Hi all..
This is Norine's friend, Kim...{Ashley's future Mommy-in-Law} udating today.
Ashley continues to amaze all of us...she is definetly our "HERO" in our house and I am sure all of yours too!! I mean..really, how could you just not love her...one look and my heart melted. Kody has definetly got great taste in girls!!
Norine is sick in bed today with the dreaded stomach flu....
Awwwww...get better soon Norine!!!!
Hope you all like Ashley's Halloween background..Kody picked it out last night and it had the Ashley's thumbs up seal of approval.
Did you all know that Halloween is Ashley's favorite holiday? A girl after my own heart..anything for chocolate...so from our house to your Ashley..
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!!!
Thanks for stopping by..don't forget to sign in and let Ashley know you were here..she loves to have Mom & Dad read her messages.
Kim

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Saturday, October 27, 2003 11:15 PM

Hi everyone Ashley came home today. We have decided to go with doing the surgery on November 5th. We felt that it would be the best time to do the surgery. We did a lot of Soul searching and spoke to several medical personnel and the conclusion was we made the write choice. Something my husband is there was never a wrong answer because we made the decsion. It was one we have to make as parents have to live with the decision we made.
Ashley is doing good we have to watch her carefully She will be being tutor her at home. We need to keep her as healthly as possible. Please keep us all your prayers that we did a good decision.
Take Care and PLEASE PRAY EVERYDAY UNTIL SURGERY!
Love,
Norine




Hi everyone,
The MRI yesterday did not go so well. The tumor in 4 weeks time has grown 50 percent and this solid tumor not the cyst. There is 2 more cysts that have formed. Ashley is currently in the hospital and we find ourselves faced with some tough decisions. The surgeon said he would do surgery again if there was chemo they could do, or we could do nothing and put her in hospice. We are not ready to give up the fight. We are going to talk to the surgeon on Monday and ask a wghole lot of questions. Please pray for us that we make the right decision. I will update more when I get a chance.
Take care and God Bless everyone who has said prayers for Ashley.

Love,
Norine

.





HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND!



:0) Please don't forget to sign Ashley's guestbook and send prayers and love her way...

~Kim~
Please visit these sites. All these kids need prayers just like Ashley. And the first one is Ashley's future husband Kody!



KODY'S STORY
NICHOLAS

KRISTEN

SAVANNAH

CHEYENNE5

ZOEJOWOLSFELD

Monday, September 8, 2003 7:37 PM CDT

Ashley is doing ok today! She actually ate some mashed patatoes, grilled cheese and some banana cream pie. It was not a lot but something. One of the reason she is having so many problems with eating is that she has a fungus growing in her throat. They started her on medication yesterday and I can see an improvement already. She had Thrush about 3 weeks ago or so and it settled in her throat.

We just found out she will be here until sometime next week.

Take care and please remember to keep Ashley in your prayers.

Love,
Norine

Saturday, September 6, 2003 9:55 PM CDT

Sorry its been a couple of days since I have updated. I have been sick with a Sinus Infection.
Ashley is doing very good in Therapy, they have been impressed with her progress. We found out yesterday that we would be here for another week or so for therapy. Ashley was up out of bed for 4 hours twice today, thats 8 hours total! I was proud of her!

We have also decided to have a G-tube placed in her stomach. She has not been able to swallow at all since the surgery. We beleive she has some type of virus, fungus or infection, they did cultures for all 3 today to see if she has one or all or them. She is currently getting TPN which is nutrition through her IV. If anyone has been on steriods you know that IV fluids is not enough, she wants food and we feel that if she has a G-Tube she can get the feel of a full stomach. A NG tube(down the nose) is not an option because of the brain swelling and surgery.

Al and Andrea are Loving School now. They really like their teacher. I do to she had the class make a Get Well card for Ashley and has called to see how she is doing!

I promise to update tomorrow.

Please as always Pray for her.

Love,
Norine

Wednesday, September 3, 2003 10:46 PM CDT

Good evening everyone!
Today Ashley had a good day. She was up out of her bed for about 6 hours total today which is an improvement from the last fews days because she has only been in bed. She went to the potty on the comode and I was impressed that she was able to sit almost by herself. The Physical Therapist said today that Ashley was bearing all her weight on her legs and all she was doing was holding her up for balance. I can see she is stronger this time after surgery than the last one in June.

Last night Ashley's O2 levels were going done again and this morning also and this evening and all of it is is that she has several mucus plugs down in her lungs that she is trying to cough up and she is being successful at doing so.

Ashley was able to eat tonight for the first time in over a week. She did ok. I had to feed her little tiny bits at a time so she would not aspriate. All she wanted was a taste of some kind of food, and it help to relax her.

Take care please continue your prayers.

Love,
Norine

Tuesday, September 2, 2003 9:09 PM CDT

Hi Everyone!

Ashley is very fiesty today, she does not want anyone to do anything to her at all. She is so mad because she has not eaton yet since surgery. The steriods are causing her not to sleep. She is on 16mg/day and her last dose yesterday was was at midnight so she was up all night and Mom too. Today I ask the doctors to adjust the times so she can have some rest and now she will be getting them 3 times a day instead of 4 and hopefully it helps.

Today was the first day of school for Al and Andrea so Mommy had Grandma Rosie come to the hospital and sit with Ashley while I took them for their first day. Al was so nervous he was crying. He got over it once he got to school. Andera had no problem at all she loves school.
When Ashley is out of the hospital she will have her first day also. I met her personal aide this morning and she seems very nice. Al and Andrea had homework the first day! They had to write how they got their name Al said he got his because Dad was born first. I cannot beleive they are in first grade, the time is flying.

Tomorrow Ashley starts all her therapies so she can start to work her way home!

I will update more tomorrow.
Please continue to pray for her.

Love,
Norine

Monday, September 1, 2003 11:40 PM CDT

Good evening everyone!

Ashley was moved to a regular room today! I went to sleep in the room where they had beds last night and when I came back they told me that Ashley had to have her oxygen turned up during the night because her oxygen saturations were going down in the low 80's which is not normal. At around 10:30 the day nurse came in to help me get her cleaned up and he took her oxygen off while he was changing her and her saturations never went down below 97So she came off the O2 and from that point on she has been doing very well! No pain meds since 6:00 this morning. I am so very proud of her, she is a FIGHTER all the way.

I will update more tomorrow as usual.
Please continue to PRAY!

Take Care.

Love,
Norine

Sunday, August 31, 2003 8:27 PM CDT

Ashley is doing ok today. She has complained today about her head, left eye and left ear hurting, this caused by the swelling in her brain. Her pupil is slightly reacting to the light. She is a fighter and I can see she is fighting this all the way.
We took a nap together today and it lasted 1 hour and a half, it felt so good to lay next to her again.
I will update more tomorrow please keep praying.

Take Care,
Have a Safe and Happy Holiday!

Love,
Norine

Saturday, August 30, 2003 6:09 PM CDT

Ashley has been moved back to the PICU. Her left pupil will not dilate. They did a stat CT and found she has post surgical swelling in her brainstem and mid brain, the Doctors increased her steriods to help with the swelling. She is alert and oreintated, which is positive. They did not put her back on a ventilator she doing ok on her own. I will update more later.

Take care and please PRAY!

Love,
Norine

Friday, August 29, 2003 8:33 PM CDT

Ashley has been moved to a regular room today! They said she is doing good. We were very surprised that her stay in PIUC was so short, the last time it was almost 5 days. She is still having problems with secretions in her upper airway and is getting treatment every 3 hours to help move it up and out.
Please continue to pray for her.
Take Care.

Love Norine

Thursday, August 28, 2003 9:09 PM CDT

Hi to All!

Ashley is doing much better today. They took the ventilator off late this afternoon and she is doing remarkably well. She has some secretions she is trying to cough up and they are helping her by suctioning her airway.
Now for the news of the MRI. She went down this morning to have her post-op MRI and it showed that the cyst is decompressed again and the tumor is a little smaller. We are not sure of the size. I can't tell you how proud I am of her she is a FIGHTER! I need to get back to her, I will be updating more tomorrow.
Please PRAY for a speedy recovery!
Take care.

Love,

Norine

Wednesday, August 27, 2003 9:09 PM CDT

Hi everyone! The surgery went well. Dr. Ruge said he popped the cyst and he was able to go to the other part of the tumor and remove a good portion of it, more than he expected to do, we will know how much after the MRI tomorrow. She is doing ok but is having some blood pressure and heart rate problems. She just came from major brain surgery so things might not stablize right away and she is still on a ventilator.
Please PRAY for her really hard to come through this.
Oh one more thing after this surgery she has been able to move and lift her right arm right away and she is moving the rest of her extremities well.

I will update more tomorrow.
Love,
Norine

Tuesday, August 26, 2003 11:03 PM CDT

I really don't know what to say but Ashley is going to have surgery again! The same as in June, The tumor has grown again and has a cyst in the middle of it again. The Chemo is going after the tumor again causing it to die.
We made the decision to do the surgery because there was no other options. It was do it or make her comfortable. We decided we are not yet ready to give up yet! They are going to try to make a drain to insert in that area so if it starts to die again it can drain itself. Her surgery is schedule for 12:30pm on Wednesday.

Please Please PRAY that everything goes well! I will try to update more tomorrow after the surgery.

Take Care.
Love,
Norine

Monday, August 25, 2003 10:48 PM CDT

Hi everyone!
Just a quick update Ashley is in the hospital. She came in on Friday after her MRI. She had aspriation pneumonia from the medicine they were trying to give her to make her sleep. We have not gotten the results of the MRI yet. We should know tomorrow.
Take Care and please continue to Pray for Ashley.

Love,
Norine

Monday, August 11, 2003 11:46 PM CDT

Hi Everyone,
Sorry I have not updated sooner because Ashley has been pretty sick. We went to see Dr. Stu Goldman at Childrens. It went ok. He seemed concerned that Ashley was leaning to one side and that she was drooling and just looked weak. On the 29th Ashley had chemo and was not feeling well at all. We had been at the Peds in the Weds Picnic on Sunday and she was still very tired. He will get back to us by Thursday to let us know what he and his board would do. I know already he wants us to get a MRI and a swollowing test and the MRI is already set up on August 19th and I am waitng for the the speech therapist to call back about the swollowing test.

As you can see I said Ashley had Chemo and it did not go very well for her this time. She stopped eating on Monday and Tuesday and drinking as well. So Dr. Goodell decided to have her go on IV fluids at home. I tell you I did not like the idea at first but its not so bad. She is using all four of her extremities tonight and it was great to see her playing and sitting with dad.

I would like everyone to please vist the following site it is Ashley's boyfriend they write back and forth to each other and have talk on the phone.
KODYS SITE
This is kristen Ashley's Chemo buddy site
Kristen SITE

This is Nicholas site another one of Ashley's chemo buddies
Nicholas SITE





Please Pray that both tests go well.
Take Care.

Love,
Norine

Monday, July 28, 2003 3:41 PM CDT

Hello!
Sorry it took so long to update. Ashley has been doing very good withe her therapy at home. On Wednesday she will be going to 3 doctors appointments Dr. Sun Rehab, Dr. Kwon Onocology and Dr. Kaplin her kidney Doctor. We will know after then what the next course of treatment will be. The PET scan showed that the tumor was dead but it is not always conclusive in Brain Tumors.

On August 1, 2003 Make An Angel Smile organization is holding a fundraiser in Ashley's honor please go visit their site at www.makeanangelsmile.org for more information. These wonderful people approached us and ask if they could have this fundraiser for her after they saw her story in the local neighborhood paper. They have wonderful things planned for Ashley, Al and Andrea. The cost is $40.00 per person and $7.50 per child. There is also a raffle and the tickets are $2.00 a piece. There are great prizes.

Ashley wants everyone to know even though she is in a wheel chair she has been able to go swimming in our pool and is able to walk in the pool with her water wings. This is her greatest love of the summer is swimming.

I will post more on Wednesday.
Take care.
Love,
Norine

PS Ashley really has a boyfriend he sent her a card today and drew her a picture and he sent a picture of himself and all she did was say he was really handsome and kept kissing the picture. She wants so bad to be able to meet him some day.

His web page is http://www.caringbridge.org/fl/kodysstory/

Tuesday, July 15, 2003 11:53 PM CDT

Hello Everyone!

Well I am finally updating the site. I have been very sick and it has been hard to sit at the computer. I have a kidney infection. Enough about me Ashley is doing very well. I am able to walk her to the bathroom by holding her hands, her therapists say she is doing very good. She is working hard! It is becoming easier for her to use her right hand. She is now trying to eat and write with it.
We have caught her trying to get up and walk by herself. My hope is in the next couple of weeks she will up and running around.
Ashley goes to the clinic Wednesday and she will get her counts done. I am going get her PET scan set up for sometime next week.

I am off to bed I am really tired and the tooth fairy needs to stop by tonight for my son and as everyone knows she will not stop if anyone is awake.
I will up date in the nest couple of days.

Love,
Norine

Please continue to pray for Ashley!

PS Ashley has herself an online boyfriend! His name is Kody and the two of them have been writing back and forth in their questbooks. He is such a little cutie! Kody has the same tumor as Ashley. Please vist his site as well. http://caringbridge.org/fl/kodysstory/

Thursday, July 10, 2003 11:05 AM CDT

We are HOME!!!!!
Ashley is very happy to be home and so is mommy. She slept with mommy and daddy last night.
I will write more later.
Love,
Norine

Tuesday, July 8, 2003 9:57 PM CDT

Hi Everyone!

Well we were supposed to go home today but Ashley had not urinated in over 8 hours and they were concerned. She had an ultrasound that showed she still has kidney stones in her left kidney last week it said the right kidney so now I am confused! The CT showed last week they were in the right kidney and she had another one tonight and we have not gotten the results as of yet.
Dr. Kaplin sent her for a chest x-ray he wanted to see if had any fluid in her lungs. He is the kidney specialist. She had no fluid in her lungs I was glad. I ask him if everything was normal ie.. Blood work, chest x-ray, urine and labs then why is she having such a hard time going?
He stated that it hurts when she goes because she has a lot calcium in her urine.

Our hopes that we will be able to go home tomorrow.
PLease keep praying!

Take care.

Love,
Norine

Monday, July 7, 2003 8:53 PM CDT

Hello Everyone!
Ashley had a good day today. They are getting everything ready for her dicharge this week sometime. She will OT, PT and speech at home and a nurse will come out and evaluate to see if they can have a nurse come and check her a few times a week. They are delivering a comode for her, I am going to use it to put over the toilet because it has handles and she needs to hold on when she goes.

Also she is starting to have problems with fluid retention and dribbling right after going to the bathroom. Tonight she will be getting diuril which will make her urinate a ton. We think she may be passing a stone or something. It will be off to CT tomorrow to see if the stones are moving and cause these problems. We will know more tomorrow what is going on.

I will let you know if she goes home on Wednesday.

Take Care and please continue to pray for her.

God Bless!
Love,
Norine

Sunday, July 6, 2003 9:54 PM CDT

Good evening!
Today was another good day for Ashley. She was able to rest. She had her Nails done today by one of the NCT's(nurse care tech) her toes are all different colors and her fingers are pink and have sparkles. Tonight is her last doses of her antibiotics for her UTI and then freedom from the IV.

I will update more tomorrow. Take care and God Bless.

Love,
Norine

Please keep praying for Ashley!

Saturday, July 5, 2003 10:53 PM CDT

HELLO!
Sorry I did not update last night but I went to bed early for a change and got some good sleep. Ashley is doing very well. Yesterday she was able to have her PT and OT and Child Life had a forth of July Parade and a picnic in the playroom. She had a Great time. She was in a good mood all day. They weaned her decodron down to 2 mg a day and I am glad.

Today Ashley had all 3 of her therapies and did real well. I can understand her about 85% of the time now. I know she is better when she is talking and laughing in her sleep and snoring. She is my BEAUTIFUL miracle little girl and Daddy's too. Yesterday she made Daddy so happy. It was the first time in over 2 weeks that Ashley actualy wanted to sit in Daddy's lap and be held by him. They fell asleep together.

I miss my Al and Andrea so very much! They are in Johnston City ILL with my parents. I really miss them so much! They were supposed to come tomorrow but instead they will be back on Wednesday. This is the first time they have been away from us for this long. Ashley is asking about them everyday now. She wants her SISTER, they have bonded in the last 4 weeks. Andrea has matued so much she has been taking care of Ashley everyday. Al loves to help her eat and tries to do other things for her too. I can't wait for them to be home with us. They need a break from all this stuff too.

I am off to bed.
Take care and I will update more tomorrow.

Love,
Norine

Thursday, July 3, 2003 11:43 PM CDT

Good Evening everyone!

Ashley has had a very GOOD day today. She has been in a GREAT mood and I caught her singing to her favorite TV shows. She received a card in the mail today here at the hospital from her best friend Allison and inside were some stickers. All she talk about was how she wanted to see Allison and give her some stickers she has gotten from the hospital, she has put them in a special bag for her.
Tonight we went up to the 10th floor here at the hospital and watched the fire works, she was having a good time and was laughing and acting like the old Ashley. This has made me feel so good to get my little girl back again!

Today in Physical Therapy she was able to stand by herself for a count of 3 which is good from not being able to do it at all. I can understand her much better today and her B's P's and M's are getting clear.

Her port is fuctioning well today, all the swelling in her chest has gone away. Her heart rate is back to normal and so is her breathing well as normal as can be on decodron.

All and All she has had the best day since her surgery.

Happy 4th of July to everyone! We will be here but there is a picnic in the playroom and a parade down the hall. She made a hat for the day and is excited.

Have a GREAT day!

Love,
Norine

Please pray some more it is working!

Wednesday, July 2, 2003 11:08 PM CDT

Good Evening All!
Ashley has a very rough day today. She woke up at 6:00am and had to go potty and she was doing good. Than she woke again at 7:00 and wanted to eat and watch TV again ok. Her Day nurse Diane came in at 7:30 to do her vital and she was ok. But than she started breathing really fast 60 times per minute and her heart rate went up to 180 beats per minute. She was irritable and there was no talking to her and she said her vagina hurt. After a few minutes it seemed like she calmed down but than everything started again and this time her oxgen levels were in the high 80's and normal is 95-100 for her. Diane went to get the resident and she ordered a stat Chest x-ray, Lasix(to make her urinate) and Morphine because she was in pain somewhere. The chest x-ray showed maybe she had some fluid in her lungs from all the fluids she has been getting. I saw Dr. Goodell up in the cafateria and he went right down to see her and we talked and her ordered a CT scan and it showed she had Kidney stones in the right kidney. She has stablized and is feeling better.

Than tonight after the Nurse hook up her antibiotics she started to sry and yell that her port hurt and I looked at it and her right side of her chest, neck and face was all swollen. They did another chest x-ray and it showed that her port tube was dislodged and it was not working. I had the resident call Dr. Goodell and ask what do they do now. He said to take out the needle and see how she does and they can reinsert it in the morning. When they they took off the dressing that was over the needle they found that the needle was almost out and that is what was causing thefluid to back up in her chest. They gave her a REAL bath in the bath tub and the swelling went alot. I am glad it was only the needle that had come out because we worried that she would have to have another port put in, she has had this one for 19 months and that is really good.

Mommy was really sick today in the middle of all this. I had a migrane and had to lay down in the room where they have beds for the parents. And that really helped.

Well I quess thats enough for now. Take care and please remember to pray for her!

Love,
Norine

Tuesday, July 1, 2003 9:07 PM CDT

Well, Ashley today has been very irritable like she used to be. She has had a very good day and slept very well last night after starting her Thalidomide again last night. She is continueing to improve and is feeling good.
They did another urine test today and will get the results in the morning.
I will update more tomorrow.
Take care.
Love,
Norine

Monday, June 30, 2003 9:51 PM CDT

Hello!
I just want to tell everyone that Ashley is using her right arm without us telling her to!!! It seems like it is just coming back naturally. She has had a very busy day again. We had to fit in a renal ultra-sound in between all of her other therapies.
Thats about it for now. I will update again soon. Here is her link for the news story again.
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/news/062603_ns_brain.html

Take Care.
Love Norine

PS Please keep praying it is working!!!

Sunday, June 29, 2003 10:27 PM CDT

Good Evening!
Ashley has had a good day today. It was very restfull for her, she wqent to the playroom 3 times today at her request. We have noticed her using her right hand again and it is wonderful to see. This afternoon Dr. Goodell came in and told us Ashley has a UTI(urinary tract infection) this explains the constant urge to go potty and her complaining that it hurts down there. She is on 2 antibiotics.

Tonight her and I were watching Bring It On the cheerleading movie and all of a sudden she starting laughing and dancing in the bed. That is the first time she has laughed since the surgery. I was so happy. I tell you I have never seen a little girl fight back so much. She ask about going home and I said she coulkd not go home until she started using her right hand and walking. She determined to to it so she can go home. Another thing she did today is ask for stickers the nurses know she is getting better when she keeps asking and even puts the call light to ask for some. Her speech today is much more clearer than it has been. I am so very proud of her!

Ashley starts back on her Thalidomide tomorrow. We are very happy about this, at least Dr. Ruge said off for only 1 week, her usually has his patients off it for 3-4 weeks after surgery. Well I am going to bed. I am putting the link here again if anyone wants to see Ashley on TV.
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/news/062603_ns_brain.html
Please Keep Praying! It is working.

Take Care,

Love,
Norine

Saturday, June 28, 2003 10:06 PM CDT

Good Evening!
Today Ashley is speaking more clearly. We know she is feeling better when she wants stickers. The nurses and Child life specialtist were looking for stickers for her. Today she had PT and OT and tomorrow she will have a break from everything and just be able to rest. Well sort of rest Mommy will make her get up and do things so she is not staying in bed. She is starting to get stronger on her right side. The therapist said she is able to stand on her legs for 60 seconds. She is walking with a great deal of assisstance but is using her legs. I know in my heart she will be back to her normal self very soon. Please just keep praying. They have ordered a Wheelchair for whenever she is able to go home. They want to make sure she is well taken care of. I love this hospital!
Well thats it for now. I will update more tomorrow as usual.
Love,
Norine

Here is the link to the news story again.
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/news/062603_ns_brain.html

Friday, June 27, 2003 10:42 PM CDT

Hi All!
Ashley is doing good again today. Her days are full of therapies and this morning when she woke up she wanted her bath to get dressed and to be put in her wagon for her Physical Therapy. Thank you for all the e-mails and signing her guest book.
We are going to be up late because Ashley's port needle was accidentley pulled out. So they need to put the numbing medicine on before they can put the needle back in.
I am placing the link back on here for anyone who did not get to see Ashley on the news.
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/news/062603_ns_brain.html
Take Care.
Good Night
Love,
Norine

PS Today was our 23rd wedding anniversary and we spent it with the kids!

Thursday, June 26, 2003 11:03 PM CDT

Hello! This has been a great Day for us. Ashley is making progress and she is feeling more confident to talk.
She was featured on the local news tonight. Here is the link if anyone is interested in seeing the broadcast.
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/news/062603_ns_brain.html
I think they did a great job doing the inerview.
She has another Full day of therapy tomorrow. I will update more than.
Take Care,
Love,
Norine

Remember your prayers are helping!

Wednesday, June 25, 2003 10:34 PM CDT

Good Evening!
We had some GREAT news today. The pathology report came back today. The fluild from the cyst and the tissue Dr. Ruge removed was all NECROTIC! Which means the tumor is DIEING! I just can;t beleive this its what we have been hoping for and praying for a long time.
Ashley is doing better today. Dr. Sun who is the Rehab doctor came and in and saw Ashley today and said she is not going anywhere for a while. She will need alot of therapy and knows we cannot do it at home.
Al and Andrea will begoing to Johnston City for the 4th of July weekend with my parents and than will be coming back on that Sunday. They are very excited! Al wants to go fishing and play with the horses. Andrea said she wants to go swimming and feed the horses. I know this will be fun for them.

Well take care and I will update more tomorrow.

Love,
Norine

Tuesday, June 24, 2003 8:23 PM CDT

Hello everyone,
Ashley is doing good. The PT, OT and Speech therapist said Ashley is just very weak and should regain full use of her right side. She is very tired today lots of different people coming to evaluate her. She is getting her Decodron eating habbits back again.
She was up on and off last night and was eating her favorite snack food which is grapes and cheese. I will update more tomorrow.
Take Care,
Love,
Norine

Please Pray for a FULL recoverey!!!

Monday, June 23, 2003 7:40 PM CDT

Ashely has been moved to a regular room. She is doing good. We have noticed some right sided weakness. She is going to have PT, OT, and Speech therapy. The Physical therapist was here today and said she would be seen everyday this week and that she has a good feeling about getting her back to the same old Ashley. She might have some sweeling in her brain and it is causing her to have the weakness.
I will update more tomorrow.
Take Care,
Love,
Norine

Please continue to pray for Ashley! The prayers are working.

Sunday, June 22, 2003 6:00 PM CDT

Ashley was taken off the Vent!!!!! She is doing great! The first words out of her were "mommy I'm Hungry". I ask her how many fingers I was holding up and she told 5 which was correct! That means no double vision, that was one of the risks of the surgery. She will still be in the PICU for one more night so they can watch her. Her blood pressure was up a little but that could be from her getting upset because she wants to eat.
I will update more tomorrow. I have a hard time sending out e-mail here if you could just check her site daily I promise to keep it updated.

Please continue to pray for her.
Love,
Norine

Saturday, June 21, 2003 10:03 PM CDT

Hi Everyone,
Just wanted to let you know Ashley did well from the surgery. Dr. Ruge ordered a MRI this morning and he was with her during the scan. It showed the tumor was considerably smaller. She had to placed on a Ventilator during the night because her breathing was fast, her O2 levels were very low and her blood pressure was unstable.
Ashley is already being weaned off the vent and is doing very good. She is stablizing!!!!! YEAH!!!! I am going to try to get some much needed sleep tonight. She has a GREAT nurse for the whole night and she only has Ashley so I am going to sleep in a bed in the parents room.
I will update more tomorrow hopefully that she will off the vent.
Please continue to pray for Ashley!
Take care,
Love,
Norine

Thursday, June 19, 2003 10:56 PM CDT

Just a note to let all of you know Ashley is going into surgery. Her tumor has fluid inside it and is growing. The doctor said the fluid is from the tumor dieing. Which we are happy about but this is a very dangerous surgical procedure. We need everyone to please pray for her tomorrow that she will be OK!!!!
Love and Prayers
Norine

PS I will update as soon as I can tomorrow or Saturday

Saturday, June 7, 2003 10:52 PM CDT

Hi Everyone!
I am finally getting around to updating Ashley's site.
Ashley was in the hospital again this week. She was falling down just standing in one place, not walking and complaining her head and eye hurt. I had to take her to the Emergency Room because there was no doctor in the clinic. They did an MRI and it showed that there was growth in the tumor about 1mm. The reason the tumor is growing is there is some dead area of the tumor and instead of it just dieing it is filled with fluid and looks like a cyst. Because of this Ashley will be having surgery on the 18th or 20th of this month to remove the fluid and they will try to scrape part of the tumor and see if they can get get a biopsy. We have also had the last 3 MRI's sent out to UCLA, Johns Hopkins and St. Judes for second opinions. She is back on the steriods and is now walking without assistance but still unsteady. I have her in Physical Therapy 3 times a week and it seems to be helping. Please keep her in your prayers.
This is going to be the longest 2 weeks ever.
On a Happier note Al and Andrea are graduating from Kintergartden on June 17th. I am so very proud of them. Everything they have been through I think they have done a great job in School.

Take care
Love,
Norine
Please visit Ashley's friends sites.

http://www.caringbridge.org/il/nicholas
http://www.caringbridge.org/il/kristen

PS We had Ashley's Birthady party and she had a GREAT time.
Her cake was Cinderella, Hello Kitty and Harley Davidson.

I would like to thank a special friend who has been helping me take the kids to and from School. Thank You Sally for all that you do! I will truly miss you when you go back home Australia

Friday, May 9, 2003 9:10 PM CDT

I know it has been a while since I have updated Ashley's site. It has been very busy and hectic.
Ashley came home from the hospital on the 28th. When she came home she was unable to walk by herself and need a great deal of assistance. I was scared that she would never walk normal again. When she was discharged they wanted her to have Physical Therapy 3-5 times a week. I have to tell you as of today May 9th she is walking even running, the therapist that saw her in the hospital could not believe the difference on Wednesday. She had not seen her since the hospital. We have probably seen almost all the therapist.
Ashley had casts made of her feet today to help her with some pain she has been having in her heels. They are making braces for her to where at night when she is sleeping so her calf muscles stay stretch, they get very tight during the night.

Ashley came home from the hospital on the dreaded Decadron, 18mg a day. She has become very puffy and all she wants to do is eat and eat and eat. Thank god she is down to 1mg a day and so far is tolerating it very well. Tuesday will be her last dose!!!! She saw Dr. Ruge the nuero surgeon and Dr. Hartsell the radiation onocologist, they were amazed that she she was almost off the decadron. Dr. Ruge removed the stitches from her head today and he could not believe how still she sat. He said she is doing well and does not need to see her for a month. Dr. Hartsell and I talk about different treatments that might be able to do.in the next few weeks, I will put more details in the future. He is sending her MRI's all around the country to see if there is anyone doing any other type of treatments. The reason for this now is because the tumor has grown, more than likely from not having her Chemo on a regular basis.
She will now have her Chemo every 21 days or 3 weeks so her body and counts can recover. On the 27th she had her first high dose 390mg of her Carbo-platin her weekly dose was supposed to be 110mg. When all this happened she she was down to 20mg a week. As you can see she was hardly getting anything. Her blood counts have been very good since she had her chemo. I hope that it will stay that way. On the 21st she is scheduled for her next chemo.

Ashley is back in preschool and is going to graduate on May 22nd. She is very excited.

I would like to thank everyone for all the cards letters and calls we have recieved in these past few weeks. The doctors nurses and anyone who entered her room could not believe there eyes. My husband and I with the help of my sister in law Sandi and sister Carolyn hung every birthday card, get well card and easter card on the walls doors and wherever else we could find room. She will finally have her birthday party on the 20th. We had to cancel the one in April.


Oh I almost forgot our trip to Disney World was MAGICAL! When we went to the Cinderella breakfast I told our server about Ashley and what she wanted more than anything was to meet and see Cinderella. We had reservatons at 8:05. When the they came out all 5 of them came right over to our table first, there was of course Cinderella, Snow White, Belle, Sleeping Beauty and Mary Poppins they gave her the kiss and also Al and Andrea. I hope the pictures turn out. Cinderella kept coming back and talking to her through out our breakfast. When we were done the Fairy Godmother was down at the entrance. We met and saw alot and I mean alot of thier favorite Disney characters. I will write more later about our trip.

http://www.caringbridge.org/il/kristen
http://www.caringbridge.org/il/nicholas

Take Care.

Love,
Norine

PS. Please visit the links below.

Monday, April 21, 2003 10:59 PM CDT

This is just a quick note..Ashley is in the hospital..We were in Florida and she started having trouble with her balance and walking . It was getting to the point that I was having to carry her up stairs and on rides. We left Orlando on Saturday morning, Stopped at Norine's Folks place in southern Illinois. We were going to spend a couple of days there when she just about started passing out for no reason. We returned to Chicago Monday night and she was admitted. She Had emergency surgery tonight to relieve the pressure in her head. She is doing much better now..The Docs say the tumor has grown and was causing fluid build up in her head. Norine is staying at the hospital with her. I don't have the full report for the MRI. So we are not certain to how much the tumor has grown. I will update more later..please keep her in your prayers

Al

I am adding a little side note to this update. Ashley is doing better now. She was moved to a regular room on 2 center. If anyone would like to call I have placed the room number and direct phone number below.

Thanks for all the prayers.
Love,
Norine

Wednesday, April 9, 2003 11:00 PM CDT

I just wanted to let everyone know that I won't be updating for about 2 weeks. We are leaving tomorrow for our trip to Florida. First we are stopping in Johnston City, ILL to visit with my parents.

Today Ashley finally had Chemo after 3 weeks without it. Her neutriphil count has been very low. They told me last week that if her count did not go up that she would need have her Bone Marrow check. I was so happy that she did not have to have this done. She as well as Andrea and Al are looking forward to our trip. I ts going to be a long drive. I know it will be ok. It will be worth it to see Ashley's face when she sees Cinderella!

I will check my mail and this site when I arrive at my parents. Take care.

Love,
Norine

Kristen's site http://www.caringbridge.org/il/kristen
Nicholas's site http://www.caringbridge.org/il/nicholas
Nick is in the hospital again. He was just released Saturday and now is back in.

PS Auntie Luanne I updated it!!!

Monday, March 24, 2003 1:25 PM CST

Hello everyone! Just wanted to let everyone know that Ashley is doing ok. She was unable to have her Chemo last week due to her Nuetriphil count being to low 400. I spoke to Dr. Goldman at Childrens and he said that the 2 spots on the MRI we should not worry abot right now they look at the size of the tumor however this might be the start of something. He recommened a MRI in 6 weeks to 3 months so we are having the MRI on the 24th of April at 8:00 am please pray that all is well on this day. This is only 3 days after her birthday I hope we can have a GREAT birthday present for her and be able to tell her it is going away.

She has been asking more and more when is her brain tumor coming out and it is hard for me to tell her, so Dr. Goodell is telling her the medicine is helping to take it away. She is more and more aware of her tumor everyday.

Last week we got the ok that she could travel so during spring brake we will be drining to Florida. First we will stop by my parents who live in Johnston City, ILL. and stay for 3 nights and than on to Disney world.
We decided to drive because we could not afford the airfare it it outragously priced. When Ashley took her Make a wish trip last year we all had a great time. They did a great Job of setting up the trip. The one thing Ashley wanted to do the most was get into the Cinderella Breakfast and we were unable to full fill that part. Well, I called Disney Dinning and they said it is next to impossible because you have to call 90 days in advance. I called on Friday the 14th Of March and on Sunday the 16th the They called and told me they were able to get us in due to Ashley's circumstance. She is thrilled. Cinderella is her favorite princess ever.

Thank you for all your love and support.

Also please keep visiting her friends pages
http://www.caringbridge.org/il/kristen
http://www.caringbridge.org/il/nicholas

Please continue to pray for Erin's family. Michele the Mom is in the Hospital thestatus.com name fitzgerald password friend-supernova

At the bottom of the page is a few links. One is Pray 4 kids it is a great place to put kids on a pray list. And there is one that a great bunch of people put together a virtual quilt for Ashley, if anyone would like to add a square for the quilt please feel free. When you look at it you will understand what I mean. The other link is Ashley's Picture page there is about 40 pictures of her and the family and other events. I have been ask why she only has 3 pictures on this site and thats all they will allow so about a month ago I made a home page for her.

Have a GREAT Day!
Love,
Norine Al, Andrea, Al jr. and Ashley

Sunday, March 9, 2003 7:45 PM CST

I am finally getting around to updating Ashley's site. First she has been able to have Chemo for 2 weeks in a roll now I am very glad. Her blood counts were better than last week. They seem to be getting better every week now that the DIARHEA GONE! The antibiotic worked. Ashley has been feeling better no headaches or any other complaints at the moment.

I spoke with Dr. Goldman from Childrens on Thursday and he stated that they look at the size of the tumor and that Ashley's is the same, however the two spots that reacted to the dye in the tumor maybe the start of things to come in the future. He said to scan her again in 6 weeks to 3 months so we decided that we will do another MRI in April. We are going to keep a close eye on this.
Dr. Goldman ask how she was physically and clinicly and we said she is a normal 4 year old (almost 5) with the exception of the seizures. That is what we have to look at with her right now. She attends school and piano and other park distict classes as well. We try to keep her very active so she is not just lying around.
Please pray that when she has the next MRI that those spots will be gone!

I will update more on Wednesday after her Chemo and she an appointment with Dr. Shah the neurologist.

Also please keep visiting her friends pages
http://www.caringbridge.org/il/kristen
http://www.caringbridge.org/il/nicholas

Please continue to pray for Erin's family. Michele the Mom is in the Hospital thestatus.com name fitzgerald password friend-supernova

At the bottom of the page is a few links. One is Pray 4 kids it is a great place to put kids on a pray list. And there is one that a great bunch of people put together a virtual quilt for Ashley, if anyone would like to add a square for the quilt please feel free. When you look at it you will understand what I mean. The other link is Ashley's Picture page there is about 40 pictures of her and the family and other events. I have been ask why she only has 3 pictures on this site and thats all they will allow so about a month ago I made a home page for her.

I want to thank Claret for adding a square to Ashley's virtual quilt. She LOVED it.

Take care.

Love Norine, Al and the kids.

Sunday, February 23, 2003 10:20 PM CST

This has been a hard week for us. Ashley had her MRI on Wednesday, although the tumor has not grown the Radioligist who read it said that there was 2 foci points(spots) on the left side of the tumor that reacted to the contrast die. The tumor never has reacted before. Dr. Goodell said they look at the size of the tumor not whether or not it reacts to the die. We trust Dr. Goodell but still decided to get another oppinion. I called Dr. Goldman from Childrens Memorial and he wanted to see the MRI's so I sent them to him on Wednesday.
I spoke to him Saturday and he still had not received them however he did receive the Fax that Denise from the Midwest Childrens Brain Tumor sent him. He was angery that a radiologist would comment on the tumor like that he did. I will be calling him Monday Morning see if her has received the films. Ashley's Headaches have improved however guess whats back as of today?? Yep the Diarrhea! She has been on Zithromax for a Sinus infection and an Ear infection since Wednesday. Dr. Goodell thinks the headaches are from the infection. She could get her Chemo again this week because her counts were low again. Her Hemogolbin was only 9.6 normal is 12. Her Absolute Neutriphil count did not even register which means it is probably under 200 and it needs to be over 1200.

We go back to the clinic on Wednesday pray that her counts will be OK.
Her friend Kristen is back in the hospital but should be leaving by Tuesday. They did a Full body MRI to see if there were any tumors or cancer and it was all Clear, which means Kristen does not need anymore Chemo. I am so very happy for her and her family. Ashley will miss her at the clinic but we are going to keep in touch with them.

At the bottom of the page is a few links. One is Pray 4 kids it is a great place to put kids on a pray list. And there is one that great bunch of people put together a virtual quilt for Ashley, if anyone would like to add a square for the quilt please feel free. When you look at it you will understand what I mean. The other link is Ashley's Picture page there is about 40 pictures of her and the family and other events. I have been ask why she only has 3 pictures on this site and thats all they will allow so about a month ago I made a home page for her.



Also please keep visiting her friends pages
http://www.caringbridge.org/il/kristen
http://www.caringbridge.org/il/nicholas

Please continue to pray for Erin's family. Michele the Mom is in the Hospital thestatus.com name fitzgerald password friend-supernova

I will post more on Wednesday or when I get the report from Dr. Goldman.

Take Care.
Love,
Norine

PS I changed the background. Ashley LOVES Teddy Bears, this is a new background so I thought I would try it out.

Wednesday, February 18, 2003 10:03 AM CST

Good Evening everyone. I know today is Monday, but I had to take Ashley to the Clinic today. She had been up the last to nights with bad headaches. We were able to come home Thank God! She is schedule for an MRI on Wednesday Morning. Dr. Goodell just wants to be sure that there is nothing going on. He has given me the ok to try Motrin I was happy because tylenol was doing a thing. Kids who are on Chemo normally do not take Motrin because it could cause you to loose your platletts at least thats what I remember Dr. Goodell saying. Her counts today were fair her white blood count was -1.6 her Nuetriphil counts did not even register. All her Electrolytes profile came back good. Please pray for her Wednesday.

I have some good News the DIARRHEA is GONE!!! The Vancomycin worked!!!!!! I am so very happy. I called the office on Friday and was told the Stool sample came back possitive for c-diff.

I will update more Wednesday after the MRI and the Clinic appointment.

Love,

Norine


Good Morning all! Yes I am actually updating Ashley's site in the morning!

Ashley went on Monday for her Chemo instead of today because the kids are off of school and have a Birthday party to go to in Gilberts ILL.

Ashley was unable to have her Chemo on Monday because her Absolute Neutrophils were only 500 all her other counts were good. Dr. Goodell said he wanted to hold off Chemo for the week. The Blood tests they took last week came back ok except the Vit. D which is not back yet.

Dr. Goodell also put her on a new Antibiotic for the diarrhea. It is Vancomycin. It seems to be working she has only gone to the bathroom once Yesterday and it was not Diarrhea, It was pastey. She said her tummt does not hurt as much. I hope this works. Dr. Goodell also is doing her stool cultures through the hospital instead of sending them to quest because they do a different test than the hospital and it almost always comes up neg for c.diff. Other wise Ashley seems to be doing much better this week. I am surprised her Neutrophil count is low. She shows no sign of it being low.

Yesterday Al and Andrea received an award from school for the essay they wrote about Ashley. It was a medal with there name on the back. They were so excited to to receive them. I am so proud of them they are very loving childern whne it comes to their baby sister. The love and help her all the time. Ashley was even proud of them whne they went to get their reward she yelled thats My brother and sister.

At the bottom of the page is a few links. One is Pray 4 kids it is a great place to put kids on a pray list. And there is one that great bunch of people put together a virtual quilt for Ashley, if anyone would like to add a square for the quilt please feel free. When you look at it you will understand what I mean. The other link is Ashley's Picture page there is about 40 pictures of her and the family and other events. I have been ask why she only has 3 pictures on this site and thats all they will allow so about a month ago I made a home page for her.

Also pleas keep visiting her friends pages
http://www.caringbridge.org/il/kristen
http://www.caringbridge.org/il/nicholas

Please continue to pray for Erin's family. Michele the Mom is in the Hospital thestatus.com name fitzgerald password friend-supernova

The kids are off today so I need to get them in the bath tub before we leave for the party.
Take Care and God Bless.
Love,
Norine

Thursday, February 6, 2003 10:36 AM CST

Yesterday Ashley had her Chemo again, her counts were good. Hemoglobin 11.3, White Blood Count 2.3 Platelets 163 and her Neutrophils 1300. I was happy that she is doing well these counts. They did her Hyperal profile stat and it was a little off the following are the labs that were abnormal: her Alkaline Phosphatase were low at 144, Chloride 109, Calcium7.8. I was very happy to see her Potassium was back to normal at 3.6.
With the other counts being off they ordered some new labs a Vitimin d profile, Calcium levels and a Para Thyriod level. They are trying to figure out whay she is still having the Diarrhea. Hopefully they will find out soon.
Now that Ashley's Calcuim level is low she is taking Tums EX twice a day. She told Dr. Kaplin yesterday she was not going to take them and he said yes you are and she told him you take them I'm not. They were so cute going back and forth. Needless to say she is chewing them up no problem. They were having fun together.

We are very lucky and fortunate that Ashley is doing as well as she is, I thank God everyday my little girl is happy and able to do the things a normal 4 year old can do.

Ashley is being evaluated at Norwood Park School for Occupational and Physical Therapy. This is a service they provide for children who need the services. I will update more as soon as we get things in motion.

This past week Daddy had the stomach flu and Andrea had been running a very high fever mostly at night. It could be that she is cutting ALL 4 of her six year old molars at the same time. She said her mouth really hurts. She is doing better.

I would like to share with all of you a letter that was dictated by Al and Andrea to their teacher Mrs. McMahon. Mrs. McMahon is entering Al and Andrea in the Signs of Courage contest that is sponsored by the National PTA.

"Signs of Courage"
(The words of Al & Andrea Carro)

Ashley is our 4 year old sister. She sleeps in Andrea's room, and it's Ashley's room too. Sometimes she comes in Al's room to wake him up to sleep in his room. She sleeps in Mom's and Dad's room, too. Ashley plays outside and goes to preschool and Ashley eats snow.
When Ashley has a seizure she goes to the hospital, sometimes. The medics come to take her. She has chemo some days because she has a brain tumor in her head. Al said: "Ashley's leg was really hurting bad, and she was limping!'
Ashley shows courage by smiling. Sometimes Ashley's stomach hurts really bad, and she doesn't cry. We cry when Ashley goes to the hospital.
When our fish died, it was ready to die. The fish got stuck in the coral tree. Andrea cried for 40 minutes.
Ashley will get better maybe or maybe not. If Ashley does not get better, she will go to heaven. Mom's brother, Dukie, our dog, and God is in heaven. Heaven is nice, and you can eat the clouds.
I help Ashley go up the stairs, and I hold her hand. Dad helps Ashley, too. He rides Ashley on the front of his motorcycle. I don't know my mother does it.
That is the letter exactly like it is written. No Changes.

Please continue to visit Ashley's friends sites. She loves them very very much. She was able to see both of her friends yesterday and fun.

http://www.caringbridge.org/il/kristen
http://www.caringbridge.org/il/nicholas

PLease continue to visit Erin's site as well
thestatus.com name fitzgerald password friend-supernova

Thank you for the continued prayers and support.
Thank you to all Jesse's family and friends for the support to Ashley's Medical Fund.
God Bless.
Love,

Norine

Wednesday, January 29, 2003 at 11:05 PM (CST)

Hello everyone! Its been a funny week. Ashley has had her ups and her downs. Her ups is that she had a normal bowel movement yesterday, we were very happy. We thought she was on the road to recovery from all the diarrhea well wrong she had 6-7 bouts of BAD diarrhea today. We were fortunate to have had an appointment to have chemo today. They did another stool sample to see if the c.diff is worse or maybe she has a case of the stomach flu that is going around. Mommy was very Ill on Monday it is so bad that you are vomiting and diarhea for almost 16 hours or more. My Hope is that is what has caused the diarhea this time.
Her Blood counts (CBC) was GREAT her Hemoglobin is 12.7,
her WBC 5.3 platelets 226,000, Nuetriphil counts 4200 this is one of the highest Nuetriphil count she has had, so she was able to receive her Chemo at a dose 55mg.

We had a bad day at the Clinic I have noticed some changes in Ashley and so did one of the other Moms. She told me she was not acting like Ashley I agreed. I requested to have her Elctrolytes done stat. If they don't do that it would go to an outside lab to have it run due to our insurance. I wanted to see her blood work today ALL of it. Boy was I glad I did, her Potasium was 2.9 so she need to recieve potasium in the office along with fluids. Dr. Kaplan stated she was very dehydrated. I told him her urninary output was low. So he spoke with Dr. Kwon and Dr. Kaplan ordered fluids and potasium. She will go back to the clinic Monday to redo her bloodwork. Dr. Kaplan alos noticed that Ashley has lost weight and gose along with what Kristen's Mom said. She lost 1.5 pounds in less than 2 weeks.

All of these thing that happened on Ashley's 14 month anniversary since diagnosis. We are so very lucky to have her with us. Al and Andrea's PTA submission to Signs of Courage Has made to the state PTA Level. If you would like to read it again here it is. I am very proud of them.


I would like to share with all of you a letter that was dictated by Al and Andrea to their teacher Mrs. McMahon. Mrs. McMahon is entering Al and Andrea in the Signs of Courage contest that is sponsored by the National PTA.

"Signs of Courage"
(The words of Al & Andrea Carro)

Ashley is our 4 year old sister. She sleeps in Andrea's room, and it's Ashley's room too. Sometimes she comes in Al's room to wake him up to sleep in his room. She sleeps in Mom's and Dad's room, too. Ashley plays outside and goes to preschool and Ashley eats snow.
When Ashley has a seizure she goes to the hospital, sometimes. The medics come to take her. She has chemo some days because she has a brain tumor in her head. Al said: "Ashley's leg was really hurting bad, and she was limping!'
Ashley shows courage by smiling. Sometimes Ashley's stomach hurts really bad, and she doesn't cry. We cry when Ashley goes to the hospital.
When our fish died, it was ready to die. The fish got stuck in the coral tree. Andrea cried for 40 minutes.
Ashley will get better maybe or maybe not. If Ashley does not get better, she will go to heaven. Mom's brother, Dukie, our dog, and God is in heaven. Heaven is nice, and you can eat the clouds.
I help Ashley go up the stairs, and I hold her hand. Dad helps Ashley, too. He rides Ashley on the front of his motorcycle. I don't know my mother does it.
That is the letter exactly like it is written. No Changes.




Last Night Tuesday the 28th we received free tickets to Disney on Ice from the American Brain Tumor Association. The tickets were all the way up in Section 317. Somehow in calling to get information on Handicapped parking I was tranferred to Customer service and left a message explained who we were with and than tranferred back to the operator and she tranferred me to somone else who wanted to upgrade us to second balcony and we declined. Than someone called us back and offered to move us to the first level. So we took it. It was fantastic! We were Second row in the VIP section. Disney on Ice gave out a Mickey to each child that was there with the ABTA. So Al, Andrea and Ashley received one.

Please continue to visit Ashley's friends sites. She loves them very very much.

http://www.caringbridge.org/il/kristen
http://www.caringbridge.org/il/nicholas

PLease continue to visit Erin's site as well
thestatus.com name fitzgerald password friend-supernova


Take Care and God Bless to all,
Norine

Wednesday, January 22, 2003 at 12:45 AM (CST)

Hello Everyone! We are finally home! We found out a lot during this hospital stay. Her MRI was unchanged and the tumor is still stable and her EEG was the same as the last one. Ashley as most of you know has had on and off Diarrhea for a while now, she had it so bad in the hospital that they did stool cultures. It came back possitive for Clostridium Difficile c.diff for short. It is a bacterial infection in her intestial track which is caused by long term antibiotics. Ashley has been on Bactrium for a year she takes it twice a week 2 times a day. I am so glad that this was found. She is on an antibiotic called Flagyl that is used for this infection. This also might be what has been causing the seizures. Her electrolites could be off at the time of the seizures because of the diarrhea. I hope that this is all related and we can get passed all this. She is also on a new seizure med called Keppra along with Topamax still. So far she has tolerated it well.
Ashley had her Chemo at the Hospital so I do not need to go to the clinic tomorrow.

I need to get to bed I am very tired.

Take care.
Love,
Norine

http://www.caringbridge.org/il/kristen
http://www.caringbridge.org/il/nicholas

PLease continue to visit Erin's site as well
thestatus.com name fitzgerald password friend-supernova

Monday, January 20, 2003 at 08:56 PM (CST)

A quick note to let you know that Ashley's MRI results were unchanged from the November scan. Dr Shah has added a second medication for the seizures. He is not sure why she is having them the EEG was the same as the last one she had no changes. He would like to have seen changes so that maybe he might know the cause. He said it could be stress on her brain Neurons from all the different things she has been going through in the past year.
Please pray she comes home tomorrow.
God Bless.

Love,
Norine

http://www.caringbridge.org/il/kristen
http://www.caringbridge.org/il/ashley

PLease continue to visit Erin's site as well
thestatus.com name fitzgerald password friend-supernova

Sunday, January 19, 2003 at 10:20 PM (CST)

I just wanted to do a quick update to let you know Ashley is in the hospital. She had 2 seizures this morning with the second one causing her become Cyanotic. She will have an
MRI tomorrow to see if everything is ok.
Her blod counts are relitively good with the exception of her potasium. It was 2.5 so she is getting KCL (potasium) every 4 hours. I will update more tomorrow after her MRI.

Please pray that her MRI results are unchanged.

God Bless

Love,
Norine


Please remember the Fitzgerald Family in your prayers. Their little Erin is noe one of Gods Angels.
thestatus.com name fitzgerald password friend-supernova

Please visit Ashley's friends sites:
http://www.caringbridge.org/il/kristen
http://www.caringbridge.org/il/nicholas

Friday, January 17, 2003 at 12:15 AM (CST)

Ashley is doing ok. On Tuesday at 6:20 am Ashley had another seizure 2nd one in two weeks. She also has a fever that was caused by the seizure. I called Dr Shah and Dr. Ikrim was on call and he did not want to increase her dose of Topamax. He must of misunderstood me when I told him she had gotten a fever after the seizure. He told me to give her tylonol but I said I could not with out permission from Dr. Kwon or Dr. Goodell. So I spoke with Dr. Kwon and he wanted her in the office at 9:30. They check her counts and they were good. Her Neutriphil count was 2.0 or 2000, Platelets 205,000, White Blood count 3.4 and her Hemoglobin 11.2. He said I needed to speak to the Neuro Doctors to increase her Topamax. I ran into Dr. Ikrim on the way out and he increased her dose but with a lot of nudging from me.
Wednesday her scheduled Chemo day I saw Dr. Goodell and we had a very nice talk about everything going on with Ashley to date. She was able to have her Chemo again at 50%. He went and spoke with Dr. Shah and he came over and spoke with me about increasing her Topamx. The plan is 30 mg in the am like it is now and 45 mg at nite for a week and than increase the am to 45 mg as well. I was very happy. I feel 2 seizures in 2 weeks is too much for me and her. It is not easy to see her having a seizure we deal with it and the twins even help. We try not to shelter them too much from her care because they need to be involved, and they are a big help. Ashley has started her new Meication for her Kidney Stone lets pray she will have no more. I think we have pinpointed the Diarrhea it is caused by the Polycitra K that she is takeing for the stones, and the diarrhea started around the time I started the Polycitra-K. She is getting used to it now so the Loose stools are getting better.

This has been a very hard week for us and My Husbands co-workers. His Boss Jesse passed away suddenly. We wish to Thank the family for thinking of Ashley. They all decided that in Leu of flowers have Memorials sent to Ashley's Medical fund. He was great with sending the updates out to all his friends and people that he and my husband knew. They thought that would be a fitting tribute to his life. Thank you so much from our whole family to the Barnes Family.

Again I ask please go to Erins site and visit and pray for her. She is not doing very good she is home on Hospice.
thestatus.com name- fitzgerald password friend-supernova

Also Ashley's two frinds Kristen and Nicholas's sites.
http://www.caringbridge.org/il/kristen
Http://www.caringbridge.org/il/nicholas
These are her friends from Chemo. She has become very attached to them. Please visit and sign their guest books.
Kristen is currently in the hospital. She has been there since last Friday.

Ashley is having a quilt made for her from Lovequilts.org Linked from Make A Child Smile. And a Virtual one made from QuiltsofLove.com. Please visit and support these two great sites.

Thanks for Listening to me go and on tonight.
God Bless All of You,
Love and Hugs to all,
Norine

Wednesday, January 08, 2003 at 10:57 PM (CST)

Hello everyone! Today I have a great report on Ashley. She did have her Chemo her Neutriphil counts were 3100 I can't remember when the last time they were that high! Her Hemoglobin 11.7, Platletts 340,000 and her White blood counts 4500. It is amazing what some antibiotics can do for a Sinus and Ear Infection and bring her counts back up again.. Thank You Dr. Campbell and Dr Tappas for catching this before it got worse. I have never seen to peds doctors go above and beyond the call of duty. You both along with Margie and Stacey are always there when I need help. Or even if I need to ask a question and don't which way to turn your there to help. We are lucky to have our kids love you all so much, I have pictures of them getting their exams all at the same time by Dr. Campbell.

Ashley's results of her kidney CAT scan showed she has a kidney stone on her right side that could possiably start moving. She has been placed on another Med Diarel which is a Diaretic in othewrs words she will be peeing an awfull lot. Thats ok I want her to pass this thing soon. She Saw Dr. Kaplin today he is the kidney doctor. He said clinicly she look good. He dip her urine and found it to be normal so her sent it out to be cultured different from last week.

Ashley was in a very playful mood but noone was there to play with so Noel came in and decided to play Doctor with her for a minutes. She had fun with her. When we first arrived we were put in out normal room and all of a sudden who do you think she sees? I bet Kristen coould guess. Thats Right Dr. Goodell's leg and would not let go. She really loves him. Today she was playful with Dr. Kwon I was happy to see he played back. All in all she did a GREAT JOB today.

Today we met the new Social worker Gretchen and she seemed very nice. Ashley liked her. After talking to her for a few minutes I realized she was the SS for the NICU follow-up clinic for the twins when they went to the clinic.

One thing I forgot to mention is the stool culture so far is negitive. Their thinking that the Diarreah might caused from the kidney stone or the Poly Citra K. The Topamax might be causing her Kidney stones but Dr. Kaplin(thank god) doesn't want to change it since it works for the seizures.

Please forgive if I have a mis spelled word wrong here or there. Look how late I update this site.
As always here is Kristen's page http://www.caringbridge.org/il/kristen
and for Nicholas http://www.caringbridge.org/il/nicholas
and Erin and she needs your prayers now more that ever. PLease go and read her site and pray for her at 8:00 pm Thursday the 9th we are allhoping for a mircle. thestatus.com name fitzgerald password friend-supernova

May God Bless all of you for the rest of your live.

Love,
Norine, Al, Ashley, Andrea & Al jr.




PS I have had several requests regaurding Ashley's Medical Fund account. I thought I would place it on her site to make it easier. Please make checks payable to Ashley Carro Medical Fund
PO Box 31004 Chicago, ILL 60631. Like I said it is being placed her upon request.

Thursday, January 02, 2003 at 11:07 PM (CST)

Good evening! Today Ashley's counts were perfect. Her neutriphil count was 2200, Hemoglobin 11.3, Plateletts 354,000 and her White Blood cells 3.3. I was so Shocked when they told me her counts. They were low last week now normal. We are pleased, Dr. Goodell still had her do 50% of her chemo dose to make sure her body can tolerate it. If her counts are like this next Wednesday he may try to increase the dose a little. She was so tired when we got home she went to bed and went to sleep around 6:30.

Ashley had a very big day we arrived at Chemo around 10:45 and was not call in until 11:30. They were busy today. Anyway When I saw Dr. Goodell in the hall I told him I wanted to talk to him in private. I told him that we have been very cocerned about Ashley having Back pain on and off for this long(since Nov.) He said the urine they did last week showed it was normal with +1 blood but was insignificent. He spoke with Dr Kaplin (the kidney doctor) and he wanted a CT scan of her abdomen we were very lucky to get in today for the CT scan and the result is she has a kidney stone very small on the right side and she complaines of pain on the left. When she had her MRI done in November they did her spine and it was fine so we know its not that causing the pain. She will see Dr. Kaplin next week at the Clinic to see if he needs order more test. I want the find out where the pain is coming from.
Needless to say we did not get home until after 5:30 and she was pooped!

Dr. Goodell and I also discussed that Ashley has had on and off diarrhea for about 5 weeks now so they did a stool sample to see what may be causing it. She also had another seizure on Tuesday morning. Dr. Ikrim( spelling) said it was because she was up all night not feeling well. They can be caused by lack of sleep. We are gratefull she did not have to have her dose of Topamax increased.

Please continue praying for Erin her web site is thestatus.com name fitzgerald password friend-supernova Michele is still in the Hospital and is need of help please visit the site and see if there is anything you could do if you live in the Wayne, Ill area. Thank You

Also my cute little Nicholas who Ashley just adores. She loves to rub his head. http://www.caringbridge.org/il/nicholas this is the right address I goofed last week Sorry!

Ashley's Friend Kristen now has a Web site as well it is http://www.caringbridge.org/il/kristen her Mom has not put anything on it yet. I help her set it up because Kristen is in the Hospital Having her Heavy Chemo and she will be there for the next 3 day. Please visit and sign her guest book please she needs all the prayers and support she can get. She does not have many friends here.

I wrote alot this time and it is now time to say Good Night.

May God Bless each and everyone of you everyday.

In Gods Love and Friendship,

Norine


PS I have had several requests regaurding Ashley's Medical Fund account. I thought I would place it on her site to make it easier. Please make checks payable to Ashley Carro Medical Fund
PO Box 31004 Chicago, ILL 60631. Like I said it is being placed her upon request.

Friday, December 27, 2002 at 10:32 PM (CST)

Yesterday, Ashley was able to have her chemo again at 50% although her white count was only 800. Her Hemoglobin was 11.7 which is great. all her other counts were good as well.
On Christmas Day Ashley's picture was in the Suntimes Newspaper in the sports section a half page with Phillip Daniels from the Chicago Bears. It was great picture of them. I contacted the PR department at the Cicago Bears and ask if there was anyway I could get the picture autographed by Daniels and within a couple of hours Bill White from the PR department call and said Daniels knew who Ashley was. I'm not sure but we are supposed to get a picture signed by him for the kids. All 3 kids are also on the bears website in a picture with him as Santa.

In an update on Erin she is home but her Mom Michelle had a Brain aneurysm on the 21st while visiting Erin and is lucky it happened there in the hospital, they tranfered her to Northwesrern Memorial and is still in the hospital. She is alert and stable Please pray the Michelle gets well soon. This family has endured enough right now. Please continue to visit her site thestatus.com name fitzgerald password friend-supernova.
I have become very close with Michelle and would do anything for her if I could. I know her sister is looking for help from people who live around Wayne ,Ill near wheaton to help prepare meals for them while Michelle is recovering. If you could help visit Erins site and Contact her sister Diane. Her e-mail address is dayers@aol.com

There is another little boy Named Nicholas that Ashley has meet at Chemo and she just adores him. He has double Wilms tumors(Kidneys) Please pray for him as well his site is http://www.caringbridge.org/il/nicholas

Please check Ashley's pictuer page. There are new photos.

Take care and May the Lord Bless you and watch over all of everyday. And Please continue to prayer for our little cutie Ashley. She is truly Daddys little girl.

Godd Bless All
Love,
Norine and Family
PS I have had several requests regaurding Ashley's Medical Fund account. I thought I would place it on her site to make it easier. Please make checks out to Ashley Carro Medical Fund
PO Box 31004 Chicago, ILL 60631. Like I said it is being placed her upon request.

Wednesday, December 18, 2002 at 09:42 PM (CST)

Ashley finally had her Chemo! Her counts were ok. Hemoglobin 10.4, ANC (white count) 1100 and her platlets 348,000. Dr. Goodell told me today that he will be giving her 50% of her Chemo for a while instead of the full dose because it appears that she cannot tolerate the higher doses. He would rather give her half more often than the full dose once in a while. He said she is doing well.

On a sad note Beth the Child life specialist is leaving. She has a new position at a doctors office in Rosemont. The good news is that Beth will be coming here to our house to visit Ashley, Andrea and Al. She started a project with Ashley and wants to see it through. She is coming over on New years Eve in the morning to work on their project.

Yesterday, Tuesday 17th Ashley, Al, Andrea and myself attened a holiday party for the American Brain Tumor Association. Where Phillip Daniels from the Chicago Bears played Santa. We had great time. He signed my Bears coat as well as Al jrs. The news media was there and believe it or not all 3 of them made the news on all the networks. CBS (Sorry Anna)was the best because they were doing a one on one interview with Daniels and Ashley was by him and he picked her up for the rest of the interview.

Please continue to visit Erin's site thestatus.com patient name fitzgerald the password is friend-supernova. She is currently in the hospital and needs our PRAYERS.

Please continue to Pray that Ashley's counts remain stable.

I would like to wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah.

Love,
Norine


PS I have had several requests regaurding Ashley's Medical Fund account. I thought I would place it on her site to make it easier. Please make checks out to Ashley Carro Medical Fund
PO Box 31004 Chicago, ILL 60631. Like I said it is being placed her upon request.

Sunday, December 15, 2002 at 11:35 PM (CST)

Hi Everyone! I just thought I would post a quick update.
Ashley has not had Chemo for the last 2 weeks due to her Neutriphil(white Count) count being under 200 and her Hemoglobin being only 9.8. The white count is so low that it does not register.
She finally is feeling better from her Sinus and Ear infections. She still has a week to go on the antibiotics. On Tuesday I took Al and Andrea to the doctor because they were complaining they did not feel well, Dr. Campbell placed them on Zithromax which is an antibiotic and ask me to call Al sr and my Doctor to have us placed on them as well. He said Ashley has been sick long enough and we need to get her well.

I have made a picture page for Ashley and have linked it to her page. Daddy finally showed me how. Please let me know how you like the page and if it links up ok. There are pictures there of the kids with Santa and Ashley's Best friend Allison.

Please keep Ashley in your prayers.
Also I would like to include my friend Michelle's daughter Erin's web page. thestatus.com patient name fitzgerald the password is friend-supernova we have become very close. Please visit her page and PLEASE PLEASE PRAY for a MIRICLE.
The is a very sweet and loving family. Erin was Dx. on 8/11/02. She now has several tumors on her spinal cord with the old ones not only growing but new ones appearing. Please say a pray for Erin, her Mom Michelle, Her Dad Bruce and their older daughter Emma.

Thanks a million.

In Gods Love
And God Bless
Norine

PS I have had several requests regaurding Ashley's Medical Fund account. I thought I would place her on her site to make it easier. Please make checks out to Ashley Carro Medical Fund
PO Box 31004 Chicago, ILL 60631. Like I said it is being placed her upon request.
Thanks for understanding.
Take it easy and stay Healthly

Friday, November 29, 2002 at 09:24 PM (CST)

ASHLEY'S MRI RESULTS!

We are very happy to get the news that Ashley's tumor is still stable. On Monday we will find out the results of her spine MRI, I was only concerned today about the brain. Thanks to all of you who have been praying for her and thinking about her today! She was in the MRI for 3 and half hours!!

On Wednesday Ashley was unable to have her Chemo due to her ANC count(white blood count) it was only at 500 so they gave her break this week. All her other counts were good. She has had a cold for a few days and again and she is trying to fight it.

I would like to share with all of you a letter that was dictated by Al and Andrea to their teacher Mrs. McMahon. Mrs. McMahon is entering Al and Andrea in the Signs of Courage contest that is sponsored by the National PTA.

"Signs of Courage"
(The words of Al & Andrea Carro)

Ashley is our 4 year old sister. She sleeps in Andrea's room, and it's Ashley's room too. Sometimes she comes in Al's room to wake him up to sleep in his room. She sleeps in Mom's and Dad's room, too. Ashley plays outside and goes to preschool and Ashley eats snow.
When Ashley has a seizure she goes to the hospital, sometimes. The medics come to take her. She has chemo some days because she has a brain tumor in her head. Al said: "Ashley's leg was really hurting bad, and she was limping!'
Ashley shows courage by smiling. Sometimes Ashley's stomach hurts really bad, and she doesn't cry. We cry when Ashley goes to the hospital.
When our fish died, it was ready to die. The fish got stuck in the coral tree. Andrea cried for 40 minutes.
Ashley will get better maybe or maybe not. If Ashley does not get better, she will go to heaven. Mom's brother, Dukie, our dog, and God is in heaven. Heaven is nice, and you can eat the clouds.
I help Ashleygo up the stairs, and I hold her hand. Dad helps Ashley, too. He rides Ashley on the front of his motorcycle. I don't know my mother does it.
That is the letter exactly like it is written. No Changes.

When I read this on Wednesday I started to cry. We did not know how much Al and Andrea knew about Ashley's tumor. We Pray everyday that Ashley will beat this tumor. She is a remarkable little girl.

In Gods Love,

Norine


Sunday, November 24, 2002 at 08:21 PM (CST)

Hi Everyone! I thought I would sit down and update Ashley's site since the kids are in bed and Al is watching TV.
Ashley's counts were very good on Wednesday so they increased the amount of her Chemo. She has handled it very well so far except she is very tired this weekend. She took 3 naps today and they lasted about 1 hour each. She also has a cold again so that means we have to watch to make sure she does not get a fever, if she does its back to the Hospital. I am hoping she will feel better Tomorrow.

Ashley has been seizure free for 2 weeks now, the Topamax is doing its job. Al and Andrea have been very attentive to Ashley. They know she has to be watch going up and down the stairs and they are good about holding her hand when we go out anywhere. Al(Sonny) is very sensative to the seizures because he has seen about 4 or 5 of them and they scare him.

On Wednesday's when Ashley goes to Chemo Beth the Child life specialist helps her make a scrape book from all the wonderful cards and letters she has received as a result of being featured on Make a child smile web site. This past week there was another little girl Kristen that is Ashley's age was helping with the book. They had a GREAT time together. When Dr. Goodell came in to talk to us(her Mom and I) we said we did mind if he examined them in the same room because the girls were having so much fun. So Dr. Goodell got in on the fun too and he took his shoes and socks off like the girls. They both commented that he needed his toe nails polished but he said no. I went down to my Truck and got my Camera so I could take pictures of the girls doing the scrape book. Both the girls wanted me take their picture with Dr. Goodell so they were calling his name non stop. We all were in stiches, it was so funny.
After they were done with their Chemo they went on a Dr. Goodell hunt and were looking for him from room to room. Finally they caught him and I mean they caught him he ran away from them and they went chasing after him. He finally came in for the picture and the girls made him take his shoes and socks off. While I was snaping the picture They started polishing his thumbs one blue and one pink. Dr. Goodell is like a big Teddy Bear and Ashley really LOVES him. He is very good to her!

The next few weekends are going to be very busy for all of us. On Saturday Bear Necessities is sending us to Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Baily Circus. This is a wish for Ashley she really wanted to go and they offered. Because it is down at the United center they are providing the transportation all 3 are very excited. Sunday we are going to Marshall Fields Walnut room for lunch with the Midwest Children Brain Tumor Center. After Lunch we are going to take the kids to see Santa. Also with the Brain tumor center we are going to see a Christmas Carol at the Goodman Theater. We never would have been able to do any of this without these wonderful people. Thank you very much!
On Sunday the 8th we are going on a Dinner cruise at Navy pier with the Make a wish Foundation. They have this event every year for wish families and Volunteers. This was a big surprise getting the invitation in the mail.

Please keep Ashley in your prayers on Friday the 29th she is going for her 3 month MRI of her brain at 8:00 am, and this time Dr. Shah the Nueroligist is also doing her whole spine. Just to make sure everything is OK. She had swelling in her spine last year and its just a Follow up.

We have some special Thank yous again. My Friend Trish has been wonderful to Pick Andrea up from School on Wednesdays when Ashley has her Chemo she used to take Al too but he decided he wanted to go over to his Friend Williams house cause he has boy toys and Sarah(Trish's daughter) does not. So a big and special Thank you also goes to My friend Mary and Her Au-par(nanny) Sally for picking Al up.
Sally also has brought Al and Andrea to piano and Art Class because William has the same classes with them and I am already at the park with Ashley.

Another Really big Thank You goes out to Sandy Li (Al's cousin John's wife) for walking the Columbus Marathon in Honor of Ashley and She wore a Green ribbon in her honor. She raised $1,221.00 for her Medical fund. I was in tears when I opened the card from her and saw what she had done. Thank you so VERY Much Sandy, John and Blake.


May God Bless each and everyone of you!

Take Care

Love,
Norine

Sunday, November 24, 2002 at 08:21 PM (CST)

Hi Everyone! I thought I would sit down and update Ashley's site since the kids are in bed and Al is watching TV.
Ashley's counts were very good on Wednesday so they increased the amount of her Chemo. She has handled it very well so far except she is very tired this weekend. She took 3 naps today and they lasted about 1 hour each. She also has a cold again so that means we have to watch to make sure she does not get a fever, if she does its back to the Hospital. I am hoping she will feel better Tomorrow.

Ashley has been seizure free for 2 weeks now, the Topamax is doing its job. Al and Andrea have been very attentive to Ashley. They know she has to be watch going up and down the stairs and they are good about holding her hand when we go out anywhere. Al(Sonny) is very sensative to the seizures because he has seen about 4 or 5 of them and they scare him.

On Wednesday's when Ashley goes to Chemo Beth the Child life specialist helps her make a scrape book from all the wonderful cards and letters she has received as a result of being featured on Make a child smile web site. This past week there was another little girl Kristen that is Ashley's age was helping with the book. They had a GREAT time together. When Dr. Goodell came in to talk to us(her Mom and I) we said we did mind if he examined them in the same room because the girls were having so much fun. So Dr. Goodell got in on the fun too and he took his shoes and socks off like the girls. They both commented that he needed his toe nails polished but he said no. I went down to my Truck and got my Camera so I could take pictures of the girls doing the scrape book. Both the girls wanted me take their picture with Dr. Goodell so they were calling his name non stop. We all were in stiches, it was so funny.
After they were done with their Chemo they went on a Dr. Goodell hunt and were looking for him from room to room. Finally they caught him and I mean they caught him he ran away from them and they went chasing after him. He finally came in for the picture and the girls made him take his shoes and socks off. While I was snaping the picture They started polishing his thumbs one blue and one pink. Dr. Goodell is like a big Teddy Bear and Ashley really LOVES him. He is very good to her!

The next few weekends are going to be very busy for all of us. On Saturday Bear Necessities is sending us to Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Baily Circus. This is a wish for Ashley she really wanted to go and they offered. Because it is down at the United center they are providing the transportation all 3 are very excited. Sunday we are going to Marshall Fields Walnut room for lunch with the Midwest Children Brain Tumor Center. After Lunch we are going to take the kids to see Santa. Also with the Brain tumor center we are going to see a Christmas Carol at the Goodman Theater. We never would have been able to do any of this without these wonderful people. Thank you very much!
On Sunday the 8th we are going on a Dinner cruise at Navy pier with the Make a wish Foundation. They have this event every year for wish families and Volunteers. This was a big surprise getting the invitation in the mail.

Please keep Ashley in your prayers on Friday the 29th she is going for her 3 month MRI of her brain at 8:00 am, and this time Dr. Shah the Nueroligist is also doing her whole spine. Just to make sure everything is OK. She had swelling in her spine last year and its just a Follow up.

We have some special Thank yous again. My Friend Trish has been wonderful to Pick Andrea up from School on Wednesdays when Ashley has her Chemo she used to take Al too but he decided he wanted to go over to his Friend Williams house cause he has boy toys and Sarah(Trish's daughter) does not. So a big and special Thank you also goes to My friend Mary and Her Au-par(nanny) Sally for picking Al up.
Sally also has brought Al and Andrea to piano and Art Class because William has the same classes with them and I am already at the park with Ashley.

Another Really big Thank You goes out to Sandy Li (Al's cousin John's wife) for walking the Columbus Marathon in Honor of Ashley and She wore a Green ribbon in her honor. She raised $1,221.00 for her Medical fund. I was in tears when I opened the card from her and saw what she had done. Thank you so VERY Much Sandy, John and Blake.


May God Bless each and everyone of you!

Take Care

Love,
Norine

Friday, November 08, 2002 at 09:20 PM (CST)

Hi everyone! Sorry it has taken me so long to update the site. We all have been pretty sick with colds, and its been hard to try and sit to type.

Well, to get started Ashley has been able to have her Chemo for the last 5 weeks once a week. Her blood counts have been wonderful. Her Hemoglobin has stayed steady over 11.4, platelets have been anywhere from 225,000 - 350,000, her white count have been any where from 3-3.8 and her Absolute Neutriphil count and been 1800 and over. Dr Kwon and Dr. Goodell have decided not to increase her Chemo back to where it was, for a while due to her counts are doing so well with it being at 75%. Ashley will be remaining on Carboplatin the same chemo drug she has been receiving all along. It seems to be working.

Ashley was in the Lutheran General Hospital again on the 26 of October for 3 more seizures. She had one here at home and was taken via Chicago Fire Department. The Paramedics were GREAT they had no problem taking her to LGH because it was the closet appropiate for her condition and history. While in the ER Ashley was alert talking to the staff and said she was hungry and they ordered her a hot dog and fries and she ate half and ask me to lay her down she was tired. I was talking to her and she went into a weird seizure where she was totally unresponsive and un arousable. There were 3 doctors 3 nurses and Med students in the room trying to find out why she had this seizure, they gave her 1 1/2 mg of ativan and moved her to the peds ER because it was now open. She woke up again alert and they had said she could go home. She went to the bathroom and came back to the bed ate some pudding and said she was tired I laid her down and turned to tell the doctors she needed her B/P cuff on and she went into a seizure that affected her whole body, they gave her more ativan and she came out of the seizure immediatly(I'm glad someone else witness this seizure finally). They admitted her to Peds ICU to be monitored. She was there for a few hours and then tranferred to 2 center. She was able to go home in the morning with an increase in her trileptal to 4 mg twice a day.

She was doing very well with her meds and was able to go Trick or treating on the 31st. On Friday the First of November she had a bad day at school and was very nervous and not acting like herself. My Friend Tammy and her daughter were with us at Wendys. Ashley had to get up from the table right NOW and I let her out and than she had to go potty and as we were leaving the batroom she had a seizure. She fell flat on her face and has the bumps and bruises to prove it. Someone in Wendys a costomer called 911. The Paramedics were rude and nasty to me. I should say only one was the other was very nice and sweet and even held Ashley while I got off the floor. Tammy called the Doctors office and they wanted to add a new medicine which is Topamax 15 mg capsules twice a day. Joan the nurse talk to Dr. Shah and he said it was not needed to come to the hospital. I was relieved and so was Ashley. She has not had a seizure since than. Dr. Shah said she might be able to come off the meds in a few months if she does not have to many more seizures.I will pray for NO MORE SEIZURES.

I would like to thank two of my best friends that have helped me out alot in their own ways. Thanna for coming her to stay with Al and the kids when Ashley's in the Hospital and for the MANY MANY other things you do for me and my family ILOVE YA! And to Tammy you are my wonderful support system. Thank you so much for being there when Ashley had the seizure I don't know what I would have done with out you. You are always there for me whether I need to talk about things or just to listen to me when I am upset.You Both are the most TRUE and BEST FRIENDS I have. I LOVE YOU BOTH!!!

On Novenber 29th Ashley will have her follow up MRI on her Brain but now have added her spinal column since thats what started this whole thing. Please pray extra Hard that day she has her MRI at 8 am. This date is the one year anniversary since she was diagnosed so needless to say I am a little nervous.

On Monday Ashley will have another EEG to check to see if she has had increased seizure activity. Please pray for her on that day as well.

Al and Andrea just got their first report cards today and did very well. perfect attendence no tradys and believe it or not no bad Check marks. The school has been able to have Al and Andrea see the school Social Worker to help the deal with these issues they have about Ashley.

One more little thing and I am done. This is the longest one yet! Ashley is being feature on a websit called Makeachildsmile.org this organization features kids on their site and anyone who sees it can send Ashley Al or Andrea a card or something. She featured for the month of November.

Tank you all for the countinuous pray and thoughts.

In Gods Love and Friendship always,
Norine


PS Today Saturday November 9 Ashley has 2 back to back seizures. We called the doctor and he tolds us to give another Topamax and than increase the evening dose to 30 mg. We kept her home because all they will do is watch her and increase her meds and we can do that here at home. Thanks to Lauren at Medex Ambulance service we now have an oxygen tank and supplies. Thanks Lauren they came in handy today. You are a GREAT friend and Boss.

Wednesday, October 16, 2002 at 10:25 PM (CDT)

Ashley had her Chemo appointment today and we were all happy including Dr. Kwon that her counts were up to normal.
Her Absolute Neutrafil count was up to 2200 which is normal, her hemoglobin was at 11.9 and her platlets were 342,000. We couldn't have ask for better counts.

Ashley is feelng very very well and is very very active little 4 year old.

After Chemo today I ask the nurse if she could go visit with the nurses on 2 center since her counts were so great ans she said yes. That made Ashley's day. THey gave her a troll doll, lots of stickers, Reeses peanut butter cups and let her sit behind the nurses station and play nurse. THose nurses are her home away from. They play with her even if they were not her nurse. Mirissa yelled at Ashley she told her how dare you come here with your brother my boyfriend the hotty! She turned around and said he is in real school. I guess she told her.

The Nurses at Lutheran General Childrens Hospital(2 center and west) are the best nurses I have encountered in the hospital. They are kind, loving and compationate not only to the little ones they treat but the whole family the same way. WE LOVE YOU ALL 2 CENTER AND 2 WEST NURSES YOUR THE GREATEST!!!!

I would like to Thank all the wonderful people who have taken care of Andrea and Albert while Ashley was in the hospital. Mainly Sally you are a true friend, and I can't froget her boss Mary who lets Sally bring them to her house. And to Trish thank you so much ffor picking Andrea up on the day's Ashley has her chemo and when she was in the Hospital. You are also a true friend!
If you look up true friend in the dictionary you find these three names Mary, Sally and Trish. You are all Great!

If you can While you are praying for Ashley please include Erin Fitzgerald she has the same tumor as Ashley. Michelle her Mother sent me an e-mail that her aunt has been praying to Padre Pio who is a new saint. Could you please pray to him for Ashley as well as Erin. Erins mom and I have become close. We have a lot in common with each other and we give each other advice or if one of us just wants to talk we are there for each other. If you would like to visit Erins site you may go to thestatus.com go to visit a patients page and sign in fitzgerald in ID spot and than in the password is friend-supernova. There you can see that Erin has gone through alot of What Ashley has already done.

Its time for bed.

Take care,
In Gods Love Friendship and Healing power,
Norine

Sunday, October 06, 2002 at 10:54 PM (CDT)

We finally made it home!!! Boy is Ashley HAPPY, and so is Mommy! She is feeling good. When she got home, she ate her homecoming gift from Auntie Sandy and Uncle Ron (a custom made cookie with her name on it). After that, she had her nails painted by Auntie Thanna and then fell asleep on the couch. We are going to keep her home from school on Monday even though her blood counts are good. She will go back to the doctor on Wednesday to see if she will be able to have her chemo and they increased her seizure medication.

Before we left for the hospital, Daddy wouldn't get out of Ashleys bed. So she told the nurse on him. And the nurse told Ashley to tell him to get up or she will give him an enema. He would not move so Ashley went back to the nurse and she received a syringe full of water. There were eight people standing outside of the room waiting for Ashley to squirt Daddy with the water. Everyone thought it was a real hoot!!!! She finally got Daddy in the best place of all, in his privates! Before leaving the hospital they gave her a 70 cc. syringe so Daddy would stay out of her bed at home.

All the nurses and doctors were very kind to her in the hospital and treated her wonderfully. I'll update the site on Wednesday after her chemo appt.

In God's Everlasting love,

Norine

Saturday, October 05, 2002 at 11:15 AM (CDT)

Ashley room was changed because they need the isolation room she was in for a child with chicken pocks. She is doing well today. The cardiologist saw her last night and ordered an Echocariogram for today. Thanks will update more later. Love Norine

Ashley is still in the hospital. She had a blood transfusion today,and shee is good spirits ....she is helping me type this...and wants to push all the buttons...Her heart rate dropped below 50...so they did a EKG...she wants to go home ( all she talks about) ...she misses her brother and sister very much..we will update more tomorrow..

this was updated by Ashley and Daddy

Wednesday, October 02, 2002 at 06:27 PM (CDT)

Just want to let you all know that Ashley is back in the hospital again. We were getting her and all her things ready to come to the hospital because she had a fever of 102 and when we put her in the car she had another seizure.
We called 911 and they transferred her here to LGH.

She will be here for a few days to so she can receive IV antibiotics and make sure her fever does not come back.

Her bloods counts are also abnormal so she is in viral isolation which means the staff has gown, mask and glove before entering so they do not carry any germs from other chidren. Her white count is still very low and her Hemoglobin is 8.8 which is low but still ok for now. This is another week without Chemo due to her counts and unexplained seizure. Dr Shah the nuerologist is increasing her seizure meds in the evening to start and then in 2 weeks will increase the morning dose.

Ashley is in good spirts and is enjoying receiving phone calls. From her friends and family.

I will update tomorrow. Please continue to pray for her she needs them more now than ever.

Love,
Norine

Saturday, September 14, 2002 at 09:09 PM (CDT)

Today Is Sunday and Ashley was released from the hospital. We need to give her a new Medication called Trileptal for her resent Seizure. She is doing ok very sleeply and a little weak from laying around. She was not allowed out of her room cause her of counts. I will update everything in detail tomorrow I am very tired.

Good Night and God Bless,
Norine



Here is just a quick note to let everyone know that Ashley had a siezure this morning. She was tranfered to Lutheran General Hospital via Chicago Fire Department Paramedics.
They are not sure why she had one, it may or or may not be due the tumor. She had an EEG that showed abnormalaties but nothing conclusive. They also repeated her MRI and THANK GOD no changes from the 26th of August.

Her white count is down to 800 so she is confined to her room and is not happy about it at all. Her room number is 230 and the phone number is 847-723-5230 this is a direct number to her room. The doctors will be in to see her in the morning and we will know when she will go home, it might be tomorrow or Monday.

Daddy is home taking care of the twins. I know he can handle it!

I need to get back to her room. I will update again tomorrow.

Please pray she has no more siezures!

In Gods Love,
Norine

Thursday, September 05, 2002 at 10:12 PM (CDT)

Hi everyone! This was another good week for Ashley. Her white count was 1300. Last week Dr Goodell increased her dose of Chemo and as you can see she did so well they continued with the higher dose. I spoke with Dr. Goodell at length about how Ashley is doing since it is coming up on the 10 month anniversary since she was diagnosed. He stated she is responding very well to the treatment. She could be much worse but she is a strong little girl and is fighting this all the way. Ashley continues to have Physical Therapy at Shriners every Tuesday. She meets a new Shriner every week and makes sure they know that her Grandpa John is a Shriner, and her Uncle Ron is a Shrine Clown. She enjoys meeting every Shriner, she goes up to them alone to meet them. She met a past Potentate and the Hospital chairmen. Her Therapist had a Brain Tumor herself and her and Ashley have really connected. I am happy with the care that Shriners hospital provides.

This week all three kids started school. Ashley is in Preschool and loves every minute of it because she is in the Senior class this year. All I do is walk her in and she puts her stuff in her cubby and says huggie, kiss and goodbye. She still carries Claret in school and now she has a new bear from Claret and she named it Jazzercize. (Claret by the way is my Jazzercize Instructor and had given Ashley a puppy beagle stuffed animal}. This puppy has gone through radition, Chemo, all her MRI's and of course school. Al and Andrea started Kindergarten at Norwood Park School and Andrea really loves it she doesn't even look back. Al on the other hand is a little emotional. He loves it and his teacher but still gets tears in his eyes when I drop him off. On the first day He did not want to go in but Andrea pulled him in and said lets go! We just can't beleive how fast they are growing up.

Well, back to Ashley on Tuesday we sent her MRI's all 6 of them to Johns Hopkins Medical Center in Baltimore, MD. We found a Doctor there that does surgery on some Pontine Gliomas. They meet on Tuesday and will let us know if this could be an option by the end of next week. PLEASE PRAY that it can be removed or treated in another way. Remember the date of thier meeting is Tuesday the 10th in the AM.

For now All 3 kids are starting soccer we have had 2 practices and our first Game is Saturday at 11:30 at Norwood Park in Chicago on Natoma if anyone wants to see a good Game. I (Norine) am coaching again this year with 3 other coaches. I like the paper work end and the men do the running and tiring the kids. We are the Purple Armadillos!

Also Please Continue to Pray for Erin she has been diagnosed with 2 more tumors on her Cervicle Spine along with her pontine Glioma. She also has a web site www.thestatus.com the user name is fitzgerald and the password is friend-supernova, please visit her site and support her family.

Thank you for all the prayers!


In Gods Love and Friendship,

Norine, Al, Andrea, Al jr. and Ashley

Sunday, August 25, 2002 at 08:49 PM (CDT)

Monday Updates!!
I'm just adding a quick note to Ashley's page. We are very pleased with the MRI results today. The scan showed the tumor is still stable, no growth or shrinkage. We are thankfull God is watching over Ashley. The prayers really work.
Today at the scan they gave her the medicine to sadate her and she fell asleep right away within 10 minutes. I carried to the room and when I put her on the table she woke up and look around and did not see Daddy and started to cry. I had to get him and bring him in to her to calm her down it help a little, but we ask if they could give her more medicine and the nurse did. Not only did she get more but Daddy had lay on the table with her until she fell asleep. We were very greatfull they suggested this to us they said its done all the time.
The Nurse Kim said the reason that Ashley may not have fallen into a real deep sleep after the first dose is that she could becoming resistant to the drug due to the number of MRI's she has had in the past 10 months which is a total of 6 and 1 CT scan.
We thank each and everyone of you for the continued prayers. Our Family is so lucky to have friends like all of you.

There is some friends we need to thank and that Is Thanna, Chris and Kylie. Thanna came over on Sunday and spent the night because we had to Have Ashley at the MRI at 7:00am. She was here to look after Al and Andrea so Daddy and I both could be with her for the morning.
Thanks Chris for letting barrow Thanna.
You both are very true friends and when you say can we do anything to help we know you both are serious. We Love Ya Guys!!!
Norine and Al


Sunday's udates

This week Ashley's white counts were at 2000. We have been very lucky that all her counts have been fairly good and she has not had to have blood or platlets. She is a very strong willed little girl and is fighting this every step of the way.

On Friday we went to Geat America we had free tickets through her Make A Wish trip. All 3 of them enjoyed the park. Beleive it or not Ashley went on the Demon Roller Coaster, if she had her way (and her height sad no) she would have gone on every roller coaster. Andrea met the requirement on several but wanted nothing to do with them.
Andrea, Al and Ashley met Silvester and Ashley ask him if he ate tweety bird and he said yes, But we knew he was teasing.

On Monday August 26th at 8:00am Ashley will be going for her 3 month MRI. We ask to please pray for her at 8:00 the time she goes in and hopefully GOD will hear and the tumor will have shrunk again or have stayed stable. I hope we will be able to get the results right away and I will update the site.

May God Bless each of you for all your unselfish prayers for our Daughter and family.

In Gods Love and Friendship,

Al, Norine, Andrea, Al jr. and Ashley

PS I have a special prayer request. We just learned that another 4 year old girl whose name is Erin was diagnosed with the same exact tumor as Ashley. This is the family of my moms old boss. I have spoke with the parents and tried to help and support them. They are a nice family. Erin is on the same drugs as Ashley as well. Thank you all and God Bless

Thursday, August 15, 2002 at 10:08 PM (CDT)

Hi everyone! This week was even a better report for Ashley her White count was up to 2300. She is back on her full dose of Chemo again. We had one problem this week all 3 kids have Pink Eye. We have no idea where they got it from. But all are doing very well.

Ashley started her Physical Therapy at Shriners and they are really Great. We saw Gabby the Clown and Ashley was Happy because she has met him before.

On Monday August 26th Ashley is going for her MRI to see the status of her Tumor. She is having it at 8:00 am CDT. If we could please ask that everyone pray for Ashley at that exact moment she is having the MRI maybe we can see more inprovement in the tumor. My friend told me she beleives in the Power of Pray and I do too, after her first follow-up MRI everyone prayed or thought of her at the moment and the news was it had shrank by 1 and a 1/2cm. That would be my hope now again or even that it is staying stable and not growing. When we get the results we will post them.

On an update for Daddy his shoulder is doing ok and he still is not supposed to use his right arm. Ashley asks him everyday if he had his chemo and we tell her its Physical Therapy. She gets confused she knows Daddy has Physical Therapy like her.

Thank you all once again for all your support and Prays.

In Gods Love and Friendship,

Norine, Al, Andrea, Al jr. and Ashley.

PS Please visit the web sites below they have really help me along the way. THank you

Wednesday, August 07, 2002 at 10:11 PM (CDT)

Hello everyone!

This week again was a good report. Ashley's white count was up to 1300 so she could have her Chemo again. They will be keeping her on the lower dosage for a while to see how she does.

I am taking Ashley to Shriners tomorrow for an Evaluation for PT and OT. We will let you all know how it will go. Thanks to my Masonic background she did not have to be place on a waiting list. My Father who is a Shriner sponsored her for our family. We Love Ya Dad! Thank you very much!

She has been feeling good this week and its the last week of Camp. She ask what we were going to do next. I registered all 3 of them for Soccor. They cannt wait. Mommy is going to coach again this year.

The Twins will be going to sports camp at Rosedale next week for 4 days from 10:00-12:00. Speaking of the twins Andrea lost her first tooth on Sunday the 4th. At First she was upset but than realized that the tooth fairy was coming that night, and she left a whole dollar! Her brother Al is upset that her tooth fell out and wants Mommy to glue it back in, I told him the tooth fairy took it away.

Thanks for all your thoughts and Prayers thats keeps us going and knowing we friends like all of you.

With Love In Gods Name,
Norine, Al, Andrea, Al jr. and Ashley

We Love you all!

I have a special Thank you to my friend and My Doctor for helping me get through this challenging time. Thanks Dr. Mike!!

Wednesday, July 31, 2002 at 09:20 PM (CDT)

I have a good update this time around. Ashley's white counts were up to 1000. So she was able to have her Chemo today. She was so energized today at the clinic that the Child Life Specialits Beth, had her sort out the crayons so there would be some in in each exam romm and treatment rooms.
It was like I was not need today Ashley has new friends to play with and follows her favorite Doctor around the office, Dr. Goodell. He is a sweet, wonderful, caring and loves to play peekaboo and hide and seek with Ashley, he is like a big teddy bear.

She is like a fixture there now everyone sees her in the halls alone looking for her favorite M.D.

Denise from the Midwest Children Brain Tumor Center is another one of the people she really enjoys and across the hall is Dr. Kira Armstrong PHD they love to play together every friend after Ashley's Physcial Therapy so I can talk to Denise.

I pray to God everyday that he will heal her. We love her with all our heart and soul and will be doing everything to help her get better.

In Gods Love, Friendship and Prayers
Al, Norine, Andrea, Al jr. and of Course Ashley


Thanks again for all the support!

Wednesday, July 31, 2002 at 09:20 PM (CDT)

I have a good update this time around. Ashley's white counts were up to 1000. So she was able to have her Chemo today. She was so energized today at the clinic that the Child Life Specialits Beth, had her sort out the crayons so there would be some in in each exam romm and treatment rooms.
It was like I was not need today Ashley has new friends to play with and follows her favorite Doctor around the office, Dr. Goodell. He is a sweet, wonderful, caring and loves to play peekaboo and hide and seek with Ashley, he is like a big teddy bear.

She is like a fixture there now everyone sees her in the halls alone looking for her favorite M.D.

Denise from the Midwest Children Brain Tumor Center is another one of the people she really enjoys and across the hall is Dr. Kira Armstrong PHD they love to play together every friend after Ashley's Physcial Therapy so I can talk to Denise.

I pray to God everyday that he will heal her. We love her with all our heart and soul and will be doing everything to help her get better.

In Gods Love, Friendship and Prayers
Al, Norine, Andrea, Al jr. and of Course Ashley


Tanks again for all the support!

Saturday, July 27, 2002 at 08:32 PM (CDT)

I thought I would give everyone a quick update for Ashley. It is now 3 weeks since she has had her Chemo.
Ashley's White count had fallen down to 200 which is not good. This past week it has gone up to 500 Dr. Kwon said when it gets back up to the normal they will drop the dosage of her Chemo, in hopes this does not happen again.

She is doing well in Pysical Therapy, her therapist said she needs to work on her balance on the balance beam and hopping on one foot.

We have an appointment set in two weeks at Shriners Hospital so she can receive her PT there, Grandpa John is a Shriner and has sponsored herfor treatment.

The twins Andrea and Al (Sonny) have really taken on the role as big brother and sister. They like to help her with her therapy and when she falls a sleep they are quick to cover her up.

On a side note all 3 kids have finished a week of Vacation Bible School. They attented with their best friend Allison all 4 of them had fun and learned new songs and met new friends.

Thank you all for all the continued prayers and support.

In Gods Love and Friendship,
Norine, Al, Andrea, Al jr. and Ashley

Thursday, July 11, 2002 at 10:26 PM (CDT)

Just wanted to update you on Ashley's progress. This has been a rough week for her because her white blood counts are very low (500) and she is very tired. She was unable to have her Chemo on Wednesday.

Ashley is still very active and goes to Camp everyday and enjoys it very much along with her brother and sister.

On Friday morning Ashley will go to the Brain Tumor clinic at Lutheran General Childrens Hospital. They have ask if Ashley could be filmed for a Public service announcment and of course I said yes, she is very excited.
Pictures will also be taken for future use at The Midwest Children's Brain Tumor Center.

Thanks to each and everyone of you who have viewed Ashley's web page and for signing the guest book.

In Gods Love,

Norine, Al, Andrea, Al jr. and Ashley Carro

PS Please sign the guest book and if you have the time please visit the link below.

Saturday, June 29, 2002 at 11:16 PM (CDT)

I found this website through a friend online. I thought I would create a page to keep everyone updated on Ashley' progress.

As many of you know Ashley has an inoperable brain tumor. She has had radiation and chemo everyday for 6 weeks between December and January. Due to those treatments the tumor shrank 1.5 cm.

Her last MRI was on May 28th and it showed the tumor was stable for now. She is now having Chemo once a week and taking meds at home at night.

Ashley is now having Physical Therapy once a week for some balance problems. She has met 3 of her shot term goals in just 3 weeks. The therapist had it down for 2 months, she is doing exceptly well.

I will try to keep this page updated as much as I can.

Thank you all for the wonderful prayers and cocerns for Ashley.
I wish I could answer all the e-mails but it is not always possible.

Let me know if I should change or add anything on this site.

Please sign the guest book.

Love,

Al, Norine, Andrea, Al jr. and of course Ashley

The website I just included is a great place to join. I have all 3 of my kids on the list to be prayed for everyday. Please if you get the chance check it out, it has really help me through this time. Thank you and God Bless.

Click here to go back to the main page.

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