Category: Earlier Chapters

Today we are celebrating the return of Brooke’s eyesight!! After over 48 hours with her eyes shut tight, unable to open them due to painful irritation from the chemo coming out into her tear ducts, things finally improved yesterday evening! With her head still covered by a blanket, she excitedly told me that she was…

Happy November everyone! It’s hard to believe it’s been almost two months since Brooke’s relapse. Time is so abstract in this experience. It often feels to me as if time stopped on Sep 9th and I am constantly surprised that it’s not September anymore. And yet Halloween has already come and gone and now there…

Yep, that’s right. After 28 days of treatment there are no detectable signs of cancer in Brooke’s blood, bone marrow, or cerebral spinal fluid! This means that the treatment plan is working, the cancer has responded to the chemo, and that we can let go of a lot of scary “what if’s”. Brooke took the…

Time is just flying by. I guess that’s good though! Almost 5 weeks down now, 51 weeks of treatment to go before we get to Maintenance. They won’t all be back-to-back weeks though – there are many times where they hold treatment and give her counts a chance to recover before they continue. So it…

Brooke Quote of the Day: Me: “Did you take your meds Brooke?” (After leaving them on the table next to her juice) Her: “Ya, I took them. I can’t resist taking them even though they’re yucky” Me: “You can’t resist taking them?” Her: “Ya, I can’t resist taking them because I REALLY want to beat…

For her birthday Aidan wanted to make Brooke “Hug Coupons” so she could get a hug anytime she wants. He stayed up after she went to sleep and made her over 150 coupons. Afterward he said “I guess it’s kind of silly since she gets hugs whenever she wants anyway. But I still think she’ll…

She’s bald, she’s beautiful, and she’s going home!!!! Today’s been a big day!! This morning we buzzed off the last of our Pixie’s hair (there wasn’t much left), and this afternoon they sent her home!! After 17 days in the hospital (15 for me), we get to sleep in our own beds tonight!!!

I’m sure the doctors and nurses may have a different perspective, but as far as Brooke’s concerned, IV poles are for displaying her art work and handmade jewelry, and for taking rides down the hallway! 2 weeks of chemo down, 57 to go!

Today went so well!! Brooke made it through the 8 hours without food or drink without a single complaint. The lumbar puncture and intrathecal chemo went off without a hitch, and her chemo infusions were uneventful. When she woke from her sedation she was ravenous and thrilled to discover that the wait was over, and…