Chemo Treatment #4

Only a couple days till there is a vote on a referendum for our schools.  I find it very sad that it was very easy to vote in a tax increase for a new health club but a referendum to help our schools is having a hard time passing.  I just hope and pray that everyone votes yes for the referendum.  .  If the referendum doesn’t pass the schools will be taken over by the state and our taxes will be raised anyhow.  I am asking all of my Lemont friends to vote yes for the referendum not only for Ellie but all of our kids in Lemont.  I am very sad to say that Ellie’s Tutor will be one of the teachers laid off if it doesn’t pass.  So please vote yes.  Ok now onto the chemo treatment day.

Today was Ellie’s 4th Chemo treatment. The next two treatments will be at home with a nurse.  It will be nice to get a break from driving downtown.  This morning the traffic was really light so we got downtown around 7:30am.  Ellie did not handle accessing the port very well; once again she was screaming at me and blaming me for everything.  The good news is that the doctor came up with a plan to wean her off the medication that is making her have these mood swings.  I feel like I spend most of my day apologizing for my child.  It’s very hard because if I even say anything to her about her behavior she starts hitting herself and calling herself stupid.  This medication is making her behave this way and I don’t know how I can blame her for her behavior.  After she was done accessing her port she balled up in the lobby and was crying.  I feel so bad for her she just is done and we are only in the very beginning.

 

We met this really cute little boy that was 5 years old.  They told me he had been coming to Oncology since he was one years old.  This scared me that this could be us.  We spoke to the nurse about our concerns and she believes that we will only have a year of treatment and then get a break or be done.  Our nurse today was actually a girlfriend of an old friend of ours.  So that was fun doing a little catching up.  Ellie also got all her beads to represent all that she has gone through already.  Ellie enjoyed stringing them on.  She also got to pick out a special bead to represent the beginning of her chemo treatment. 

We got to meet with a new friend today, Willow the art social worker that made some modeling clay project with Ellie.  At first Ellie did not want anything to do with her but I was so proud of her when she started to play with Willow.  It was then time to take out her port access and Ellie once again was having none of it.  I am actually the one that has to take the tape off and then the nurse takes it out while Ellie is being held down by three people.  The roughest points of our Chemo days are accessing the port and taking out the IV from the port.  But everything Else today was smooth sailing.  The Chemo is hitting her harder and harder each day.  She was extremely tired today.  Ellie has begun to lose her hair.  They say that it will be noticeable between 4-6 weeks after treatments have begun.  We are at week four so it’s only a matter of time before Ellie notices.  As much as we think we have prepared her for this, I just mentioned it the other day and she really was very upset.  I just hope she becomes at peace with the idea. 

Other great news and upcoming events.  This Sunday there is a fundraiser for the family at Cross of Glory in Homer Glen.  Pancake breakfast, Kids Crafts, Concert with some of Ellie’s favorite songs.  Please stop by and show Ellie some love and support.  Our family will be there from 10:45am on..  Check out the main page.  Another event coming up is a fundraiser for St. Baldrick's in Sept. .  Ellie is going to be a little spokes person.  My husband and Jake will be shaving their heads. Well for sure my husband we will see how my Jake handles it with his S.I.  Lastly I have to share this because I am so excited about it.  My Uncle Barry from Florida has written a song for Ellie.   He is in the process of working with his band and getting it digitally mastered so I can put it on the website and make it available for downloads.  More information will come be coming soon.   He did call me and sing it to me and it is awesome.  Very exciting. 

Well for now Good night.. Peace, love, prayers & a long happy life for my baby girl..