Nina's progress

Nina is tolerating chemo well. She does have a few side effects. They are very mild. She saw the neuro opthalmoligist last week. He told me the vision in her left eye is about the same. Her right eye is a little worse. Nina will be fitted for glasses in February. She also saw the urologist last week. Test's were ran to be sure her kidneys are not in danger. Every thing looked normal. Her frequesnt urination is being attributed to hypersensitive bladder. This is not surprising to me. All of Nina's senses seem hypersensitive. Her chemo next week will consist of only one medication (vincristine). All in all she is doing quite well. I am very proud of her.

Nina's progress

Nina is doing pretty well with her chemo. She was a little sick to her stomach last night. Meds helped right away. She seems to be a little depressed lately. Asking me why did this happen to her. And telling me this is not fair. It rips my heart out. I can only agree with her. The rest of the family is holding up. Nina's sisters some times seem a little resentful???? Maybe Mom giving so much attention to Nina???? Her brother watches out for her like a hawk. We have a busy week with doctors nest week. I am feling very exhausted. Maybe some time soon I will get a much needed break????

A special thank you

I would like to say thank you so much to Dennis Merkelbach and anonymous donor for helping with the car that is being loaned to me. There were a few problems with the car (no heater : ( , bad brakes, and needed general maintenance very badly). Dennis spent four days working on the car all over the weekend and at night after he was done working for the day. His friend who would like to remain anonymous donated a total of $600 in parts at his cost. The car now runs FABULOUS! It feels like a new car! And there is heat!!!!!! We no longer have to drive around in the freezing cold (yes, it has been freezing cold in California). I am so grateful to both of you. I can not tell you how much I appreciate all that you have done. Thank you!

Thank you

I have been so busy lately it has been hard for me to keep up with some of the events that have happened. I would like to say thank you so much to a very special family, Laura Berkley, Denise, Ken and Kortni Keller, Shauna Berkley and Robert Wood, as well as there friend Charlie. This very special family has shown my family "true meaning of Christmas and giving". They were kind enough to adopt Myself, Amber, Nina, Jasmine and Luke for Christmas. We were all able to get together on December 30th and celebrate. I served breakfast to all and we opened our gifts from "our adopted family". Every one loved the gifts. We received pajamas, slippers, movies, games, clothes, jewelry, cute fuzzy animal pillows, blankets, gift certificates to Mobil gas station, Stater Brothers, Barnes and Nobles, American Express gift cards and more. It was an incredable morning and such an honor to meet every one in "our adopted family". Christmas would have been sparse this year because of my inability to work. These wonderful people gave from their heart. I am so grateful to them. Thank you!

Nina's progress

Nina had her second round of chemo last Friday. She is doing remarkably well. We were at the cancer institute for 5 hours. Her blood work looked perfect. I am so proud of her! She is so positive all the time. While receiving chemo she happily ate a big cheeseburger, fries and cake : ) She did not get sick this time, and sleep has been normal. I have heard though, the more times she has chemo the harder it gets. I hope it does not get to hard for her. Please continue to pray for her.

Drugs being used for chemo

I wanted to include the drugs being used for Nina's chemo therapy and the schedule for any one who is interested. Week 1,2,3,4,5,and 6 iv drugs will be administered once weekly. They are: Vincristine 1.5mg this is a fast push (3 minutes start to finish). And Carboplatin 175 mg this one takes a little over an hour start to finish. Week 7 oral Temodar 200 mg for 5 days. Two week rest period of no chemo. Then the cycle will repeat itself. Length of chemo is 1 1/2 years. Chance of reduction in tumor size from this treatment is 50%-75%. Nina is sleeping alot today. She is in pretty good spirits. However she keeps asking me "why did this hapen to me Mom"? The only response I can give is "I don't know honey. I ask myself the same thing".

Nina's first chemo session

Yesterday was Nina's operation to place the port in her chest and first chemo. I have to say she is so amazing. She tolerated chemo very well. She was smiling and laughing and VERY happy when she was allowed to eat. I climbed into the hospital bed with her and hugged her while the administered the 2 chemo drugs. She was very tired and went to bed shortly after going home. She woke several times in the night because her chest hurt, she was also a little sick to her stomach this morning. The meds they gave for nausea helped right away. She also said her head felt "funny" today at one point. I pray to God that this medication is eating away at the tumor already. I felt a lot of things yesterday. Very hard day to endure. It hurts so much to watch my daughter have to suffer. I was very sad. It reminded me of the feeling I had when Nina first became ill. Felt like some one was ripping my heart out. Then VERY angry, I was also happy and grateful. My emotions were running rapid and SO intense. It was a roller coaster of feelings and thoughts. The chemo was done at CHOC. I am very glad for that. It seems that in the medical world children are catered to more so than adults. All of her chemo will be at CHOC or the children's cancer institute in OC. I have to speak of the other children / families I saw. AMAZING. Nina's roommate was the most beautiful young lady you could imagine. Her name is Laura, she is 20 years old. She has leukemia. It was in remission and came back. Her chemo drugs come all the way from France (not FDA approved here, but her dr fought for her and got insurance to approve and pay for them. The reason I mention this is I made a mental note and others may want to as well). She is waiting for bone marrow transplant. This young lady smiled and talked to us. She has no hair, but honestly, she is so beautiful. Inside and out. We met Clark he looks about 13. He has no hair. He was smiling each time I saw him. I saw babies and toddlers. All with no hair. I have to say, each one of these children were beautiful to me. So much laughter from them all. For every child I smiled at, two more people smiled at mine. I am blown away by these "very special little warriors" including my own daughter. People with healthy children will never know the pain this disease can cause. They will also never know the beautiful lessons in life this disease can teach you. Although I would never wish this upon any one. My "little warrior princess" is going to beat this. And I will be there every step of the way to help her.

January brings a new home for us

Yesterday we moved to my oldest daughter Amber's apartment. It is very small, cute and cozy. Amber needed a roommate, so Nina and I stepped in. I feel it is equally important to be a Mother to Amber also. Things will be very tight financially for us. But I felt this was the right thing for me to do. Nina is so happy about the move. Busy, very busy. Nina's chemo and surgery will start on Friday. Very nervous. Some times I can't help but ask myself why did this happen to my daughter????? It seems so unfair to me.

Mary Kay helping Nina

Mary Kay cosmetics are being offered on Nina's site by two very gracious woman. 40% of the proceeds in the month of January 2007 will be donated to Nina. Please be sure to visit Nina's site!!!!! Should you decide to order, please be sure and note Nina's name!!!!!