Another special thak you!

Kay and Lori from Grants wishes met Nina and I at the cancer institute on Friday morning. They presented Nina with a beautiful scrap book of her very special day (shopping, make over, dinner, movies and limo ride). They also had a gift from Torrid for Nina................Torrid's (also the owner of Hot Topic) president sent Nina a card and enclosed two five hundred dollar gift certificates to their store!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Both Nina and I were shocked to say the least! Thank you so much to Kay, Lori, Grants Wishes and Torrid!!!!!!!!! Nina is ready to go shopping!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nina's progress

Nina was not able to have her scheduled chemo therapy last Friday. Her blood counts were too low. Instead she had another blood transfusion. This turned in to a seventeen hour day (travel time and time at the cancer institute and CHOC hospital). She is scheduled to have chemo this coming Friday provided her blood work is okay. She is doing well. Laughing and happy as usual. She has an appointment with a neuro pschologist this Wednesday. They will conduct testing to gage her deffecits and help with regaining what was lost from the trama to her brain. She will also see the psychologist to have some one to talk with about her feelings. The rest of the family is doing well.

NINA'S TUMOR IS SHRINKING!!!!!!!

We saw the neurosurgeon today. He confirmed that the tumor is shrinking!!!!! He told me he never expected it to shrink, only stop growing. He smiled the entire time we were in his office. He said that oncology may consider the tumor to be stable and stop chemo. Nina's oncologist is on vacation this week, so we will talk with her when she is back. My feeling is to continue treatment as long as Nina is doing well to get maximum results. We will see what the oncologist says. The neurosurgeon also said that Nina's memory and eye sight should improve as the tumor shrinks. He showed me the last MRI (November) and the new one sided by side. There is no mistaking that this tumor had shrunk! This is all such great news! Nina is a warrior. She continues to defy the odds of this disease!!!!!!!

Nina's progress

Yesterday was a day filled with doctor’s appointments. Nina’s platelets were low on Friday (23). They should be no lower than 20. On Sunday she had a spot on her arm that would not stop bleeding. She also had petechia (small purple spots on her body from small blood vessels bursting near the skin due to low platelets). So, our first stop was CHOC cancer institute to have blood drawn to check platelets. After this we went to have her three-month MRI. Then we headed to her ob/gyn appointment. The doctor said that they were unable to read the ultrasound of her uterus and ovaries. A MRI will be done instead. Nina’s bone density test read low / average number. The test will be repeated yearly and if the number drops at all she will have to be treated (with medication). The reason there is a problem with her bone density is because she has very low estrogen levels due to the tumor. Estrogen effects calcium in the bones. Therefore, low bone density. After this appointment we headed back to the Cancer institute for blood work results. Nina’s platelets had dropped to 8 over the weekend. Nina had to have a platelet transfusion. She had a reaction during the transfusion (hives on her face). They administered benadryl (two doses), and steroids. The hives subsided. Next we headed to the neurosurgeons office to have both of her shunts adjusted. The neurosurgeon was not in to the read the MRI.Today CHOC cancer institute called me and told me they received the MRI and there is a reduction in tumor size!!!!!!!!!! I know the reading of the MRI can be subjective. So, we have an appointment scheduled for Wednesday with the neurosurgeon to have him read the MRI.

few more pics

The most handsome boy in the world -Nina's brother Luke
Nina and Grams
Our Christmas tree
Nina on Superbowl Sunday
Luke

more pics

Nina in her new outfit

Nina on Superbowl Sunday
Nina, Uncle Greg and Aunt Tami
Nina, Grams and Jasmine

more pics

Nina and her gift basket from Grants Wishes
Mom and Nina
Nina and Stephanie
Nina and the MAC Girls
Nina and Stephanie on her first night out bowling

More pics

Nina and her friends before their limo ride to dinner
Nina and friends in the limo
Nina with her shopping bags
Nina and her favorite nurse Charmain at the CHOC Cancer Institute
Nina's friends at dinner

A few pictures

Nina and Exhibit
Kay, Lori, Auntie, Mom and Nina on shopping spree
Grandma and Mom
Mom and Mr Shapey
Nina and friends at the movies on her Grants Wishes day

Nina's progress

Nina is doing very well. She is hanging in there like the trooper that she is! She had blood work done on Friday. Every thing looked great. She had the blood work done local, so this was the first Friday since January 5th that hse did not have to go to CHOC Cancer Institute. Provided all goes well this coming week, she will do blood work local again and not have to go in to the doctors until the following Friday. What a nice break! Her memory continues to improve. Nina will have her three month MRI on March 12th. She will then go directly to the neurosurgeons office to have her shunts adjusted and review the MRI. I am most comfortable with her neurosurgeon reading the MRI (rather than the oncologist). I will be very happy if it reads "no growth". I am not sure how long it may be before we might see shrinkage of the tumor. Amber (Nina's older sister) had a MRI done due to headaches. I am happy to say it was clear. I know that this is a huge relief to Amber. She saw her sister go through so much and it scared her.