ready for OUR Christina to be back!!!!

A Christina moment….
Last night when she had her break down I was kneeling by her bed and I had a tear going down my cheek… Christina looked at me and said “it will be o.k. Mommy” “don’t’ cry” and she took her hand and wiped my tear away… The look in her eyes, I will NEVER forget… I am truly blessed to have such a LOVING, AMAZING, CARING child…I love Christina…I love you….as I wipe tears away now….

I can’t believe how mentally exhausting all of this is….. Life in general is Hard, but this is beyond Hard….Words can’t describe any of it…

All I know is that the support and words of encouragement that people, many total strangers have left behind has meant the world to us…

It’s amazing how a total stranger from Brazil ,California, Rhode Island etc…. can put a smile on Christina’s face and a comforting feeling in our hearts… God Bless You All…

I also Don’t know how we would be making it through all this with out the HELP and SUPPORT of the girls elementary school…THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL… YOU ALL HAVE BEEN AMAZING!!!! THANK YOU!!!!

Love, Sherry

THE PICTURE OF CHRISTINA AND ASHLEY UP ABOVE WAS TAKEN ON SEPT 29TH.. THE GIRLS RECEIVED A GOODIE PACKAGE FROM MY BROTHER IN JAPAN...

YOU CAN NOW ORDER THE CARDS AND CALENDARS FROM THE CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTER WEB SITE…


You can Click here to go to the Children’s Cancer Center web site to order cards and the CALENDAR…Christina is June and Ashley is September



Christina's Drawing


Ashley's Drawing













THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!





BLOOD/PLATELETS INFO



IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DONATE BLOOD OR PLATELETS FOR CHRISTINA, YOU NEED TO EMAIL ME YOUR NAME AND ONCE A WEEK I WILL GO TO THE FBS OFFICE AND ADD THE NAMES…. I HAVE TO ADD THE NAMES IN PERSON… BECAUSE I HAVE TO GO IN PERSON TO ADD THE NAMES I WILL COLLECT NAMES FOR A FEW DAYS THEN GO AN ADD THEM…TO FIND A LOCATION NEAR YOU PLEASE GO TO www.fbsblood.org YOU WILL FIND ALL THE INFO YOU NEED THERE…OR YOU CAN CALL THEM, THEY HAVE AN 800 #……TO DONATE PLATELETS YOU HAVE TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT…. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE ONES THAT HAVE ALREADY EMAILED ME….. EVERY BIT HELPS AND IF CHRISTINA DOESN’T USE THEM IN TIME THEY GO TO ANOTHER PERSON THAT REALLY NEEDS THEM… BY DOING THIS YOU ARE HELPING TO SAVE LIVES !!!

Thank you also for all the encouraging words that are being left behind for Christina and our Family… Reading the guest book entries is a bright spot in these long mentally hard days….





************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…


Christina was featured for the month of SEPTEMBER on Make a Child Smile… The web site is www.makeachildsmile.com …

THANK YOU TO ALL THAT HAVE BEEN SENDING CARDS AND GIFTS TO THE HOSPITAL… CHRISTINA TRULY LIGHTS UP WHEN THE MAIL COMES.. AND SHE DOES GET DOWN WHEN THE MAIL COMES AND THERE IS NOTHING FOR HER… MAKES FOR A LONG DAY… THANK YOU ALSO TO THE ONES THAT HAVE THOUGHT OF CHRISTINA’S SISTER ASHLEY.. SHE IS HERE TOO EXPERIENCING ALL OF THIS WITH US… AND IT REALLY, REALLY LIGHTS HER UP WHEN SHE GETS SOMETHING….



THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..






Click to send a Pooh 'n Friends Card of the Day from AngelWinks






The P.O. Box address is:
Gates Family
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773


Click to send a Quick Card from AngelWinks








Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love




Christina's New Hair!





Christina at camp





Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.

HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center












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Tuesday, October 7, 2003 1:39 PM CDT




THE PICTURE OF CHRISTINA AND ASHLEY UP ABOVE WAS TAKEN ON SEPT 29TH.. THE GIRLS RECEIVED A GOODIE PACKAGE FROM MY BROTHER IN JAPAN...

DAY 44 in hospital DAY 35 post transplant


Hello Everyone.

Well, it is with GREAT JOY that I inform you all that the bone marrow test came back 100% DONOR !!!!!!! This is very wonderful news, but in NO way is Christina out of the woods, not by any means… This is a very good thing that the cord blood took, and her body is doing what it needs to do, now another Battle begins…. One chapter closed, another one opened… At ANYTIME Christina could reject the transplant… So now the main focus is keeping the new cells there, Please Pray that her old cells don’t try and grow back…

Christina was very happy to hear the news yesterday, but then she got upset because she couldn’t understand why she couldn’t go home then.. We had to explain to her that there is still a lot that has to happen before we get to leave the hospital.. Even when we do get to leave the hospital we won’t get to go home… We will have to stay at the Ronald McDonald House until she is at 90 days post transplant.. But that is better than being in the hospital… I have no idea when we would get to leave the hospital.. It is still to far off to even think about…

Christina is still to dependant on the pain pump, she hasn’t eaten in 6 weeks, she struggles walking 10 steps… Unfortunately, she has a long way to go….

All of this is so mentally exhausting, and it really stinks to get really good news one day and you try and enjoy the wonderful news, but us being here and knowing all the things that can happen at any given moment, kind of takes away from the Joy we are trying to experience… Don’t get me wrong I was crying… Christina’s looked at me and started crying.. I said why are you crying now… and she said because you are… I told her they were tears of Joy… But it still bothered her that I had tears, so I said O.K. you wipe my tears away and I’ll wipe yours and NO more crying… So that’s what we did…

They are going to check Christina’s blood again today or tomorrow for the CMV virus.. They want to see if the med./antibodies they gave her Sunday are helping get rid/control the virus… Like I said before this CMV Virus can make her reject the engraftment (transplant)…. Hopefully we will know something by the end of the week…


Well, I guess that’s all for now… Everything else is still pretty much the same, she has NOT made it through whole day without vomiting, the fevers HAVE stayed away for the last 2 days.. So that’s good…


Thank you for the continual prayers and support, the words of encouragement left behind means a lot to the Whole family…..THANK YOU!!!

Love, Sherry




You can Click here to go to the Children’s Cancer Center web site to order cards and the CALENDAR…Christina is June and Ashley is September



Christina's Drawing


Ashley's Drawing













THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!





BLOOD/PLATELETS INFO



IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DONATE BLOOD OR PLATELETS FOR CHRISTINA, YOU NEED TO EMAIL ME YOUR NAME AND ONCE A WEEK I WILL GO TO THE FBS OFFICE AND ADD THE NAMES…. I HAVE TO ADD THE NAMES IN PERSON… BECAUSE I HAVE TO GO IN PERSON TO ADD THE NAMES I WILL COLLECT NAMES FOR A FEW DAYS THEN GO AN ADD THEM…TO FIND A LOCATION NEAR YOU PLEASE GO TO www.fbsblood.org YOU WILL FIND ALL THE INFO YOU NEED THERE…OR YOU CAN CALL THEM, THEY HAVE AN 800 #……TO DONATE PLATELETS YOU HAVE TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT…. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE ONES THAT HAVE ALREADY EMAILED ME….. EVERY BIT HELPS AND IF CHRISTINA DOESN’T USE THEM IN TIME THEY GO TO ANOTHER PERSON THAT REALLY NEEDS THEM… BY DOING THIS YOU ARE HELPING TO SAVE LIVES !!!

Thank you also for all the encouraging words that are being left behind for Christina and our Family… Reading the guest book entries is a bright spot in these long mentally hard days….





************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…


Christina was featured for the month of SEPTEMBER on Make a Child Smile… The web site is www.makeachildsmile.com …

THANK YOU TO ALL THAT HAVE BEEN SENDING CARDS AND GIFTS TO THE HOSPITAL… CHRISTINA TRULY LIGHTS UP WHEN THE MAIL COMES.. AND SHE DOES GET DOWN WHEN THE MAIL COMES AND THERE IS NOTHING FOR HER… MAKES FOR A LONG DAY… THANK YOU ALSO TO THE ONES THAT HAVE THOUGHT OF CHRISTINA’S SISTER ASHLEY.. SHE IS HERE TOO EXPERIENCING ALL OF THIS WITH US… AND IT REALLY, REALLY LIGHTS HER UP WHEN SHE GETS SOMETHING….



THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..






Click to send a Pooh 'n Friends Card of the Day from AngelWinks






The P.O. Box address is:
Gates Family
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773


Click to send a Quick Card from AngelWinks








Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love




Christina's New Hair!





Christina at camp





Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.

HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center












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Sunday, October 5, 2003 9:49 PM CDT




THE PICTURE OF CHRISTINA AND ASHLEY UP ABOVE WAS TAKEN ON SEPT 29TH.. THE GIRLS RECEIVED A GOODIE PACKAGE FROM MY BROTHER IN JAPAN...



DAY +42 in hospital DAY +33 POST TRANSPLANT


Hello Everyone.

O.k. I know I should update more often, but when nothing really has changed it is hard to…. I guess just updating and saying that Christina is holding her own, is better than no update… So from hear on out I will work on updating better…

So, I will start out with.. Christina is holding her own…Unfortunately, She has NOT made it through a day without vomiting….But at least it has slowed down a lot, so that is an improvement…YEA!!!
No fevers through the weekend…YEA!!! Another good thing…. We still have been getting her out of bed twice a day, with the exception of yesterday… She is still on the pain pump and she is still having to use the bed side potty, but that to is o.k.….

As far as Medicines, she is still on 2 antibiotics, an anti-transplant rejection med, 2 antiviral meds.. And a bunch of other stuff…The second antiviral med. Is actually a blood product… Let me try and explain this, it’s pretty interesting… First, virus’s are a lot harder to get rid of than a bacterial infection… Your body usually creates antibodies that then make you immune to certain viruses (antibodies build up your immunities to different things) … Well, with Christina having NO Antibodies/immune system, because of the Transplant.. The doctors are giving her anitbodies from someone’s blood… They take blood from some one and they pull out antibodies to the CMV Virus, and this is what Christina will get for the next 7 hours… They just started it 15 minutes ago… There are some possible side effects, like hives, trouble breathing, fevers, chills, etc…. They have the emergency reaction bag sitting in reach, just incase… I pray she sleeps right through it all…. She will only get this tonight and then if she needs it again it won’t be until later in the week… The reason for all this, is so she kicks this CMV Virus… The CMV virus CAN make her reject the Transplant, so it is VERY important to get and keep this under control…

O.K….A Christina moment…
She is just set on telling me every night that I have stars in my eyes…So tonight I told her “I only have stars in my eyes as long as she is looking at them…” I said “if you stop looking at me, the stars will be gone” she then said “well, we just won’t let that happen, that won’t ever happen”
She also told me that I am her “Very Special Mom with stars in her eyes….”

Also, today with it being Sunday there was no mail delivered…But of course as soon as she woke up she asked if there was any mail… I actually had put some mail aside the other day just to have for those days when no mail comes… So I told her Yes I forgot I put mail on the other shelf… OH MY GOODNESS!!!! She laughed and Smiled SO big…. She thought it was funny that I was hiding mail, so she would always have some… But of course after she opened it all, she didn’t want to believe me that I didn’t have anymore hidden anywhere… Ha Ha… I try to be sneaky for her sake and no matter how sick she is, she figures me out….. As my Mom would say…Lil stinker…..

Well, I guess that’s all for now…



Thank you for the continual prayers and support, the words of encouragement left behind means a lot to the Whole family…..THANK YOU!!!

Love, Sherry






You can Click here to go to the Children’s Cancer Center web site to order cards and the CALENDAR…Christina is June and Ashley is September



Christina's Drawing


Ashley's Drawing













THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!





BLOOD/PLATELETS INFO



IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DONATE BLOOD OR PLATELETS FOR CHRISTINA, YOU NEED TO EMAIL ME YOUR NAME AND ONCE A WEEK I WILL GO TO THE FBS OFFICE AND ADD THE NAMES…. I HAVE TO ADD THE NAMES IN PERSON… BECAUSE I HAVE TO GO IN PERSON TO ADD THE NAMES I WILL COLLECT NAMES FOR A FEW DAYS THEN GO AN ADD THEM…TO FIND A LOCATION NEAR YOU PLEASE GO TO www.fbsblood.org YOU WILL FIND ALL THE INFO YOU NEED THERE…OR YOU CAN CALL THEM, THEY HAVE AN 800 #……TO DONATE PLATELETS YOU HAVE TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT…. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE ONES THAT HAVE ALREADY EMAILED ME….. EVERY BIT HELPS AND IF CHRISTINA DOESN’T USE THEM IN TIME THEY GO TO ANOTHER PERSON THAT REALLY NEEDS THEM… BY DOING THIS YOU ARE HELPING TO SAVE LIVES !!!

Thank you also for all the encouraging words that are being left behind for Christina and our Family… Reading the guest book entries is a bright spot in these long mentally hard days….





************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…


Christina was featured for the month of SEPTEMBER on Make a Child Smile… The web site is www.makeachildsmile.com …

THANK YOU TO ALL THAT HAVE BEEN SENDING CARDS AND GIFTS TO THE HOSPITAL… CHRISTINA TRULY LIGHTS UP WHEN THE MAIL COMES.. AND SHE DOES GET DOWN WHEN THE MAIL COMES AND THERE IS NOTHING FOR HER… MAKES FOR A LONG DAY… THANK YOU ALSO TO THE ONES THAT HAVE THOUGHT OF CHRISTINA’S SISTER ASHLEY.. SHE IS HERE TOO EXPERIENCING ALL OF THIS WITH US… AND IT REALLY, REALLY LIGHTS HER UP WHEN SHE GETS SOMETHING….



THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..






Click to send a Pooh 'n Friends Card of the Day from AngelWinks






The P.O. Box address is:
Gates Family
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773


Click to send a Quick Card from AngelWinks








Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love




Christina's New Hair!





Christina at camp





Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.

HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center












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This RingSurf Childhood Cancer Net Ring
owned by Christina's AML leaukemia Page.


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Thursday, October 2, 2003 10:08 PM CDT




THE PICTURE OF CHRISTINA AND ASHLEY UP ABOVE WAS TAKEN ON SEPT 29TH.. THE GIRLS RECEIVED A GOODIE PACKAGE FROM MY BROTHER IN JAPAN...

DAY 30


Hello Everyone.

Well, Today when I wanted to sit down and update I was looking forward to be able to say things are improving… But, now it is 10:00 p.m. and Christina has been flirting with a fever again… So the doctor wanted blood draw to have cultured… Please pray that nothing grows in the cultures..

The past 3 days we have been making Christina get up and out of bed and go to the chair around 10 in the morning.. She has been doing very well with this.. She is still sleeping a lot, but she does wake up more often now… She did throw up today, we had hoped to go through a whole day with NO vomiting, but not yet… Christina is still on the pain pump, they had
been decreasing the amount she receives, but now they will keep it were it is… Christina has been very stern about them not lowering it anymore…Which is fine, she has a say in all of this too… We also make her get up again later in the evening usually around 6 pm for her daily bath, that she absolutely hates…

Well, Christina had her bone marrow aspiration done yesterday… They did the procedure here in her room… Ashley was over in the corner playing her video game and she asked if she needed to leave and I said No, Christina always sleeps right through it all… Well, MOM messed up on this one… Christina screamed in pain… Mike and I were in tears, I turned and looked at Ashley and she was as white as a Ghost… Christina has never had a problem with the aspirations before, I think the meds didn’t kick in fast enough and plus they used a larger biopsy needle than she is use to.. The doctor also said that sometimes after transplant, the aspiration feels different than before… I don’t know, All I know is that it was a terrible experience for ALL of US… I am just glad it is behind us now…
And now we wait…We will now have to wait 6 days to find out the results… Today went by really fast so maybe the next 6 days will…ya right…..ha ha…

O.k. Let’s see… The liver and kidneys are staying the same, unfortunately the doctors are changing the med for the CMV virus and this other med. Will effect her liver and kidneys.. So we will have to watch all of that again real closely… She is still needing blood about every 2 to 3 days and platelets 2x a day…Other than all that I think everything else is pretty much the same…

O.K. Now a Christina moment… Last night Ashley and I were saying our goodnights and goodbyes before heading to the RMH and out of the Blue Christina says “Ashley I love you” and even stranger than that is the fact that Ashley said “I love you” back to her… These 2 girls LOVE each other more than anything, but they NEVER say it… Mike said that Christina kept smiling and giggling all night over the fact that her sister said she loved her… She kept saying “Ashley said she loved me…”
I thought it was very special and cute… Sisters…they are so weird to each other…

Well, I guess that’s all for now, Christina is sleeping so I think I will call it a night too…


Thank you for the continual prayers and support, the words of encouragement left behind means a lot to the Whole family…..THANK YOU!!!

Love, Sherry



You can Click here to go to the Children’s Cancer Center web site to order cards and the CALENDAR…Christina is June and Ashley is September



Christina's Drawing


Ashley's Drawing













THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!





BLOOD/PLATELETS INFO



IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DONATE BLOOD OR PLATELETS FOR CHRISTINA, YOU NEED TO EMAIL ME YOUR NAME AND ONCE A WEEK I WILL GO TO THE FBS OFFICE AND ADD THE NAMES…. I HAVE TO ADD THE NAMES IN PERSON… BECAUSE I HAVE TO GO IN PERSON TO ADD THE NAMES I WILL COLLECT NAMES FOR A FEW DAYS THEN GO AN ADD THEM…TO FIND A LOCATION NEAR YOU PLEASE GO TO www.fbsblood.org YOU WILL FIND ALL THE INFO YOU NEED THERE…OR YOU CAN CALL THEM, THEY HAVE AN 800 #……TO DONATE PLATELETS YOU HAVE TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT…. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE ONES THAT HAVE ALREADY EMAILED ME….. EVERY BIT HELPS AND IF CHRISTINA DOESN’T USE THEM IN TIME THEY GO TO ANOTHER PERSON THAT REALLY NEEDS THEM… BY DOING THIS YOU ARE HELPING TO SAVE LIVES !!!

Thank you also for all the encouraging words that are being left behind for Christina and our Family… Reading the guest book entries is a bright spot in these long mentally hard days….

The picture I added to the top of the page was taken on Sept 15th, 2003.…

Lots of Love, Sherry



************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…


O.h… Christina is featured this month on Make a Child Smile… The web site is www.makeachildsmile.com …

THANK YOU TO ALL THAT HAVE BEEN SENDING CARDS AND GIFTS TO THE HOSPITAL… CHRISTINA TRULY LIGHTS UP WHEN THE MAIL COMES.. AND SHE DOES GET DOWN WHEN THE MAIL COMES AND THERE IS NOTHING FOR HER… MAKES FOR A LONG DAY… THANK YOU ALSO TO THE ONES THAT HAVE THOUGHT OF CHRISTINA’S SISTER ASHLEY.. SHE IS HERE TOO EXPERIENCING ALL OF THIS WITH US… AND IT REALLY, REALLY LIGHTS HER UP WHEN SHE GETS SOMETHING….



THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..






Click to send a Pooh 'n Friends Card of the Day from AngelWinks






The P.O. Box address is:
Gates Family
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773


Click to send a Quick Card from AngelWinks








Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love




Christina's New Hair!





Christina at camp





Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.

HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center












[
Previous 5 Sites
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Skip Previous
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Previous
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This RingSurf Childhood Cancer Net Ring
owned by Christina's AML leaukemia Page.


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Tuesday, September 30, 2003 12:55 AM CDT

THE PICTURE OF CHRISTINA AND ASHLEY UP ABOVE WAS TAKEN ON SEPT 29TH.. THE GIRLS RECIEVED A GOODIE PACKAGE FROM MY BROTHER IN JAPAN...


DAY 28

I started this at 9:30 am.. It is now 1:30 and I am done.. However we just found out that the bone marrow aspiration will now be done TOMORROW….

Hello Everyone.

TODAY THEY ARE DOING THE BONE MARROW ASPIRATION!!!! YEA!!!!

Christina is doing well for the most part… O.k. I have to say it.. She is holding her own.. Nothing has really changed over the weekend, still a wait and see thing… The doctors did stop one of the antibiotics, she still spikes a fever every day after the anti -fungal med. So we all agree that the fevers are medicine induced.. Yesterday they also stopped the anti-fungal that was making her spike the fevers, so today will be a test… If she doesn’t spike a fever today we will know for sure that it was this anti-fungal med… She is still on a few other antibiotics and she is on the antiviral med. For the CMV virus.. They took more blood yesterday to run the test on the CMV virus again to see if this med. Has been helping… If it hasn’t helped then they will have to put her on a stronger one, which then puts her major organs at risk again… Speaking of that.. Her liver is still struggling and so are her kidneys.. The lab work keeps coming back the same, which is better than worse, but she is still way out of range.. We just hope that the levels will start coming down more on there own..

Christina immune system is doing awesome.. She has a higher ANC (immune system) now than she did when she was in remission.. But A LOT of that is due to the GCSF (white cell booster).. So when she reaches a certain level, they will stop the GCSF and usually the white count drops… So when they stop the GCSF after a few days we will then see what her TRUE immune system is, without the help of meds.. Then we wait and see if her white cells start producing on there own… White cells usually come back first, then red cells and platelets are always the last to recover…

O.k. Now today they are doing the bone marrow aspiration, It is 9:40 a.m. and I have not heard yet what time they are doing it… I did find out that it will take about 7 days to find out how many cells are HERS and how many cells are DONOR… All I know is that will be the longest 7 days of my life for sure…. I asked the doctors what are we hoping for, and she said a 100onor cells… Maybe 90/10... I wasn’t expecting that….

Ashley did get to meet her Big Buddy at the Children’s Cancer Center Saturday, she seemed really nice and Ashley liked her so that’s good… I don’t know if I had mentioned that Ashley and Christina both had a drawing that was picked for the 2004 Children’s Cancer Center Calendar… Christina’s drawing is for June and Ashley’s is for September… Yesterday they had a lunch and unavailing of the cards and calendars at a restaurant and Ashley and I went.. Christina was upset because she really wanted to be there.. I told her to start drawing now and maybe she will win again next year and she can be there next year…. Like saying any of that helped.. but I tried…
Christina did get to see a little of it on the news, because 3 news stations were there.. The Mayor of Tampa was even there…

Well, I guess that is all for now… I will post an update as soon as anything changes… Yes, even if it is later today… I am staying tonight so I will do a mini-update on how the bone marrow aspiration went…


Thank you for the continual prayers and support, the words of encouragement left behind means a lot to the Whole family…..THANK YOU!!!

Love, Sherry

I JUST CHECKED AND THE CANCER CENTER DOES NOT HAVE THE NEW CARDS AND CALENDARS ON THERE WEB SITE YET...I WILL LET YOU KNOW WHEN YOU CAN ORDER THEM...



You can Click here to go to the Children’s Cancer Center web site to order cards and the CALENDAR…Christina is June and Ashley is September



Christina's Drawing


Ashley's Drawing









THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!





BLOOD/PLATELETS INFO



IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DONATE BLOOD OR PLATELETS FOR CHRISTINA, YOU NEED TO EMAIL ME YOUR NAME AND ONCE A WEEK I WILL GO TO THE FBS OFFICE AND ADD THE NAMES…. I HAVE TO ADD THE NAMES IN PERSON… BECAUSE I HAVE TO GO IN PERSON TO ADD THE NAMES I WILL COLLECT NAMES FOR A FEW DAYS THEN GO AN ADD THEM…TO FIND A LOCATION NEAR YOU PLEASE GO TO www.fbsblood.org YOU WILL FIND ALL THE INFO YOU NEED THERE…OR YOU CAN CALL THEM, THEY HAVE AN 800 #……TO DONATE PLATELETS YOU HAVE TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT…. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE ONES THAT HAVE ALREADY EMAILED ME….. EVERY BIT HELPS AND IF CHRISTINA DOESN’T USE THEM IN TIME THEY GO TO ANOTHER PERSON THAT REALLY NEEDS THEM… BY DOING THIS YOU ARE HELPING TO SAVE LIVES !!!

Thank you also for all the encouraging words that are being left behind for Christina and our Family… Reading the guest book entries is a bright spot in these long mentally hard days….

The picture I added to the top of the page was taken on Sept 15th, 2003.…

Lots of Love, Sherry



************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…


O.h… Christina is featured this month on Make a Child Smile… The web site is www.makeachildsmile.com …

THANK YOU TO ALL THAT HAVE BEEN SENDING CARDS AND GIFTS TO THE HOSPITAL… CHRISTINA TRULY LIGHTS UP WHEN THE MAIL COMES.. AND SHE DOES GET DOWN WHEN THE MAIL COMES AND THERE IS NOTHING FOR HER… MAKES FOR A LONG DAY… THANK YOU ALSO TO THE ONES THAT HAVE THOUGHT OF CHRISTINA’S SISTER ASHLEY.. SHE IS HERE TOO EXPERIENCING ALL OF THIS WITH US… AND IT REALLY, REALLY LIGHTS HER UP WHEN SHE GETS SOMETHING….



THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..






Click to send a Pooh 'n Friends Card of the Day from AngelWinks






The P.O. Box address is:
Gates Family
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773


Click to send a Quick Card from AngelWinks








Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love




Christina's New Hair!





Christina at camp





Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.

HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center












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Saturday, September 27, 2003 11:02 AM CDT





DAY 25

Hello Everyone.

Well, as usual Christina is still holding her own… I know I say this every time, but it is the only way I can describe how she is doing… It’s very hard to write she is getting better or she is doing good, because she is still a Very Sick Little girl… Even though things seem to be improving at times, the next day things might not be that great… You just learn to take the good moments and good news while it’s there, because you just never know… Her immune system is still improving with the help of the GCSF (white cell booster).. She is still needing blood and the platelets she is still getting twice a day… Christina has been still spiking a fever just about everyday, but we are thinking it is from the anti-fungal med. She is on… This is one of the meds she has a reaction to… The fever then goes away on its own later in the night… We really haven’t heard anything else on the results of the CMV virus… The doctor had a special test ran to see how much of the virus is running through her body… But like I said before she is already on an antiviral med. For it, but there are 2 other ones they can use if the virus is more prominent. So basically, it all is still a waiting game… The vomiting is still happening.. Christina is still sleeping a lot, but yesterday she was awake for a few hours off and on.. So that was an improvement…

One good note, is one of the lab/chemistry levels that was pretty high on her liver came down a little.. It is still way high, but it did come down, so that was exciting yesterday… So maybe her Kidneys and liver will start fixing themselves.. Because of the level coming down she doesn’t look as jaundice (yellow) today…

Well, I guess that’s all for now.. I am taking Ashley to the Children’s Cancer Center this afternoon for her to met her big buddy.. The Cancer Center pairs up the sibling with a 2nd year Med student from USF… Ashley and her new big buddy will do things together once a month… It’s a really nice program and it’s nice to see something special being done for the sibling of a child with cancer…. They go through a lot too….

I’m sitting here trying to think of a Christina moment and I don’t think there is one… It is driving me nuts!!! I miss hearing her voice…. The only thing I ever hear her say anymore is “Bucket” she says that when she is going to get sick… That’s me and Mike’s cue to get up and get the “Bucket”…And Ashley’s cue to leave the room ..ha ha… It’s amazing how Mike and I and even Ashley have become Mind readers… or face readers.. We can read a lot about Christina just by looking at her… But I STILL MISS HER BEAUTIFUL VOICE!!!



Thank you for the continual prayers and support, the words of encouragement left behind means a lot to the Whole family…..THANK YOU!!!

Love, Sherry







THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!





BLOOD/PLATELETS INFO



IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DONATE BLOOD OR PLATELETS FOR CHRISTINA, YOU NEED TO EMAIL ME YOUR NAME AND ONCE A WEEK I WILL GO TO THE FBS OFFICE AND ADD THE NAMES…. I HAVE TO ADD THE NAMES IN PERSON… BECAUSE I HAVE TO GO IN PERSON TO ADD THE NAMES I WILL COLLECT NAMES FOR A FEW DAYS THEN GO AN ADD THEM…TO FIND A LOCATION NEAR YOU PLEASE GO TO www.fbsblood.org YOU WILL FIND ALL THE INFO YOU NEED THERE…OR YOU CAN CALL THEM, THEY HAVE AN 800 #……TO DONATE PLATELETS YOU HAVE TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT…. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE ONES THAT HAVE ALREADY EMAILED ME….. EVERY BIT HELPS AND IF CHRISTINA DOESN’T USE THEM IN TIME THEY GO TO ANOTHER PERSON THAT REALLY NEEDS THEM… BY DOING THIS YOU ARE HELPING TO SAVE LIVES !!!

Thank you also for all the encouraging words that are being left behind for Christina and our Family… Reading the guest book entries is a bright spot in these long mentally hard days….

The picture I added to the top of the page was taken on Sept 15th, 2003.…

Lots of Love, Sherry



************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…


O.h… Christina is featured this month on Make a Child Smile… The web site is www.makeachildsmile.com …

THANK YOU TO ALL THAT HAVE BEEN SENDING CARDS AND GIFTS TO THE HOSPITAL… CHRISTINA TRULY LIGHTS UP WHEN THE MAIL COMES.. AND SHE DOES GET DOWN WHEN THE MAIL COMES AND THERE IS NOTHING FOR HER… MAKES FOR A LONG DAY… THANK YOU ALSO TO THE ONES THAT HAVE THOUGHT OF CHRISTINA’S SISTER ASHLEY.. SHE IS HERE TOO EXPERIENCING ALL OF THIS WITH US… AND IT REALLY, REALLY LIGHTS HER UP WHEN SHE GETS SOMETHING….



THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..






Click to send a Pooh 'n Friends Card of the Day from AngelWinks






The P.O. Box address is:
Gates Family
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773


Click to send a Quick Card from AngelWinks








Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love




Christina's New Hair!





Christina at camp





Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.

HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center












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This RingSurf Childhood Cancer Net Ring
owned by Christina's AML leaukemia Page.


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Thursday, September 25, 2003 10:00 PM CDT




DAY 23

Hello Everyone.

Christina is still holding her own…Some things have changed, some for the good some not….
Christina’s immune system is still improving with the help of GCSF(boosts her white cells), but she is still needing Blood and platelets those she still gets twice a day…. Christina spiked a fever yesterday, so they took blood for cultures, but like the last 4 weeks I don’t expect anything to grow… We will know more about this CMV virus tomorrow.. She is already on an antiviral for that, so it is already being taken care of…The vomiting unfortunately is still a major issue… The doctors are now trying a different combo of anti-nausea meds. Let’s ALL cross our fingers and toes that something will start working for her… She has NOT been herself for the past week and it is very hard to see…. I know I have to stay positive and so does Mike and Ashley, but it is Very hard when you sit here and look at her…. This is Not Christina…. We all want Christina back…

Christina is still having a problem with her Liver, they are running different test to see what is going on… Other than all of that, everything is pretty much the same…Just one big waiting game.. With a few bumps along the way….

Christina is still sleeping A lot, but today she did wake up in the afternoon and then again at 6 p.m. to play video BINGO… She got BINGO, but didn’t win the grand prize… That’s o.k. she still seemed to enjoy playing a little.. After Bingo she opened her mail from today…. Christina truly loves all of the cards and gifts and all the stickers she has been receiving in the cards… I am going to the store this weekend and I’m going to get her a sticker book… She has been rewarding the nurses with stickers too…

O.k. It still has been very tuff, but I have a Little Christina moment… Tonight is my 3rd night in a row staying…Mike went to take care of the clothes.. GOD love him, if he wants to do laundry more power to him…. I Love him for it….
Anyway, Christina ALL day today wouldn’t say anything to me, but anytime we would look eye to eye, she would give me the most warm/loving smile and it just made me feel so good, I just can’t explain it… And then tonight I tucked her in and she said “you have many stars in your eyes tonight Mommy”

Well, I guess that’s all for now… Day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute and somehow we make it…



Thank you for the continual prayers and support…
Love, Sherry







THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!





BLOOD/PLATELETS INFO



IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DONATE BLOOD OR PLATELETS FOR CHRISTINA, YOU NEED TO EMAIL ME YOUR NAME AND ONCE A WEEK I WILL GO TO THE FBS OFFICE AND ADD THE NAMES…. I HAVE TO ADD THE NAMES IN PERSON… BECAUSE I HAVE TO GO IN PERSON TO ADD THE NAMES I WILL COLLECT NAMES FOR A FEW DAYS THEN GO AN ADD THEM…TO FIND A LOCATION NEAR YOU PLEASE GO TO www.fbsblood.org YOU WILL FIND ALL THE INFO YOU NEED THERE…OR YOU CAN CALL THEM, THEY HAVE AN 800 #……TO DONATE PLATELETS YOU HAVE TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT…. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE ONES THAT HAVE ALREADY EMAILED ME….. EVERY BIT HELPS AND IF CHRISTINA DOESN’T USE THEM IN TIME THEY GO TO ANOTHER PERSON THAT REALLY NEEDS THEM… BY DOING THIS YOU ARE HELPING TO SAVE LIVES !!!

Thank you also for all the encouraging words that are being left behind for Christina and our Family… Reading the guest book entries is a bright spot in these long mentally hard days….

The picture I added to the top of the page was taken on Sept 15th, 2003.…

Lots of Love, Sherry



************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…


O.h… Christina is featured this month on Make a Child Smile… The web site is www.makeachildsmile.com …

THANK YOU TO ALL THAT HAVE BEEN SENDING CARDS AND GIFTS TO THE HOSPITAL… CHRISTINA TRULY LIGHTS UP WHEN THE MAIL COMES.. AND SHE DOES GET DOWN WHEN THE MAIL COMES AND THERE IS NOTHING FOR HER… MAKES FOR A LONG DAY… THANK YOU ALSO TO THE ONES THAT HAVE THOUGHT OF CHRISTINA’S SISTER ASHLEY.. SHE IS HERE TOO EXPERIENCING ALL OF THIS WITH US… AND IT REALLY, REALLY LIGHTS HER UP WHEN SHE GETS SOMETHING….



THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..






Click to send a Pooh 'n Friends Card of the Day from AngelWinks






The P.O. Box address is:
Gates Family
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773


Click to send a Quick Card from AngelWinks








Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love




Christina's New Hair!





Christina at camp





Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.

HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center












[
Previous 5 Sites
|
Skip Previous
|
Previous
|
Next
]


This RingSurf Childhood Cancer Net Ring
owned by Christina's AML leaukemia Page.


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Tuesday, September 23, 2003 9:14 PM CDT





DAY +21

Hello Everyone.

Well, things have pretty much been staying the same… All of Christina’s lab/chemistry levels that were very high, have started to come down some… She is still a little jaundice…She is still way out of range on a lot of stuff, but staying the same or even improving a little bit is good news as far as I am concerned….Her blood work as far as the red blood, white blood and platelets are still struggling to improve.. She is still getting platelets twice a day…

We did find out today that she has the CMV virus in her blood… Over half the people in the world carry it and don’t even know it… Since Christina’s immune system got so low it showed it’s face… Kind of like the Ecoli that sent her to ICU last year…. Everyone has it in there body, it just comes out when our bodies are at there weakest… So Christina is being put on 2 new antibiotics…She is still on 5 of them, they are just switching 2 of them out… Christina had done good with the fevers for 3 days and then unfortunately tonight she spiked a fever over 101.5, so that meant they has to draw more blood for cultures… The doctor thinks this CMV virus is what is causing the fevers, but we won’t know for sure for a few days… I just asked the nurse and she said even if she test positive, after a few days of the antibiotics she should test negative… It is NOT something you can catch from being around her… And like I said it is something that is in all of our bodies and don’t even know it… And wouldn’t unless you had NO immune system…

Christina is still sleeping A LOT and still throwing up…. The doctors are now trying a totally different med for the vomiting… I just hope something helps her… I truly think that is why she is sleeping so much too… Every time she wakes up or moves she throws up… I would sleep too….

Christina still has the oxygen, she did have it off for a while today when I had her sitting in the chair for her bath… She is still using the Morphine, but that’s o.k. I don’t want her in any pain… She was able to come off the Morphine pretty easy last year when she was on it for so long… So that is not a worry…

Unfortunately, I don’t have a typical Christina moment to tell… She usually does something that makes you just light up, but the past few days she has just been really quiet and like I said sleeping A lot… I really hate when she is this quiet…It drives me NUTS!!!! She will still smile at me whenever I look over at her, but other than that she hasn’t said much… Of course she still wakes up to open the mail and that perks her up for a while, then off to sleep once again… She’s my Sleeping Beauty!!!!

Ashley is doing pretty good, it has been Very Hard to get in a home schooling routine, but we are trying… Ashley says Thank You to those who have sent her a card… She has been really good through all this, with Christina’s vomiting Ashley has to leave the room more than she gets to stay in there….

Mike has been wonderful as usual, I just could not imagine being here by myself… Mike and I say it all the time, that we just don’t see how some of the parent’s do it alone… I could not begin to imagine what this all would be like without Mike by my side… All of this is so mentally exhausting, you need someone to lean on and he is my rock… He is all of our Rock… We are still taking turns staying in the room with Chris and staying at the RMH house with Ashley at night… And then during the day we all 4 are together, the way it should be…. Our system works, that’s all that matters…

Well, I better go for now… I think I will take advantage of getting to bed early tonight…

Thank you for the continual prayers and support…
Love, Sherry

THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!




BLOOD/PLATELETS INFO



IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DONATE BLOOD OR PLATELETS FOR CHRISTINA, YOU NEED TO EMAIL ME YOUR NAME AND ONCE A WEEK I WILL GO TO THE FBS OFFICE AND ADD THE NAMES…. I HAVE TO ADD THE NAMES IN PERSON… BECAUSE I HAVE TO GO IN PERSON TO ADD THE NAMES I WILL COLLECT NAMES FOR A FEW DAYS THEN GO AN ADD THEM…TO FIND A LOCATION NEAR YOU PLEASE GO TO www.fbsblood.org YOU WILL FIND ALL THE INFO YOU NEED THERE…OR YOU CAN CALL THEM, THEY HAVE AN 800 #……TO DONATE PLATELETS YOU HAVE TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT…. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE ONES THAT HAVE ALREADY EMAILED ME….. EVERY BIT HELPS AND IF CHRISTINA DOESN’T USE THEM IN TIME THEY GO TO ANOTHER PERSON THAT REALLY NEEDS THEM… BY DOING THIS YOU ARE HELPING TO SAVE LIVES !!!

Thank you also for all the encouraging words that are being left behind for Christina and our Family… Reading the guest book entries is a bright spot in these long mentally hard days….





************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…


O.h… Christina is featured this month on Make a Child Smile… The web site is www.makeachildsmile.com …

THANK YOU TO ALL THAT HAVE BEEN SENDING CARDS AND GIFTS TO THE HOSPITAL… CHRISTINA TRULY LIGHTS UP WHEN THE MAIL COMES.. AND SHE DOES GET DOWN WHEN THE MAIL COMES AND THERE IS NOTHING FOR HER… MAKES FOR A LONG DAY… THANK YOU ALSO TO THE ONES THAT HAVE THOUGHT OF CHRISTINA’S SISTER ASHLEY.. SHE IS HERE TOO EXPERIENCING ALL OF THIS WITH US… AND IT REALLY, REALLY LIGHTS HER UP WHEN SHE GETS SOMETHING….



THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..






Click to send a Pooh 'n Friends Card of the Day from AngelWinks






The P.O. Box address is:
Gates Family
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773


Click to send a Quick Card from AngelWinks








Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love




Christina's New Hair!





Christina at camp





Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.

HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center












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Sunday, September 21, 2003 10:36 PM CDT




DAY 19

Hello Everyone.

Christina is still fighting with all her might… The fevers are still there, but not as high as a few days ago… Unfortunately, the vomiting is still a major issue… She is still a little yellow (jaundice), but I think that is even starting to improve, some of her lab work is coming back either a little better or staying the same… All I have to say is that’s better than getting worse at this point.. Christina is still using the morphine pump a lot and she is still using the oxygen… She has just been sleeping a lot, and when I say a lot I mean 20/21 hours out of a 24 hour day… I think that maybe her body is trying to recover from the 2 weeks of Very restless sleep.. She dreams a lot and talks a lot in her sleep.. She has been having a lot of nightmares, to the point she is screaming and crying in her sleep… It scares the crap out of me, because I wake up to this not knowing what in the world is going on…

It is so hard to believe we have been her for 26 days already, the days are just running together..
I am nervous, yet excited about day 30, that’s when they will do a bone marrow biopsy to see if the transplant is working, to see how many of her cells are there and how many are donor cells….

Today, she tried watching some of the Buccaneers game, she would sleep on and off…And then after the game I gave her a bath and she perked up enough to look at some mail she got yesterday and she tried painting with me…

I guess that’s about all for now, Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day, that’s all I want…
Just for her to get better each day.. This is starting to get very mentally exhausting…

O.k… Here is a typical Christina moment…. Last night after I washed her down I was holding her hand kneeling in front of her… I kept telling her how strong and brave she was and how amazing I thought she was and that everything would be o.k. … I said a lot more things too… But then she looked straight at me and said “I love you Mommy and thank you so much for encouraging me” she said “I know everything will be alright because my Mommy says it will be”….
LORD PLEASE LET IT ALL BE ALRIGHT!!!!!

The new picture was taken on Sept, 20th, 2003...

If it was me in her shoes, I would be mad at the world… But NO Christina is still spreading LOVE and putting smiles on OUR faces… I Love you Christina…..

Love, Sherry




THIS PART BELOW I AM LEAVING HERE BECAUSE I MEAN EVERY BIT OF IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!


The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!




BLOOD/PLATELETS INFO



IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DONATE BLOOD OR PLATELETS FOR CHRISTINA, YOU NEED TO EMAIL ME YOUR NAME AND ONCE A WEEK I WILL GO TO THE FBS OFFICE AND ADD THE NAMES…. I HAVE TO ADD THE NAMES IN PERSON… BECAUSE I HAVE TO GO IN PERSON TO ADD THE NAMES I WILL COLLECT NAMES FOR A FEW DAYS THEN GO AN ADD THEM…TO FIND A LOCATION NEAR YOU PLEASE GO TO www.fbsblood.org YOU WILL FIND ALL THE INFO YOU NEED THERE…OR YOU CAN CALL THEM, THEY HAVE AN 800 #……TO DONATE PLATELETS YOU HAVE TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT…. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE ONES THAT HAVE ALREADY EMAILED ME….. EVERY BIT HELPS AND IF CHRISTINA DOESN’T USE THEM IN TIME THEY GO TO ANOTHER PERSON THAT REALLY NEEDS THEM… BY DOING THIS YOU ARE HELPING TO SAVE LIVES !!!

Thank you also for all the encouraging words that are being left behind for Christina and our Family… Reading the guest book entries is a bright spot in these long mentally hard days….


Lots of Love, Sherry





************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…


O.h… Christina is featured this month on Make a Child Smile… The web site is www.makeachildsmile.com …

THANK YOU TO ALL THAT HAVE BEEN SENDING CARDS AND GIFTS TO THE HOSPITAL… CHRISTINA TRULY LIGHTS UP WHEN THE MAIL COMES.. AND SHE DOES GET DOWN WHEN THE MAIL COMES AND THERE IS NOTHING FOR HER… MAKES FOR A LONG DAY… THANK YOU ALSO TO THE ONES THAT HAVE THOUGHT OF CHRISTINA’S SISTER ASHLEY.. SHE IS HERE TOO EXPERIENCING ALL OF THIS WITH US… AND IT REALLY, REALLY LIGHTS HER UP WHEN SHE GETS SOMETHING….


A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU!!!!

THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..






Click to send a Pooh 'n Friends Card of the Day from AngelWinks






The P.O. Box address is:
Gates Family
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773


Click to send a Quick Card from AngelWinks








Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love




Christina's New Hair!





Christina at camp





Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.

HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center












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Friday, September 19, 2003 12:39 AM CDT






DAY +17

Hello Everyone.

Christina is still holding her own… The fluid situation is still an issue, but we have got her on a schedule of different meds to help level out her lab work…The ultra sound of the liver and kidney look O.k. but now she is turning yellow (jaundice) The doctor is pretty much stumped, her gallbladder is looking a little sluggish , so they will do an ultrasound on that too today.. A few things on her lab/blood work have went higher in the past 12 hours, so they are just watching everything closely…. I totally was not kidding when I said sometimes things happen day by day, hour by hour and even minute by minute… And of course it never fails you get one thing figured out and under control and then a whole other issue pops up….. It just doesn’t seem to ever slow down…

The vomiting is still happening and so are the fevers… The vomiting issue in my opinion, is from everything she is having put in her body…. This child at times has 6 different types of fluids/meds going into her body at once.. There is never a second that she doesn’t have something flowing into her…. And then not eating in 4 weeks on top of that, makes me want to vomit myself.. Just the thought of all that makes me sick…. YUCK!!!

Christina is still having to use her Morphine button quite a bit… She is still sleeping a lot.. She did play video bingo last night, she won bingo once and her name got put into a bucket for the grand-prize, but she didn’t win and boy did she ever get mad!!!! The Grand-prize was a football signed by the whole Buccaneers Team… Then yesterday afternoon, she was watching TV and all of a sudden she started yelling ”NO” and kind of whimpering and the nurse was in the room at the time, we both were like what is going on… We looked up at the TV and there was a commercial for ICEE’s , 7-11 convenience store has a new flavor out and she was having a break down because she couldn’t have one and it will be a year before she can have any ICEE’s or a fountain drinks again…

Christina is sleeping again right now, she woke up for a little while, but then she said she was going to take a nap before the mail got here and to make sure I wake her up as soon as it arrives…. She doesn’t stay on any type of schedule here… Time of the day doesn’t really mean anything here, but she sure does know when mail should be arriving… silly little girl……
The mail she has received has been so wonderful… There is just NO way to describe watching your child go through living HELL, but then for a little while you see the child she use to be, while she is opening the mail and packages… What a Blessing to see her SMILE… Thank you to the ones that have sent her cards and gifts… It truly makes a difference in Christina and Our whole Family…
THANK YOU!!!!

O.h. I keep forgetting to let you know that there is something going on with her lungs… The lower right lobe has a spot from what they see on the x-ray… This could be Fungus, Fluid or the lung is a little collapsed.. So, she is getting chest x-rays everyday right now to keep an eye on this…

Christina’s eyes look so bad it is unreal.. She is still receiving platelet transfusions twice a day…
I now have her in FBS (florida blood services) computer system…


IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DONATE BLOOD OR PLATELETS FOR CHRISTINA, YOU NEED TO EMAIL ME YOUR NAME AND ONCE A WEEK I WILL GO TO THE FBS OFFICE AND ADD THE NAMES…. I HAVE TO ADD THE NAMES IN PERSON… BECAUSE I HAVE TO GO IN PERSON TO ADD THE NAMES I WILL COLLECT NAMES FOR A FEW DAYS THEN GO AN ADD THEM…TO FIND A LOCATION NEAR YOU PLEASE GO TO www.fbsblood.org YOU WILL FIND ALL THE INFO YOU NEED THERE…OR YOU CAN CALL THEM, THEY HAVE AN 800 #……TO DONATE PLATELETS YOU HAVE TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT…. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE ONES THAT HAVE ALREADY EMAILED ME….. EVERY BIT HELPS AND IF CHRISTINA DOESN’T USE THEM IN TIME THEY GO TO ANOTHER PERSON THAT REALLY NEEDS THEM… BY DOING THIS YOU ARE HELPING TO SAVE LIVES !!!

Thank you also for all the encouraging words that are being left behind for Christina and our Family… Reading the guest book entries is a bright spot in these long mentally hard days….

The picture I added to the top of the page was taken on Sept 15th, 2003.…

Lots of Love, Sherry



************************************************
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…


O.h… Christina is featured this month on Make a Child Smile… The web site is www.makeachildsmile.com …

THANK YOU TO ALL THAT HAVE BEEN SENDING CARDS AND GIFTS TO THE HOSPITAL… CHRISTINA TRULY LIGHTS UP WHEN THE MAIL COMES.. AND SHE DOES GET DOWN WHEN THE MAIL COMES AND THERE IS NOTHING FOR HER… MAKES FOR A LONG DAY… THANK YOU ALSO TO THE ONES THAT HAVE THOUGHT OF CHRISTINA’S SISTER ASHLEY.. SHE IS HERE TOO EXPERIENCING ALL OF THIS WITH US… AND IT REALLY, REALLY LIGHTS HER UP WHEN SHE GETS SOMETHING….

THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..





Click to send a Pooh 'n Friends Card of the Day from AngelWinks






The P.O. Box address is:
Gates Family
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773


Click to send a Quick Card from AngelWinks








Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love




Christina's New Hair!





Christina at camp





Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.

HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center












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Wednesday, September 17, 2003 6:50 PM CDT



DAY 15

Hello Everyone.

It has been a VERY long few days again… I am not sure where to begin…
First, Christina is Very Sick right now.. But like usual her spirits are good.. All she wants to do is sleep. A few days ago we noticed that she was getting puffy, so the doctors have had her on lasix (to help her pee) so she can get rid of the extra fluid that is ballooning her up. Well, that is not helping much at all, she has now gained 14 pounds. She hasn’t eaten in 3 weeks all they have her on is fluids, so she is pretty much having a fluid overload. Because of all this fluid, she is now on Oxygen and she is having a Very difficult time going pee.. Even with all the lasix and other meds to help her kidneys..
Of course my worst fear is pneumonia, fluid in the heart and kidney damage…These are the things that are of Great concern right now.. Christina’s fevers still come and go, one hour her temp. is normal then an hour later it is 104. Or higher.. She is on 5 antibiotics and they have had to increase the continual morphine and the amount of morphine she gets when she pushes her button. I just can’t get over how swollen she is… Today she can’t really open her eyes, because they are swollen so much and when you can see her eyes, there is NO white around her pupils, it’s all very red and she has a lot of busted blood vessels there too… As far as pain I think the morphine is controlling it, the crappy thing is because they have her on so many meds. They have to turn her morphine off a few times a day because they have to use the line for other stuff. The doctors have talked about to a pic-line, which is a big IV in her leg, but Mike and I said NO to that.. She is already in discomfort, and if you put that in her leg, she will not want to get up out of bed at all.. So if they do need another line to run meds through, they will just put in a regular IV in the hand or arm.. She is not to thrilled about that either, but she can’t go without the Morphine..

The above update was done at 9:00 am this morning…..

It is now 5:15 pm ……

The game plan now is for Christina to have platelet transfusions twice a day to keep her platelet count up (platelets in your blood are what keeps you from bleeding out). Because her platelets are so low, this is what is causing her blood vessels in her eyes to pop. With the fever and everything else going on in her body, the platelets are just not lasting long at all.. And because her body is not technically rejecting the platelet transfusions Florida Blood Services will NOT send her specific blood type… WHAT CRAP!!!! So instead she will have to get 2 transfusions a day.. Which in return means MORE fluids!!! She needs the platelets, she has NO WHITE in her eyes. .NONE…She’s my BEAUTIFUL angel that looks like the Devil child now…

Christina also had a ultrasound of her Kidney and Liver and an echo of her Heart all today..
She is losing her strength everyday that passes.. We still make her walk all the way around her bed to go to the chair to be washed down.. Even those few steps are starting to get tricky… But she is determined, she still wants to do some stuff on her own with NO help.. She says out loud to herself “I can do it, I can do it” She keeps convincing herself that she can keep going.. She is a FIGHTER!!!

I still sit here and watch her with TOTAL AMAZEMENT… She is having to go through so much, but yet she is NOT complaining…….

O.k. now it is 6:50 pm…. I am eventually going to get done with this update sometime today…ha ha..
It just seems like it never ends.. Doctors, nurses and others have been in and out of here today, it has been unreal.. I think more people have listen to Christina’s lungs today than an average person has done in a lifetime… O.h. by the way yes, the fevers are still there and so is the vomiting….YUCK!!!!

Well, I think that is All for now.. I have to start updating everyday, because trying to catch up is hard to do… I’m sure I’m leaving something out, but that is not unusual for those who Know me….


Christina did want me to tell EVERYONE HELLO!!!! I read her journal entries to her everyday, sometimes a few times a day when new ones come in… Thank You so much for the encouraging words that are being left for Christina and our Family, It really Helps… The days are Very Long and it is nice to have encouragement and support… Right now the computer is OUR line to the outside world….

P.S. I AM GOING TO FLORIDA BLOOD SERVICES TO FILL OUT PAPERS FOR PEOPLE TO DONATE BLOOD AND PLATELETS FOR CHRISTINA… IN ORDER FOR YOU TO DONATE TO HER, I HAVE TO PUT YOUR NAME ON THE LIST TO GO IN THERE COMPUTER SYSTEM.. YOU CAN’T JUST GO AND SAY YOU WANT TO DONATE TO HER.. I HAVE TO GIVE THEM PERMISSION TO EXCEPT THE BLOOD/PLATELETS… SO IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DONATE BLOOD OR PLATELETS FOR CHRISTINA JUST EMAIL ME PERSONALLY. (SUBJECT LINE: BLOOD/PLATELETS CHRISTINA) ANY (FBS) FLORIDA BLOOD SERVICE LOCATION IS FINE…. RIGHT NOW SHE IS NEEDING PLATELETS TWICE A DAY….

The picture I added to the top of the page was taken on Sept 15th, 2003.…

Lots of Love, Sherry



***********************************************************






I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…


O.h… Christina is featured this month on Make a Child Smile… The web site is www.makeachildsmile.com …

THANK YOU TO ALL THAT HAVE BEEN SENDING CARDS AND GIFTS TO THE HOSPITAL… CHRISTINA TRULY LIGHTS UP WHEN THE MAIL COMES.. AND SHE DOES GET DOWN WHEN THE MAIL COMES AND THERE IS NOTHING FOR HER… MAKES FOR A LONG DAY… THANK YOU ALSO TO THE ONES THAT HAVE THOUGHT OF CHRISTINA’S SISTER ASHLEY.. SHE IS HERE TOO EXPERIENCING ALL OF THIS WITH US… AND IT REALLY, REALLY LIGHTS HER UP WHEN SHE GETS SOMETHING….

THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..





Click to send a Pooh 'n Friends Card of the Day from AngelWinks






The P.O. Box address is:
Gates Family
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773


Click to send a Quick Card from AngelWinks








Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love




Christina's New Hair!





Christina at camp





Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.

HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center












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FRIDAY, September 12, 2003 10:00 PM CDT


Another Mini Update: DAY 10
Christina is still running Very High fevers, they are hanging around 104.5 and higher
She is still sleeping alot, she wakes up to open her mail and to watch a little t.v. now and then, but mostly she sleeps.. That's O.K. her body is fighting on heck of a fight and let's all Pray that the new marrow wins this battle... She is now on 3 anibiotics and they have a cooling blanket on her to try and bring this fever down.. They are going to start her on anti-fungal antibiotics tonight also.. They also gave her some more Lasix to make her pee more because she is starting to puff up a lot..to much fluids with all her meds and blood and platelets etc... What a NIGHTMARE..can I please wake up NOW!!!!

Well, I gotta go.. She doesn't like the sound of me typing right now... Thank you so much for all the encouraging words in her journal entry.. On these VERY long days, it means A LOT to ME and CHRISTINA...
Love, Sherry



Wednesday,September 10, 2003 11:00
MINI UPDATE: DAY 8

Christina is now running a Fever, so she is on 2 antibiotics and is being watched very closely.. She did have to start the GCSF again, but we pushed her Morphine button before she got it and then again a few more times in between and she seemed to do O.K. It was a lower dose than what we had tried a few days ago... They did have to increase the dose of Morphine that she gets continuously because her whole body is hurting a lot more.. She is using the bedside potty and has not been very active in anything.. She did stay awake for a little while today, but the throwing up is still an issue, so the doctors are trying some other medicine for that... She has NO immune system so please say an extra prayer that these antibiotics do there jobs...

Thank You again for ALL the cards she is getting, Yes Deidre, she has been getting your cards, she just got the one with the smiley face sun thing.. VERY CUTE...
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE!!!!!

Well, I gotta go, Christina is sweating pretty bad right now so maybe she is trying to break this fever...Let's hope so, she won't take tyenol because it will just come right back up...YUCK!!!

Lots of Love and MANY THANKS, Sherry





Tuesday,September 9,2003 6:59 pm
DAY 7

Hello Everyone,

Well, It has been a few Very long days… Christina is now at day 7 post transplant and she is still holding her own. We thought that the whole throwing up issue and pain problems were resolved, but we were mistaken…

She still has her moments and she told me today that she sleeps all the time so she won’t throw up.. So pretty much all she is doing is sleeping and more sleeping… Which is O.k. her little body needs to rest and recover, but I really miss hearing her talk… Funny how 2 weeks ago her and her sister were fighting SO much and I just kept telling them to be quite and don’t talk to each other any more… And now the silence is driving me NUTS!!!! I want to hear her laughing, fighting or anything… I miss that.. She has laughed here and there, mostly when one of her favorite nurses comes in telling her crazy dog stories…

The doctor came in and looked at her today and said she doesn’t even look like a child who has just had a transplant. She said she almost looks to good, needless to say, you can take that 2 ways.. And of course my thinking was the bad… So I asked the new doctor who came from Sloan Kettering what she thought and she said that Christina’s body is doing everything it is suppose to be doing right now.. They said that we might not see any Graft vs. host until around day 14 or so…
The main objective right now is for Christina to stay as healthy as possible with no immune system..
Her body has been flirting with a temperature since last night, but it hasn’t gone high enough for them to do cultures and start antibiotics.. We hope and pray that the fevers and the infections stay away…

I have to bath Christina once a day and change her bed sheets and today when I was bathing her, she ran her hand through her hair and now her hair is starting to fall out… I started fake pouting and she looked at me and said “Mom you knew it was going to come out, so stop pouting..” And now that it is coming out, she thinks it is pretty finny to show me the hands full of hair, because she remembers from last year when it fell out, it use to turn my stomach… She would always say “hey Mom look” and then she would laugh, because she knew it drove me nuts… That’s Christina for you… ha ha..

The whole day she slept, but when she woke up she realized mail had come and the first thing she said was “where’s my mail” with a Big smile on her face… Obviously, she wasn’t asleep the whole time, or she wouldn’t have know the mail had been delivered… She is getting pretty sneaky, she lays there with her eyes closed, so you have to be careful with what you say… Sometimes all of a sudden you her something and she is either correcting us or putting in her 2 cents and then she rolls back over… silly child of mine…..

Well, I just keep going and going…. I guess that’s all for now…
Just remember the Transplant is just the beginning of a VERY long journey, One day at a time is how we are living right now… Even though I say she is having a good day, that might just mean she only threw up 5 times, instead of the 10 she did yesterday…

Lots of Love, Sherry




I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…


O.h… Christina is featured this month on Make a Child Smile… The web site is www.makeachildsmile.com …

THANK YOU TO ALL THAT HAVE BEEN SENDING CARDS AND GIFTS TO THE HOSPITAL… CHRISTINA TRULY LIGHTS UP WHEN THE MAIL COMES.. AND SHE DOES GET DOWN WHEN THE MAIL COMES AND THERE IS NOTHING FOR HER… MAKES FOR A LONG DAY… THANK YOU ALSO TO THE ONES THAT HAVE THOUGHT OF CHRISTINA’S SISTER ASHLEY.. SHE IS HERE TOO EXPERIENCING ALL OF THIS WITH US… AND IT REALLY, REALLY LIGHTS HER UP WHEN SHE GETS SOMETHING….

THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..





Click to send a Pooh 'n Friends Card of the Day from AngelWinks






The P.O. Box address is:
Gates Family
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773




Click to send a Quick Card from AngelWinks








Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love




Christina's New Hair!





Christina at camp





Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.

HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center












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Friday, September 5, 2003 7:57 PM CDT


At 2:42 p.m Sept, 2, 2003 Christina received her cord blood transplant…THANK YOU VERY MUCH to the Donor who is out there somewhere that had a baby girl and was kind enough to donate the cord blood… MAY GOD BLESS YOU!!!!!!!




DAY 3

Hello Everyone,

Christina is holding her own, at least she is trying very hard to…The last time I updated she was still throwing up a lot, she is still getting sick but I think it has slowed down some.. She is just very weak and very tired, she is still not eating or drinking.. She will watch t v for awhile and then sleep again..
She has a Morphine pump now, because yesterday she had sat in the chair for a pretty long time and she had thrown up so much, that when she got back in bed and stretched out she had severe pain in her chest and stomach. She was screaming so loud and she kept asking her Daddy to help her and she kept saying she couldn’t breath… The hooked up the pulse ox machine and her oxygen levels were good… We think she just had really bad pains and she wound up having a panic attack and started hyperventilating.. Needless to say it was a VERY scary experience… And then to top it of it happened again tonight… SO our thinking is, Christina started getting this medicine called GCSF it stimulates the bone marrow anyway, she got the first dose last night around 5 and then within minutes she had the pain in her chest and that’s what happened again tonight… I still want a EKG and an echo done on her heart to be safe.. So the doctor is going to stop the GCSF for a few days to see how she does… If she gets no more chest pains, then it probably was the GCSF…

NEVER A DULL MOMENT!!!!!!!

Other than all that, the doctor said that all the lab work it looking good, as far as her kidneys and stuff like that… We did find out yesterday that they will not take bone marrow until DAY 30..
The doctor said even then her marrow will still show some of her own cells still there, but we hope to hear that more of the Donor cells are there, rather than hers… That’s the goal……

So we now just sit and wait…. And PRAY she starts grafting and does not get any infections in the meantime… One of the meds she is on for the throwing up makes her very moody… She wakes up crying sometimes and other times she wakes up with a smile on her face…

As usual through all of this Christina has a way of melting your heart… Last night/early this morning she had gotten up to go potty and then she was sitting on the side of her bed with her feet dangling and I asked her “did you realize that your sheets, comforter and nightgown all have stars in them” and she said “yes and you have stars in your eyes…” And she said it with such a loving, sincere look on her face… At that moment I just got up and held her tight… Why is this Amazing, beautiful, caring, loving, sweet child having to endure all of this horrific CRAP that she is enduring….. Somehow she keeps going and she keeps us going..

We did tell Christina about ^i^Brittany^i^ , I know it would have Just made things worse if she would have found out by accident or if we told her weeks later, she would have been very Angry with us.. We had promised her in the beginning that we would tell her everything, so that was a very had choice to make… I am glad we told her…. She knows that ^i^Brittany^i^ is taking good care of ^i^Taylor^i^…and she finds comfort in the fact that they are not alone up there.. They are together again and can play and run free…. And watch and protect us all down here…
^i^Taylor’s^i^ parents sent Christina a worry stone that says Angels are protecting You.. It use to be ^i^Taylor’s^i^… Christina keeps it under her pillow.. It means the World to her now… Thank You Angie and Jeff for sharing a little special piece of ^i^Taylor^i^ with Christina…
I wish all of you who come across this page through one way or another could have a chance to meet all of these AMAZING kids… The strength that they have is truly unbelievable… I am honored to know the ones I know… I feel blessed.. Even though we are going through all of this with Christina, the best thing that has happened is getting to meet these kids… Look at ^i^Brittany^i^, UNBELIEVABLE…. She truly is an inspiration… I will NEVER be the same after getting to know Her and Her Family.. Our Lives WILL forever be Changed.. Not just because we live with Cancer.. But we have the privilege to see some VERY courageous Kids and young Ladies…

Well, I have went on long enough…see this is what happens when I don’t update everyday ..ha ha…

O.h… Christina is featured this month on Make a Child Smile… The web site is www.makeachildsmile.org

THANK YOU TO ALL THAT HAVE BEEN SENDING CARDS AND GIFTS TO THE HOSPITAL… CHRISTINA TRULY LIGHTS UP WHEN THE MAIL COMES.. AND SHE DOES GET DOWN WHEN THE MAIL COMES AND THERE IS NOTHING FOR HER… MAKES FOR A LONG DAY… THANK YOU ALSO TO THE ONES THAT HAVE THOUGHT OF CHRISTINA’S SISTER ASHLEY.. SHE IS HERE TOO EXPERIENCING ALL OF THIS WITH US… AND IT REALLY, REALLY LIGHTS HER UP WHEN SHE GETS SOMETHING….

THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR FAMILY…. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US….THANK YOU SO MUCH…..

Love, Sherry









Click to send a Pooh 'n Friends Card of the Day from AngelWinks






The P.O. Box address is:
Gates Family
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773


Click to send a Quick Card from AngelWinks








Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…



Christina's Hair! She just had to have it dyed..It was suppose to be Purple...It turned out Blue so then they added Red and the Red took over...





Christina at camp





Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.

HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center












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Tuesday, September 2, 2003 10:05 PM CDT


At 2:42 p.m today Sept, 2, 2003 Christina received her cord blood transplant…THANK YOU VERY MUCH to the Donor who is out there somewhere that had a baby girl and was kind enough to donate the cord blood… MAY GOD BLESS YOU!!!!!!!



Click to send a Pooh 'n Friends Card of the Day from AngelWinks





IT IS WITH A VERY HEAVY AND SAD HEART THAT I TELL YOU THAT PRECIOUS BRITTANY HAS EARNED HER ANGEL WINGS TODAY… I PRAY GOD WILL HOLD PATTY, BRIAN, CHRISTOPHER AND STEPHEN STRONG THROUGH THIS VERY DIFFICULT TIME….
BRITTANY, YOU TAKE GOOD CARE OF TAYLOR UP THERE… BRITTANY LOVED MAKE-UP AND TAYLOR LOVED DOING NAILS, SO THEY MAKE A GOOD COMBO…YOU 2 GIRLS RUN FREE…..WE LOVE YOU…..


Hello,
Today is the Big Day!!! It is 9:15 am and we still have no clue when she will receive the cord blood… They said probably sometime after noon…Christina continues to be pretty sick.. If she is not throwing up she is going to the bathroom a lot… the radiation and chemo and ATG are just really wiping her out… Which is what it is suppose to do…It’s just very hard to sit back and watch it all happen…

Christina had been pretty quite and sad the past few days, she wouldn’t even talk to her favorite nurses, but yesterday she came around a little. Seeing her smile and laugh a little was VERY good to see… I think it picked all our spirits up a lot… It’s easy to get down at times like this, but she somehow makes you smile.. It might take a while , but she can’t go that long without smiling.. It’s just impossible…ha ha..

She is still spiking a fever here and there, but then they go down without any tyenol, so that’s good.. The have her on Hyperal and Lipids which is her veggies and starches through an IV… We don’t want her to have to get a feeding tube.. And Christina definitely doesn’t want one..

Well, I guess that’s all for now…

Love, Sherry


SUNDAY AUGUST 30th, 2003 11:00p.m.
Hello,
I know I had said that I would update every other night, but things got a little crazy for awhile…
The radiation and now the 2 days of Chemo and ATG (immune suppressant drug) have really started hitting Christina very hard. Last night (Saturday night) we thought she might have to go to ICU once again, because of her low blood pressure. Her pressure would stay around 70 over 38. Which is very low.. So they kept running IV fluids full force to bring it up, it finally started to come back up today, but she is still pretty low… And to top it all of she spiked 102.8 fever. Which the meds she is on can cause the fever and chills, but to be on the safe side she is now on 2 antibiotics. It has just been a roller coaster ride the last 3 days, I feel like I’m running on pure adrenaline… And in the middle of all this on Friday night the power went out around 7 p.m. the generators came on and then they went off until 4 a.m. the next morning.. Come to find out when the 3 generators kicked on 2 of them quit working. So the only thing that worked in the whole hospital was the red outlets for the machines, no air, no TV or lights… Which all of that made for a very long night..

Christina finished her Chemo today and she will finish the ATG on Monday and then Tuesday is the BIG DAY what some like to call her 2nd BIRTHDAY!!!!!! We all are pretty anxious , excited and scared all mixed into one… Mike and I just want it to be Us and Ashley in the room with Christina when she receives the Cord Blood…I know a lot of people are going to be checking and seeing how everything is going and I greatly appreciate that.. I will update this page as soon as I can again.. I’m not sure who will be staying with Christina Tuesday Night, I’m suppose to, but we will see..

As I was typing this update, Christina wound up needing Morphine for head and leg pain, why she is now having these pains I don’t know, it could be from the ATG also… I know that everyone has told us that the ATG is really rough on the body and system, Christina looks like she has been a pretty bad fist fight and lost.. Her eyes are so puffy and swollen.. It just breaks my heart to see her have to go through all of this again.. And of course like last time, she gets pretty mad when Mike or I say that we are “sorry that she is going through this” She gets so mad when we get down or when we tell her we wish we could do something to make it all better… She has such a BIG HEART that she blames her self for making us sad because of all this.. No 10 yr old should be saying the totally amazing and unselfish things that she says.. She is so amazing, she truly boggles my mind.. Way to wise for being 10...

Well, I guess that’s about all for now, Please just keep praying extra hard that everything will be O.K….

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTINUAL PRAYERS AND WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO OUR FAMILY….

THANK YOU SO MUCH STAFF, STUDENTS AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY FOR ALL THAT YOU ARE DOING TO HELP OUR FAMILY IN THIS TIME OF NEED… AS I ALWAYS SAY THERE IS NOT ENOUGH WORDS TO EXPRESS HOW GRATEFUL WE ARE…………THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!!!!!!!!!!

Love, Sherry

Hospital info is at the bottom of the page by the page journal and guest book stuff….









The P.O. Box address is:
Gates Family
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773


Click to send a Quick Card from AngelWinks








Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love




Christina's New Hair!





Christina at camp





Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.

HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center







Christina's Newspaper Article in The Ledger, May 29, 2003





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Tuesday, September 2, 2003 8:36 AM CDT




Click to send a Pooh 'n Friends Card of the Day from AngelWinks





IT IS WITH A VERY HEAVY AND SAD HEART THAT I TELL YOU THAT PRECIOUS BRITTANY HAS EARNED HER ANGEL WINGS TODAY… I PRAY GOD WILL HOLD PATTY, BRIAN, CHRISTOPHER AND STEPHEN STRONG THROUGH THIS VERY DIFFICULT TIME….
BRITTANY, YOU TAKE GOOD CARE OF TAYLOR UP THERE… BRITTANY LOVED MAKE-UP AND TAYLOR LOVED DOING NAILS, SO THEY MAKE A GOOD COMBO…YOU 2 GIRLS RUN FREE…..WE LOVE YOU…..


Hello,
Today is the Big Day!!! It is 9:15 am and we still have no clue when she will receive the cord blood… They said probably sometime after noon…Christina continues to be pretty sick.. If she is not throwing up she is going to the bathroom a lot… the radiation and chemo and ATG are just really wiping her out… Which is what it is suppose to do…It’s just very hard to sit back and watch it all happen…

Christina had been pretty quite and sad the past few days, she wouldn’t even talk to her favorite nurses, but yesterday she came around a little. Seeing her smile and laugh a little was VERY good to see… I think it picked all our spirits up a lot… It’s easy to get down at times like this, but she somehow makes you smile.. It might take a while , but she can’t go that long without smiling.. It’s just impossible…ha ha..

She is still spiking a fever here and there, but then they go down without any tyenol, so that’s good.. The have her on Hyperal and Lipids which is her veggies and starches through an IV… We don’t want her to have to get a feeding tube.. And Christina definitely doesn’t want one..

Well, I guess that’s all for now…

Love, Sherry


SUNDAY AUGUST 30th, 2003 11:00p.m.
Hello,
I know I had said that I would update every other night, but things got a little crazy for awhile…
The radiation and now the 2 days of Chemo and ATG (immune suppressant drug) have really started hitting Christina very hard. Last night (Saturday night) we thought she might have to go to ICU once again, because of her low blood pressure. Her pressure would stay around 70 over 38. Which is very low.. So they kept running IV fluids full force to bring it up, it finally started to come back up today, but she is still pretty low… And to top it all of she spiked 102.8 fever. Which the meds she is on can cause the fever and chills, but to be on the safe side she is now on 2 antibiotics. It has just been a roller coaster ride the last 3 days, I feel like I’m running on pure adrenaline… And in the middle of all this on Friday night the power went out around 7 p.m. the generators came on and then they went off until 4 a.m. the next morning.. Come to find out when the 3 generators kicked on 2 of them quit working. So the only thing that worked in the whole hospital was the red outlets for the machines, no air, no TV or lights… Which all of that made for a very long night..

Christina finished her Chemo today and she will finish the ATG on Monday and then Tuesday is the BIG DAY what some like to call her 2nd BIRTHDAY!!!!!! We all are pretty anxious , excited and scared all mixed into one… Mike and I just want it to be Us and Ashley in the room with Christina when she receives the Cord Blood…I know a lot of people are going to be checking and seeing how everything is going and I greatly appreciate that.. I will update this page as soon as I can again.. I’m not sure who will be staying with Christina Tuesday Night, I’m suppose to, but we will see..

As I was typing this update, Christina wound up needing Morphine for head and leg pain, why she is now having these pains I don’t know, it could be from the ATG also… I know that everyone has told us that the ATG is really rough on the body and system, Christina looks like she has been a pretty bad fist fight and lost.. Her eyes are so puffy and swollen.. It just breaks my heart to see her have to go through all of this again.. And of course like last time, she gets pretty mad when Mike or I say that we are “sorry that she is going through this” She gets so mad when we get down or when we tell her we wish we could do something to make it all better… She has such a BIG HEART that she blames her self for making us sad because of all this.. No 10 yr old should be saying the totally amazing and unselfish things that she says.. She is so amazing, she truly boggles my mind.. Way to wise for being 10...

Well, I guess that’s about all for now, Please just keep praying extra hard that everything will be O.K….

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTINUAL PRAYERS AND WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO OUR FAMILY….

THANK YOU SO MUCH STAFF, STUDENTS AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY FOR ALL THAT YOU ARE DOING TO HELP OUR FAMILY IN THIS TIME OF NEED… AS I ALWAYS SAY THERE IS NOT ENOUGH WORDS TO EXPRESS HOW GRATEFUL WE ARE…………THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!!!!!!!!!!

Love, Sherry

Hospital info is at the bottom of the page by the page journal and guest book stuff….









The P.O. Box address is:
Gates Family
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773


Click to send a Quick Card from AngelWinks








Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED PLEASE PASS THIS SITE ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT….MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE MADE….IT TAKES 10 SECONDS TO HELP OUT……THANK YOU…


Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love




Christina's New Hair!





Christina at camp





Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.

HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE CHILDREN'S CANCER CENTER, JUST CLICK ON THE NAME TO GO STRAIGHT TO THERE SITES


KATIA'S SITE a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Angel Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center












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Sunday, August 31, 2003 10:50 PM CDT


Click to send a Pooh 'n Friends Card of the Day from AngelWinks



Hello,
I know I had said that I would update every other night, but things got a little crazy for awhile…
The radiation and now the 2 days of Chemo and ATG (immune suppressant drug) have really started hitting Christina very hard. Last night (Saturday night) we thought she might have to go to ICU once again, because of her low blood pressure. Her pressure would stay around 70 over 38. Which is very low.. So they kept running IV fluids full force to bring it up, it finally started to come back up today, but she is still pretty low… And to top it all of she spiked 102.8 fever. Which the meds she is on can cause the fever and chills, but to be on the safe side she is now on 2 antibiotics. It has just been a roller coaster ride the last 3 days, I feel like I’m running on pure adrenaline… And in the middle of all this on Friday night the power went out around 7 p.m. the generators came on and then they went off until 4 a.m. the next morning.. Come to find out when the 3 generators kicked on 2 of them quit working. So the only thing that worked in the whole hospital was the red outlets for the machines, no air, no TV or lights… Which all of that made for a very long night..

Christina finished her Chemo today and she will finish the ATG on Monday and then Tuesday is the BIG DAY what some like to call her 2nd BIRTHDAY!!!!!! We all are pretty anxious , excited and scared all mixed into one… Mike and I just want it to be Us and Ashley in the room with Christina when she receives the Cord Blood…I know a lot of people are going to be checking and seeing how everything is going and I greatly appreciate that.. I will update this page as soon as I can again.. I’m not sure who will be staying with Christina Tuesday Night, I’m suppose to, but we will see..

As I was typing this update, Christina wound up needing Morphine for head and leg pain, why she is now having these pains I don’t know, it could be from the ATG also… I know that everyone has told us that the ATG is really rough on the body and system, Christina looks like she has been a pretty bad fist fight and lost.. Her eyes are so puffy and swollen.. It just breaks my heart to see her have to go through all of this again.. And of course like last time, she gets pretty mad when Mike or I say that we are “sorry that she is going through this” She gets so mad when we get down or when we tell her we wish we could do something to make it all better… She has such a BIG HEART that she blames her self for making us sad because of all this.. No 10 yr old should be saying the totally amazing and unselfish things that she says.. She is so amazing, she truly boggles my mind.. Way to wise for being 10...

Well, I guess that’s about all for now, Please just keep praying extra hard that everything will be O.K….

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTINUAL PRAYERS AND WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO OUR FAMILY….

AN EXTRA SPECIAL THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE STAFF, STUDENTS AND FAMILIES OF SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY FOR ALL THAT YOU ARE DOING TO HELP OUR FAMILY IN THIS TIME OF NEED… AS I ALWAYS SAY THERE IS NOT ENOUGH WORDS TO EXPRESS HOW GRATEFUL WE ARE…………THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!!!!!!!!!!

Love, Sherry

Hospital info is at the bottom of the page by the page journal and guest book stuff….









The P.O. Box address is:
Gates Family
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773


Click to send a Thought of the Day Card from AngelWinks






Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED






Christina's New Hair!





Christina at camp



Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.

Here are some links to Christina's friends from the hospital and the Children's Cancer Center, just click on the name to go straight to there sites


KATIA'S SITE a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center












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Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love






Thursday, August 28, 2003 10:47 PM CDT

Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love







Click to send a Pooh 'n Friends Card of the Day from AngelWinks






Hello Everyone,

I know I said I would update every other day, but I am staying in the Hospital room with Christina again tonight because Mike wasn’t feeling to good, so we didn’t want to take any chances. I think it is just allergies, but you never know…

I lay here trying to go to sleep and fifty thousand things keep going through my head.. I sit her sometimes and just shake my head in disbelief that we are were we are and doing what we are doing.. It all just seems so unreal, kind of like a dream, well more like a nightmare…I truly can’t believe that I have spent the past 2 days watching my beautiful daughter be exposed to total body radiation.. It just doesn’t seem real…
I can’t believe once again I keep having to repeat the words “I wish I could do something to make everything all better” As a Mom I truly hate this feeling.. I feel like my hands are tied and I have tape across my mouth, because I can’t do anything to help and everything I say just seems useless at times too.. It really gets old telling your 10 yr old “you know that you will only get sicker to get better” How said is that…

Christina is tossing and turning in bed right now and there is nothing I can do to help. She is very itchy today, we don’t know if it is the radiation or what, but nothing is helping and she can’t sleep.. She is getting very angry about the itchiness she is having….She doesn’t have any welts on her or anything so I don’t know what is going on , I just wish it would stop…and let her rest…

I know all of this sounds bad, I AM staying strong for her, because she needs that and I know that is the ONE thing I can do that just might help her through all of this.. She did have a pretty good day, NO vomiting today, just the itchiness. Hopefully tomorrow will be a GOOD day again…
Tomorrow is the last day of radiation and then she starts the Chemo..

Well, I guess that’s all for now…Thanks for letting me get all that off my chest…

Thank you again to everybody who has been soooooo wonderful to our family through this difficult time…
Words will never describe how our family feels and how grateful we are for everything….

Love, Sherry



Wednesday, 27th, 2003
Hello,
Well, I guess I will start with THIS STINKS!!!!!

O.K. Now on to other things… Yesterday Christina had her Broviac (central line) put back in. She did very well through this, it took about an hour and then she was in recovery for an hour, so needless it say it was 2 VERY long hours of waiting. They were able to put the line back in where it was before so she won’t have a scar on the other side too. I think she pushed it a little yesterday because she threw up a few times for the anesthesia .

Today, Christina started her TBI (total body irradiation) boy has it hit her hard already… She goes at 9 am and 2:30 pm, 3 days in a row. The first time this morning she handled it o.k. other than feeling a little tired, but then she stared getting sick and after the 2nd go at it she really stared feeling sick. They gave her everything possible for nausea. It helpes some, but she still feels a little sick.. She has been so good about taking all her pills and mouth washes.. She really is being brave about doing all this.. She keeps saying she wants to go home, she misses her dog, she doesn’t want to do any more radiation… I just keep telling her that she has to do these things to get better, to put all this Cancer behind us… This time we all are so detereminded to beat this nasty beast for good… She is so tuff and strong..like I always say she just amazes me.. She said she would be alright as long as she had visitors… She’s such a social bug.. And of course she made me go down stairs and triple make sure that the mail had already came for the day… The mail helped her so much last time she was in the hospital for so long.. So I think she just got dependent on it.. So if you get a chance drop her a note/card..It defentitly would put a smile on her Beautiful face…

Well, I have went on enough, I will update every other night. Tonight is my night to stay in the room with Christina and Ashley is at the Ronald McDonal House with Michael. Then tomorrow we switch, so I figured I will update on my nights after Christina goes to sleep…. She’s sleeping like a baby right now…. Hopefully she will have a peaceful night.. Me too for that matter…haha…

Thank you all for keeping us in your prayers and thoughts…. THANK YOU SLE (SCOTT LAKE ELEM.) FOR EVERYTHING THAT THE STAFF, STUDENTS AND THERE FAMILIES ARE DOING TO HELP US THROUGH THIS DIFFICULT TIME…. WE WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO THANK YOU ALL ENOUGH.. WHAT YOU ALL ARE DOING MEANS THE WORLD TO OUR FAMILY!!!!!!THANK YOU!!!

Love, Sherry






The P.O. Box address is:
Gates Family
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773


Click to send a Thought of the Day Card from AngelWinks






Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED




Christina's New Hair!





Christina at camp



Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.

Here are some links to Christina's friends from the hospital and the Children's Cancer Center, just click on the name to go straight to there sites


KATIA'S SITE a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center












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Wednesday, August 27, 2003 10:21 PM CDT


Click to send a Pooh 'n Friends Card of the Day from AngelWinks


Hello,
Well, I guess I will start with THIS STINKS!!!!!

O.K. Now on to other things… Yesterday Christina had her Broviac (central line) put back in. She did very well through this, it took about an hour and then she was in recovery for an hour, so needless it say it was 2 VERY long hours of waiting. They were able to put the line back in where it was before so she won’t have a scar on the other side too. I think she pushed it a little yesterday because she threw up a few times for the anesthesia .

Today, Christina started her TBI (total body irradiation) boy has it hit her hard already… She goes at 9 am and 2:30 pm, 3 days in a row. The first time this morning she handled it o.k. other than feeling a little tired, but then she stared getting sick and after the 2nd go at it she really stared feeling sick. They gave her everything possible for nausea. It helpes some, but she still feels a little sick.. She has been so good about taking all her pills and mouth washes.. She really is being brave about doing all this.. She keeps saying she wants to go home, she misses her dog, she doesn’t want to do any more radiation… I just keep telling her that she has to do these things to get better, to put all this Cancer behind us… This time we all are so detereminded to beat this nasty beast for good… She is so tuff and strong..like I always say she just amazes me.. She said she would be alright as long as she had visitors… She’s such a social bug.. And of course she made me go down stairs and triple make sure that the mail had already came for the day… The mail helped her so much last time she was in the hospital for so long.. So I think she just got dependent on it.. So if you get a chance drop her a note/card..It defentitly would put a smile on her Beautiful face…

Well, I have went on enough, I will update every other night. Tonight is my night to stay in the room with Christina and Ashley is at the Ronald McDonal House with Michael. Then tomorrow we switch, so I figured I will update on my nights after Christina goes to sleep…. She’s sleeping like a baby right now…. Hopefully she will have a peaceful night.. Me too for that matter…haha…

Thank you all for keeping us in your prayers and thoughts…. THANK YOU SLE (SCOTT LAKE ELEM.) FOR EVERYTHING THAT THE STAFF, STUDENTS AND THERE FAMILIES ARE DOING TO HELP US THROUGH THIS DIFFICULT TIME…. WE WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO THANK YOU ALL ENOUGH.. WHAT YOU ALL ARE DOING MEANS THE WORLD TO OUR FAMILY!!!!!!THANK YOU!!!

Love, Sherry

THE HOSPITAL ADDRESS IS DOWN AT THE END OF THIS PAGE. HER ROOM # IS 272... THE PHONE # IS 1-800-456-4543 EXT 2272...










Click to send a Thought of the Day Card from AngelWinks






Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED




Christina's New Hair!





Christina at camp



Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.





Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love



Here are some links to Christina's friends from the hospital and the Children's Cancer Center, just click on the name to go straight to there sites


KATIA'S SITE a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center







The P.O. Box address is:
Gates Family
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773






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Monday, August 25, 2003 9:33 PM CDT

Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love







Click to send a Pooh 'n Friends Card of the Day from AngelWinks







Hello,
Well, Christina is in the Hospital.. None of us were looking forward to the long Hour drive over here to St.Pete, but today it seemed even longer.. She is receiving Platelets as I type this and then she will receive blood tonight too. We still don’t know what time her surgery is for her Broviac (central line), we just know that it is scheduled for in the morning.

It took a few hours to get all the stuff in her room, because we had to wipe EVERYTHING with some solution and then with water and had to let it air dry before we could take it into her room. She wondered the hallways while we did that, because as soon as she stepped foot into her room she was not aloud back out. I think that will be one of the hardest things for her to deal with, she is such a social bug. The 3 days for radiation are the only days she can leave her room, after that she is in for a long haul…THAT STINKS!!

The hardest part of today was saying Good-bye to our Dog rose, I swear dogs cry too.. Her eyes were all watered up and let’s just say it was a very emotional time for all of us… I know the dog knew something was happening again, we could just tell..

I guess that’s all for now, I’m pretty tired so I think I will try and sleep some while Christina is.

THANK YOU ALL FOR THE CONTINUAL PRAYERS AND SUPPORT!!!!! It means the world to us!!!!

Love, Sherry

P.s. The HOSPITAL address is down at the bottom of her page.. She is in room 272.… The phone# is 1-800-456-4543 ext 2272...If you send Christina mail just address it to Christina Gates RM 272.…and then the address I have down below…THANK YOU AGAIN EVERYONE!!!!!







The P.O. Box address is:
Gates Family
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773


Click to send a Thought of the Day Card from AngelWinks






Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED




Christina's New Hair!





Christina at camp



Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.

Here are some links to Christina's friends from the hospital and the Children's Cancer Center, just click on the name to go straight to there sites


KATIA'S SITE a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center












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TUESDAY, August 19, 2003 9:16 PM CDT

Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love






THE COLLAGE OF PICTURES UP TOP IS FROM OUR TRIP TO TENNESSEE 4th of JULY
Click to send a Pooh 'n Friends Card of the Day from AngelWinks






THURSDAY August 21st...
Please take a moment today and Pray for the Zipter Family.. Brittany is in the hospital not doing well at all and Patty her Mom is now faced with batteling Breast Cancer for the second time.. This Family just amazes me with all that they have endured and have managed to stay so strong through it all.. I have a link to Brittany page on the bottom with all of Christina's other friends....




Hello,Mini Update:::
Christina got to go on her deep sea fishing trip today. As you can see from the picture above, she had a lot of fun and caught a lot of Spanish Mackeral. The captain cleaned and filleted the fish and I used cornmeal batter and it was a wonderful dinner...THANK YOU "LUCKY DAY CHARTERS"....

MONDAY, August 18, 2003

Hello,

Things have been crazy around here as usual… We have been very busy just trying to get everything lined up for the long hospital stay. Christina has completed all the required pre-transplant test and she had her dentist appointment today. Luckily, she doesn’t need any work done on her teeth, so that’s an added bonus.
Last week we met with the radiologist and they showed Christina and us how they would be doing the TBI (total body irradiation). Christina has been doing O.K. she has been a little more tired here and there, but other than that she has seemed fine. We did request another bone marrow aspiration for this coming Friday. They haven’t done one in a few weeks and her blood counts have pretty much stayed the same. You never know Miracles still can happen… Maybe this will be one of them…

We have been busy getting things for her hospital room, she has decided to go with a garden theme, Butterflies, flowers, clouds etc… She will only get to leave here room the first 3 days for radiation and then after that her room will be her home for awhile.

Christina is now being admitted on the 25th of August because they are going to give her platelets through the night because of her having the surgery for her Broviac on the morning of the 26th. While Christina is in surgery we will be wiping her belonging down and putting them into her room. Everything that goes in there has to be packaged or wiped down with some special solution they give us. I even have to wash her clothes in hot water, then dry them and straight from the dryer to a zip lock bag. Same with her bedding. She is allergic to the detergent the hospital uses, so we bring her own bedding and of course she has to have her own fancy nightgowns….

I want to thank everybody who has been offering there support and prayers… It has meant so much to Christina and our whole family..

The girls elementary school (Scott Lake Elem.) has been so wonderful to us… I just don’t know how we would be making it with out the wonderful staff and parents at this wonderful school. They truly have been a blessing to us. Thank You All….

I could go on forever Thanking so many people individually, but it would take forever.. To the ones that know who you are that have helped our family Mentally, physically and financially… THANK YOU!!!!!!
All of you help keep us going in so many ways……THANK YOU!!!!

The rest of this week we are just trying to finish up getting stuff together and getting things done that Christina wants to do or see or experience. The deep sea fishing trip from a few weeks ago got messed up, so we are going out tomorrow morning fishing.. Christina is sooooo excited, I don’t even know if she will be able to calm down enough to go to sleep tonight. My brother set this one up for us while he was here visiting.

Other than all that I guess that’s about all for now… I’m sure I’m forgetting something.. My head hurts so much from just trying to keep everything straight and getting everything together and all that good stuff. I didn’t think I was ready for all this, but I’m ready now… let’s do it… Christina is ready to get this over with and so am I. What an amazing little girl she is, I just can’t say it enough. Her strength just blows me away. A few people have said to me” I don’t know how you do it”.. and I say “you have NO choice, you face what is happening and you deal with it“. Do I wish I could run away and make all this disappear…Well YES…. But we all know that won’t work… I am staying strong because my beautiful 10 year old daughter needs me to stay strong… I will do anything it takes to make any of this better for her… I can’t make the cancer go away, but I can try and make the experience of the horrible beast a little more tolerable .. Well I hope I can, at least that is my goal.. That is all I feel I can do as her Mom. So that is what I shall do…Wish me luck…..

I will update again later this week and hopefully we will have some good fishing pictures to put up.
THANKS AGAIN TO EVERYONE!!!!!
THANKS FOR SIGNING HER GUEST BOOK SHE REALLY LOVE ALL WHAT EVERYBODY WRITES …

Love, Sherry

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEND CHRISTINA A CARD OR SOMETHING WHILE SHE IS IN THE HOSPITAL, THE HOSPITAL ADDRESS IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE BY WHERE YOU CLICK TO SIGN THE GUEST BOOK…JUST MAKE IT TO HER NAME (IN CARE OF ALL CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL).







The P.O. Box address is:
Gates Family
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773


Click to send a Thought of the Day Card from AngelWinks






Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED




Christina's New Hair!





Christina at camp



Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.

Here are some links to Christina's friends from the hospital and the Children's Cancer Center, just click on the name to go straight to there sites


KATIA'S SITE a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Brittany’s SITE (she is having a realy rough time right now, PLEASE say an extra Prayer for Brittany and her Family)a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center












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Tuesday, August 12, 2003 6:15 PM CDT

Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love




THE COLLAGE OF PICTURES UP TOP IS FROM OUR TRIP TO TENNESSEE 4th of JULY
Click to send a Pooh 'n Friends Card of the Day from AngelWinks








Tuesday, August 12,2003 3:25pm
Mini Update:

Hello,
Christina's transplant has been moved back a week due to her having strep throat. She will have to be on antibiotics for 10 days. So now she will get admitted on the 26th of August and Transplant will be on the 2nd of September. Christina got her hair colored yesterday, it was suppose to be purple...as you can see by the picture at the bottom of the page it is more like little mermaid red... But, she likes it.. I will fade some, so then it will be more pink. Her clinic appointment went o.k. today, she didn't need the blood transfusion, so that was good news. Her red blood is still low, but we wanted to wait it out. She will have it checked again on Thursday.
Well, I guess that's all for now..
Love, Sherry

Sunday, August 10, 2003
Hello,

We are back from our trip to Orlando. We all had a really good time just getting away for a few days. Christina was sick most of the time, but she still had fun. We went to Disney on Wednesday and had lunch with some of the characters. It was just our luck that Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet and Eeyore where the characters there at the time. I just can’t help loving Winnie the Pooh. I just look at his face and I smile….It was very nice to spend time with my brother and his family we only see them about once a year or longer. Christina had her Birthday party Saturday and of course with our luck it rained all day , so it wasn’t much of a pool party. Christina probably wouldn’t have gotten in the pool anyway so it worked out for the best. Even with the down pour of rain we had a lot of people show up. Christina had a really good time, after the party my 2 nieces came home with us for the night. My brother and sister in law came over Sunday morning to pick them up. They had brought kimonos for us to dress up in for pictures. I will be adding some of those pictures soon.

While we were there we did notice Christina’s energy level was going down and so was her appetite. So, when we got back home on Friday Mike called clinic and they wanted to do a throat culture and a CBC (blood count). Christina’s Hemoglobin (red blood) had dropped a good amount. She will get typed and crossed Monday incase she needs a blood transfusion on Tuesday. I just can’t believe this is all happening..

The other thing we found out on Friday was Christina will be admitted into the hospital on the 19th of August. On the 19th She will get her Broviac (central line) back in. Then they will start the TBI (total body irradiation) and chemo, 7 days later she will receive the core blood transplant. I think we are looking at the 26th. Christina says she is ready, she just wants to get this over with. I know she is scared, but you would never know it by looking at her. She just keeps a positive out look on everything. She is so excited about getting new stuff for the hospital room. It will be our home away from home again. Christina likes to have her own bed sheets and pillow and all of her favorite things around.

This week will be busy again, Christina goes to clinic Monday for CBC, then on Tuesday for CBC and possible blood transfusion and then on Wednesday we go to St.Petersburg to meet with the radiologist and the doctor who will be putting her broviac back in. Somewhere in all that I have to get her to the dentist, she has to have dental clearance before transplant. It just seems to never stop….

I am still in the process of getting everything together for home schooling Ashley. I think she is already missing school. She doesn’t want to admit it , but I can tell especially after she talks with her friends. I think once we get in a routine things will work out o.k.

I guess that’s pretty much all for now, I will update again later this week. I will have the laptop at the hospital with us, so I will be able to keep updating from there.

Thank You again for the Continual Support and Prayers you give Christina and our Family.

Love, Sherry
P.S. I added a new photo to the photo album....


Hi !!!
I had a good time in Orlando. We went in the pool everyday. My Oma even got in the pool with me, Ashley, Emi and Lisa. My Oma and Opa surprised my Uncle Mike by showing up at the Hotel. They came down from Tennessee. They only stayed 2 days, but it was fun. I got to spend a lot of time with Emi and Lisa my cousins from Japan. I had my birthday party Saturday, it rained a lot but I still had a lot of fun. I got some really cool stuff and some new night gowns and robes for when I am in the hospital. I am suppose to get my hair dyed pink either Monday or Tuesday. I can’t wait.
Well, I gotta go we are going to play a board game. Thank You for sending me cards. When I go in the hospital, you will have to send them to the hospital address because my Mom and Dad will be with me so they won’t be able to check the PO Box as much.

Love, CHRISTINA





The P.O. Box address is:
Gates Family
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773


Click to send a Thought of the Day Card from AngelWinks






Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED





Christina's New Hair!




Christina at camp



Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.

Here are some links to Christina's friends from the hospital and the Children's Cancer Center, just click on the name to go straight to there sites


KATIA'S SITE a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center













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Tuesday, August 5, 2003 8:33 AM CDT

Click here to see Christina's beautiful BIRTHDAY quilt made by the quilts of love






THE COLLAGE OF PICTURES UP TOP IS FROM OUR TRIP TO TENNESSEE 4th of JULY
Click to send a Pooh 'n Friends Card of the Day from AngelWinks





Another mini UPDATE August 5, 2003

We are all in Orlando until Friday, we are spending time with my Brother and his Family from Japan. My mom and Dad even came down from Tenn. for a day and a half. So far we have been having a good time. Christina did go to the doctor on Monday, her blood counts were pretty much the same. Her white blood counts came up some, we don't know if this is because of a sore throat. Anyway, the doctor said that they are going to have all the doctors look over Christina's case and then talk to us on Friday to let us know the game plan. As of right now they are thinking she will have transplant in about 2 weeks.. I knew it probably would be soon, but that soon??? I just keep saying to myself, O.k. let's do this and beat this and get this over with.. and that's pretty much how Christina feels. She said she just wants to get the Transplant over with.. I DON"T BLAME HER A BIT.. She has been pretty sluggish the last 2 days. Something is going on..We hope to go to Disney Tomorrow so hopefully she will have more energy then.. Well, I'll let everyone know when I know more after Friday.. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING EVERYONE HAS DONE..

O.h. I forgot Christina got her first card in the P.O. Box the other day. You would have thought she won the Lotto. SHe was soooo excited.. Thank you for putting a smile on her beautiful face....

Love, Sherry

Mini Update:

This week has been very busy and crazy, but otherwise o.k.
We found out that the Bone Marrow Aspiration showed that her Blast (abnormal cells) went from 2o 3.5so this tells us the leukemia is growing. I think they want to wait until the blasts are 5efore admitting her into the hospital. We all just pray that the cancer will keep moving slowly , so that she can enjoy her Birthday party on August 9th. I have some surprises lined up for her on her birthday this Saturday the 2nd and also on the 3rd. I can’t tell you what they are because Christina reads all this, but she will have some stories to tell after this weekend.. Please keep praying extra hard that the Cancer holds off long of her to enjoy the next 2 weeks with My brother and Family coming in from Japan. Christina is looking so forward to this visit. I have been working like crazy to get things set up for her. I want to make sure she gets to do anything she wants before go back in the Hospital. For those that don’t know, when she goes in for transplant it will be a very long stay possibly 100 days or more. And then when she comes home she will still be very limited for quite a while… Christina’s spirit is pretty good, she has some bad moments, but that is totally understandable.. I think she is just amazing… Her outlook is just unbelievable.. She is my Rock.. She is my Hero… She is my Baby…

Well, That’s all for now… Thank You all so much for the continual Prayers and Support you give Christina and Our Family…

Love, Sherry





JULY 23rd, 2003
Hello,



Well, Christina went to clinic today and her blood work pretty much looked the same as last week. Her platelets did drop a few, but not enough to even make a difference. Now if they would go up just a few I would probably be jumping up and down with joy…..
Anyway, we really didn’t learn anything new today, we just have to start getting ready for Bone Marrow Transplant. They want to make sure everything is all lined up, they feel if she relapses the cancer will move fast. So we just have to be on top of everything..
So next week will be very busy…
Monday she will have a bone marrow aspiration again and EKG and Echo of her heart, kidneys, etc…
Tuesday we go to St.Pete for Pulmonary function test.
Yea!!! We have Wednesday free….
Thursday she has her breathing treatment…
Friday she has her hearing test…

What a busy week we have ahead of us.. I didn’t get to meet the new Doctor yet, I hope that on Tuesday when we are in St.Pete for the PFT test we will get to meet her. Seeing as she is the new Transplant Doctor I kind of would like to get a feel of how she works.. I think you know what I mean… Anyway, We just basically play the waiting game. Waiting for something to happen SUCKS… Give us what we need to deal with and we will deal with it… I am still praying for that miracle chance that her marrow does a turn around, but I know that will probably not happen.. One thing is for sure We are ready.. My poor brain is probably smoking because I have been trying to make sure everything is all lined up.. I have been working on all the info on Home Schooling Ashley. I am team captain for “Light the Night”. Christina’s Birthday is on the 2nd of August and I want to make sure she gets everything her little heart desires.. Which many would say is spoiling her, but hey you know what? I don’t care… so what if she lives to be 90 yrs old she will always remember her 10th birthday and how spoiled she got.. Children are only children for so long.. They grow up way to fast and then when they are sick on top of it they are forced to grow up even faster… Childhood should be FUN, Laughter, Playing NOT FIGHTING
CANCER!!!!!! By the way I HATE CANCER!!!!!

O.k. got that out of my system…Christina is being deprived of childhood memories (school, school friends, sleepovers, riding bikes, roller skating, etc..) I guess that is why I feel as her Mom the need to give her all she wants to make her happy, to put a smile on her face.. I just feel like time is running out..
There is so many things she wants to do… She wants to go to Discovery Cove sooo bad , but the only open spots they have is the last week in July.. Which is next week…and we just can’t afford it.. All the other little things she wants I am working on those and getting them lined up

Well, I guess that’s all for now.. THANK YOU ALL for the continual support and prayers. Our Family Greatly appreciates it.. Thank You for all the encouraging words left in the guest book…

Love, Sherry


Hello,
It has been pretty boring around here. My sister and I fight all the time. A lot of the times we are just play fighting but we bug each other a lot. It has been raining just about every afternoon. My dad has taken me to hit golf balls a few times this week and I am getting really good at it. I want to ride my bike, but mom won’t let me because of my platelets. They are still to low. I have been counting down the day till my birthday.. It is in 10 days.
I can’t wait.

My mom said something last time about me and my sister making a dress. We tried really hard but it kept messing up so I made my own bandana and Ashley made a skirt that kept falling down. Mom had to keep sewing and tying it for her. We still had fun trying to make something. Well I gotta go . I want to go out front and play for awhile since the rain stopped now.
Thank you for signing my guest book and my guest map.. I really like reading them.

Bye Bye Love, CHRISTINA

P.S.
I am working on getting a FUND set up for Christina at the Bank so when I have that info I will post it.. Until Then if you would like to help out in anyway you can send it to the P. O Box listed below… THANK YOU ALL FOR EVERYTHING!!!!!!!

The P.O. Box address is:
Gates Family
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773


Click to send a Thought of the Day Card from AngelWinks






Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED





Christina Horseback riding




Christina at camp



Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.



Here is the link to the Children’s Cancer Center, they have been so wonderful to our family and so many others.






Here are some links to Christina's friends from the hospital and the Children's Cancer Center, just click on the name to go straight to there sites


KATIA'S SITE a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center












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Wednesday, July 23, 2003 2:52 PM CDT

Click to send a Pooh 'n Friends Card of the Day from AngelWinks



THE COLLAGE OF PICTURES UP TOP IS FROM OUR TRIP TO TENNESSEE 4th of JULY






Hello,


Well, Christina went to clinic today and her blood work pretty much looked the same as last week. Her platelets did drop a few, but not enough to even make a difference. Now if they would go up just a few I would probably be jumping up and down with joy…..
Anyway, we really didn’t learn anything new today, we just have to start getting ready for Bone Marrow Transplant. They want to make sure everything is all lined up, they feel if she relapses the cancer will move fast. So we just have to be on top of everything..
So next week will be very busy…
Monday she will have a bone marrow aspiration again and EKG and Echo of her heart, kidneys, etc…
Tuesday we go to St.Pete for Pulmonary function test.
Yea!!! We have Wednesday free….
Thursday she has her breathing treatment…
Friday she has her hearing test…

What a busy week we have ahead of us.. I didn’t get to meet the new Doctor yet, I hope that on Tuesday when we are in St.Pete for the PFT test we will get to meet her. Seeing as she is the new Transplant Doctor I kind of would like to get a feel of how she works.. I think you know what I mean… Anyway, We just basically play the waiting game. Waiting for something to happen SUCKS… Give us what we need to deal with and we will deal with it… I am still praying for that miracle chance that her marrow does a turn around, but I know that will probably not happen.. One thing is for sure We are ready.. My poor brain is probably smoking because I have been trying to make sure everything is all lined up.. I have been working on all the info on Home Schooling Ashley. I am team captain for “Light the Night”. Christina’s Birthday is on the 2nd of August and I want to make sure she gets everything her little heart desires.. Which many would say is spoiling her, but hey you know what? I don’t care… so what if she lives to be 90 yrs old she will always remember her 10th birthday and how spoiled she got.. Children are only children for so long.. They grow up way to fast and then when they are sick on top of it they are forced to grow up even faster… Childhood should be FUN, Laughter, Playing NOT FIGHTING
CANCER!!!!!! By the way I HATE CANCER!!!!!

O.k. got that out of my system…Christina is being deprived of childhood memories (school, school friends, sleepovers, riding bikes, roller skating, etc..) I guess that is why I feel as her Mom the need to give her all she wants to make her happy, to put a smile on her face.. I just feel like time is running out..
There is so many things she wants to do… She wants to go to Discovery Cove sooo bad , but the only open spots they have is the last week in July.. Which is next week…and we just can’t afford it.. All the other little things she wants I am working on those and getting them lined up

Well, I guess that’s all for now.. THANK YOU ALL for the continual support and prayers. Our Family Greatly appreciates it.. Thank You for all the encouraging words left in the guest book…

Love, Sherry



Hello,
It has been pretty boring around here. My sister and I fight all the time. A lot of the times we are just play fighting but we bug each other a lot. It has been raining just about every afternoon. My dad has taken me to hit golf balls a few times this week and I am getting really good at it. I want to ride my bike, but mom won’t let me because of my platelets. They are still to low. I have been counting down the day till my birthday.. It is in 10 days.
I can’t wait.

My mom said something last time about me and my sister making a dress. We tried really hard but it kept messing up so I made my own bandana and Ashley made a skirt that kept falling down. Mom had to keep sewing and tying it for her. We still had fun trying to make something. Well I gotta go . I want to go out front and play for awhile since the rain stopped now.
Thank you for signing my guest book and my guest map.. I really like reading them.

Bye Bye Love, CHRISTINA

P.S.
If you would like to help our family out in anyway you can send your donations to the P. O Box listed below… THANK YOU ALL FOR EVERYTHING!!!!!!!

The P.O. Box address is:
Gates Family
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773






Please take a few moments to sign the Petition to HELP get the CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP APPROVED





Christina Horseback riding



Christina at camp


Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.





KATIA'S SITE a friend from the Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center


Emily’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Brittany’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Molly’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Bailee’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Chelsea’s SITE a friend from the hospital and Children‘s Cancer Center


Click to send a Thought of the Day Card from AngelWinks











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Friday, July 18, 2003 12:54 AM CDT

THE COLLAGE OF PICTURES UP TOP IS FROM OUR TRIP TO TENNESSEE





Hello,


Sorry for taking awhile to update, But we were waiting on the results of Christina’s bone marrow aspiration. Christina’s counts dropped again, this time her hemoglobin (red blood) dropped too.
The doctors said that her bone marrow looked pretty much the same as last month. They are seeing some immature cells. (which is not good) but they are seeing some good cells too. So everything is pretty much up in the air. The doctor did tell us that she talked to the other 4 doctors including a new doctor from Sloan Kettering (N.Y.)I think I spelled that right… Anyway, They feel like she is slowly relapsing. The game plan as of right now is to watch her closely and go ahead a have her go through all the test that lead up to a bone marrow transplant. She had all these test done in the beginning last year when we thought we were going to do transplant, but because of all the chemo she has had she has to do them all again. Basically it is just ultra sounds of all her organs, ekg, pulmonary function test, hearing test and dental exam. Mike and I have found other chemo regimens for AML relapse, but we just don’t think her marrow would recover from more rounds of chemo. It never recovered from the last round in Nov 2002. We will get to sit down and talk to the doctor this coming Wednesday and maybe then we will know more. All of this is just like last year when she was so sick for 2 months but the cancer never would show up in the marrow, but when it did it progressed fast. That’s why we want to get everything all lined up. If she does relapse we will have to move quick. As of last week Christina does have 3 good cord blood matches right now so that is good. And I am sure that they will run another search as time goes on. Well, That is where we stand right now…

Christina as usual is looking at all this in the most POSITIVE way possible. So positive I feel like saying to her don’t you know how serious this is, but I know I can’t do that. She has to remain positive she doesn’t need to be scared. I must say it all scares the hell out of Mike and I. I know we have to be positive too and we are but, it is so scary. Miracles still can happen, she could maybe make a turn a round, but we have to be prepared for the worse, so that is what we will do. I just feel such a sense of panic, because I feel time is running out on doing all the things she wants to do. I know if she does have transplant she will be in the hospital for a long time and then she will be pretty limited to what she can do after she finally gets to come home. I just PRAY we can have her BIRTHDAY party on the 9th of August like we planned. If things start happening fast then we will just move the party up. Her Birthday in on the 2nd of August. But my brother and his family are coming over from Japan to visit and they will be here the weekend after her birthday so that is why we planned the party the weekend after her birthday. My brother is retired Navy, he marred a Japanese woman and they have 2 beautiful little girls. He still lives in Japan and still works for the military just as a civilian. Needless to say we can’t wait to see them all, we usually get to see them once a year.

Yesterday we went to the funereal of our little friend Taylor Rae Johnson, I have to say that was the most beautiful thing I have ever experienced. I know it was a funeral, but it was absolutely beautiful. We will miss Taylor dearly, it was so weird going to clinic Wednesday knowing we will never see her beautiful smiling face coming around the corner…. All this just makes reality slap you a little harder in the face… for us anyway…
Angie, Jeff and Landon we continue to pray for you. Your always in our THOUGHTS…

Well, I guess that is all for now…THANK YOU all for continual SUPPORT and PRAYERS… I do believe we need now more than ever…

I do want to let everyone know that I am TEAM captain for a “Light the Night” walk for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Christina and I are trying to raise money. There will be a 2 Mile walk here in Lakeland On Sept. 16th. Participants caring a red balloon with a light in it and Cancer survivors will carry a White balloon with a light in it. It is a very beautiful sight to see all the balloons light up especially the white ones. If you would like to send a donation you may do so….

We just got Christina a P.O. Box today, She thinks she is something special getting that.
And if anyone would like to send a donation to Christina and our family you can do that too anything would be GREATLY appreciated….. Things have been pretty rough for us and it looks like it won’t be getting any better…If you just want to send a note or what ever to Christina she would really get a kick out of that….

The P.O. Box address is:
Gates Family
P.O. Box 7773
Lakeland, FL 33807-7773



P.S. Christina says HELLO!!! Her and her sister are in the house making a dress out of some material I had laying around.. Can’t wait to see how this turns out…ha ha…

Love, Sherry





I WANTED TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT THERE IS A WEB SITE WHERE YOU CAN SIGN A PETITION FOR THE CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS STAMP.. IF THEY WOULD MAKE A CHILDHOOD CANCER POSTAGE STAMP SOOOO MUCH MONEY WOULD GO TO FINDING A CURE FOR CHILDHOOD CANCER. THE BREAST CANCER STAMP HAS RAISED AN UNBELIEVABLE AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR RESEARCH AND TREATMENT. WE HOPE THE CHILDHOOD CANCER STAMP WILL DO THE SAME....IT ONLY TAKES A FEW MINUTES AND IT COULD POSSIBLE SAVE MANY CHILDREN’S LIVES ONE DAY....
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/928701473







Christina Horseback riding



Christina at camp


Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.








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Monday, July 14, 2003 9:10 AM CDT

THE COLLAGE OF PICTURES UP TOP IS FROM OUR TRIP TO TENNESSEE







IT IS WITH A HEAVY HEART I MUST SAY BEAUTIFUL TAYLOR RAE JOHNSON EARNED HER ANGEL WINGS AT 10:10 P.M. SUNDAY NIGHT.
SHE IS NOW RUNNING FREE FROM THE PAIN AND CANCER.. RUN TAYLOR..RUN.....
YOU WILL BE IN OUR HEARTS FOREVER AND EVER!!!YOU WILL BE GREATLY MISSED SWEETIE!!!!!WE LOVE YOU!!!!
ANGIE, JEFF AND LANDON MAY GOD HOLD YOU STRONG THROUGH THIS TIME....









Mini UPDATE SUNDAY JULY 13th, 2003:

PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TODAY TO PRAY FOR A VERY SPECIAL LITTLE GIRL NAMED TAYLOR JOHNSON.. SHE IS HAVING A VERY TOUGH TIME RIGHT NOW. TAYLOR AND CHRISTINA HAVE BECOME PRETTY CLOSE AND IT BREAKS ALL OUR HEARTS TO SEE SUCH A WONDERFUL LOVING CHILD GO THROUGH THIS..
HER WEB SITE IS:
www.caringbridge.org/page/taylorjohnson



Update from:
Friday, July 11,2003 10:01 am


Hello,


Christina went to clinic on Wednesday and her platelets dropped to 29. Her immune system came up some, but not much and the rest of her blood counts are holding there own. Christina will go back to clinic next Wednesday for another bone marrow aspiration. Hopefully this aspiration will tell us something. Preferably that she is still in remission. It is just getting very frustrating not knowing what is going on. We know it is something we just don’t know what… Christina’s spirits have been good through all this. She knows something is wrong and she just puts a positive spin on everything. How could I possibly get down when all she does is pick me up.. Christina is truly and amazing child.

We had our meeting last night at the Children’s Cancer Center and there was a new Mom that attended and we all where talking and I made a commit about no one was allowed to cry in front of Christina because I wasn’t allowed to cry in front of her. I think the other Mom thought I was crazy, she asked me why can’t you cry in front of her. I said you would have to know Christina to understand. The first time after she was diagnosed I cried in her room and that made things soooo much worse because all Christina did was apologize for making me cry. Here she was just told she had cancer and she is comforting me and apologizing to ME for all this and for my tears… That is just not right.. Christina has such a spirit to her that is so UNBELIEVABLE.. It is hard to explain, unless you have met her in person.

It is hard to believe we just pasted her 1 yr since diagnosis date this past Wednesday. After Clinic we went up to the hospital and visited a few friends and Christina also took a huge bag of stuffed animals for all the kids on 2 south west. She thought she would be able to hand them out but they had to go to child life first and then they will pass them out. She was a little disappointed about that, but then she said it didn’t matter as long as the kids all got a stuffed animal. This is the spirit I am talking about..

Christina’s Birthday is coming up on August 2nd. She will be turning 10. It is so hard to believe she is going into double digits. We haven’t figured out what we are going to do for her birthday. She changes what she wants to do every 2 seconds…ha ha.. I know she REALLY wants to go to Discovery Cove at Sea World.. My brother and his 2 daughters are coming to visit us from Japan the 2nd week in August and he looked into Discovery Cove, but they had no openings for the time he would be here. He was going to take us. All they have is the last week in July and last week in August open.. Christina was going to do that for her Dream, but I kept telling her we would get her there someway or another. Things have just been to hard financially. And to top it of, our 91 explorer that was our main use of transportation blew an engine. My car which is a 93 mustang is not doing to great either. We used it to go to the Cancer Center last night which is a hour drive and it over heated. Ashley said why does it smell like oatmeal?? She was smelling the antifreeze boiling over…..Mike’s Mom has been great about letting us use her car when we go to clinic. Neither of our vehicles had air conditioning either. It is about a 45 min to an hour drive to clinic too. Basically, it feels like the old saying “when it rains it pours” or “if it’s not one thing it’s another” BUT, THE GOOD THING IS WE HAVE OUR FAMILY TOGETHER… MATERIAL THINGS CAN COME AND GO FOR ALL I CARE… AS LONG AS WE HAVE OUR FAMILY THAT’S ALL THAT TRULY MATTERS…

Well, I think I have rambled enough.. I didn’t realized I had that much to get of my chest or out of my brain… ha ha…..

THANK YOU ALL for your continued SUPPORT and PRAYERS.. ALL of them are greatly appreciated.




Love, Sherry



HELLO,
THINGS HAVE BEEN PRETTY BORING SINCE WE GOT HOME FROM TENNESSEE.
ASHLEY AND I HAVE JUST BEEN HOME PLAYING VIDEO GAMES AND AGGRAVATING EACH OTHER. THAT’S WHAT MOM SAYS. I CAN’T WAIT UNTIL MY BIRTHDAY.. IT IS AUGUST 2. I AM COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS. LAST YEAR I DID NOT HAVE A PARTY. I WENT TO THE HOSPITAL THE NIGHT BEFORE MY BIRTHDAY BECAUSE I HAD SOME TEETH PULLED AND THEY WOULDN’T STOP BLEEDING. SO DAD HAD TO TAKE ME TO THE HOSPITAL TO GET PLATELETS. I DID COME HOME ON MY BIRTHDAY AND MOM AND ASHLEY HAD A CAKE AND BALLOONS FOR ME. I GUESS THAT IS WHY THIS YEAR I WANT TO HAVE A PARTY OF DO SOMETHING EXTRA SPECIAL.
WELL GOTTA GO.
THANK YOU FOR SIGNING MY GUEST BOOK AND MAP.

LOVE, CHRISTINA






I WANTED TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT THERE IS A WEB SITE WHERE YOU CAN SIGN A PETITIION FOR THE CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARNESS STAMP.. IF THEY WOULD MAKE A CHILDHOOD CANCER POSTAGE STAMP SOOOO MUCH MONEY WOULD GO TO FINDING A CURE FOR CHILDHOOD CANCER. THE BREAST CANCER STAMP HAS RAISED AN UNBELIEVABLE AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR RESEARCH AND TREATMENT. WE HOPE THE CHILDHOOD CANCER STAMP WILL DO THE SAME....IT ONLY TAKES A FEW MINUTES AND IT COULD POSSIBLE SAVE MANY CHILDRENS LIFES ONE DAY....
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/928701473








Christina Horseback riding



Christina at camp


Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.








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Monday, July 7, 2003 4:36 PM CDT




THE COLLAGE OF PICTURES UP TOP IS FROM OUR TRIP TO TENNESSEE

Hello Everyone,

Well, we hope everyone had a GOOD 4th of July..

We returned today from our trip to Tennessee. We went through a lot of rain on the way there because of the tropical storm Bill. It turned out to be very beautiful weather for the remainder of the time we where there. The girls had a really good time, which they always do when we go up there. They only get to go to Tenn. Once a year to visit my Mom and Dad (there oma and opa). That is German for grandma and grandpa. Oma and Opa live on a mountain, well we call it a mountain they call it a hill. Ha ha….
Let’s just say it’s pretty high up, with long windy road. It is very beautiful there. On the 4th of July we went to the local town 4th of July festival. It is a very small town, but everybody shows up for this festival, it is so nice. The girls where in the beauty pageant again this year. Needless to say they didn’t win. Mike and I tried explaining the small town politics, but it pretty much went over there heads. Christina and I did the balloon toss and we came in 5th place and Ashley and Christina did the egg toss and won 1st place. Christina tried the pie eating contest 2 years ago, but when she signed up for it she didn’t realize it was topped with a lot of whip cream and she hates whip cream so she passed on doing that this year. It was a very fun long day and it ended with fireworks.

My parents have a creek down the hill from them, so we always take the girls there to catch crawfish and minnows. The water is so very cold at the creek so they pretty much just wade in the water. We took the girls to Opry Mills Mall, where Opryland use to be . Put it this way we only went in a few stores and it took us 2 hours to walk around the whole mall.

Christina goes to clinic on Wednesday, I am very anxious to see how her blood counts are. She seemed pretty good on the trip, one or two days she seemed a little more sluggish than normal, but other than that she seemed and looked pretty good. I am still hoping that maybe she just had some little virus going through her body.. Wishful thinking, but hey I’ll take it……
I’m just so scarred the cancer is slowly creeping back. I know to think positive, but you know what, that’s hard to do sometimes….. Once again I sit here as a parent with my hand tied and that is the worst feeling in the world as a mother.. In my book anyway….
God, just please send one little magic wand down to me PLEASE!!! I definitely would use it wisely….

Thank you ALL for continuing to keep Christina in your PRAYERS and THOUGHTS, it means so much to her and our family. Please keep Christina’s friend in your prayers too: Taylor, Brittany, Emily and Jacob…..All these kids are so AMAZING they all blow me away with there STRENGTH and DETERMINATION….Us adults could learn a lot from them…that’s for sure….

Love, Sherry



HELLO,

I HAD A REALLY GOOD TIME WITH MY OMA AND OPA THIS WEEK. OMA AND OPA LIVE UP IN THE WOODS AND IT IS QUITE AND PRETTY THERE. WE WENT TO THE CREEK A COUPLE OF TIMES AND WE CAUGHT CRAWFISH AND LITTLE FISH TOO.. WE WANTED TO TAKE THEM HOME BUT THEY WOULD NOT HAVE MADE THE LONG CAR RIDE. ASHLEY DID WIN 2 GOLDFISH PLAYING A GAME AT THE FESTIVAL BUT ONE OF THEM DIED ON THE WAY HOME. ONE OF THEM IS STILL A LIVE. MOM PUT IT IN A FISH BOWL HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE O.K. WE SAW A DEER WHEN WE WHERE GOING DOWN ONE OF THE MAIN ROADS AND THEN WHEN OMA, MOM, ASHLEY AND I WENT TO THE CREEK THERE WAS A MOTHER DEER WITH HER BABY STANDING IN THE ROAD RIGHT IN FRONT OF US. THE MOTHER DEER JUMPED INTO THE WOOD BUT THE BABY JUST STARRED AT US THEN IT FINALLY JUMPED INTO THE WOODS TOO. WE SAW A BUNNY AT MY OMA’S HOUSE A LOT, SHE HAS A GARDEN SO THE BUNNY WOULD KEEP GOING ITO THE GARDEN. OMA ONLY HAD ONE HUMMINGBIRD FEEDER OUT THIS YEAR SO THERE WAS NOT AS MANY HUMMINGBIRDS AROUND BUT THERE WERE 2 THAT KEPT COMING UP TO THE FEEDER. WE ONLY GET TO GO TO TENNESSEE ONCE A YEAR AND WE DIDN’T GET TO GO LAST YEAR BECAUSE THAT WAS WHEN I WAS REALLY SICK SO IT WAS NICE TO GO THIS YEAR. I WANT TO GO UP THERE FOR CHRISTMAS SO I CAN SEE SNOW. I HAVE NEVER SEEN SNOW. WELL I GUESS THAT IS ALL FOR NOW I HOPE EVERYONE HAD A HAPPY 4TH OF JULY.. I DID.
THANK YOU FOR SIGNING MY GUEST BOOK AND MY MAP. I STILL CHECK IT MANY TIMES A DAY. MOM WILL UPDATE AFTER MY CLINIC APPOINTMENT WEDNESDAY.

O. H. I FORGOT WEDNESDAY THE 9TH WILL BE THE ONE YEAR MARK FROM WHEN I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH AML LEUKEMIA….

LOVE, CHRISTINA









Christina Horseback riding



Christina at camp


Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.




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Monday, June 30, 2003 12:38 PM CDT




Hello Everyone,
Just a quick mini Update....
Christina went to clinic this morning and her counts pretty much stayed the same. Her ANC (immune system)dropped down to 500 from 600. so we just have to be a lttle more careful with who she is around. Her platelets stayed the same at 37. I just wish we knew what the heck was going on, but we will still go on our trip as planned. We will be leaving sometime tonight for Tenn. it is about a 12 hour drive so we will drive through the night so the girls will hopefully sleep most of the way.. me too..ha ha... We will be back next Monday. I will update from Tenn.

I hope EVERYONE has a HAPPY and SAFE 4th of JULY...

Love, Sherry

P.S. Christina just yelled for me to tell everyone Hello!!!!!!so HELLO !!!!




LAST WEDNESDAY's UPDATE:
Hello Everyone,

Christina went to clinic today and her blood counts pretty much stayed the same. Her ANC (immune system) and her platelets are still really low. It is very obvious something is going on. I asked the doctor today of maybe it was the MDS coming back and all she could say was they didn’t know. She said with Christina it is hard to predict because she hasn’t went by the rule book yet. She’s just Christina……What can I say….ha ha….

So basically we are back to going to clinic once a week and she will have a bone marrow biopsy once a month… All this sounds way to familiar….Pretty much sounds like the first 2 months of this whole big nightmare from a year ago right before she was finally diagnosed…

I just don’t know what do think anymore. You breathe a little, then a GIANT elephant jumps on my chest. Basically, that’s the best way to describe this feeling I have. I HATE this feeling of FEAR…..
A lot of you that sign the page know exactly what I mean.. I know I am not alone on this when I say CANCER SUCKS!!!!!!!! It really, really STINKS!!!!!!!
O.K. sorry I had to get that off my chest. I feel better now, well not really but anyway…

On a much Brighter note Christina and Ashley have been going to KITE Camp all week at the Children’s Cancer Center. They have been having a wonderful time there. It is such a wonderful place, the kids love it and so do we…

Christina, Ashley and I will be going to Tennessee for the 4th of July. It looks like we will be leaving June 30th of July 1st and return on July 9th or 10th. We are going up to visit my parents who live outside of Nashville. We use to go every year, but we weren’t able to make it last year because that is when Christina was finally getting diagnosed. The girls always have a good time when we are up there, so it should be fun.

Well, I guess that’s about all for now. THANK YOU ALL for your continued prayers and support, it means so much to our whole family. Please keep Christina and her friends in your prayers, here are a few that need a little extra prayers right now; Brittany, Emily, Taylor and Jacob.

Love, Sherry


HELLO,

I HAVE BEEN GOING TO KITE CAMP THIS WEEK AND IT HAS BEEN A LOT OF FUN. MONDAY WE WENT BOWLING AND HAD A PIZZA PARTY. TUESDAY WE WENT TO THIS PLACE WHERE YOU MAKE YOUR OWN CREATURE. I JUST GOT TO PICK A CREATURE AND THEN PAINT IT. I STILL HAVE THE REST OF THE WEEK TO GO. I KNOW IT WILL BE FUN..
THANK YOU FOR SIGNING MY PAGE AND CHECKING ON ME. I REALLY LIKE READING WHAT EVERYONE WRITES. I HOPE EVERYONE IS HAVING A GOOD SUMMER SO FAR. I AM.

LOVE, CHRISTINA










Christina Horseback riding



Christina at camp


Christina has a NEW SMILE QUILT stop by and take a look and you can add a patch to it.




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Friday, June 20, 2003 8:46 AM CDT




Hello Everyone,

Well, it has been pretty crazy around hear since Christina got home from camp. Christina did go to the Doctor on Wednesday for her bone marrow aspiration. The initial report did not sound good. The doctor thought she had seen some abnormal cells on the slides that she looked at under the microscope. So we left clinic Wednesday fearing the worse. They tried rushing the Flow Cytometry report, but we didn’t hear anything until Thursday afternoon. The doctor called and said that the flow cytometry was clear, it looked good. She then said she looked at some more of Christina’s slides under the microscope at the hospital with the pathologist. And those slides looked good. She said she didn’t see any abnormalities. The doctor said that the microscope at the hospital is a lot better than the one at the clinic.

The Doctor did say obviously something is going on because her ANC and Platelets should not be dropping like they are. So we are back to going to clinic once a week. The doctors said they just will keep monitoring her. So I guess that is what we will do….

All next week the girls will be going to the Cancer Centers Kite Camp. It is just day camps all week, but it sounds like a lot of fun. They will go from 8 - 5 everyday. Last Night we went to our by weekly meeting at the Children’s Cancer Center and I finally convinced Tracy Solomon and her family to come. I think they had a good time Tracy signs so many of the kids guest books so it was nice for them to finally meet.

Well, I guess that’s about all for now….
I hope everyone has a Very Good Weekend….

Thank you all for your continued Support and Prayers….

Love, Sherry

Christina Horseback riding


Christina at camp





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Tuesday, June 17, 2003 3:20 PM CDT





Hello,

Christina’s HOME!!!!!YEAH!!!!!!

Now, I’ll turn it over to the little camper ……


Hi,

Camp was so much FUN. I had the best time ever. I was not ready to go home when mom and dad came to pick me up. I missed them but I would have liked to stay longer. I already can’t wait until next year.

I went swimming a bunch of times in the big pool. I went Horseback riding like I wanted to. I even did archery. I got a medal for doing archery. I did some stuff in wood shop. I made a plague with Winnie the pooh on it. I used the wood burner to do that. Mom said no power tools but that was not a power tool but I did burn my finger. But it’s o.k. I decorated a wooden race car and raced it and I won a medal for that too. I even got up on stage and sang a song by myself with no music. My voice is almost gone for all the singing and we had a cheer we did for our group yellow. And no one else would lead everyone in a cheer so I did it most of the time. I met a lot of nice people. All the counselors either had cancer or they were a brother or sister of someone that had cancer. They were all so nice and so much fun. My cabin mates were all very nice. One of them was from Mulberry which in right next to Lakeland. I got a scrap on my knee and toe because one day when we had pool time. 3 of the boy counselors where throwing me up in the air and one time they kind of threw me to high and when I came down I hit the bottom of the pool. It hurt a little but I didn’t cry I kept playing. I don’t think Mom like that story to much.
We had a dance one night and I danced a lot. No slow songs so I was just dancing silly. It was a lot of fun.
Another night we had silly Olympics and we rolled around in cooked macaroni noodles and spegetti mixed with sun lotion and a bunch of other stuff it was pretty nasty but fun.

The horse I rode a few times was named Dixie. She was very sweet. I even got to ride her in front of the camp in a parade. I also petted a pig and a goose. I went fishing I didn’t catch anything but I kissed a fish. If someone caught a fish you had to kiss it and no one else would so I did.
I really had the best time ever. I saw my friends from the cancer center a lot. So that was nice. I just can’t wait until next year. I think that is about all for now I can’t think of anything else now. Maybe more later if I forgot something. I took a lot of pictures but with a throw away camera so mom will have to get the pictures done and then put it on my page.

Well bye for now.
Now back to my mom, love Christina

P.S. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THOSE WHO SENT ME A CARD WHILE I WAS AT CAMP. I REALLY LIKE GETTING MAIL. THANK YOU SOOOOOO MUCH.


Hello Again,
I just wanted to add something real quick. One of the counselors told Mike that one day they went to go horse back riding and there were not enough horses for everyone, so Christina gave up her horse so another little girl could ride.. I’m so PROUD of her. All the counselors kept telling us how outgoing and up beat she is and how happy she is, they said she took to the younger kids and all the other too, but they said she befriended a lot of the younger ones.. I am so THANKFUL for her spirit. I truly believe that is what kept her alive back in Nov and Dec and I know for a fact that her spirit is what keeps me going.. We are truly blessed to have her for a daughter and I am so Proud of her..

O.K. I got that out, with a few tears to go along with it…

PLEASE don’t forget Christina has her bone marrow aspiration in the morning so pray extra hard for a GOOD report….

Well, I guess that’s all for now.

Love, Sherry



























Wednesday, June 11, 2003 7:36 PM CDT

Picture up top is from today when we took Christina to camp...

Hello,
I just wanted to let everyone know that we got Christina off to camp. It is already toooo quiet around here...
We had car problen on the way there, but we made it and then more car troubles on the way home. We slowly made it to Lakeland, we stopped off at a Discount Auto Parts because it was over heating so bad. We sat there for a while and then we finally made it home. We had to drive about 35 mph. But we made it...
Christina of course picked a top bunk. She was the first kid in her cabin there. She made her self right at home. We weren't even there an hour and she cut her finger with a pair of scissors. It took forever to stop bleeding, so we are calling her doctor tomorrow and have her fax a prescription for a CBC (blood work) for maybe Friday or Saturday. I hope she has a wonderful time..

Love, Sherry




MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2003

Hello Everyone,

Well, Christina went to clinic today for her blood work and it was not what we had hoped for. Her platelets had dropped from 71 to 39 which 71 wasn’t that great to begin with. Her ANC (immune system) dropped from 2400 to 700 which is not that great either. Her hemoglobin (red blood) dropped a little and so did her red blood count. So the doctor wants to do a bone marrow aspiration on Christina the day after she gets back from camp which will be the 17th so, on the 18th she will have the biopsy done. The doctor felt like she was good enough to be able to go to camp. We still don’t know if it is still the Rembrandts of the very aggressive chemo she had or if it is something else going on. I guess the bone marrow biopsy will maybe answer some questions and concerns. PLEASE keep praying for her…..

On a brighter note Christina does leave Wednesday the 11th to go to Boggy Creek Camp until the 17th. She is VERY excited about it. She keeps wanting to pack and I keep having to tell her I’ll take care of it, if I let her pack there would be no telling what she would take with her. Ha ha…..Boy, it sure will be quiet with her not here, she might have fun but I just don’t know about me… They won’t let the kids call home so, all I can do is send her mail. If any one else would like to send her mail while she is at camp the address is:

Christina Gates (yellow 11)
The Boggy Creek Gang Camp
30500 Brantley Branch Rd
Eustis, Fl 32736

I guess they say that mail time is pretty exciting to the kids. I’m going to get something out in the mail already tomorrow, with her only being there 6 days I want to make sure she gets something from me. Some of the Moms overnight stuff.
I’m sure she will have a lot to update on when she gets back home. They are suppose to have horseback riding, boating, fishing, art and crafts, theatre, and much more. Sounds pretty fun…I’m sure she will have a wonderful time. THANK you American Cancer Society……

Well, I guess that’s about all for now. I hate that I have to wait a week and a half for the marrow to be checked, but I’m just going to pray it is just a bug she might have gotten and that’s what’s effecting her marrow… Something simple like that would be nice……Hear me GOD something as simple as a cold maybe would be nice.

Thank You ALL for your continual Prayers, Thoughts and Support, it means a lot to our Family….

Love, Sherry


HELLO,
I’M GOING TO CAMP THIS WEEK. I KNOW MY MOM HAS TOLD YOU ALL ABOUT IT. I CAN’T WAIT. IT SOUNDS LIKE SO MUCH FUN. SOME OF MY CANCER FRIENDS WILL BE THERE TOO SO I HOPE TO SEE THEM THERE. I’M JUST SO HAPPY ABOUT CAMP, I THINK I CAN GO HORSE BACK RIDING EVERY MORNING. IF I CAN THAT IS WHAT I WILL DO. I HAVE NEVER BEEN HORSE BACK RIDING SO IT SHOULD BE FUN, I HOPE I GET A NICE HORSE TO RIDE I DON’T WANT TO GET KNOCKED OFF, THAT WOULD NOT BE GOOD..HA HA… MOM WOULD NOT LIKE THAT EITHER.
I WILL UPDATE WHEN I GET BACK HOME PROBABLY AFTER MY DOCTORS APPOINTMENT.
THANK YOU FOR WRITING ME AND SIGNING MY PAGE. WELL, I GOTTA GO BYE,
LOVE, CHRISTINA

Monday, June 9, 2003 8:11 PM CDT

Hello Everyone,

Well, Christina went to clinic today for her blood work and it was not what we had hoped for. Her platelets had dropped from 71 to 39 which 71 wasn’t that great to begin with. Her ANC (immune system) dropped from 2400 to 700 which is not that great either. Her hemoglobin (red blood) dropped a little and so did her red blood count. So the doctor wants to do a bone marrow aspiration on Christina the day after she gets back from camp which will be the 17th so, on the 18th she will have the biopsy done. The doctor felt like she was good enough to be able to go to camp. We still don’t know if it is still the Rembrandts of the very aggressive chemo she had or if it is something else going on. I guess the bone marrow biopsy will maybe answer some questions and concerns. PLEASE keep praying for her…..

On a brighter note Christina does leave Wednesday the 11th to go to Boggy Creek Camp until the 17th. She is VERY excited about it. She keeps wanting to pack and I keep having to tell her I’ll take care of it, if I let her pack there would be no telling what she would take with her. Ha ha…..Boy, it sure will be quiet with her not here, she might have fun but I just don’t know about me… They won’t let the kids call home so, all I can do is send her mail. If any one else would like to send her mail while she is at camp the address is:

Christina Gates (yellow 11)
The Boggy Creek Gang Camp
30500 Brantley Branch Rd
Eustis, Fl 32736

I guess they say that mail time is pretty exciting to the kids. I’m going to get something out in the mail already tomorrow, with her only being there 6 days I want to make sure she gets something from me. Some of the Moms overnight stuff.
I’m sure she will have a lot to update on when she gets back home. They are suppose to have horseback riding, boating, fishing, art and crafts, theatre, and much more. Sounds pretty fun…I’m sure she will have a wonderful time. THANK you American Cancer Society……

Well, I guess that’s about all for now. I hate that I have to wait a week and a half for the marrow to be checked, but I’m just going to pray it is just a bug she might have gotten and that’s what’s effecting her marrow… Something simple like that would be nice……Hear me GOD something as simple as a cold maybe would be nice.

Thank You ALL for your continual Prayers, Thoughts and Support, it means a lot to our Family….

Love, Sherry


HELLO,
I’M GOING TO CAMP THIS WEEK. I KNOW MY MOM HAS TOLD YOU ALL ABOUT IT. I CAN’T WAIT. IT SOUNDS LIKE SO MUCH FUN. SOME OF MY CANCER FRIENDS WILL BE THERE TOO SO I HOPE TO SEE THEM THERE. I’M JUST SO HAPPY ABOUT CAMP, I THINK I CAN GO HORSE BACK RIDING EVERY MORNING. IF I CAN THAT IS WHAT I WILL DO. I HAVE NEVER BEEN HORSE BACK RIDING SO IT SHOULD BE FUN, I HOPE I GET A NICE HORSE TO RIDE I DON’T WANT TO GET KNOCKED OFF, THAT WOULD NOT BE GOOD..HA HA… MOM WOULD NOT LIKE THAT EITHER.
I WILL UPDATE WHEN I GET BACK HOME PROBABLY AFTER MY DOCTORS APPOINTMENT.
THANK YOU FOR WRITING ME AND SIGNING MY PAGE. WELL, I GOTTA GO BYE,
LOVE, CHRISTINA

Monday, June 2, 2003 9:35 AM CDT

Tuesday 3rd, Mini Update: Just got a call from clinic they had to change Christina's app. to Monday the 9th. So I will update again after then.So cross your fingers for a good blood report on Monday...THANKS, Sherry


Hello Everyone,

Sorry it has been a while since I’ve updated, no real excuses. With Christina going a whole month with not getting her blood checked has been very trying for me. It might seem silly but, when you spent the last year of your life seeing her blood report 3 times a week and then down to once a week and now all of a sudden once a month is pretty hard. Christina is not worried at all, she is just happy go lucky with it all. She did go to clinic this past Thursday for her breathing treatment and she goes to clinic this Friday June 6th for her blood work. She is going on Ashley’s Birthday, we told Ashley we could change the appointment for Wednesday but, I think the child life therapist convinced her to let sisters app. Stay on the 6th that way they all can see Ashley on her Birthday. Which, I thought was sweet, they want to make it special for Ashley too. I can’t believe she is turning 11 yrs old. Boy time sure does fly by…

Well, we did go to the beach over Memorial day weekend and we all had a wonderful time. Basically me and the girls could become beach bums very, very easily. We got invited back to the beach house again in the middle of July, so I definitely think we will go again. Mike and I finally got the little 18ft by 4ft pool cleaned out a couple of weekends ago and we have the filter working good so the girls have been in the pool as much as possible. Basically all last summer we where in the hospital so every chance we get we are doing something outside. We all where outside people before Christina got sick but, I think we are becoming even more obsessed with being outside in the beautiful sunshine. Mike plays softball 2 nights a week so we got to that, he has been with this same team for 12 years. So it’s nice to get out in the evening and go watch them play. It’s so cute Christina always goes on the field at the end of the game and goes in line with her daddy’s team and claps the hands of the other team. I guess she thinks she is part of the team.

Yesterday the Children’s Cancer Center had a Mother’s Appreciation day, The dad’s and kids stayed at the Cancer Center and the Moms got to go to the International Mall for Lunch and then we all went in different directions for some well deserved pampering. I got a manicure and a pedicure, then I got my hair washed and styled and then I got a mini facial and make-up done. It was a Very relaxing day. I really enjoyed my self and I think the other mom’s did too. It was nice to get out and be a woman, not just a mom or wife. Then we went back to the Cancer Center and reality set back in as the kids come running up to me. Ha ha….. It was A Blast…. THANK YOU CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTER IN TAMPA FLORIDA..
Our Family truly LOVES all of you and all of you that HELP with the Center…
Through all that our family has gone through the Families we have met and some we haven’t met we have just talked to through this site have been such a blessing to us. As I sit here by myself right now I feel alone but, then I just think of all of you and I know I am not. It is just weird because as I walk through a store I feel so different from everyone else, my life definitely has changed but, even though it changed because of a Horrible Cancer trying to take my child away, it has changed me for the better. My life is better, my out look on life is better everything looks brighter even with the reality of knowing the cancer can come back at anytime. So strange……
O.k. I am rambling on, I guess I just had a lot to get of my chest… Thank you for listening….Because of ya’ll we can go on….Thank you all for your continued support and prayers.. Remember Friday keep your finger crossed for a GOOD blood report for Christina.

Please keep Christina’s friends in your prayer Brittany, Taylor , Jacob, Vanessa, and Emily. And all kids with cancer…..

Love, Sherry

Hello
Summer has been fun. Somedays are boring but other days are fun. Me and my sister have been playing in the pool a lot. It is not very big but it is big enough for us to have fun in. I had a good time at the beach it had been a long time since I went to the beach so it was nice. I can’t wait to go again. I go to camp on June 11 for a week. I think that will be fun too. I can’t wait.
Thank you for reading my page. I check it a lot everyday. Thank you for signing my page and thank you for signing my MAP. I am starting to get more states. I am glad my mom put that on there I think it is pretty neat. Friday is my sisters birthday we are not having a big party she is just having her friend spend the night.
Love CHRISTINA

Friday, May 23, 2003 2:21 PM CDT

Hello Everyone,

Well things have been pretty good for Christina and us. Last day of school was Wednesday, Ashley had her 5th Grade graduation. Christina was sad to see the school year end, because she had just finally got back in the routine of going to school and being around her school friends again.

So far it seems Christina is doing well physically she has had hardly no complaints, her feet still hurt but, the doctors say that should start to ease up as time goes by, it is just one of the side effects of all the aggressive chemo she had. Other than that she had been pretty active, actually she has been none stop.
I think her goal is to do everything double this summer because she missed out on everything last summer. She just doesn’t want to slow down at all. That’s O.K. After the year she has had, I say run child run…..

We had a little excitement today, a reporter from The Lakeland Ledger, our local newspaper, came over today to meet Christina and to talk to her about the trip to Hollywood. Christina is usually pretty shy (hard to believe)haha..but anyway, Christina rambled on and on. The article is suppose to be in this Thursday Ledger, in the Life section. I will add a link to this page when it comes out, so everyone can read it.

We are heading to the beach for the weekend, hard to believe we live about an hour and a half from the beaches and we haven’t been in about 2 years. We are going with friends to there family’s beach house, we will be staying Friday and Saturday night. It should be a lot of fun, I’m a sun worshiper so I know I will love it. The girls and I love to make sand castles and just play at the waters edge. It is stingray time so we have to be careful.

Well, I guess that’s about all, I will update after the beach trip, I will take a lot of pictures.

THANK YOU so much for continuing to Pray for Christina, we still need the marrow to recover fully. She still has a way to go on that. THANK YOU ALL who continue to sign her guest book, she really loves reading what everyone writes, she still checks it a dozen times a day.

PLEASE keep Christina’s friends in your prayers too. Brittany, Taylor, Emily, Jacob. EXTRA prayers needed for all these wonderful, amazing kids who are fighting so hard.

Thank you again for everything, so many people have been so amazing to our family, and I don’t think I will ever be able to say Thank you enough but, I’ll keep trying THANK YOU…..

Love, Sherry


Hello,
I wanted to say Hello and to let everyone know that I have been doing good. I am out of school for the summer. I’m glad it is summer but it has been raining every night. It is very hot during the day then it rains. I guess it is just like that here during the summer. I don’t have that much planned for the summer but, in the beginning of June I will be going to Boggey Creek Camp, near Orlando. It is through the American cancer society. I just get to go I can’t even talk to my mom and dad the whole time I am there. Some of my friends from the cancer center will be there but I don’t know if I will be in the same cabin with them I hope so. Then the last week of june me and Ashley get to go to Kite Camp at the children’s cancer center in tampa. Mom will have to take us and pick us up everyday but, it will be fun and my sister gets to go to this one too. We are suppose to go to Tennessee for the 4th of July. My Oma and Opa live there and we always went up there for the 4th of july but, last year we couldn’t go because the doctors where still trying to see what was wrong with me. 5 days after the 4th of july last year was when they told me I had Cancer. I can’t wait to go to Tennessee. We have a lot of fun there.
Well that’s all.. Thank you for signing my page. Love, christina

Friday, May 16, 2003 9:47 AM CDT

Hello Everyone,

Well, This week has gone by pretty fast. Christina is still doing good after her surgery. She has gone to school every day and hasn’t really complained about it.
School gets out on the 21st. So the kids don’t have much work to do. Christina got picked to be a patrol next year. Ashley was a patrol this year. So Christina thinks that’s pretty neat. Which with her being a patrol her grades have to stay up so that is a good incentive for her.

A lot of people have asked if Christina has got to jump in a pool yet. Well, she hasn’t, We did go to Sea World on Mother’s Day and we all got soaked by Shamau. Other than that she hasn’t got to jump in a pool yet. Maybe this weekend. By us going to Sea World this past weekend made Christina want to go to Discovery Cove even worse, so if anyone has any connections let me know. It’s very expensive but, I hear it is sooo worth it. They only let 1000 people in a day and you get to swim with Dolphins and other fish all day.. Sounds pretty awesome.

We went to the Children’s Cancer Center last night for our parents meeting. The kids love it, they get to run wild while us parents talk. I hate that it is only every other week. The families we have met are so special and wonderful. It is just hard to get together more often because we all live about an hour from each other. We talk on the phone and email but, it’s nice to sit down face to face for a visit. I would like to Thank the Children’s Cancer Center for giving us a place to meet.. THANK YOU!!!!

Well, I guess that’s about all for now, Thank you for keeping Christina and our Family in your Thoughts and Prayers.. We still need to pray for her marrow to fully recover, especially her Platelets.

Please say en extra prayer for Christina’s friends mainly Brittany, Emily and Jacob who are in the Hospital right now, and for Taylor who just got back from receiving some really intense radiation treatments. These kids are ALL so AMAZING and STRONG…..

Love, Sherry

Friday, May 9, 2003 7:30 AM CDT

Hello,

YEAH!!!!!Christina's Broviac (central line) is OUT!!!!!

Christina is doing Very well. The surgery went well and fast. She did so well. He chest hurts a little and she has 2 bandages there. I haven't figured out why there was to bandages but, one of them is bleeeding a little so we just have to keep an eye on it. I couldn't believe how bruised the area is. But then again her platelets are only at 71. The doctor said for her to take it easy for a week but, also said she could swim Sunday. She just said if the bandages hold up keep them on as long as possible.

Well, I want to Thank everyone for all they have done for Christina and our Family. This has been one Hell of a Year. I can't bellieve we have made it through. I'm still amazed by Christina's Strength. We are truly blessed. Through all this in the past year we have met some amazing people, doctors, nurses, patients and there families and the families that we haven't met but, sign Christina's page. I believe all these people are blessings from God. Especially the families we have met through the Hospital and clinic. We all have a bond that will never be broken. Christina has beaten the Leukemia but, it will always be in our lifes. It will truly never go away. I do hate the feeling of always looking over my shoulder wondering if today will be the day she wakes up with a fever or wakes up with no energy. It's funny, I still make her take her temperture. I think this will be a fear that will be with me forever. I know not to dwell on it. It is just in the back of my mind. We will go on and live our lifes to the fullest. One thing I have learned and fully understand is you only have one life. Live it to the fullest. Material things don't mean a thing. Everything else can be replaced but, Christina, Ashley and Mike can't. We have always said as long as we have the 4 of us, everything will be o.k.

Please continue to pray for Christina to say in remission and for her marrow to continue to recover. Hopefully by next clinic appointment her counts will be better, mainly her Platelets.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all the MOM'S out there.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Love, Sherry

Tuesday, May 6, 2003 2:06 PM CDT

Christina is having her surgery to have her central line removed at 9:45 am Thursday morning (8th).Her counts looked good today (7th) platelets dropped to 71 but everything else looked fine. I will update on how the surgery went later..Thanks, Sherry


I forgot to mention that this past Friday (2nd) was the ONE YEAR anniversary of when all this began..


Hello Everyone,

GOOD NEWS!!!!!!!
Christina goes to clinic on Wednesday, and then on Thursday she gets her BROVIAC OUT!!!(central line in chest)!!!
YEAH!!!!!!! It has been 10 months since she has been able to fully submerge into water..
The first chance she gets she wants to jump in a pool.
We are all so excited for her. We won’t find out until Wednesday what time the surgery is on Thursday, They said it would take about 4 hours total, get her ready, take the line out and then recovery. I’m excited to get her some gifts out of the gift shop for HOPEFULLY the last time…
I just can’t believe this is going to finally happen. It is a very big step forward for her. She has been so amazing through all of this. The only bad part is, now for her clinic appointments they will have to do a finger stick or take blood from her arm. Believe it or not she would much rather them taking blood out of her arm over the finger stick. What can I say she’s a strange child. Ha ha…

So far she has gone to school every day since we have been back from our trip, so that’s good. She still seems to struggle a little but I think it is getting a little easier every day. She still gets teased about looking like a boy. She came home from school yesterday and said 4 people asked her if she was a boy. She even had long dangling earrings on. It bothers her sometimes, but other times she just laughs it off.

School gets out on the 21st so both girls are pretty excited about that. Hopefully I can come up with some good stuff to keep them busy over the summer. Christina REALLY wants to go to Discovery Cove at Sea World in Orlando. It is where you can swim with dolphins and other fish. But, it is pretty expensive so we will have to see. If anyone has any connections with anyone that maybe could help out with a discount or something let me know.

I will update after clinic on Wednesday, hopefully her counts are good so they will be able to do her surgery. Keep your fingers crossed.. And toes too…

Thank you ALL for your continual support you give Christina and our Family. We truly appreciate everything that everyone has done for us, and for continuing to keep us in your thoughts.

Love, Sherry

Hello,
I am sorry I did not write about my trip yet. My mom pretty much took care of that. I had a good time, the best part was going to Six Flag and riding the roller coasters. The plane ride was fun too. I was scared at first then everything was o.k. just very long. I did not get to spend time with Hilary Duff like I wanted too. I was not too happy about that. But she is very busy and that night was very important to her too. I hope to see her again one day so I can talk to her like I wanted to. I really liked the movie. I was a little tired after we got back home. I was very tired the day after we got home and I went to school but I stayed at school all day. Mom and dad were happy about that. I am very excited about getting my broviac out. I will have to wait a little while after because of stitches but mom said she would find a pool for me to jump into. I can’t wait. Thank you for signing my page and for signing onto my MAP.. I really like reading what everyone says. It means a lot to me.. Thank you

Love christina


IF YOU HAVEN'T READ ABOUT OUR TRIP TO HOLLYWOOD JUST CLICK ON PAST JOURNALS.. AND ALSO I HAVE MORE PICTURES ON THE LINK BELOW THAT SAYS CHRISTINAS PICTURE PAGE, THEN CLICK ON PHOTOS...

Wednesday, April 30, 2003 1:02 PM CDT




I ADDED PICTURES TO THE LINK BELOW THAT
SAYS CHRISTINA'S LEUKEMIA PICTURE PAGE. WHEN YOU CLICK ON THE LINK THEN CLICK ON THE LEFT SIDE THAT SAYS (PICTURES)I ADDED 2 NEW PHOTO ALBUMS FROM HOOLYWOOD.IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT THE PICTURE CLOSER UP YOU JUST CLICK ON THE PICTURE YOU SELECT.


Hello Everyone,


We are HOME…..

We all had a pretty good time. Our flight leaving Tampa was rough and we didn’t get to our hotel until 1:30 in the morning California time. So getting there so late messed us all up from the get go and I don’t think we ever adjusted to the time difference.

Saturday 26th….
We went and had breakfast at Mel’s Dinner and then walked the streets of Hollywood BLVD. We looked at all the stars names on the sidewalk. Just did the sightseeing stuff. We went back to the room for a while and rested. Then we got ready for the Premier of the Movie. We arrived at the RED carpet at 5:30.
We had to get our credentials , right before we walked into the theater they were taping Promo’s for the movie, so All for of us were taped talking about what we think the movie will be like and why we like The Lizzie McGuire Show and then we went and found our seats. After looking at our seats we walked back outside to watch all the stars come down the Red Carpet. The girls got to see Tim Allen, Jane Seymour, Kristy Alley, Penny Marshall, Aaron Carter, Danny B (I’m not going to try and spell his last name, he played the red head kid on the Partridge Family and now he is on the show The Other Half), The girls had there picture taken with Tim Allen, Hillary Duff of course and other members of the cast. It was a pretty exciting time. We got to go to the Dinner party after the Premier, that was beautiful. They had it set up outside under a lot of tents and canopy’s They had food lined up all along the sides and at the four corners there were activities set up for the kids to do, like bracelet making, nail salon, body art, and makeup. In the middle was a beautiful fountain. Hillary Duff was kept in the back, they would bring her out a few times but, then there would be so many people around her so the girls couldn’t get close to her. A Disney representative took the girls up to her and had another VERY brief moment with her, long enough for the girls to get Hillary to sign there credentials and a photo. It was all so fast. But it was a very BIG night for Hillary too. She was being pulled in so many directions. She was the star of the night. I will be honest Christina got pretty upset because the time with Hillary Duff was VERY brief, it was Hello, take a picture and that’s was it. We are VERY grateful for this experience and We did have a good time. I would Like to THANK Joanne from the Children’s Dream Fund and the people at Disney for making this possible for Christina and our Family.. It was something we will NEVER forget……

I guess as a parent you get pretty defensive when it comes to your kids. Christina was emotional upsetover not getting to spend time with Hillary, so that just broke my heart. You just want things to go perfect. But then again what is perfect????

Sunday 27th……
We went to SIX FLAGS amusement park. The girls had a Blast, O.K. so did Mike and I. We all love roller coasters, so this was the place to be. They have 16 of them. We rode Goliath, Superman (twice) and Scream. Mike and the girls rode Batman, I sat out that one. The kids probably could have kept going but Mike and I are wimps, we couldn’t ride anymore. I was just happy with riding Goliath and Superman, they are the rides you always see on the Travel channel and TLC. We got a few souvenirs from there including one of those pictures you get taken while your on a ride. The one of us on Goliath is to hilarious to even explain. Ha ha…..I’ll have to try and scan it to put on the page..
After we got back to the room we rested and then went to dinner. That was about all that day.

Monday 28th…..
We went to Mel’s Dinner for breakfast again and then we went back to the hotel and got our car and went sight seeing. We went to the worlds oldest flea market, Not what you would think. There were flea market stuff but, there were some nice store too. We go to go into a FAO Swartz toy store, that was pretty neat.
Then we went down Rodeo Drive. We got turned around a few times, never lost, because we were always going somewhere. Just had a nice scenic tour of Beverly Hills and Hollywood.

Tuesday 29th…
Woke up at 3:30 a.m. to check out of the Hotel. Arrived at airport at 5 a.m. Flight took of at 8:15 a.m. and we arrived back in Tampa at 3:30 p.m. Tampa time. Got home at 5 p.m.
VERY LONG DAY!!!!!!!!

OH I FORGOT TO SAY THE MOVIE WAS GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WE REALLY ENJOYED IT.. TWO THUMBS UP…….

Love, Sherry

Christina is at school, so she will add on to this after she is done with her homework

Wednesday, April 23, 2003 8:39 PM CDT

Hello Everyone,

We hope everyone had a Happy Easter!!

Christina went to clinic today and her CBC (blood test) were pretty much the same as last week
Her white cell count went up a little and that is probably because of a little cold she has.
Other than that her platelets stayed the same in the 80’s and her hemoglobin was actually in the
Normal range for the very first time in a long time. We got the results of her bone marrow and everything looked really good. The doctor said that it was one of the best bone marrow results Christina has had.
So, I think she is defiantly on the way to improvement. Her feet still hurt but, I think that is even
Slowing down or she just doesn’t complain as much anymore.

As many of you know, Christina is getting to do her Dream through the Children’s Dream Fund.
We will be leaving Friday to go to Los Angelos California. The family is getting to go to the
Premiere of The Lizzie McGuire Movie with Hilary Duff who plays Lizzie and the rest of the
Cast from the Movie. Then after the premiere we will be attending the party and dinner with
The cast. Then we will have 2 days to do what ever we want. I think we will be going to Six Flags,
The girls love Roller Coasters and Six Flags has 15 of them. Then of course we will go and see
The Stars on the sidewalk. I don’t know if we will go on a tour of the stars houses or not. From what I’ve heard you just see the gates and long drive ways anyway, so we will see. We will have a rental car while we are there, so that will be interesting in it’s self. .ha ha.. I just can’t believe this is finally happing for Christina. She is so excited. What the lady’s do for these kids at the Children’s Dream Fund is AMAZING.. they truly make DREAMS come true.. THANK you…

Christina will go back to clinic on the 7th. That gives her 2 weeks, that’s the longest break between clinic visits in a VERY long time.
We will have the laptop with us on our trip so I can let everyone know how things are going.
Well, I better go I am still trying to get some stuff together.

THANK YOU ALL for the support and prayers.. Keep them coming, because I think it is working.
I also added a guest map to Christina’s page if you get a chance click on it and mark where you live.
Christina thinks this is the coolest thing. You only have to sign it once. THANKS….

Love, Sherry



Hello,
I went to clinic today and after my appointment, the dream lady had a send off party for me and Taylor the other girl who is going too. We had balloons and cake and even a red carpet in front of our chairs. They did up a goodie basket for me and my sister, I got a I zone camera that has sticky film, sunglasses, a purse shaped like a star, an autograph book and a photo book and a lot of other stuff. All of it was fun. I had a good Easter, I think I found the most eggs. Me and Ashley would hide the eggs too and Mom and Dad would have to find them, we did that for about 3 hours. Thank you for writing me and signing my map too. I really like the map my mom put on the page. Mom said she would update from LA.
Love, christina

Wednesday, April 16, 2003 8:21 PM CDT

FIRST I NEED TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT CHRISTINA MIGHT BE ON ESPN 2 TOMORROW THE 17TH. NOT REGULAR ESPN BUT, ESPN 2...At 10 am eastern time..
This will be the footage that they taped 2 weekends ago at the Mike Alstott Fishing Tournament. If it is not shown then, I'm sorry this is what I was told today.. Hope ya'll get to see it..

O.K, Christina went to clinic today for her bone marrow aspiration and the doctor looked at some of it under the microscope and she said it looked pretty good. We won't know the actual results until Friday. Or even Monday. Christina did very well through the procedure, as usual she needed oxygen, she needs it every time so nothing shocking..
She was a little more emotional after she woke up. Usually she is very loving a sweet, not that she's not that way when she 's not drugged, but there is a difference...ha ha..

They had an Easter egg hunt at clinic today, so that was fun. Ashley played hookey from school today so she could go. She hasn't been to the clinic in a while so that was fine. When we got home today the girls had a nice surprise at the front door, a package... Since leaving the hospital the package thing has stopped so needless to say the girls were excited... It was from the family from the Tampa Bay Lightning organization that adopted the girls for Christmas. Mrs. Campbell put together 2 easter baskets with an outfit each and a bunch of other goodies for the girls.. The clothes were from there favorite store the Limited Too, which I have never bought them anything from there, so I'm confused why it's there favorite, I guess because they carry the Lizzie Mcguire clothes.Anyway, That was very nice of the Campbell's for doing that.. what a THOUGHTFUL and NICE FAMILY....

Well, I guess that's all for now, oh Christina's blood counts stayed the same again, her immune system actually dropped some. but, like I've said before nothing is jumping out of control, just staying steady.

OUR FAMILY WISHES YOUR FAMILY A HAPPY EASTER!!!!!

We will be decorating eggs friday night so I'll post some new pictures after the weekend..

Thank you all for everything...Thank you for keeping Christina and our family in your thoughts and prayers...

Love, The Gates Family

HAPPY EASTER, wish me luck Sunday Morning that I find more eggs than my sister. ha ha Thank you for signing my page..
love,christina

Friday, April 11, 2003 8:52 AM CDT

Hello Everyone,

Well, after Christina’s excitement of getting to go back to school, she has now been home all week.
A lot of kids in her class are sick and her teacher is sick. But, the biggest thing is she is really having a hard time adjusting to going back. She has been getting very upset because things are hard and the days are long. Christina missed the last 2 weeks of last year and all of this year, so I could only imagine how it feels to be back in the school environment, plus she feels different than the other kids, rightfully so. She is, she is a survivor, she has grown beyond her classmates. I think after the colds go through the class and she goes back, we will just have her go back for half days.

Christina went to clinic on Wednesday, her counts are still just staying the same. So, the doctor is wanting to do a bone marrow aspiration next Wednesday. They are wanting to rule out MDS coming back and Leukemia. They don’t think it is either one of them but, with the aspiration we can be sure. The doctors are still thinking that it is just taking her marrow a long time to recover from the chemo and infections she had back in Nov and Dec. So time will tell I guess.

I want to Thank everyone for continuing to pray for Christina, she has been through so much, for her sake I hope it is just taking long for the marrow to recover.

Love, Sherry



HI,
I am home today, my class is sick so mom thought it was better if I stayed home the rest of the week.
School is hard, P.E. is fun. I think I will go back to school on Monday and I think I will start going for just half of the day. I have a lot to catch up on. I will have to do a lot of work over the summer too. I can’t wait to go to California. I am so excited. I hope my mom and dad get me some Lizzie McGuire clothes, she has her own clothes at the Limited Too store at the mall in Tampa. I still can’t believe we are getting to go. I will take a lot of pictures.
Thank you for signing my guest book. I really like reading what you write.!!!!
Love, chistina

Sunday, April 6, 2003 9:27 PM CDT

I ADDED A NEW PHOTO ALBUM LINK, LOOK AT THE BOTTOM OF PAGE UNDER LINKS. THIS IS A LOT EASIER ONE FOR ME TO ADD TOO, SO I WILL HAVE NEW PICTURES MORE OFTEN.

Hello Everyone,

Well it has been a very exciting weekend for Christina.
First, we went to the Children's Cancer Center Thursday night for the parents meeting.
The kids got a nice surprise, Mike Alstott from the Buccaneers and his wife Nichole stopped by.
The Cancer Center and Mike Alstott were having a celebrity fishing tournament this weekend and so Mike came by to fill some of the goodie bags with the kids. When they were done he took pictures with the kids and signed autographs and then he through the football with the kids for a while.

Then Friday night because My Mike was fishing in the tournament too, we got to go to the Captain's Dinner. So we got to see Mike Alstott and Nichole again.
And of course those of you that know Christina very well she was GLUED to the Alstott's side ALL NIGHT. ESPN had taped some from Thursday night and they were there taping Friday night also. So every Interview that Alstott did Christina was right there holding his hand. it was too funny.... Local news channels were there too. and there was Christina holding his hand.. I still can't get over how she just stayed glued to him the whole time.

Then on Saturday the guys left out early to fish, so the girls and I got to the Marina when it was time for the boats to come back in. MY Mike caught 2 trout and that's about it. But the guys who where on guided boats didn't do that great either. But that's o.k. it was all for FUN and for a good cause. Well, Nichole Alstott got there later with there 2 children. By then the girls where down on the docks fishing. So ESPN wanted to film footage of Alstott and his Family with the other kids fishing. Well, right when they start filming Christina's pole bends down into the water. Everyone was so excited. She caught a good size catfish. So ESPN got all this on film. What perfect timing.

Mike Alstott and His wife Nichole were so VERY, VERY NICE. They spent so much time with the kids. At the end of the evening Saturday Alstott had brought some footballs with him and then signed one of them for Christina.

It is so nice to see someone in the community that kids look up to be so kind and generous. I know this will be a weekend that Ashley and Christina both will NEVER ever forget. And me as a parent I THANK the Alstott Family for there support to the Children Caner Center. This will be a weekend us as parents will never forget either.

The lady from ESPN said she will get with me when all this will air. It won't be until football season start again. So I'll let everyone know when I find out.

O.k. The other good news, We got final confirmation that Christina is going to be able to do her dream from the DREAM FUND. Christina has been wanting to met Hilary Duff, who plays Lizzie McGuire on the Disney show Lizzie McGuire . Well, Hilary Duff is showing and attending the Premier of her Movie in LA. at the end of this month. Through the Dream Fund we are getting to attend the Premier with her and we get to meet her and the cast. We will be out in California for 4 nights/5 days. How exciting is that...

Well, Christina will be going to clinic on Wednesday, so hopefully her Marrow will be doing better. I will let everyone know how things go.

THANK YOU ALL for the continual prayers and support for Christina and our Family.

P.S. don't forget to sign the guest book on your way out...... Christina made me type that. ha ha....

Love, The Gates Family

I added a picture to the photo album of the fish Christina caught.

Tuesday, April 1, 2003 11:36 AM CST

Hello Everyone,

Well, Christina is at SCHOOL....
She went to clinic yesterday and her blood work was the same as last week, her platelets did drop some.
So there has been no improvement, it just seems like her Marrow is at a stand still.The doctors are saying they want to do a bone marrow aspiration in 2-4 weeks. We go back to clinic Next Wednesday. Her immune system hasn't changed it is still at 1000. Which is not the greatest but,
We gave in and let her go to school.

The biggest reason I gave in to it was because she needs to see for herself how far behind she has gotten. We try and tell her that and to her it is a big joke. At home she doesn't take her school work seriously. She is going to have to do a lot of work over the summer either way, so maybe she will realize this is for real. Sounds mean in a way but, I know she can catch up fast, she is very smart. She just needs to realize that.

I sit here at home by myself. I think I would much rather have her here driving me crazy...than at school.
It is only 12:30 and I'm missing her. I know she is having a Blast.. She was so excited this morning. We walked her to her class. It felt like the first day of Kindergarten all over again. My stomach is still uneasy. O.H. Well, a mother's worry is never over.

I'm sure Christina will want to update after a few days of school to let everyone know how things are going.

Thank you ALL so much for the continual Prayers and Support, we still need it. Her Marrow has a long way to go.
THANK YOU for signing the guestbook, you have know idea how much that means to Christina.

Love, The Gates Family

P.S.
Please say an EXTRA prayer for Brittany Zipter. She is back in the hospital with high fevers and a collapsed Lung. Her page is www.caringbridge.org/fl/brittanyzipter

THANK YOU ALL.....

Thursday, March 27, 2003 1:45 PM CST

Hello Everyone,

Things have been pretty quite around here. Ashley is on Spring Break so the girls having been driving each other crazy. and me too.. ha ha..

Christina is doing good. She goes back to clinic on Monday and hopefully she will get to go to school on Tuesday. She has missed the last 2 weeks of last school year and so far all of this school year so she is really looking forward to going back and being around her friends again.

We really haven't done much for spring break just been staying home and taking it easy. Pretty boring actually..

I'll let everyone know how clinic goes on Monday..
Love, Sherry

Hello,

I haven't done much this week, we went to visit Brittany and her family Tuesday. That was fun. I wish we lived closer to some of the family's we have gotten to know. But a lot of them live in Tampa or St.Pete. Ashley and I are suppose to go to Molly Edwards house for a sleep over with other friends from the Cancer Center. I can't wait to do that. I have not spent the night with anyone in 11 months. Like Mom said I go back to clinic Monday. I hope to get to go back to school on Tuesday. Wish Me Luck..Thank you for signing my guestbook. It makes me feel good to read what everyone writes..Thank YOU

Love, CHRISTINA


AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTINUAL SUPPORT AND PRAYERS. WE ARE STILL IN NEED OF THE PRAYERS, CHRISTINA'S MARROW IS JUST REFUSING TO IMPROVE. Love, The Gates Family

Saturday, March 22, 2003 10:21 AM CST

Hello,

Christina went to clinic Friday and pretty much nothing new. All her counts stayed the same. So we are looking at it as positive news. Her marrow is just taking it's time recovering and that O.K. as long as things don't go way up or way down. The doctor said that they will do another bone marrow aspiration next month just to make sure everything is going good. All the test from the last bone marrow last month came back looking good. Her chromosomes were fine which they have always been. Which in a way is harder for the doctors to realy explain a lot of stuff about Christina. Usually with Leukemia you have chromosomal abnormalities. Which in Christina's case they have always been perfect. So the doctors say they have no markers to go by. Makes sense. I guess....

The teacher only came out once this week but Christina goes back to clinic on the 31st which is the monday after spring break so maybe after that clinic appoinment she can go back to school for the last 9 weeks. She is going stir CRAZY staying home. O.k. Maybe I'm going stir CRAZY a little too..

This coming week is spring break for Ashley so we hope to get together with some of the other family's from the cancer center some this week. Gonna try and keep the kids busy.

For those of you that were praying for Christina's friend Brittany I am glad to report that she got to go home yesterday. We went up to the hospital after clinic to visit Brittany and some of the nurses. Brittany will start radiation and Chemo at the same time in about a week. So it will be good for the family that they will actually be home for maybe a week TOGETHER..

THANK you ALL for the continual prayers for Christina and her Friends and for our Family.

Love, Sherry


Hello,
My dad fixed my bike so now I ride it. I don't have to sneak riding my sisters. Ashley will be home this week.
I hope we get to do some fun stuff. I get a break from the teacher coming to the house too. So that's nice.
Thank you for signing my page. I really like reading what everyone says. Since I have been back home the cards in the mail have stopped so it is nice to hear from people on line.
love, CHRISTINA

Friday, March 14, 2003 7:33 PM CST

Hello Everyone,

Well, Christina went to clinic today she had her follow-up x-rays of her leg done and the doctor said that the bone that was dead is doing really good. It looks like all the bone is healing it's self. So that's really good news. He said just keep an eye on her and if she has any pain or start limping to let him know.

Christina also had her blood test today, Her platelets dropped and her ANC (immune system) dropped but, her hemoglobin (red cells) went up a little. So we go back again in a week. The doctor's can't really give us an answer on why her counts go up and down. They just keep saying that because she had such intense chemo that it just can take awile to recover. But like Mike and I have said before it has been 4 months since her last round of chemo, so how long is to long. It is just getting very frustrating. One week positive news then the next week news that make you stop and worry just a little more. And it's funny because we have had people say since she finished chemo "well thing can go back to normal" NEVER again will things be NORMAL. What is normal anyway?? even if you weren't fighting cancer.

It looks like Christina may go back to school after Spring Break. So she is pretty excited. By the way she made a 90 on her last spelling test. Not bad for only getting to study 20 words in one day.

I WROTE ABOUT ONE OF CHRISTINA'S FRIENDS NAME BRITTANY LAST ENTRY. WELL, TODAY SHE WAS TAKEN BACK TO ALL CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL IN ST.PETE FOR EMERGENCY SURGERY ON HER SPINE. IT LOOKS LIKE THE TUMOR IS RAPPED AROUND HER SPINE. HER WEB SITE IS www.caringbridge.org/fl/brittanyzipter
PLEASE PRAY FOR HER AND HER FAMILY. THIS LITTLE GIRL HAS BEEN THROUGH SO MUCH ALREADY. SHE WILL BE HAVING SURGERY IN THE MORNING. AGAIN, PLEASE SAY A LITTLE EXTRA PRAYER FOR HER AND HER FAMILY.

Thanks again to everyone for you're continual prayers and support for Christina and us. Christina is amazing and I believe it is through the power of prayer and the strength she has is the reason she is here today.

Love, Sherry, Michael, Ashley and Christina

Wednesday, March 12, 2003 8:29 AM CST

Hello Everyone,

Things are going pretty good. Christina usually goes to clinic on Wed. but, she is going this Friday instead. She has an appoinment with the doctor that did the bone biopsy on her leg. It is mainly a follow-up. But Christina has been complaining of pain in her feet a lot. They even hurt when she first wakes up in the morning. So we don't know what is going on there. On Friday she will also get her blood levels checked. Hopefully all is still going good there too.

Christina has been working with the teacher at home a lot and is so ready to go back to school. Maybe after spring break.

Other than that it has been pretty quite around here. Kind of a waiting game from week to week. But that's O.K. At least we are home and she is full of energy. Boy is she full of it. ha ha....

I'll update again after we get back Friday from clinic.

THANK YOU everyone for stopping by and signing Christina's guest book. She absolutely loves it... And Thank you all for the continual prayers and support that you give to our family.


P.S. Christina has a friend that is in need of extra prayers right now for her and her family. Her name is Brittany and she is an amazing little girl. Her and Christina are A LOT alike. They both have such strength and courage. If you get a chance please stop by Brittany's page. Right now she is in ICU. We went to see her and her family last night and they need alot of support.

www.caringbridge.org/fl/brittanyzipter

I still have the link to the newspaper article at the bottom, incase you haven't had a chance to read it.

Thanks again for everything,
Love, Sherry


Hello,
I have been riding my skateboard alot and I have been riding my sisters bike when she is at school. My bike's brakes don't work. Dad has to fix them if he can. I took a spelling test yesterday and made a 100. I have another spelling test today. I hope I make a 100 again. wish me luck. Thank you for signing my page.
love, Christina

Wednesday, March 5, 2003 6:04 PM CST

Hello Everyone,

Before I start I just wanted to THANK Mr.Joe Henderson from the Tampa Tribune for writing such a wonderful article about Christina. For those who have not seen the article it is down below on the links part, all you have to do is click where it says article in paper.

O.k. Christina went to clinic today and all was good. YEAH!!her (ANC) immune system came up really good. Her blood and platelets look good too. She is still not in the normal range but, her counts are better than they have been for a very long time, so we will take anything positive at this point. Christina is doing good. She wanted to skateboard yesterday so I held my breath and said yes. Well, of course 2 minutes later she falls. She scraped her knee and it bleed, I asked her are you done now and she said YES. We laughed. Then of course the rest of the day she wanted to go back out and try again. Needless to say she was more careful and did pretty good. She actually went bike riding a little today. I have a hard time watching this but, at the same time there is nothing more that I want to see than her living life and having fun.

I talked to Christina's teacher at school yesterday and her and a lot of kids in Christina's class are sick so I think it will still be awhile before she goes back. I really want to wait until all this stuff that is going around goes away.
I know I can't protect her for ever but, her body still isn't up to par.

Thank you all for signing the guestbook, she truly love it. I have to limit how many times she checks it a day.

Love, Sherry


Hello,
Mommy told you I have been skateboarding. It is fun. Thank you for signing my guestbook. I like reading them. I hope I can go to school real soon. Well that's all for now.
love, christina

Here are some friends of Christina's web pages too.

www.caringbridge.org/fl/brittanyzipter

www.caringbridge.org/fl/molly

www.caringbridge.org/fl/chelsea

www.caringbridge.org/fl/katia_leukemiapage

www.caringbridge.org/fl/emilylester

www.caringbridge.org/fl/bailee

These are the girls that have become such wonderful friends with Christina and Ashley. And there familys have become our family too.

Saturday,March 1,Wednesday, February 26, 2003 8:34 PM CST

Hello Everyone,

CHRISTINA IS ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE TAMPA TRIBUNE TODAY MARCH 1st.Down below where it says LINKS, I added a link to an article that ran in the Tampa Tribune on Saturday March 1st.


Thank You for all the emails and for signing Christina's guest book. She really enjoys reading them.

Well, we went to clinic today and Christina had the bone marrow aspiration done. She did very well through the procedure. The doctor looked at some of the marrow under the microscope and she said that everything looked pretty good. We will not find out the true results until tomorrow and some of the test results like the DNA and chromosome test that they are doing again. All her counts came up some but her ANC (immune system)stayed the same. Which is low. Her marrow is very active so we don't know what to think. I hate all this waiting and worrying. You would think after 10 months of this we would be getting used to the roller coaster ride but it's just not happening.

The good news is Christina looks and feels great. We went got to sit in a Tampa Bay Lightning players suite (Brad Richards) on Sunday and then she got to meet him. She had already met him before but, he is one of the girls favorites. Then we went to another game on Tuesday Night. We have been getting the tickets through different groups, one of them is the Children's Cancer Center in Tampa and the other is Camp Good Days and Special Times. These 2 groups have been unbelievable with all they do for these kids and the families. O.H I ALMOST FORGOT THAT CHRISTINA SHOULD BE IN THE TAMPA TRIBUNE ON MONDAY (march 3rd).When we where at the Hockey game Sunday Night a gentleman from the Tribune interviewed us. I'm not sure what section of the paper, the story is supposed to be on Brad Richards but, he took alot of info on Christina. So we will see.

Well, I guess that's about all for now, I will update as soon as I know some results of the tests.

I have added a few pictures I will be adding more in the coming days.

Again THANK you all for the continual support you have been giving Christina and our Family.

Love, Sherry

Friday, February 21, 2003 10:55 AM CST

Hello Everyone,
Well, Christina went to clinic on Wed. and some of her counts came back up a little but, her ANC (immune system) dropped. So the doctor wants to do another bone marrow aspiration on her next Wed. They just took marrow 3 weeks ago and the marrow looked good and showed she was still in remission. We don't know if there is something going on again or maybe her marrow is just struggling from the last round of chemo 3 months ago. Needless to say we are confused and worried yet again. I will let everyone know how the aspiration goes next week.

Christina did get to go to the school for a little while on Valentine's Day. A lot of kids have been sick so I made her wear a mask, she wasn't to thrilled about that but, at least she got to see her friends.

I took some pictures this past week and I will be adding them to her picture page and also to the other links at the bottom of this message.
Love, Sherry

Hello, Thank you for signing my page. I am doing good. I can't wait until I get to go back to school. It won't be for awhile but I can't wait. Love, Christina

Thursday, February 13, 2003 11:54 AM CST

Hello Everyone,
Thank you all for the the sign-ins. Christina really enjoys reading what everyone writes.I have a few new pictures, check them out...

Well, Christina went to clinic yesterday and her counts had dropped. We don't understand WHY but, the doctor didn't seem too concerned but it scares the heck out of us. She should be fully recovered by now. And for her to have decent counts one week and then the next her counts drop just doesn't sit well with us. She goes back to clinic on Wednesday and maybe we will get some answers then. We all know that her marrow has been struggling but this is getting nerve racking.

Christina has been working hard with the teacher that comes to the house and we got all the papers taken care of today so she can be duel enrolled at school. So when the doctors say it's o.k. she can go back to school, but if something comes up and she misses some days they won't count against her. Christina REALLY wants to be with her friends, it has been long enough. She is getting very bored and restless staying home. I am taking her to the school tomorrow so she can be there for the Valentine's Day party. She is looking forward to that. I think it will help with her spirits too.

Other than all that everything else has been good. Ashley was sick for a few day and so was I but, somehow Christina and Mike managed to dodge all of it.YEAH!!!

I hope everyone has a HAPPY VALENTINE"S DAY !!!!! ;)

Love, Sherry, Michael, Ashley and Christina

Hello,
I just wanted to say Thank You for signing my guest book.
I hope you have a nice valentine's day. love,christina

Monday, February 3, 2003 1:19 PM CST

Hello Everyone,

Sorry it has been a while since I have last updated.
We were told last week that Christina would not be getting her
next round of chemo. so this news was pretty shocking. We had
a lot of questions and concerns that we had to deal with.
Well, we have been talking back and forth with Christina's Doctor's,
and we finally have it all straightened out.

The Doctor's are basically telling us that Christina's marrow cannot
take anymore chemo. It has taken 2 and a half months for her marrow
to recover from the last round of chemo. The are afraid if they hit her with more
chemo her marrow will never recover. If that happens it could turn into aplastic
anemia. Which is just your marrow would be unable to produce blood, therefor she
would need a bone marrow transplant.

It is hard to explain but, I'll try.
When we were told NO more chemo we were happy but, more
scared than before. It's weird because when Christina was going through
all that she has experienced we couldn't wait until this nightmare of chemo's
to be over. And now that it is over Mike and I are more scared than ever.
The best way for me to describe it is, while Christina was on Chemo she had
Armour Men standing around her protecting her from the Leukemia and now
she is just standing in an open field ALONE. We just have to pray that her
body will fight and that the Leukemia will stay away. Mike and I went from one fear
to another. The fear of relapse is horrible.

Christina will have to keep her Broviac (central line in chest) in for 6 months.
Needless to say she is not to thrilled about that, but the chance of relapse
is about 50% for the first year.

Christina went to clinic today, all of her blood counts dropped today.
Her counts had been coming up all last week but, she did get chemo in
her spine last week and she also is fighting off an infection so that
might be the cause of her counts dropping.

Christina had a bone marrow aspiration done last Monday and
they took some spinal fluid too. So far everything has come back looking
good. She is still in remission and her spinal fluid was nice and clear.
Christina goes back to clinic on Friday, hopefully then we will see an
improvement in her counts.

Well, I guess that is about all for now.
Ashley is doing well, she is doing good in school.
Mike and I are doing pretty good. Just the usual, taking things
day to day.

We THANK EVERYONE for the continual support and prayers.
Thank you to everyone who has still been signing Christina''s page.
She checks it about 10 times a day.

Love, The Gates Family

Thursday, January 23, 2003 at 10:17 AM (CST)

Hello Everyone,
Christina is doing pretty good. She went to clinic on Monday and Wednesday and so far her marrow is holding it's own. We thought for sure she would need blood and platelets on Wednesday but, she didn't. She was so excited. So hopefully this means her marrow is going to start to produce again on it's own. Her immune system is still pretty low, right now it is to low to allow her to go into stores. So she is not to happy about that, but we go back to clinic on Friday so hopefully her ANC(immune system) will be back up too.

I took Christina to pick up her pottery on Tuesday, and we took it to this place in town where you can paint pottery and then they fire glaze it. I even painted something, it was pretty neat. Christina and I pick our pottery up on Saturday, I'm not sure who's more excited to see the finished product, me or her. ha ha..

Tonight we are going for a meeting at the Children's Cancer Center in Tampa, the girls like going because the are around other kids that are going through the same stuff and Mike and I like it because we actually feel normal when we talk to other parents there.

Christina says HELLO..and she said HOW ABOUT THEM BUCS...
we all can't wait until the Super Bowl.GO BUCCANEERS..

Love, Sherry and the Family

Sunday, January 19, 2003 at 11:23 AM (CST)

Hello,
Well it has been a very busy week. Christina is doing very well. She went to clinic on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Friday's clinic visit her blood work showed she will most likely getting a blood and platelet transfusion on Monday. We thought her marrow was finally starting to produce on it's own but, everything is still dropping. Oh well, we knew it would take a while.


On Tuesday I took Christina to make some pottery on a pottery wheel. It is something she has always wanted to do so I did some calling around and set it up. She was so surprised and excited. She did a realy good job. The guy who helped her is firing the pots this weekend and then she can paint them this week.


Saturday night we got invited to go to the Superbowl of Motor sports Monster Truck races at Raymond James Stadium where the Bucs play, we got to sit in a Suite. Dave Moore who use to play for the Bucs, now plays for the Denver Bronco's was there with his son. Mark Royals who also use to play for the Bucs, now plays for the Dolphins was there with his daughter and there were some WWF wrestler's there. We had no idea that these people were going to be there so it was pretty exciting. Mike got to talk some football, so that was pretty neat. Christina received a Buccaneers game ball with Mike Alstott signature and the other guys that I said were there also signed the ball. I haven't seen her so excited like that in a while.


Like I said earlier we will go back to clinic Monday and let's all pray and cross our fingers that her marrow is producing again so she won't need the transfusions.


I have added a link on the bottom of this page, check there every once in a while there might be new pics you haven't seen. I added some new pics last night. I will be adding pictures periodically.

Christina says HELLO..... She is so ready for the football game to start. GO BUCS....

Love, Sherry and Family

Monday, January 13, 2003 at 08:47 AM (CST)

Hello,
Well It again has been a very busy week and weekend. Christina went last Thursday and received her breathing treatment, that went well. Then on Friday I took her to clinic and she needed platelets, at least they arrived around 10 a.m so we got back home around 2, so the whole day wasn't wasted. Friday night Mike and I got to go out...o.h. how nice that was. For those that don't know our Anniversary was Nov 26th, and Christina was in ICU at the time, so we had a late anniversary dinner. Saturday night we all went to the Lightning hockey game, for some odd reason the girls have a blast there. Of course Sunday we all watched the BUCCANEERS WIN !!!!!!. Christina had to go back to clinic this morning, Mike just called and said that everything is fine for now and she goes back Wednesday, she will probably need platelets and maybe blood then. Other than that Christina is doing good. She is starting to eat alot more. She is on a big Popcorn kick. O.h. well, what every she eats is fine with us..
Love ya, Sherry, Michael, Ashley and Christina

Wednesday, January 08, 2003 at 06:14 PM (CST)

Hello,
Well, things are going pretty good. Christina is enjoying being home and we all are enjoying her being home. She still is going to the clinic alot. She went Monday, today and she goes back tomorrow for a breathing treatment to protect her lungs. She use to take medicine to protect her lungs from fungis's but, they are not wanting her to take any medicine that will affect her bone marrow while it is trying to recover, so they are giving her medicine in a breathing treatment. Then we go back to clinic Friday for usual blood work. She got platelets Monday and she had a reaction to them, nothing bad she just turned into one big hive. So now she will have to take benadryle and tyenol before getting any transfusions. Other than that she is doing very well, we went up to the school and had lunch with Ashley today, it was chicken basket day and that is Christina's favorite. Love, Sherry

Hello, I just wanted to say Hello to everyone and thank you for all that ya'll did while I was in the Hospital. I got so many cards and email I really liked that. love, christina

Thursday, January 02, 2003 at 06:08 PM (CST)

Hello,
We hope everyone had a Happy New Year!!! Let's hope this will be a good one for everyone. Well we have been home for almost a week and it has flown by. Sorry I haven't updated the page, it seams like when we are home everything is rushed. No excuse I know.
Well, Christina went to clinic this past Monday and she got Platelets, we went back to clinic today and she goes back tomorrow for more platelets. Her hemoglobin (red blood cells) are producing and her ANC(immune system) is going up,but her platelets are taking a little longer which is normal. The doctors want to wait until her marrow is producing everything good on it's own before they start the next round of chemo, so hopefully we will get to be home for a few weeks. Christina is amazing, I look at her laughing and playing and just can't believe all that she has been through. We had an unbelievable Christmas Thanks to friends and family. We would like to Thank Everyone that helped make our Christmas so special, one that none of us will ever forget. Thank You.....
Now that things are slowing down I'll be better at keeping her page updated.
Love, The Gates Family

Friday, December 27, 2002 at 09:09 AM (CST)

Hello,
The doctor just walked in about an hour ago and said Christina could go home today. Needless to say we were shocked and excited at the same time. I will update after we get home and get settled...I can't beleive it.....
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR EVERYTHING.......................
Love, The Gates Family

Saturday, December 21, 2002 at 09:21 AM (CST)

Hello,
Christina is slowly improving, but she is improving and we are very thankful for that. We appreciate everyone who has been praying for her and our family. She had a bone marrow aspiration and a core biopsy done on Wednesday. There were not many cells in there, but there weren't any Leukemia cells either. That is a very good thing. She has been able to be without her oxygen since Thursday morning, so that is a good sign too. She's been having some pain in her head and some sinus congestion, she still very weak, and not eating yet either. But hopefully as her body continues to get better all of that will get better too. We still don't know when we will get to go home. We just know it will be sometime after Christmas, and were not going to rush anything with all that she has been through this stay.

There has been alot of very good people and organizations stoping by the hospital to bring gifts and meet the children. The St. Pete police dept., the fire dept. and EMS, and the postal workers have all come around bringing gifts. We have also seen and met some of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers players, a pitcher from the San Fransico Giants, and Vinny Lecavalier from the Tampa Bay Lightning. Christina was also in the St. Pete Times newspapper Friday, holding a stuffed animal that she recieved from the postal workers. So even though this hospital stay has been very hard on Christina both physically and mentally. We are very greatful for all the good people and organizations that have helped keep her spirits high, and heiped our family through these tough times.

Again our family wants to thank everyone for all the help, the prayers, and the cards.Sincerly The Gates family.

Saturday, December 21, 2002 at 09:21 AM (CST)

Hello,
Christina is slowly improving, but she is improving and we are very thankful for that. We appreciate everyone who has been praying for her and our family. She had a bone marrow aspiration and a core biopsy done on Wednesday. There were not many cells in there, but there weren't any Leukemia cells either. That is a very good thing. She has been able to be without her oxygen since Thursday morning, so that is a good sign too. She's been having some pain in her head and some sinus congestion, she still very weak, and not eating yet either. But hopefully as her body continues to get better all of that will get better too. We still don't know when we will get to go home. We just know it will be sometime after Christmas, and were not going to rush anything with all that she has been through this stay.

There has been alot of very good people and organizations stoping by the hospital to bring gifts and meet the children. The St. Pete police dept., the fire dept. and EMS, and the postal workers have all come around bringing gifts. We have also seen and met some of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers players, a pitcher from the San Fransico Giants, and Vinny Lecavalier from the Tampa Bay Lightning. Christina was also in the St. Pete Times newspapper Friday, holding a stuffed animal that she recieved from the postal workers. So even though this hospital stay has been very hard on Christina both physically and mentally. We are very greatful for all the good people and organizations that have helped keep her spirits high, and heiped our family through these tough times.

Again our family wants to thank evryone for all the help, the prayers, and the cards.Sincerly The Gates family.

Monday, December 16, 2002 at 09:17 PM (CST)

Hello,
Well, I think I can say that the power of prayer might be working for Christina. She had another CT scan done today and her lungs look a little better then on Wed. She has improved everyday. She is still having to use some oxygen but not as much. She is still having low grade fevers but they are coming down on there own, without tylenol. She is still not out of the woods yet but it is an improvement. She still has a long way to go. It is very hard for her to walk more than 10 steps.Her poor body aches, so they still have her on the morphine pump. She still is not eating, but yet she is not loosing any weight because of all the fluids she is getting.

We will be in the hospital until after Christmas but that is o.k. This will be a very special Christmas with the Help of a lot of family, friends and some people we have never met. One thing is certain we have met some amazing people and some very caring and generous families.

Our Family Thanks EVERYONE for your continous prayers and cards.Christina sleeps a lot but when mail comes she wakes right up..ha ha..
Again Thank You, Sherry

I added a new family photo we just took on the 18th.

Thursday, December 12, 2002 at 09:33 AM (CST)

Hello Everyone,
Well since I last updated alot has happened. Christina had a CT scan done yesterday and it showed 2 spots on her lungs, one on each lower lobe of her lungs. They don't know if it is fungus or damage left behind from a bacterial infection. They wanted to take her to the O.R. yesterday and open her up to take a biopsy of her lungs but, Mike and I stopped it. The reason being, she has no immune system, her platelet counts aren't that great. They have this antibiotic they can give her but everyone says it is very "wicked" I guess it is very toxic so they don't like to give it unless they know for sure it is a fungus they are dealing with. Well, we are trying to get them to just go ahead and put her on this antibiotic instead of operating.Because if they find it is a fungus then she will have to have the antibiotic anyway so why risk the operation. So hopefully we will have another ct scan done in a few days and then we should be able to tell if it has grown. In the mean time they keep sending off cultures to see if they will show anything. So everything is pretty much up in the air right now. Mike stayed with Chris last night and she told him at 6 this morning that she felt better today. So that was nice to hear.

On another note I just can't believe the amount of support our family is getting, THANK YOU !!!!!!
Christina told me one night, I think it was during the 2nd round of Chemo, she said "I know why God gave me Leukemia" and I said "Why??" she looked at me and said "so I could meet and be in so many peoples lifes" She blew me away!!!
She's a special child and I tell her all the time that she is to special that God is not ready for her yet and she tells me she feels the same way. Love, Sherry and Family

Monday, December 09, 2002 at 07:23 AM (CST)

Hello,
Well, it has been a very trying weekend. Christina's chest x-rays started showing signs of something going on. She is still running fevers and throwing up. So they took her to the O.R. yesterday to take a biopsy of the stuff in her lungs and then they washed her lungs out with this saline solution stuff. All to technical to pronounce the proper terms.ha ha.. Anyway, She came out of that o.k.She is on more oxygen then what we had hoped for but, they are weaning her off of it little by little. She was in and out of it most of the day yesterday, But on Saturday a family whose child has had treatment here came up to the hospital with bags of Christmas decorations and Decorated Christina's room. She has the Most popular room in the hospital. She sat up in the chair for most of that. So that was nice to see her out of bed for awhile. Her spirits are still up, so I'm very Thankful for that..She is still recieving mail and I am VERY THANKFUL to everyone who is sending her email, mail and packages. She really LOVES it...
Our whole family is very Thankful for everything everyone has done, support wise, prayer wise, financial wise and everything else wise..Good way to say that Huh???
My dad's probably loving my english right now..
Well, That's about it..
Love, Sherry and the rest of the Family...
P.S. I took a picture of Christina's room and it is in the photo album.

Friday, December 06, 2002 at 06:58 AM (CST)

Hello, Christina is still hanging in there, but this is starting to get pretty trying on her. She has another infection,so the Dr's have started another antibiotic which is the third one she is on now. She will have to get it for at least fourteen days. She has been vomiting and running fevers of 103 to 105.4 for the last fourty hours, and is still geting morphine for the pain. All of her blood counts are very low so she will be getting red blood cell transfusion and platelet transfusion today. We hope that the antibiotics will get rid of her infection and fever very soon, so that Christina will start feeling beter and get her energy back. We greatly appreciate everyone keeping Christina and our family in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you, The Gates family

Thursday, December 05, 2002 at 07:41 AM (CST)

Hello,
Well Christina was doing very well, the doctors told us yesterday morning that they wanted her to get 4 more days of the antibiotics and then watch her for 2 days after they were done and then we could go home. But unfortunately yesterday around 4 p.m she started running a high fever and throwing up again. She woke up in such a good mood too, So they took more blood to see if something will show up again. We were up all night with her because of the fever and vomiting. Her body aches so they are giving her Morphine again. She was discouraged yesterday but, now her spirtis are better. Like usual she still smiled and waved her fingers at me when she woke up this morning. I don't think I have ever seen a kid with such a fight in her. Anyway, I just thought I would let everyone know. It had been nice for a week to tell everyone that she doing great. Now, here we go again on this rollercoaster ride,.....
Love, Sherry and the Gates Family

Sunday, December 01, 2002 at 12:16 PM (CST)

Hello,
We hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving..
We had a nice weekend, it has been pretty quite aroung here. Christina is still recovering so she has just been resting. She is still not wanting to eat. We finally got her to eat 3 Mcdonalds nuggets last night. The doctors said her appetiate will pick back up soon. Her little body has just been through a lot, so it will take time. Other than that everything has been pretty good.~``Sherry


Hello, I just wanted to Thank EVERYONE for caring about me and for sending me cards and stuff. My room is all decorated with the cards I have gotten. Love, christina

Wednesday, November 27, 2002 at 06:51 PM (CST)

HOORAY!!!!!HOORAY!!!! Christina is out of ICU.
Christina is back up to the 2nd floor and we are all very happy! She is glad to be back to more familar people. She is doing pretty good. She is still needing morphine for pain and a little bit of oxygen for her breathing. She still has a long road ahead of her before we get to go home but, this was a big step forward. Thank you all so much for everything. I believe the power of prayer works.
We Hope all of you and your family's have a Very Happy Thanksgiving.We all have alot to be Thankful for..
Love, The Gates Family

Tuesday, November 26, 2002 at 04:05 AM (CST)

Hello,
Christina is doing good.She went into septic shock,Here body was so immune suppressed it wanted to start shutting down her blood pressure drastically dropped and her heart rate went very high. And she has ECOLI,it went from her intestines to her blood line. She is on alot of antibiotics and morphine for the pain. She had a rough day on Sunday. They were not able to lower her dose of blood pressure medice they actually had to go up on it. Monday they lowered it a lot so hopefully she will be off of it by tuesday evening. Monday she was able to get up and use the potty next to her bed and she sat up in a chair for about an hour. All the nurses on the 2nd floor where she normally is want her back up there for Thanksgiving so that is what we are shooting for. I can not describe nor put into words how amazing she has been through this. She just blows me away with the courage and strength she has.
I would also like everyone to know that when all the panic happened in Christina's room on Wednsday Ashley her sister was outside the door not knowing what was happening to her sister. I think I handled the panic with christina pretty good but to see the horror and fright on Ashley's face was to much to even imagine. She just broke my heart. She told Mike and I later that night she thought Christina had stopped breathing. She has only came in to see Christina 3 times in the past 6 days because all the machines and seeing her sister like that is just to much. I know Christina is going through a lot but, please let's not forget about a very frightened 10yr old Big sister. Thanks again for all the Prayers and support. The Gates Family..

Thursday, November 21, 2002 at 08:43 AM (CST)

Hello,
just wanted to let everyone that Christina had to be taken downn to ICU yesterday afternoon. She is doing o.k.
Her blood pressure had gotten extremely low so they have her on alot to different meds. She has improved through the night but it will just be a wait and see thing. She has a very bad infection in her blood and with no immune system again she has nothing to help fight it. They are giving her alot of antibiotics, blood, platelets and they are even going to do a white blood cell transfusion. Well I gotta go I'll keep everyone posted. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.~~~Love The Gates Family....

Wednesday, November 20, 2002 at 09:27 AM (CST)

Hello Everyone,
Well Christina spiked a 104 fever at 4 this morning so we are not able to go home today. I guess it's better than getting home and spiking a fever afew hours later and have to turn around and come all the way back. At Least we are already here and they can start treating what ever is causing the fever.They took alot of blood this morning for cultures so we just wait and see if anything grows. So we will be here for atleast 3/4 more days. Her spirits are still good. So that's good. Well continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers...Thanks again for the cards... She really lights up when mail comes..``~~~~Sherry

Monday, November 18, 2002 at 08:51 AM (CST)

Hello,
Christina is on her 3rd day of Chemo and she is doing pretty good. She again has no immune system and her counts are dropping, she got blood on friday night and will get platelets tommorrow. She has been eating good this stay. So that's a good thing. So now we cross our fingers and pray she doesn't start running a fever so we can go home sometime Wednsday.Thanks again for all the support and prayers```~~~~Sherry
Hello, Just wanted to say Hi to everyone..;) ~Christina

Saturday, November 16, 2002 at 08:12 AM (CST)

Hello,
Christina is back in the Hospital. She got to have 5 days of fun and now it's back to more Chemo. We got to fish alot while we stayed at the Ronald McDonald House. So that was nice. Christina starts her Chemo this morning.She also has to get chemo in the spine again today. Not looking forward to that one. I asked her if she has her game face on and she said "yes". She's so silly..
Thank you to everyone that has sent her cards while she is here. It puts a smile on her face. She has her cards hanging in the window of her door for everyone to see. Thanks again.``~~~Sherry
Hello, thank you for sending me cards I like getting them and showing everyone. love, chrisitna

P.S I put 2 new pictures in the photo album.

Tuesday, November 12, 2002 at 06:07 PM (CST)

Hello,
Well Christina is out of the hospital but, we weren't able to go back home. She is having to stay at the Ronald McDonald house with us until Friday, that's when she will be re-amittted into the hospital for 4 more days of Chemo.
The doctors didn't want us to be very far from the hospital incase she had a reaction to the Chemo or incase something else came up. I'd hate to be home and somethng happen and us be a hour and a half away from the Hospital. So I guess it's better to be safe than sorry.The hospital is holding her mail there and I will be picking it up until we go back in.
She seems to be doing pretty good right now, all her counts are up so we took her fishing at the old skyway bridge last night and again early this morning. She kept catching pin fish and grunts. Nothing exciting. But it was fun, that's the important thing. She actually ate a whole Happy Meal tonight, that's the most she has eaten in a week, so that was good. ``~~Sherry
Hello, Thank you to everyone for writing me. I really like looking at my website. `Christina

Saturday, November 09, 2002 at 01:34 PM (CST)

Hello,
Christina is doing pretty good. She is not wanting to eat or drink anything. She is starting to give us a hard time about taking her pills, but who blame's her right? She has just been in a poopy mood. That's what we call it anyway. Other than that she is pretty good. She still put a smile on your face. ``~~Sherry

Thursday, November 07, 2002 at 05:27 PM (CST)

Just wanted to let everyone know that if you send a card or something up to the hospital you don't need to put a room number. We have been moved to a different room already and we might get moved again. But the mail will get to her. She woke up pretty sick today ,but she has purked up some now. She got the chemo in her spine today and she slept for a few hours after that so that was good. Other than that it just will be day to day..Thanks again for everyone's support and prayers..``~~Sherry

Wednesday, November 06, 2002 at 04:32 PM (CST)

Hello,
Christina is back in the Hospital, Her counts were good so they sent us over here. She will start her chemo's tonight,she'll get 6 different chemo's. She will recieve chemo in her spine tommorrow. Not looking forward to that one. Other than that her spirits are good. She is actually happy to see all the nurses, they spoil her rotten but, that's o.k. Ashley will be staying with her best friends family during the school week so she won't miss any school.If anyone would like to send christina cards while we are here the address is right below where you are reading this at. Just put Christina Gates c/o All Children's Hospital and so on. She would get a kick out of getting mail in the hospital. Thanks for all your support and prayers~~~Sherry
Chrisitna's room #is 260B

Friday, November 01, 2002 at 06:00 PM (CST)

We went to clinic on wednesday, October 30.Christina needed a blood transfusion so it turned into a long day. We recieved good news while we were there some of her bone marrow test results came back, and she is still in remission, which was a big relief to all of us.We don't have to go back to the clinic until Wednesday, November 6. If Christina's blood counts are up to a certain level we will likely go straight from there to the hospital for her next rounds of chemo. Christina and her sister Ashley dressed up in their halloween costumes,because they got to trick or treat at the clinic, they thought that was pretty cool. Then after we left the clinic we went to the childrens cancer center in Tampa where the girls got to be toy testers for a report that a local news station is doing on how kids like or dislike certain toys. They really enjoyed geting to play with all the different toys. So it was a really long day, but overall I think Christina enjoyed most of it. We took the girls trick or treating they had a blast and got ALOT of candy.. Sherry
Hello, to everyone, Thank you for writing me. My uncle Mike(my moms brother) and his family in Japan sent us a Laptop for a early family Christmas present, so I will be able to stay intouch while I'm in the hospital..Thank you Uncle Mike, Aunt Chika, Emi and Lisa.~~Christina

Friday, November 01, 2002 at 06:00 PM (CST)

We went to clinic on wednesday, October 30.Christina needed a blood transfusion so it turned into a long day. We recieved good news while we were there some of her bone marrow test results came back, and she is still in remission, which was a big relief to all of us.We don't go back to the clinic until Wednesday, November 6. If Christina's blood counts are up to a certain level we might possibilly go straight from there to the hospital for her next rounds of chemo. Christina and her sister Ashley dressed up in their halloween costumes,because they got to trick or treat at the clinic, they thought that was pretty cool. Then after we left the clinic we went to the childrens cancer center in Tampa where the girls got to be toy testers for a report that a local news station is doing on how kids like or dislike certain toys. They really enjoyed geting to play with all the different toys. So it was a really long day, but overall I think Christina enjoyed most of it.

Monday, October 28, 2002 at 08:34 PM (CST)

Hello,
Well we went to the clinic today, Christina had her bone marrow aspiration (biopsy) done and they also took some of the bone. We should know wed. if everything is still on the right track. Her platelets went up(good). but her hemoglobin (red blood cells) still went down(bad) but, they decided not to do the blood transfusion today. They ordered more blood for wed. incase she needs it. Hopefully her hemoglobin will start picking up so she won't need the transfusion. She did real good with the biopsy today, they gave her so many drugs but all she keep telling everyone is "I didn't fall asleep" but when it was done she was so hungry that she was trying to eat her POP Tart and was starting to fall asleep while eating. It was pretty funny to see. ~Sherry
Thank you for writing!!HAPPY HALLOWEEN!! ~~~Christina

Saturday, October 26, 2002 at 11:59 PM (CDT)

Hello,
Well, we went to cinic on Friday and christina's platelets are now coming up (good thing) but, her hemoglobin (red bllod cells) came back down (not a good thing). So Monday she is having a bone marrow aspiration and a core biopsy. Which means they are taking some of her bone marrow and a piece of bone. The doctors just want to make sure her body is still on the right track. It has taken along time for her to recover from the last round of chemo. Christina hasn't had a bone marrow aspiration done since see finished the first round of chemo, that's when they told us she was in remission, so it will be good to see what this one tells us.The good news is christina went to the Fall Festival at her school. She was so excited to get to run around with her friends and to act like a normal child again. ~~Sherry
I got my halloween costume today I'm going to be a Pirate!!!Can't wait until Halloween.~~Christina

Wednesday, October 23, 2002 at 12:24 PM (CDT)

Hello All,
Well, we went to the clinic on Monday and Today. So far it looks like maybe her bone marrow is starting to improve. Her red blood cells stayed the same from Monday to today , so that's a good thing. Atleast they didn't go down. Her platelets still went down, so we go back to the clinic Friday to see if she needs a platelet transfusion. Her immune system is staying good. Her school is having a Fall Festival Friday afternoon and she really wants to go, hopefully we will make it. We are hoping that she won't go back in the hospital for next round of chemo until after Halloween. She really wants to go trick-or-treating..~Sherry
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR WRITING ME IT MAKES ME VERY HAPPY!!!~~CHRISTINA~~~

Saturday, October 19, 2002 at 02:35 PM (CDT)

Hello,
Christina went to the clinic on Friday. She had to get another platelet transfusion so the day was pretty long. We went to the children's cancer center today and they had a special guest, an art teacher. We all got to learn how to use water colors the right way.. We are going bowling tonight with friends 5 adults 5 kids, should be fun.
We go back to the clinic Monday. The are doing some special test on her kidneys before her next round of chemo, because how aggresive the next round will be. We all are not looking forward to the next round, it's going to be very intense. Not that the other rounds have been a breeze, it's just they say this one will make her very septic to anything. So we are preparing for a long stay.Christina's so strong, we tell her all the possible side affects to everything so that if something comes up she won't freak out. And all she says is "WELL I"M STRONG THAT WON'T HAPPEN TO ME... " She's so strong it's amazing..~~Sherry
THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO HAS BEEN WRITING TO ME, I REALLY LIKE READING THESE..Love Christina

Wednesday, October 16, 2002 at 09:14 PM (CDT)

Hello,
Christina went to clinic today and we were hopeful she wouldn't need blood but, she still did. Her immune system(white cells) are still coming up but, not the rest of her blood. We go back to clinic Friday, she is able to go bowling now, so she is pretty excited about that. We just sit and wait for all her blood work to reach a certain level and then we go back in the hospital for more Chemo..

Monday, October 14, 2002 at 05:37 PM (CDT)

Hello,
We went to clinic today, as expected Christina need a platelet transfusion today and will most likely get blood on Wed. Her immune system is still coming up slowly. Maybe when we get to clinic on Wed. her body will be producing enough blood that she won't need it.. hopefully!!!

Again, Christina has really enjoyed reading all that has been written.. anything to put a smile on her beautiful face...puts a smile on all our faces... Sherry

Friday, October 11, 2002 at 01:26 PM (CDT)

Hello,
We went to clinic today, she had her blood work done and her immune system is still low. Christina is not to happy today. She was hoping to get to do a few things this weekend,but she'll have to wait. We still might go fishing or something else outside. The doctors say that being outside is good. She just can't go into buildings/stores etc...or be around alot of people. Sherry

Thank you for writing to me, I like seeing what everyone says. It's nice. christina

Wednesday, October 09, 2002 at 06:47 PM (CDT)

Christina went to clinic today. As expected she got blood and platelet transfusions.Her white blood cells are starting to go up, that is a good thing because that is what makes her immune system come up.Christina insisted we go back to the clinic on friday so she can see if her immune system is high enough that she can do some things this wekend, like go to a movie or shopping, etc.
Thanks to everyone for your prayers and concern...

Monday, October 07, 2002 at 05:54 PM (CDT)

Christina finished her 3rd round of chemo on sept 10th. unfortunatly this round of chemo has hit her hard. She still has no immune system. We went to clinic today, she will be getting blood and platelets on wed. , that is if her blood counts haven't started coming up yet. She is determined that her marrow will start producing blood again. Let cross our fingers!! Through all this she has been very positive. So that's been good.

Monday, October 07, 2002 at 05:45 PM (CDT)

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