We have not updated for a long while, a positive sign that things have been relatively stable for Anna. She is in Minneapolis this week for several days’ worth of appointments as this marks the six-month anniversary since her transplant. Lots of procedures and labs this week, and so far so good.

During the past few months, Anna has been back home in Minot and remaining primarily isolated at the house. As she cannot yet go back to the classroom, she does have a teacher from Minot Public Schools come to the house each day. Additionally, her schedule includes a couple days per week of in-home physical and occupational therapy as well as a weekly visit from a Trinity home health nurse to change the dressing on her central port. We continue administering daily fluids at home via IV to ensure her vital organs are getting the necessary fluids due to the harsh side effects of some of her medications.

We also continue consulting with pediatric oncology at the Roger Maris Cancer Center in Fargo - rotating every week with a video visit one week followed by an in-person appointment the next. So, Anna has had lots of trips across the state the past few months. She has had some ups and downs and some of the nasty side effects linger, but generally speaking Anna is recovering on-schedule and the doctors are pleased with her progress.

One highlight shortly after Anna got home from Minneapolis was getting to drop the puck at the start of a Minot High School Majettes hockey game in January. It was part of their annual “Faceoff Against Cancer” fundraiser. The Majettes do this every year to raise funds for a local family going through treatment. In lieu of accepting the funds, we asked the team to donate all of the dollars raised to the Ronald McDonald House Charities Upper Midwest (RMHC-UM). The House was our “home away from home” for nearly four months, and serves a lot of families from across the Midwest – we met many families from North Dakota during our stay. We are back at the RM House this week in Minneapolis, so it was a perfect opportunity for Anna to present the check of $4100 that was raised during the Faceoff Against Cancer game. A huge word of thanks to the Majettes and the community of Minot for supporting this terrific cause!

Attached are a couple photos of Anna presenting the check this morning to the RMHC-UM President/CEO and the House Director, as well as ringing the bell at the RM House to celebrate the occasion (and you can see she was wearing her Majettes t-shirt in the bell photo). There are also a couple photos of Anna at the game back in January. Thanks to you all, and hope you are enjoying our spring warm-up (finally!).