Life Back At Home (January 23)
Here is a bit of an overdue update on the last couple of weeks. Laurissa will be taking over the writing of the blog posts now that she has the time and brain space for it!
The final half of Madilyn’s treatments went very well.
Before many of her treatments, she even had Timmy, the therapy dog, hop up on
the bed to keep her company while she waited. Quite often during our mornings
in the PMDU, the child life specialists stopped by with a fun craft or activity
to help pass the time. Despite the circumstances, it was a special time. Each
time Madilyn was wheeled from the PMDU to the Radiation floor, she made sure I
hoped on the bed first. And we got wheeled down the hall by the best
porter/driver.
January 14th marked Madilyn’s fifteenth and final
treatment. Before heading in for her very last one, she had the opportunity to
ring the gong in the cancer centre waiting area to celebrate reaching this
milestone. She rang it proud and loud! It brought on a loud round of applause
from all those waiting and the staff who stopped to share in this special
moment. It may have even sparked a few proud mom tears and the biggest smile
from her dad. Patrick and Josie were also with us during her last day and a half
in London. They got a glimpse of what Madilyn’s morning routine had looked like
over the past several weeks and even got to meet Elsa when she stopped by for a
special visit with Madilyn.
Following her final treatment, we were able to come home.
Madilyn has responded well to radiation. Her oncology team was pleased with her
progress. She is walking quite well now, even running, and has regained
strength to her right side. Although not at her previous capacity, we are very
happy to see how much she has improved. She is happy to be more independent
again and back to doing her “making things” activities.
We have been home for just over a week, and the transition
has been smooth. It has been wonderful to be back home and doing life on our
own schedule again.
Madilyn has a follow-up MRI scheduled for late February and
will need her port flushed monthly. She continues to be weaned off her
medications and has been responding well to that. If all continues to go well,
she will hopefully be completely off her meds in the next couple of weeks. She
will also be returning to school in February – Patrick as well. While they
haven’t minded being home, life goes on, and our goal is to return to a more
normal routine.
We are thankful that, at this point, life can begin to
return to normal and we pray it can last as long as possible. It is such a joy
and blessing to see Madilyn back to her usual smiley self, even if she does
physically tire more easily.
I will be sure to
share another update in early March following her MRI as not much will be
changing from now until then.
Here is a thank you from Adam and myself below.
“We would like to express our wholehearted gratitude to our
home community and to all those who have shown us such incredible love, care,
support, and encouragement over the past month and a half since our daughter’s
diagnosis. It has been a truly humbling experience to witness the depth of
kindness and thoughtfulness that has been extended to our family.
There are honestly too many people to thank individually. We
think of our families, close friends, colleagues, our wider community, our
church family, and even people we have never met, who have reached out in
meaningful ways. Thank you for every message, prayer, kind word, thoughtful
gesture, offer of help, and generous act of support. Each one has carried us
through moments that felt overwhelming.
We hope this message reaches all those who have been there
for us and who have so graciously given their time, effort, love, and resources
to support our family. Please know that your kindness has not gone
unnoticed. We are deeply grateful and continue to trust God as we walk
this journey, knowing we are not alone.”
We continue to uplift our little girl to our heavenly Father,
for He holds her in His loving hand.
- Laurissa
❤️❤️
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