Hannah's Page

Welcome to our Child's Web Page. It has been provided to keep people updated about our Child. Hannah was 13 years old when she was diagnosed with Burkitt's Lymphoma on Sept. 7, 2004. Burkitt's is a rare, aggressive form of non hodgkins lymphoma; it is curable.
On August 5, 2004 Hannah won a gold medal at the Jr. Olympics for olympic style weightlifting. She could snatch 115 lbs. and clean and jerk 126 lbs. She also won the School Age Nationals in June in New Jersey. She was an 8th grader at Wheatridge Middle School and had just made the volleyball team when she was diagnosed. She is a strong girl, but still likes all the girly stuff...cute clothes, make up, purses, hats (even before she lost her hair) and shopping on the internet. Her favorite thing about school is the socializing! She's all girl with a strong body and mind. She loves her family and friends and is doing everything in her power to fight this disease.
Her page is updated every couple of days, please read the journal history, if you've missed something. She's an awsome gift from God!
On June 22, 2005 we found out her cancer was back. Her fight continued. She was enrolled in a clinical trial, but contracted an aspergillus fungal infection and was dropped from the trial. She endured numerous surgeries to beat the odds and survive the infection. She was the first pediatric patient to try AMD3100 to help harvest her stem cells. She had a stem cell transplant on Nov. 29, 2005 and finally returned back to school in August 2006. She is surviving!

Journal

Friday, April 24, 2009 8:26 AM CDT

Friday, April 24, 2009

I guess that not updating doesn’t actually keep cancer out of our lives. Hannah has been doing really well and we continue to be grateful for her health. She is still having problems with her IgG level. We had her level drawn in March and it had gone down again. Her doctor is checking with immunology to see if she can get a “dead” vaccine to see if she produces antibodies. We will continue to “wait and see”. She feels good most of the time.
Hannah is getting ready to graduate! I get emotional just thinking about it, but in the best way. Thinking back to where she was her freshman year this is beyond what we could even dream of! She has been busy filling out scholarships and spending time with her friends. She went to prom with a friend from church and has gotten to be “normal” which has been her biggest dream. Graduation is on Saturday, May 16th and we will be having her Open House on Friday night from 6:00 - 9:00. If you are in the area, you are invited to come by. You can email me for directions, if you haven’t been out here before. We are thrilled to be able to celebrate good news!
My dad was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer so it seems the cancer monster is still lurking. They are meeting with the doctor again to make final plans for treatment. Surgery isn’t an option because of his heart and all the meds he’s on, but luckily there are other options with excellent outcomes available. My parents have the best attitudes of anyone I know. They are facing this with the same attitude. I will keep you posted (more frequently than every 6 months!)
My heart is completely broken to post that our friend, Sam Weeks, found his cure in heaven on Sunday, April 19th. We became friends with Sam and his family soon after Hannah was first diagnosed. Sam has since had another diagnoses and then a “treatment related” diagnosis. He underwent a bone marrow transplant and then had complications and had a second transplant but his body had just too much treatment and couldn’t recover. He was just days short of turning 18. I’ve never seen anyone fight so hard. Please continue to pray for his family and his girlfriend.
We are once again raising funds for the Relay For Life. We have the ability to change the world! If there was enough money for research, there would be treatments for cancer that aren’t so hard on you that the treatment takes your life. I am so tired of the pain and suffering of so many. I will post the link to our site on here soon. We are going to get ready to go to Sam’s funeral now.

I have told you all this so that you may have peace and trust in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. John 16:33

Please pray for:
1. Gratitude for Hannah’s graduation
2. Families whose children are no longer with them
3. Families whose children are done with treatment but still worry every day
4. My dad and mom

Hospital Information:

Patient Room: HOME!!!

Children's Mercy Hospital
2401 Gillham Rd
Kansas City, MO. 64108
816-234-3000

Links:

E-mail Author: deejo_222@yahoo.com

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