Alyse Zabel Alyse R Zabel 1996-2011

Alyse was a strong and faithful little girl who endured way more than she would have liked to in her four year battle with leukemia (AML). But she did it all with great strides, and an awesome attitude and love for God. Alyse started her journey at age 11, and as years passed, we watched her grow in her faith and deepen her love for all things around her. After a four year battle, just six weeks after her 15th Birthday, Alyse went to be with her Father in Heaven.  Alyse taught us to smile more and love bigger, to see beauty in everything, and to have faith through it all.

July 8,1996 to Aug 31,2011

   



Alyse was diagnosed withe Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), late Wednesday November 21, 2007. We spent the next 5 1/2 months at Children's Hospital in Milwaukee. In March of 2008 Alyse had a Bone Marrow Transplant. Her dad was her donor. It was a long and challenging journey but Alyse was discharged the end of April 2008.  We celebrated her remission with adventures to Chicago, Disney World, and many other special opportunities around the area.  We were blessed with a healthy year.  But, in April 09, Alyse started having pain in her back and leg.  After having an MRI, it was confirmed on Saturday July 25, 2009 that her leukemia had returned. It returned in her central nervous system, bone marrow, and on the outside of the bones on her spine. She once again endured the side effects of chemo and also the challenges of full body radiation. She went thru a second Bone Marrow Transplant, her father again the donor, GO DAD!  We again were on an unwanted journey, a journey not our plan.  But, we still have our poster from her friends at the lighthouse and are reminded everyday that "GOD is Bigger than Cancer" and our chemo cocktail of family, friends and God will help us through.  Alyse is the bravest young lady I know.  She is filled with love and caring and sees beauty in everything that comes her way.  She is courageous, and God loving, and will fight to win this battle again.  Alyse was discharged from the hospital the day before thanksgiving 2009.  It has been a longer road to recovery this time around but she continues to be faithful and believe in the power of prayer and Gods will. 
In August 2010, Alyse started having problems with movement in her left arm - no pain, just limited movement.  An MRI confirmed a thickening in her brachial plexis.  Two days before Thanksgiving 2010 Alyse started having pain, by Thanksgiving day her pain was so severe she barely made it thru the weekend.  By Dec 7, 2010 we were back in the hospital, her leukemia had returned for the 3rd time. The thickening in her brachial plexis had become a tumor.  A leukemia mass.  She now has what the doctors are calling an "incurable" cancer. It is in her CNS for the 3rd time.  But we still have hope and continue to pray for healing, but we also live each day to the fullest. June of 2011 is proving a difficult month as we again have a tumor this time on her right brachial plexis.  Spot radiation and an oral chemo is to begin the wk of June 13th.  We again wait and see what her future holds, what Gods plan is for a little girl who continues to stay strong in her faith.  Alyse will be 15 on July 8th.  Almost 4 yrs of her life spent in constant fight mode.  She is an inspiration of courage and strength.

Alyse went to be with her father in heaven on Wednesday August 31 2011. Six weeks after her 15th birthday.  She was an amazing young lady who loved people, animals, color and texture.  She could light up your soul with her smile.  I will miss her face, her eyes, her smile and her hugs and kisses for all the days of my life.  She is in heaven with her new body pain free and running with her hands held high I am sure:)  

Hugs from us and from Alyse

 2 Corintheians 1 ;  We were crushed and completely overwhelmed, and we thought we would never live through it.  But as a result, we learned not to rely on ourselves, but on God.