Welcome to our CaringBridge website. I am using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.
On April 20, 2020, after 12 days of fevers, despite a course of antibiotics we made the decision to take Samantha to the ER at Northwest Community for what we thought was a UTI. After many tests it was found that Samantha had a high white blood cell count and low platelets. She had a noticeable facial droop. We were told she needed to be transferred to a hospital with a PICU or Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Due to a pending COVID-19 she was transferred alone in an ambulance to Lutheran General Children's Hospital PICU.
Over the next 2 days she underwent blood transfusions, platelet transfusions, MRI, MRA, MRV(to rule out a stroke), lumbar puncture with Spinal Chemo, bone marrow biospy, EKG, EEG, Echocardiogram and had a PICC line placed. They prefer a PORT but a PORT is considered elective surgery, and elective surgeries are on hold due to COVID.
After all these procedures and tests she was diagnosed with High Risk B- Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (High Risk B-ALL, CNS3). The facial droop was due to the Leukemia. Treatment is a least 2.5 years. Basically, the first six months involve weekly trips to the hematology/oncology clinic for IV chemo, after that it is monthly visits to the clinic and oral chemo at home.
Here are some ways you can help:
AMAZON wish list:
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/OY6YF4PQJIX7?ref_=wl_shareMeal Train:
https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/8g02w4Melissa.krause@yahoo.com
