Nikki's Website

This is Nikki taken at our house on 9/14/05 Look at all that hair, she's almost back to her "old" self!!


Welcome to Nikki's Web Page. It has been created with love to keep everyone updated on our little Superstar's battle with cancer.

Nikki was 3 1/2 at diagnosis and she is now 4 years old. She was diagnosed with Stage 2 favorable histology Wilms Tumor on March 9, 2004 and had surgery to remove the entire left kidney on March 10. She began an 18 week chemotherapy schedule on March 17, 2004. She finished chemotherapy on July 14, 2004. She had clear scans on August 13, 2004 , November 19, 2004 ,February 10, 2005, May 20, 2005, August 19, 2005 and November 11, 2005. She is now cancer free, off treatment, and in remission!!

Thank you for joining us on our journey. We have met so many wonderful families along this road that no family should have to take!!

She is an amazing girl and an inspiration to all who know her.
She is our shining star!!


I would like to the time to say Thank You. Thank you to all for checking in on us. Your words of wisdom and support show no end and mean so much...words cannot describe. You are like a special family to us. You know what we are feeling and going through and you will never know how much it means to us. The caring and support we get from all of you provides great strength to me and helps me know that we truely are NOT alone in this. Checking in on all of you holds a special spot in my day. I may not sign every day, but I do check daily. It can not be said enough, THANK YOU!

To our family, and to our friends old and new,
Thank you for all of your help, understanding and support. We don't know what we would do without each and everyone of you. We love you all so much. So Thank You for all you have done and will continue to do to support us through this rough spot in our lives. Again, words cannot describe how much it means to us. So THANK YOU!



***TAKE A LOOK, WE ADDED A NEW FLICK!!!****I will add more photos when I get my scanner fixed.





***PLEASE VISIT THE LINK TO NIKKIS QUILT OF LOVE, IT IS AWESOME:)***PLEASE ALSO CHECK OUT THE LINK TO SHARE THE LOVE, LOTS OF KIDDOS OUT THERE COULD USE YOUR LOVE AND PRAYERS!**



The Chosen Mothers
By Erma Bombeck
Most women become a mother my accident, some by choice and a few by habit. Did you ever wonder how mothers of children with life threatening illnessess are chosen?

Somehow, I visualize God hovering over earth selecting His instruments for progagation with great care and deliberation. As He observes, He instructs His angels to make notes in a gaint ledger.........

"Armstrong, Beth, son, patron saint Matthew" "Forrest, Marjorie, daughter, patron saint Cecilia" "Rutledge, Carrie, twins, patron saint Gerard."

Finally, He passes a name to an angel and says "Give her a child with cancer." The angel is curious. "Why this one God? She's so happy."

"Exactly," smiles God, "Could I give a child with cancer a mother who does not know laughter? That would be cruel."

"But, does she have patience?" asks the angel.

"I don't want her to have too much patience or she will drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wear off, she will handle it."

"I watched her today," said God. "She has that feeling of self-independence that is so rare and necessary in a mother. You see, the child I'm going to give her has it's own world. She has to make it live in her world and that's not going to be easy."

"But Lord, I don't think she believes in you," said the angel. "No matter, I can fix that. This one is perfect. She has just enough selfishness."

The angel gasps, "Selfishness! Is that a virtue?"

God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she'll never survive. Yes here is the woman I will bless with a child less than perfect. She doesn't realize it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take anything her child does for granted. She will never condsider a single step ordinary. I will permit her to see clearly the things I see...ignorance, cruelty, prejudice...and allow her to rise above them."

"And what about her patron saint?" askes the angel, his pen poised in mid air.

God smiles and says..."A mirror will suffice."







We have been asked by Caringbridge to remove the links to our kids. It saddens my heart that people are abusing this privlage. Even if our CB family is not linked here, please continue to visit them and send your encouragement, love and prayers. You can still find them through links they leave in our guestbook. Thanks!

Journal

Monday, February 27, 2006 9:54 AM CST

Good Morning All!

So much for staying on the ball and keeping updates current!
Life seems to be in fast forward all the time around here!

So I just typed a huge update and somehow it didn't work. So here goes again...

Everything is going well here. The kids are growing like weeds. The summer as usual was not long enough. The start of school went off with out a hitch this year. Our holiday season was bright and filled with many many blessings.

Nikki is now halfway through kindergarten and loving it. Brandon is in second grade and doing very well. Tyler is... well Tyler is 2 need I say more?! He is growing so much everyday and keeps us on our toes and very entertained!!

Nikki is fully recovered from the little episode in May. She is also healing very well from the reconstruction in August. She did just inform me her tooth was hurting and low and behold her first wiggly tooth. Unfortunately for her that means a whole new battery of test and xrays for required dental procedures. But I should have no problems finding a pedriatic specialist with expertise in cleft issues and chemo effects. Should be in the yellow pages, yeah right if only it were that easy!

I was looking through my old entries and ran across the one about a career change. I did go through with a career change, just not the expected one. I was being required to return to the office 5 days a week beginning in September. As most of you in the childhood cancer world can probably understand I was not willing to give up that extra time at home with my kids. I had been working M-W at the office and Th & Fri at home for well over two years. As you can imagine this was a real slap in the face for me. After much back and forth and up and down in July I began the steps. Time with my family is just to short and to precious!! I went through all the appropriate channels and classes and did something I had been tossing around since 2003 when Tyler was born. I became a Licensed Childcare Provider. Now I know some of you may think I went off the deepend, but I assure you I am perfectly sane. It allows me to be there for others who have to work away from their home and it also allows me to be here with and for my own kids! I LOVE it, best decision I have ever made! So...if you know anyone looking for care send 'em my way!

As I said things are really great around here. I am still having trouble with the fact we are coming up on 2 year diagnosis anniversary on March 9. I am trying to figure out where the time went. Then again 2 years ago I never thought we'd make it this far. I will update again soon (much sooner this time).

So now that my butt (and yours if you are still here) is falling asleep it is time to sign off.

Please keep all of our brave little kiddos in your prayers. If you have time, stop by and leave them a happygram. It still makes us smile and feel special when we have guestbook entries. Pray for all of our fighters, those in remission, and most importantly our Angels and their loved ones. They are missing there babies and our prayers and comfort brighten their days! Thanks in advance.

So THINK SPRING everyone, we can't wait for the warm weather to get here and stay! Cabin fever with 10 children is so NOT a good thing!! Thanks for still checking on us!

Until Next Time...
Love Ya,
Heather

Read Journal History

Hospital Information:

Patient Room: OFF TREATMENT :) HOOORRRAAAYYY!!!

Children's Hospitals and Clinics (Mpls and St. Paul)
345 Smith Ave.
St. Paul

Links:

E-mail Author: hjschultz@charter.net

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Note: The foregoing information was authored by the patient, parent or guardian, or other parties who are solely responsible for the content. Such announcements or their content are not necessarily endorsed by CaringBridge, Inc. or any sponsoring agent.  This information does not confirm that anyone is or was actually a patient at any facility.