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People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within. -Elizabeth Ross
Self-pity is our worst enemy and if we yield to it, we can never do anything good in the world.
-Helen Keller
Important Dates:
December 2, 2002: Morgan comes down with fever of 103.

December 5, 2002: Blood work is done; Morgan is diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (M5a) and is admitted to Austin Children's Hospital.

December 6, 2002: Induction phase begins: first cycle chemotherapy starts.

December 14, 2002: Second cycle of chemotherapy in phase 1 begins.

December 25, 2002: Santa Claus visits Morgan in the hospital and brings her a scooter.

January 5, 2003: Morgan's 3rd birthday. She feels rotten.

January 9, 2003: Morgan is declared "in remission."

January 10, 2003: Morgan goes home for first time in 35 days.

January 20, 2003: Morgan is readmitted for Consolidation Phase of chemotherapy.

January 22, 2003: Morgan gets to go home for a few days!

January 27, 2003: Second round of chemo in Phase II begins. Morgan is readmitted.

January 29, 2003: Home again!

February 9, 2003: One month in remission! Still recovering AT HOME!

February 10, 2003: Mom & Dad overreact (?) to a higher-than-normal temperature reading. Morgan is readmitted for one night.

February 17, 2003: Morgan's counts recover. Second round of chemo is over WITH NO INFECTIONS! Hallelujah!

February 21, 2003: Bone marrow biopsy, intrathecal chemo, and lumbar puncture: Morgan's blood counts continue to respond and the marrow looks healthy!

February 24, 2003: Third phase of chemo begins. Morgan is readmitted for 5 days.

March 6, 2003: Morgan gets a fever and is admitted to the hospital for 3 days of antibiotics and observation. We return home on the 9th - Sunday afternoon.

March 24, 2003: We are readmitted for what will hopefully be Morgan's last round of chemotherapy. We stay in the hospital through Friday, the 28th.

April 1, 2003: Morgan develops an ear infection and must be readmitted. We get to go back home Saturday, April 5th.

April 7, 2003: Morgan's WBC count hits 15,000 with a whole lotta neutrophils. Things seem to be going great!

April 14, 2003: The first of 3-weekly intrathecal (in the spine) chemo treatments is administered.

April 28, 2003: The last of Morgan's weekly intrathecal chemo treatments. We may be done. HOPE!

June, 2003: Morgan's "6-Months of Remission" party is a huge success!

August, 2003: Bone marrow biopsy all CLEAR! 4 months off treatment and counting . . .

November 6, 2003: Morgan admitted to Children's for an all day infusion to boost her immunoglobulin count.

November 21, 2003: Bone marrow biopsy all CLEAR, again! 7 months off-treatment and counting . . .

December 5th, 2003: Today is the one year anniversary of Morgan's diagnosis.

January 5th, 2004: Morgan is 4 years old today!

June 2004: The whole family goes to Disneyworld, compliments of "Make-A-Wish" and "Give Kids the World." GREAT FUN HAD BY ALL!

October, 2004: Morgan tells Mommy and Daddy that she "loves Robert" (a boy in her gymnastics class).

December 5th, 2004: Today is the 2-year anniversary of Morgan's diagnosis.

January 5th, 2005: Morgan is 5 years old today!

January 9th, 2005: Morgan has officially been in remission for 2 years!!!

December 5th, 2005: Today is the 3-year anniversary of Morgan's diagnosis.

December 6th, 2005: Morgan's blood counts are perfect!!!

January 9th, 2006: Morgan has been in remission for 3 years!!! Two to go for that coveted "cured" status.
Please visit www.randelfamily.com for pictures and other stuff!

Journal

Thursday, November 23, 2006 10:07 AM CST

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Our updates are more and more infrequent now. Everything is going well! Morgan had a checkup in September and everything looked great. December 5th will mark the 4 year anniversary of her diagnosis. She is in first grade and loving it! I am back to work this year and Marlee is in preschool. I think we have officially reached our new normal. We can never return to the innocent ignorance of life before cancer - we are forever changed. Morgan said it well the other day. It was something like, "Even though I didn't wish to have cancer, there are things I know about me now that I wouldn't have known. I know I am brave, I know I am strong, and I know I am lucky. Some people don't find those things out until they are older."

I don't know how often we will continue to update this website since it's been almost 6 months since the last entry. I'd like to keep Morgan's page on for awhile so that people who are looking for good news can find it.

We are very, very thankful today!!
Lovingly,
Laurie

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Hospital Information:

Patient Room: We are at home!
Children's Hospital of Austin
601 E. 15th
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 324-7000

Links:

http://www.randelfamily.com   Pictures & Stuff
http://www.bloodandtissue.org/   Blood / Bone Marrow Donation
http://www.cryo-intl.com   Cord Blood Donation - LIFE SAVER!!

E-mail Author: teamrandel@randelfamily.com

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