History

Thursday, February 2, 2006 2:17 AM CST

hello

sorry i am a bit late to update but for some reason i could not remember my pass words.
so it has been a month now since dakota passed away, madonna & trent seem to be coping well, they have good days as well as bad days so do the rest of the family's it was very nice to see so many people at her celebration of life it showed us how much she touched everybody.
sorry to the people that didn't get into the chapel as i said we didn't expect so many people thank you all.
we had people from all over the world sending there respects and to them thank you.
i will let you know how mads,trent & zayde are doing from time to time.
yours rose and graeme

wednesday, January 3, 2006 2:52 PM CST

hello all
just like to let everyone know that dakota's celabration of her life will be held thursday the 4th january 1pm at 1774-1794 mt cotton rd carbrook.

Friday, December 30, 2005 1:44 AM CST

hello everyone.

it sad for me to tell you all at 9.30am this morning 30/12/05 dakota went to sleep for the last time.
she fought hard to get though xmas and she did it, but her fight has come to an end.
madonna, trent,zayde,rose,graeme,renee,rick,trevor,judyand katie would like to thank all of you that have prayed so hard for our little angel over the last two years they have been very tough at times.
dakota was full of love and life and got on well with everybody she touched everybody's heart and sole.
she has gone to a better place she will be with jake,leo.reanna.jay and many more that she has spent time with over the last two years.
she went peacefully with mum and dad by her side.
our little angel will always be with us.

Monday, December 26, 2005 1:48 PM CST

hello everyone
i hope everyone had a great xmas, we did we tried to make it the best xmas we could. dakota could even mannage a smile for us, she got everything she wanted.
but the time came when it got to the point when madonna had to take her to the hospital that was the hardest thing to watch everyone was in ore of the strength of mads as she said it is like driving her to her own death.
she had good night zayde didn't he was not used to the hospital, the doctors started to give her valium and morphine because her tumor in her mouth is starting to leake down her throat,if it burst it could choke her.
they know that it will stress her so they want to keep her sudated and mads agrees,she will still hear us and see us but wont remember any thing that they have to do to her because they want to clean her mouth.
this is the last stage of her jouney she is in the right place they will look after her.
mads,trent and zayde wants to say thank you from the bottom of her heart for all your thoughts.
as so do rose, graeme madonna's parent thank you

Saturday, December 17, 2005 11:30 PM CST

hello everyone
dakota is still with us she is having a few problems with her bad eye at the moment, the doctor have closed it and has a patch over it as it is very swollen and red,her other eye is starting to go the same way now.
maddona & trent have been very strong and are now planning for her passing it is so hard to see them doing this but they have to.they have to be the strongest people.
we have 7more sleeps till santa comes and i think we may have her for that day, dakota has allways been a fighter and i don't think she will give up now, she has lots of support and prays from everyone of you.
as you can tell i don't have much to tell you all, this is the hardest time of all our lives not knowing when it will happen.
madonna has told me to thank all of you and please keep praying for her little girl.
thank you.

Thursday, December 8, 2005 2:09 PM CST

hello
yesterday dakota was supposed to have her potacath put in but again they couln't as now the tumors are eating into her bones which is making calcium break of into her blood stream and that can affect the heart so it is to dangerers .
so were we stand now is the doctor told us we a couple of weeks left with her. she in going down very fast, then they rang and told madonna that they need to know were she is all the time because of her calcim levels she could have a heart attact at any time.
they are going to the coast for the weekend and try to do movie world as her other eye is starting to change now and she won't have any site at all.
so hope they can get though the next 17days till xmas that is all they wont.
thank's to everyone that leaves messages i print them off and when mads is up to it she reads them it is great to know there are people that still care.
p.s.
dakota has a story in the "logan west leader" news paper
we are going to take her to the hillcrest carols by candelight tonight her last and zayde's first
bye for now rose

Monday, December 5, 2005 5:44 AM CST

hi everyone

this weekend gone dakota had her make a wish she went to seaworld resort and spent the weekend there. she went to seaworld on saturday and went to dreamworld on sunday. she had a ball went on most of the rides the ones that she was allowed to go on.
then on sunday had to go to the hospital for blood had to stay and have platlets done was supposed to have a portacath put in on monday but hospital over booked and now has to wait maybe at then end of week.
dakota has got a little brother now and all ready they are fitting over the pram because dakota cannot walk to much now she is on morphine every 4hrs and now they want to put her on more morphine a different type twice a day as well.
this will be the last photo of dakota i will put in because her face is starting to difigure and i wont everyone to remember her as a happy and pretty girl allways with a smile

Tuesday, November 29, 2005 5:52 AM CST

hello everybody it has been so long since we have updated.
dakota has done so well this last year we thought she might have over come this terrable thing but just when you think it has gone it returns.
it is sad for me to say but dakota has relaped and it is the worse the doctors have ever seen.
2months ago she was fine and had now cancer in her and on the 24th of november she fell ill and had to go for scans it turned out that our little girl how is 4.5 years old may not last till xmas this year she has it in her bones and bone marrow and in 1 week she has lumps in her head and in her cheeks and she has also lost vision in her right eye.
it is all to much for a little girl who has not had a life yet on saturday the 19/11/05 she had a little brother arrive and that is all she has ever whanted and know she won't be around to see him grow up.
have to signe off to hard at the moment.
love to hare from you all
love rose (dakota's nanie)

saturday 1st january10:06 PM CST

hello all and happy new year,
hope everyone partied hard for us it was an emotional see ya 2004 and hello 2005
all we can ask for is to be a normal family for the year with no permanant visits
thank you everyone for all your love and support last year
dakota is now on medication for a year but hey its all good medicine......
she is taking vitamin a to help all her immature cells become mature so what we have been through will be prevented.....
not much to say as we are all really well dakota has a lot of hair now and she is not missing hospital life one bit........
christmas was wonderful she got spoilt again..... have to really clean out all her toys in her toy room to make room for the new.....
our next lot of scans are coming up soon not sure when but fingers crossed all is well....
to all our friends we have met in hospital blake,jacob,chloe,karta,we always think about you guys even though some have finnished but some arent and still are doing treatment we miss you guys and we pray to god that you are finnished soon you two boys are inspirations
well thanks again all..... have a great year to everyone
and will update soon with whateva news we have
love to all madonna trent and dakota smith

Saturday, November 20, 2004 6:51 PM CST

hello all well what can i say, YES WE ARE FINNISHED TREATMENT.... as you can tell we are all so excited but very nervous as well
the feeling i had on tuesday the 16th was different to what i thought the minute we walked out of the hospital i felt like i was going to pass out i felt sick ...
i think it was so emotionally overwhelming that took me by suprise...
we are all doing well i have updated the photos so please go in and have a look at princess with a tiny bit of hair..
i cannot believe how well dakota responded to the treatment she had no side affects at all apart from becoming grumpy about 2 hours after waking up from treatment
our next journey now is taking a vitamin A tablet for the next year and thats about it....
we have met some wonderful people and nurses through the whole experience and even though we have had fall outs with some i will never forget what they have done for dakota ....
we did get the grumps when going through treatment so i hope no one took offence as untill you have been through an experience like this noone will ever understand what its like thank you eveyone who has been on dakotas website you two are a special part of our lives i will continue to update evey now and them but if not before christmas merry christmas to everyone and have a big new year i know we all will to say good bye to 2004 give us a great 2005 .......madonna trent and dakota......

Saturday, October 30, 2004 4:03 PM CDT

well hello everyone we are all doing very well dakota is half way through her radiation treatment at the moment and so far no side affects at all...... just been a bit grumpy as the anasetic wears off...
the treatment lasts for about 7 minutes at a time .....she is not scared at all the staff down there a the most beautiful people i have met they really take all the scary ness away .....
its been so nice not to visit the hospital for horrible visits they have been all good ones and now being an outpatient is really exciting.....
dakota has become a typical 3 and a half year old and showing her true colours we have the best tantrums now she also has the best sense of humour of any child i know ....
she loves to stir both me and her dad which is so not funny some times.....
she now runs and plays like any other child of her age which is really lovely to see
i havent updated for a while as my computer has crashed so sorry for not many updates....
dakota is now looking forward to santa coming she askes us is santa coming tonight ..or how many sleeps....
dakota is now starting to get some carpet back on her head slowly but surley she has this five oclock shadow happening it looks cute...she told her aunty ney ney that her hair was blowing in the wind when they went shopping together ...
we are so very lucky to have her here with us and i hope one day that everyone that doesnt know her in person will get to meet her so if ever the people from america that write come across just let us know so we can meet or anyone from here in australia are ever here please let us know because you guys are special to us for thinking and praying for our special little girl ...
ok well i am off now will talk soon ..madonna trent and dakota...

Thursday, September 9, 2004 2:53 AM CDT

well hello peoples sorry it has been so long well lots has happened.
After being in hospital for the 3 weeks dakota had a bit of trouble walking,her hip was not moving properly so we ended up doing an x-ray of her hip and leg and they found some dark images on her bones which they thought could have been a hot spot meaning her tumour could have risen its ugly head again.
so off we went to the royal hospital to have another m.i.b.g. scan again i would have to say this was the most horrible feeling we have ever had to deal with the docs kept telling us that surely it couldnt be but nothing is 100% it was like we could be diagnosed all over again

we had the scan on the wednesday and all the results came back that our beautiful little girl is so far cancer free yahoooooooooo.
They now think that with all the wieght she had lost the muscle is weak,or it could be an infection or just one of those things that kids get ......

on the 2nd of sept we had to go back to australian hearing for another test and we found out that she has lost the same amount of hearing in the right as the left ear which we had thought she had because every time we talk to dakota she keeps saying what? or why? or i cant hear you.....

so today being the 9th of sept we went and had a mould taken of her other ear but dakota being dakota she wanted a pink one so we had to do moulds for both ears so they could match,we couldnt have one beige and one pink could we!!!!!!!
.... ..MY LITTLE FASHION VICTIM.......

Monday, August 16, 2004 4:14 AM CDT

hello all.

sorry it has taken so long but a few things have happened,well they said that they didn't get it all but they were very happy with what they got and said that with the high dose chemo that it should kill the rest but time will only tell.dakota has had her last lot of chemo that she can it has been a long three weeks as she had to have her stem cells replaced that was very different as the perservatives that the store them in has a very bad smell so that goes in her and the smell come though her pores of her skin they sy it smells like off seafood that was great for about a week. she has been a very sick girl latley as when they put the stem cells back they told madonna it is like having a bone marrow transplant. the chemo takes everything out of her body so she had no nutrafills,no calcium, no phosfate, no magnesium,it gives her diarrea, vomiting, no energy she has just been sleeping on and off for the last two weeks will not comunicate with anybody.
it has been very hard for madonna & trent especially for mads as she sit there day after day and can not do anything about helping her very sad.
some good news today they let dakota come home but has to go back tomorrow for more blood test and to have platlets, she has lost so much weight you can see her spine and shoulder blades and you can see her little heart pumping.
all we can hope that she starts picking up soon. we are so lucky that she is a fighter because madonna told me the other day that if a child gets to stage 4 they don't usally make it and she went from stage 3 to 4 in one week.
dakota has stuned the doctors by defiring the odds.
dakota has had a lot of help to stay strong everybody has been great with all there prays and kind thoughts and it has helped madonna get throught all the times she had to watch her little girl go though the pain of all the treatment it has not been easy but as a mother you just have to do it if there was a medal for this i would wish madonna to have it because she has not thought of her self at all and has been a rock for dakota and not hidding anything from her which i think helped alot.
dakota has two month break then she goes into radiation for 4 weeks she has to bee put out to it but they said it should not hurt her. so that is where she it at now. madonna has done a scrape book from the begining to now so far and she has all the messages that you all send to her so dakota can read them when she gets older.
thak you all once again i don't know how to thank you enought for your thoughts

Saturday, July 17, 2004 6:33 PM CDT

Hello all,

Thursday 15 July, 2004 - Dakota had her operation, went in at 3.00 pm and came out at 6.45pm. Doctors thought it was going to be an easy operation and considered keyhole surgery but after trying 5 times, she was bleeding too much so they had to stop it and open her up and do surgery. They couldn't get all the tumour as it was too close to her aorta, but they think it may be dead, but will know the results on Tuesday. They are hoping that the chemo she has in two weeks will kill anything else that is left there. Today is Sunday, Doctors are very happy with her recovery and are calling her a miracle child (which she is) and will be allowed to go home today. Thank you all for your prayers and thoughts looks like it has helped.

Friday, June 25, 2004 4:22 PM CDT

hello all,

well it has been a long six months but it is coming to the end we hope and pray.

dakota has turned three and she had the best day, she went to the big m then she had her family and friends over for a cake that night.

well dakota got her hearing aid and now she can hear everyone when they talk she even tells her mum not to yell at her cause she can hear.

well everyone dakota has to have her scanes on the 8th of july and is already booked in to have her operation on the 15th of july,they said they will do the op no matter what it has to come out.madonna and trent are doing very well they are a tower of strength.it will be about a 3hr op they said roughly.
at the moment they are having the time of there lives not thinking of the op just enjoying dakota at her fullest because she looks and feels so good.
will let you know more when it happens

Sunday, June 13, 2004 5:21 PM CDT

hello all

well dakota has had her last chemo so far so good. she will go for her scans on the 8th of july to see about her operation so there is not much to tell just yet.
dakota goes in to have her hearing aid put in on the 21st of june that is her birthday then she will have a party at macdonalds with all her friends.
well thats all for now will let you know if anything comes up.

love to all

Saturday, May 29, 2004 5:41 PM CDT

hello all

well dakota had her second last chemo week and half ago, well all went well hook up was good.

she was doing so well we thought we spoke to the doctor about her operation he said that they will have to take her adrenal gland out and if it is not on her liver they wont have to touch it we hope because there is a vein going though the liver and if it is on that thery will have a hard time to get it. then told madonna that dakota will have to take a drug called retinoic acid for six to twelve months after every thing has finished.

well i think we must of jinxed dakota because on thursday she went back into hospital she had a temp and they are checking her for first appendix which was all ok then they thought it might be a bug, had her on three different drugs then changed and gave her a forth one so she has four different drugs going though her tubes at the monent.

it is so remarkable how it can change one minute she is fine and then the next she is down, madonna was a bit worried and rang me and said mum i havent seen her this way before she was lifeless not even crying just lay there it was heart breaking.

we know it is getting to the end of the chemo then the operation happens then the radiation happens which will not be good then tablets for awile but poor maddona is starting to worry because we don't know if it is going to work and the unknown is getting very scary.
madonna is starting to have nightmares and the other day she broke down not in front of dakota but she has been very strong through all of this and now it is stating to take its toll on maddy and trent.

we are all trying to keep them and everything together it just gets a little hard .

i would like to thank everybody for all your support because without you we would not beable to keep it together i know we still have a long way to go but please keep your support coming as we need it.
thank you

for all the people that we havent spoken to for awhile we are thinking of you and we know that you all understand that our energy is being channeled into madonna trent and dakota at this time.
all our love

maddy, trent, rose, graeme, judy, trevor.
and from the special one
DAKOTA ROSE SMITH

Tuesday, May 18, 2004 3:30 PM CDT

Hello everyone

Sorryfor taking so long but things happen. Well Dakota is very good at the moment, she has not lost anymore hearing that we know yet.
She saw a speach therapist the other day and she has lost her s&t at the begining of her sentences and she will have to go to the speach therapist regulay but that happens.

Dakota has been very good. She had two blood transfusions and had to have platlets on Mothers Day as Madonna said "what is another day, I will have plenty when she gets better"
Dakota whent to Sea World on Sunday and had a great time. It was what she wanted. We have put some photos on the website.

We have two chemos to go. She starts today again and will be in till Saturday so far as we know. They told Madonna that after the last chemo they wait a week or so then take more photos to decide when to do her operation then after that she will have to have 22 days of radiation so she gets knocked out for 22 days in a row excluding weekends because the don"t work on weekends.Well I'm getting ready to go to Brissy to take her to hospital. I'll let you know if i have some more news.

love from Linforths and the Smiths

Monday, April 26, 2004 1:10 AM CDT

hello everyone

we have had another hecktic time of it, dakota came through he op fine & central lines all ok.

last week she had her hearing test she has lost high & low pitch sounds, they are now talking about hearing aids for her because when she has this next lot of chemo which she starts wednesday it will take a bit more of her hearing away maybe totaly. so it has been very stressful for madonna as she knows that dakota may never hear her voice.

the doctor are still making up there minds about the drug that she has to have with this chemo.

anyway this has been a very good weekend for dakota and madonna & trent as we all went down to tweed river and had a picnic grump took his boat down and dakota went for a ride she had a ball, she played in the playground uncle ian and aunty cheryl gave her a tent to play in and she mad mum sleep in it on sunday night in the lounge room of cause.
it was just a great weekend every one laughed and played there was nanie, grumps,renee,rick,ian,cheryl,jodi,carroll,di,till,mel,just to make this weekend just a happy time and time to forget things for a short period of time.

well its time to go and start to get things ready for the hospital again talk to all again soon.

Thursday, April 15, 2004 4:18 AM CDT

hello everyone

sorry it has been so long between news it's just we have had a bit of a set back' but all is still going well.

dakota got good news but she still has to have all seven chemo's no way out.

now it has shunk down they can see more now it is in her liver as well but they said they can take 90% of her liver and it will grow back. the doctor also told us that didn't think she would come though this at fist that is why they didn't give us any garantees.

dakota also had to have her cental lines removed because one was blocked so last week she went in to surgery again, she is fine now but she has mucusitis again.

at the present time she is having stemcells done on lots of drugs to build her up and is back in hospital again. she spent all easter in there came home again and back again.

she is starting to think hospital is her real home. but she is still able to enjoy her self.

she is starting to understand all the termaoligs so you can not trick her anymore.

hope to come home for the weekend.

Friday, March 26, 2004 2:20 AM CST

hello all

i thought i would give all you people out there that have prayed so hard and have sent all your well wishes to dakota and the family that dakota had her ultrasound yesterday 25/03 and doctor willson rang madonna this morning with the news that her cancer has shrunk by half and it has come away from her aorter.

this means that she had her body scan today and this will tell us if she has anymore hot spots or if there is anymore and this wiil determan when she will have her big operation to take it all out.

we will find out wendesday all the results so cross fingers and toes because she is to start chemo again on wednesday.

on behalf of trent, madonna, dakota, rose graeme, renee, rick, trevor, judy and katie we would all like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all of your well wishes support and prayers you have helped us get through these trying times

THANK YOU ALL

Friday, March 19, 2004 1:36 AM CST

hi all rose here it has been a little hectic this week.

dakota came out of hospital last friday from her week of chemo they told us this would be one of the worst ones but we didnt think it would be this bad because the other two she was nearly good.

saturday she started to throw up all the time and she just went down hill from there.

sunday she could not get up out of bed because she would just throw up even more so madonna took her to the hospital and they keep her there.

she was dehydrated and her eletralites were down they were worried that she was peeing them out.so they took bloods and stared her on more drugs to fix her by this time she would not talk or do anything.

monday she was a little better because they gave her some blood to boost her.

tuesday still the same so they gave her platlets that helped.

wednesday they found out she had infection in her central line that means the line has to come out and would put her chemo back a bit but because they stared her on antbiotic it is clearing up.

thursday a lot better said she might go home tomorrow if all is well.

friday dakota is doing very well driving maddy up the wall wants to go home good news to here.

tuesday 23/03 we will start all over again she has to get her dye put through her system then wednesday she has her body scan to see how much cancer has been killed of or still alive.

thursday she has a ct scan and bone marrow test and an ultra sound i don't know maddy can keep going watching dakota go though so much but she just does it.

monday the 29/03 dakota starts her fourth chemo treatment
at least this one is not as bad as the last one.

i would like to thank all those people who have sent there wishes and love and prays to madonna,trent and especialy for dakota we all the family thank you.

it help to know there are people out there that care.

thank you all from the bottom of our hearts

Friday, March 19, 2004 1:36 AM CST

Sunday, March 7, 2004 0:59 AM CST

hi there everyone madonna here well we finally had a whole seven nights at home yeahhh....
Tomorrow we start cycle three....nearlly half way there...
This particular cycle involves a drug called cisplatin which can make dakota loose her hearing we have a 50/50 chance anyway mostly the kids loose high pitch sounds (lucky her when she is older or in trouble)so anyway on thursday we had an interveiw with her dr.. dr wilson he did a thorough check of her arms and legs to make sure she had no stiffness in them and to make sure she can walk properly still which he is impressed by as there seems to be no probs there
He also had a good feel of her tummy to feel for her monster...and he was saying that it is harder to feel for which is a good sign as it has started to shrink to what extent we have no idea but after this session of chemo we will have all the scans to see what her monster is doing...
dakota is still in high spirits actually i would say hypo and back to normal more like it driving eveyone crazy in her own little way but to be honest i would rather that then for her to be lying around saying nothing at all...
I took dakota to her child care center on thursday afternoon to see all her friends she had an absolute ball ,going down the slides,playing with puzzles,she sure does miss her friends and teachers...hopefully she will be back soon to have a play aagain...
Dakota had a little accident today she was trying to be sneaky and put sunscreen on as she usually does andto what we could smell it wasnt sunscreen it was tropical strenght aeroguard well didnt she stink it was on her face
it was on her arms it was everwhere...
Dakota has been told by trent and i everything that is happening to her as i figure she understands a little but not all but least if she does ask questionswe do tell her
she now calls her tubes where chemo and blood tests are taken from her lines and also her treatment is called chemo so she says.... oh well i am heading off now to get packed for another week away we just bought a weeks worth of microwave meals as you do ..
Trent and i would love to thank everyone for all there support over the last 8 weeks or so its just been amazing to here from family in which we or i havent spoken to for years thanks to everyone up north you guys know who i am talking bout...
The people who have messaged from america thanks and i hope every thing works out well for you guys as well
People from W.A. thanks guys you know what we are going through and i know it will get easier it actually already is ....to us its just a daily routine to get her medication ready at night and to hook her up to her machine...
Dakota actually does her own medications at night now ..she like to push it into her tubes i am not allowed anymore...
okay will let you know how she does over the week and shall write soon ...well mum will write for me .....
..............see ya madonna ,trent,and dakota............

Wednesday, March 3, 2004 1:50 AM CST

saturday 28/02/04

nanie came to the hospital because i was allowed to leave for 4hrs so we went to do some serious shopping.

all was well till started to cough and then couldn't stop thowing up mucas had to leave in a hurry.

went back to my motel to have my antibiotics good stuff.

sunday 29/02/04

was told today can go home doctor raul is very happy calling me his mirical child as over night my blood came up to nearly normal well as normal as they can be at the moment
told to come back tuesday for more test.

monday had a good day stayed at home with mum helped her with house work (well tried).

tuesday 2/03/04

went to hospital today had to go to mater fist to get a canulan in my hand to have blood test, mum put magic cream on my hand so it would'nt hurt but i still cry.
she asked me did it hurt i said no but i was scared thats why i cried.
i then had to go to the general hospital to some dye put in my system, then back to the mater to have blood test every hr for 3hrs out of my hand as well as my central line.

wednesday 3/03/04

today we are going to carter the little girl that also has nb she has had her operation and is doing well.
as we were driving over carters the police pulled mum over because her number plate is a bit old and fined her $60.00
she started to get cry and he noticed me and asked her what was wrong she told him and he was very sorry about the ticket and stayed with us for about 5min but could rip up the ticket mum said it didn't matter at leased he is doing his job he felt bad but that how it goes.
we ened having a good day with carter and renee her mum.

Friday, February 27, 2004 4:18 AM CST

Monday 16/02/04

Been having good days had nasal tube re-inserted as she kept spitting her medication.
So now happy she doesn't need to taste it.

Tuesday 17/02/04

Had second dose of chemo, all is well and still very happy. Blood pressure still very good which is a good sign.

Wednesday 18/02/04

Dakota still in good spirits, laughing with the nurses. Went to pre-school at hospital, did paintings and clouring

Thursday 19/02/04

One day to go till we go home, just waiting on one of the chemo drugs to finish up. Dakota is still happy and is waiting to go home.

Friday 20/02/04

Yeah!! going home in soon, Dakota is all excited about that.
We have now been told that che can go back to Daycare if she want to so I am going to take her for an hour a day to see how she goes.

Monday 23/03/04

Guess what we are back in hospital. Dakota has mucas-sitas which are blisters in her throat. This is a normal side effect from having the chemo.

Tueday 24/03/04

All blood counts are dropping now, so she is now Nutropenic.
This means that she is now suspeptable to any germs.

Wednesday 25/03/04

Slept the day away and only woke up to vomit up the flem, that was her day.

Thursday 26/03/04

Had blood cultures to see if there are any bugs in Dakotas system, our fingers are crossed that there are none.
Still sleepy got a few smiles and giggles and then just kept sleeping, hasn't eaten for three day now as her mouth is too sore. She is having nasal feeds to keep her weight there. She is still 10.90kg.

Friday 27/02/04

Aunty Renee spent the day today and took Dakota to the playground, had a couple of rides on the slippery dip, and got a leave pass to be able to walk down to the coffee shop, still had to take my steel friend with me nicknamed R2D2 (my medicines). Had a big sleep after all that walking. When I woke up nanny was there had sausages for tea and told nanny that I was getting tomato sauce straight into my tummy (it was her blood transfusion).

Sunday, February 15, 2004 5:17 PM CST

hey everyone madonna here just letting everyone who has sent there love and support how muchyour kind words and love has meant to trent and myself
it has been very hard over the last 4 and a half weeks its like a rollercoaster with all the emotion and heartache.
we are really getting all our strength from dakota as she is in fantastic spirits if it was you or i we would be down for the count.. but being her age she has no idea of it all all she thinks is that when she gets better she can get her puppy dog and pussy cat again which brings me to tears but least she has a fighting spirit... but why wouldnt she with a mother like me and a father like trent gosh we are both so stubborn and determined god she has no hope except to be like that ha ha ha
the day she went home i was a little scared but greatful for her as it was like christmas for her...she was so excited but was sad to as she was calling in the yard for her puppy dog but he was not there and then looked for her cat and he wasnt there but as we told her when she is better she will have that all again.....
so now in here own words she says when i get better i will have a puppy and cat ....
she actually wants to go to daycare which is amazing as i had to drag her out of bed every morning to get ready....
today being monday 16 we are going back to the hspital to get a scan of her heart to make sure eveything is in working order as one of the drugs in her chemo can damage it as a side affect....
tomorrow we start our second cycle of chemo we are a little worried but now know what to expect so we arent as nervous as the first.....
yeahhh after this one only five to go....hopefully .....
all we hope for is it to be shrunk in the next 5 cycles if it doesnt then we start all over again for another 7 cycles at a higher does again.....but being positive it will....
dakota looked like an absolute princess at our wedding she was a little upset that we couldnt do her hair but as i said to her ...dakota you have fluff on your head but she still insisted on puuting mousse on her scalp or should i say fluff but was hard at photo time as she is sun intollerent we got a few but not alot but we will update photos when we have some.....
well lovely people i am signing off now as have to get ready to go back to our second home for the scans of her heart and mum will update on tuesday night i guess to let everyone know how she is going.....
thank you all again we love all your messages and just knowing that the support is amazing brings us to tears...
love mr and mrs smith..ha ha the married couple..and of course the beautiful princess dakota......

Thursday, February 12, 2004 1:01 AM CST

hi everybody sorry for no new updates.

been very busy with the big day.

for all of you who arn't aware maddy & trent are getting married on saturday the 14/02/04, we decided to go a head with the wedding as they both need as well as dakota to have some happy times in all of what they will go though in the next 12month or so.

dakota has been waiting to be a little princess for a long time and that day has finally come around.

she is in good spirits at this time.

maddy will update you with all the hospital details on friday night.

thank you all for all your support as we take one day at a time. it is reasuring to know that there are people like you out there that still care.

Monday, February 2, 2004 4:37 AM CST

hi everyone

today we got the results of the mibg scan.
it is the scan of the skeletal system.
we now have been told that there is a hot spot in the right shoulder and right knee.
had xrays today and now waiting for results.

still losing hair maybe bald by the weekend.

had a blood transfusion again today.

had a great afternoon blood must be kicking in, had some friends came and see me, they were mel, til, carter, and annaliece.

eat some food today not much but some.

getting late about 7pm and getting very tired.

thank you for all your well wishes.
i get them every day
love dakota

Sunday, February 1, 2004 4:59 AM CST

please read past journal to see what the doctor has told us

Sunday, February 1, 2004 0:54 AM CST

1st February

Starts each morning with a blood test at 6.30am. Had a small can of spaghetti for breakfast (well at least some of it). Was a better day today was talking and laughing, watched a video of barbie. Had a hair cut today (layered so it is not so noticeable as it is starting to fall out)

Still trying to get more photos for you all to see.

Sunday, February 1, 2004 0:28 AM CST

This is a rough description of Dakota's illness from the Doctor.

Dakota has Neuroblastoma (nerve cell/primitive cell) Travels through blood.

What is it?
It is a type of cancer which arises from a part of the nervous system called the adrenal gland, which sits like a tap on top of her right kidney. you will hear words like "tumour", "mass", malignancy" and they all mean the same thing.

How does it occur?
No one knows. There is nothing you have done which would have caused this. Nothing you could have done would have prevented this happening.

Do we need to treat this?
Yes. If left untreated the tumour will continue to grow and spread eventually ending her life. It is likely that the tumour has already spread to her left leg just above her knee.

What treatment is available?
There are 3 types of treatment - chemotherapy, surgery and radiation therapy. We aim to shrink the tumour with chemotherapy to start with and the see if it can be surgically resected. Following surgery, special high dose chemotherapy and radiation may be used to control any residual tumour.

How are these drugs given?
Each 3 weeks, Dakota will be given a "cycle" of chemotherapy which consists of several drugs injected into her central line over a couple of days. She will go home between these cycles but will need to return at times if she developes sickness, especially infection, between cycles.

What side effects can we expect from the drugs in her first cycle?
Most chemo drugs can cause nausea and vomiting but we have good preventative medicines for this. Hair loss is also to be expected. Sun sensitivity - prevention is important.
Side effects:- constipation, jaw pain, unsteady walk, droopy eye lids, rarely siesures, hair loss,low blood counts, mouth sores/ulcers, small risk of heart damage, blood in urine.

Will Dakota need transfusions?
It is very likely that she will need blood transfusions if she becomes anaemic.
She is also likely to require platelette transfusions - platelettes are part of the blood clotting system which are affected by chemo drugs.

Sunday, February 1, 2004 0:20 AM CST

31st January

Dakota's readings
White Cell Count - 0.1 -- (.5 to 1 is good)

Hemaglobam (blood) - 81 -- (80 to 85 is fine)

Platelettes - 16 -- (20 or above 50 is good)

Neutrofills - 0 -- (greater than 1 is good)

Dakota had a fulfilling day of sleep!!!
Didn't want to play or talk.
Dakota spent the day with nanny while mummy and daddy had time out.

Sunday, February 1, 2004 0:12 AM CST

29th January

Went to R.B.H. for radiation injection in preparation for the big scan tomorrow.
Dakota slept all day, woke up in the afternoon, had a very restless afternoon.
Wanted an egg for dinner, went to bed early.

30th January

Had a big day. Went to R.B.H. and had a scan to see if anymore cancer cells are around.
Walked a few steps and did very well. Ate a full piece of toast.
For the scan we sedated Dakota so we could get the scan done quick.
Dakota and Nurse Bronwyn did carebears bloodpressure - no reading, did Dakota's temp. 24 degrees. She was very low, had a bit of a laugh.

Wednesday, January 28, 2004 5:37 AM CST

27/01/04

dakota has had a very good day got up & walked for the first time in two weeks.
a bit shaky but went well.
spoke alot played with us as well
stirred up trent wich was funny and a bit of normality was back there for a couple of hours then went back to not talking.
wanted to eat, had half a bit of toast & quarter of a sausage a little bit of coke then wanted to throw up better luck next time to eat more.

28/01/04
not a good day today she more blood test to check for infections.
it will happen between 7 to 10 days after chemo.
she will be very sick for a few days.
it is called neutropenia which means she has low levels of neutrophils.
normally your count is 2 & 7 but her blood count is 1.7.
neutrophils are the most important type of white cells which mainly fight infection.
but over all from today until another 7 days we will stay in hospital as now is when all her counts are down.
she will be on a food now that goes through her central line to helpp her put on weight.
she is weighing 11.6 kgms.
the food will go into her veins so her stomach does'nt have to over work it self.
she was 15kg when she first went to hospital two weeks ago.
thank you all for supporting us in tis time.

Monday, January 26, 2004 2:50 AM CST

25/01/04

dakota had blood trans all went well bloods were 70 now 170
platletts all good

26/01/04

she is talking again coming home for a few hours looking forword to some normality.
more tests on thursday & friday.
didn't take to home to well today a bit hot knocked her around a bit had to go back early.

Sunday, January 25, 2004 4:01 AM CST

Today we have created a page for you to view photos and updates on Dakota during the coming weeks.

Dakota has started her chemo therapy and so far is as well as is expected. Dakota has had to have a blood transfusion today to help bring up her platlettes and cells and to give her more energy.

Dakota Maddy Trent and the Linforth's and Smiths would like to thank you all for you thoughts and wishes.

Sunday, January 25, 2004 4:01 AM CST

Sunday, January 25, 2004 2:26 AM CST

This page has just been created. Please check back for additional updates.

Click here to go back to the main page.

----End of History----


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