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Journal

Friday, November 14, 2008 8:24 AM CST

Hello to the faithfull Hannah followers!! good updates I promise! Hannah continues to do well, we had a scare that landed us seeing a few specialists but that turned out to be a good thing and more bases are covered and we have a base line of what hannah's normals are for Hannah. she ended up seeing in the past several weeks her pediatrician, oncologist, allergist, neurologists, gasterenterologist, eye doctor, just to get a few things checked out. Hannah had been copmplaining of headaches off and on since May, we followed with a chart and they seemed to subside with a few here and there so we attrributed it to stress and with the end of the school year. this year shortly after starting school she would complain of morning headaches so again I chalked that up to lack of sleep, new school and frineds, more homework etc... school stresses. however she would take a motrin or tylenol and still complain or the headahces became more severe to where she needed complete quiet and dark even a nap or hot pack long shower and medication just to get comfortable.

her oncologist said it was time to see the neurologist since I was doing everything I could to help her and nothing seemed to really be working. that week she had eye, ortho and allergy appointments allready scheduled. so this was a good thing having all those appointments to help narrow down symptoms and causes. her neurologist decided to do an EEG sleep deprived and thsi came back quite abnormal! so right away we were to go to her neurologist and she scheduled an MRI/MRA and a 24 hour EEG, Hannah will have the MRI/MRA next week and the 24 hour EEG December 15/16, I will keep you posted on those results. right now when she gets a headache she is to take an alleive and lay down in a dark room with a warm or cool compress to the back of her head. the EEG showed mild epilepsy and she seems to have these spells during sleep so this is why she is headachy in the morning and sluggish and headachy after school, interrupted sleep from the possible mild seizure. I do notice she does seem restless when she sleeps, I go into sheck her several times at night and she is all over her bed and covers always messed up or on the floor.

since we have had more thourough checkups and testing she is doing much better. just waiting on the final outcome of the rest of the testing. she has had an emergency CT scan two weeks ago. after her barrium swallow tests (checking for obstructions due to her gagging or choking more)she woke the next day unable to turn her head without severe pain so off to a CT scan with contrast. she had a tear in her one neck mucsle??? she is fine now, just took a few days of meds and rest with heat to help her. not exaclty sure how that happend. Blake is doing well, already has had a few sinus infections this year and will be getting his wisdom teeth out between the holiday breaks. he gave us a scare.. a few weeks ago (about the time of Hannah's barrium swallow) he was injured in a football game hobbeling off the field in crutches. being the "maccho" guy he is he was going to tough it out until practice the next week, he refused for me to take him for an xray.

he was due in for a flu shot and did not go to school because of mild pain and needing the crutches so off to the doctors for an exam of his injury and the flu shot. the doc said not good needs x-ray now and possibly surgery, looked like he might have broken his groth plate in his right hip! UGH!! so after the x-ray Blake was shocked it could be that bad and was quite upset. he is doing fine and needs no surgery, it was an over stretched fascia tissue or tendon in his hip. he does have a benign lesion on his right upper thigh bone but htese can be common with athletes & sports injuries. he is back to playing and they are in the running for the championship game!! Way to go COUGARS!!

I am doing fine, down with Blake's leftover sinus infection/cold..... I have been running around and burning the candle at all ends again.. but for good reasons and yes, for both kids in and out of the doctors, hospitals and home sick .... but the biggest part of running has been ABOUT Hannah! I mentioned a little surprise in the last journal about telling you when I could.. well I can now say in March 2009, Hannah's story will be told on the cable show Mystery Diagnosis!! I wrote in and they contacted me with more information and I thought this would be just like the extreme home makeover.. I fill out forms they ask for more I send it in and nothing!... not this time..

I sent in forms and pictures and her story in detail and triplicate....and they announced a few weeks back her stroy was 100% picked for the show and they would be here to film! so off to get the house as ready as possible and get those onboard to help tell her story and off we went to film at a Pittsburgh studio, our house and the hospital to re-enact what Hannah and I went through. I had to find a baby to play Hannah and a little 2 year old to play Hannah and both children were perfect!! I am so excited for this to air and her stroy to be tols so we may help others just like Hannah. her doctor was great about it all. we are planning a blow out premiere party to celibrate Hannah's 5th year remission /cure date and her 9th birthdday and to raise donations for a few charities ... Hannah has always wanted to sell her old toys to raise money for kids just like her and this is her/our opportunity to do so in a big way! the details are not ironed out for the party/fundraiser just yet, but we know it will be held sometime in March when the show airs.

I am still in shock her story will be told on the cable show (discovery health channel) Mystery Diagnosis all over the world!! one little girls story one very voiced mom telling her story to those who listened... and now everyone will hear it and understand what she went through, what we never knew and what we discovered and are still discovering about Hannah. her story was also picked up for a compilation of stories from others at Children's hospital, that is set to be released later next year to benefit Children's hospital. Hannah will again be doing the telethon in December for the Children's hospital, she is still their littrle media darling.... she is wonderful!

we were told NOW would be a good time to find agents for Hannah and her 2 year old double...so looks like I will be making some calls later today!! she already has a college fund account started after mark passed away so anything she may end up making will go directly into that and a percentage to charities. I want to make sure "fame" does not 'spoil' her and to always know where she came from. she will be a child first and a star in between homework! school and childhood come first! Hollywood can wait a bit longer..... well I need to finish a few things around the house today and prepare for the holidays and then back to school in january for me! good thing I had a semester off!! may the lord bless you this holiday season.

pray for those newly diagnosed, in remission, having a BMT or recovering from one, and those families who now have angels and those who are watching a loved one grow thier wings. pray for the safe return of our troops and their families. God Speed ~Holly~

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