Julia's updates

Picture taken some time in July 2006. Danik was experimenting with under water photography in our pool.


Please note that the background info - how she was diagnosed, etc. - is moved to entry dated 06/06/03.


This page is created to track Julia's fight with leukemia for many people everywhere who are thinking of her. Julia turned 5 on March 5, 2003. She was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia on May 8, 2003.

A little tutorial about Complete Blood Count. Here are the normal values:

Red blood cells (RBC) 4.2 – 6.0 million/mm3

Hemoglobin (HGB)12 – 18 g/dl

Hematocrit 36 – 52%

Platelets 150,000 – 450,000/mm3

White blood cells 4,000 – 11,000/mm3

ANC (infection fighting indicator) must be >1500 to fight infection

Many people are asking how they can help. First of all, you all can donate blood. Even if Julia does not need it, it may help other kids. Children like Julia usually have many whole blood and platelet transfusions during treatment. If you wish, you can go to the Children's Hospital in DC and donate blood in her name (this does not mean that she will get it). By the way, her blood type is B+.

Second, Julia loves getting mail. You can drop her a note or a card if you feel like. If you need our home address, please e-mail me at lolafox@yahoo.com (I'd rather not post it on the web.)

Journal

Thursday, August 3, 2006 6:35 PM CDT

Hello friends and family,

Julia's last check-up went pretty well. Her mole was removed a couple of weeks ago and her pathology report came back saying basically that it was an atypical mole. The atypicak cells were found at the margins of the sample. What does it mean? Well, it is still benign but abnormal and not all of it was removed. Her oncologist recommended a visit to a dermatologist who specializes in this field and I already made an appointment to see her on Monday.
Julia has been feeling awesome all summer with a small exception this week when she came up with stuffy head and stuffy nose one one day of low grade fever. I think she is still recovering from whatever that was (probably a viral bug according to Tuan). Her counts were OK, but not as great as before which her NP believes is consistent with a virus.

WBC 3.63K
ANC 1450
Platelets 162K
HGB 11.7

The oncologist also found yet another mole on Julia's tummy which looks a little too dark, and that is something I am going to discuss at the visit with the new dermatologist.

The girls' summer camp is almost over (last day tomorrow) and we will have a kind of relaxing (hopefully) August with a one week vacation planned in NC/Cape Hatteras. The girls have been having some crazy fun at Creative Summer, so I look forward to spending some time with them and hanging out at home and the pool before the school year begins. My school is also over for this year (I had my last class today) and I cannot believe that I completed the first year of my acupuncture program, and it went so fast. I already miss the school and my classmates because I know I won't see them until after the Labor day.

As usual, please keep Julia in your thoughts and prayers!
ENJOY THE HEAT!

Love
Lola

Hospital Information:

DC Children's Hospital
111 Michigan ave
Washington, DC

Links:

E-mail Author: lolafox@yahoo.com

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