Super patient - Winning hearts at Mott

I just called Susan in Colleen's room. In the background I could hear Colleen singing. She was singing softly as she often does when trying to get her dollies to sleep.

My amazing daughter (if Dad may brag), in her eighth day in the hospital (9 if you count last Monday when she was there for testing), her seventh day of intensive chemotherapy, she is singing in her bed.

God has delivered to the world a very special person.

The nurses just rave about her. Every patient should take their yucky medications so compliantly, I was told the other night.

Mark

Susan spent the weekend with Colleen and Mark held down the fort at home with Aunt Edna's help. (------Thanks Aunt Edna, WE LOVE YOU)
Susan came home Friday night for dinner, went to the Stevenson football game, stayed fro the half-time show to see Gabe play with the Marching Spartans, and then left to return to Colleen's room at Mott.

Colleen is doing very well, with one unfortunate exception. She was doing well enough all week that the doctors were going to allow a sibling visit on Sunday. Sunday morning Colleen became ill and regurgitate. The visit was called off. (Frowny Face).

Sunday evening Susan returned exhausted and ready to shower. Mark exchanged information on the events and the schedule, then left for Mott and spent the night with Colleen.

[Side note: Edna, Carol (Mark's mom), and Donna (Susan's mom), while loving and devoted, are becoming quite worn out. With school starting, the volume of "activity" in our home will reduce between 8:30 and 4:00. Does anyone know of some church or service clubs looking to earn their badges, as it were? We could use help after school and at bedtime. Michael and Gabriel have been helpful this summer, but they are back at school now and both have challenging classes. Normally, Susan is here for homework help and Mark is her for bedtime help
4:00 - 6:00 is homework time
7:00 - 9:00 is the range of bedtimes.
Thanks]
MTS

Colleen's admission was Tuesday August 23, 2005 after her surgery for a double lumen broviac catheter. She had TWO blood transfusions on Tuesday, one before surgery and one later that evening. Her hemoglobin needs to stay above 10. Yesterday she was allowed to go to a playroom that is "isolated" and has it's own HEPA filtration. She had a small mishap and got her IV line tugged at her broviac in her chest, oh what tears. Fortunately, there was no SERIOUS damage, just a "booboo". Otherwise, she is doing well. She is still early toilet training and used the "potty" on the day of admission, but has been in pull-ups ever since. As long as she is out of diapers by kindergarten I'm okay with that. Chemo started on Wednesday morning and so far all her "levels" are exactly where they are supposed to be. Please pray for her health during this entire procedure and the entire following year. We are still in an ALL OUT WAR with our foster care agency, which is why the ALIAS for Colleen's admission. Aparently Catholic Social Services thinks they have AUTHORITY over not only the foster child in our home, but over our own children as well. Those issues are available on another blog, where everything will be posted eventually, including documents. PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR FAMILY. We are surrounded by EVIL from every side. God is so very GOOD. Psalm 10 has become our Bible passage regarding this issue. School starts on Monday for three of my boys, and Mike will be at Schoolcraft this fall. I have childcare help from one wonderful woman from my church EVERY Thursday beginning in September while Colleen is hospitalized. Praise the Lord. She has also offered to transport our four year old to and from preschool the entire time as well. Also Grandmas and Auntie have been helping with the siblings, and working OVERTIME, I might add. Thank you to EVERYONE who is helping out. Others have brought us a few meals and food gift cards. THANK YOU SO MUCH to EVERYONE! If ANYONE wants to help, make a meal, watch the kids, please call us, even a few hours or a one time "babysit" would be GREATLY appreciated. A play date for Ben or Rap too would be (and have been) joyfully accepted. ANYTHING. Fold a load or laundry or mop a floor. Anything. We need help, but won't call you. Please call us if you feel led by the Holy Spirit to offer a hand. If you can't help with the "logistics", we still seek prayers. Please pray for us everytime the Lord brings us to your mind. Thank you. God Bless our wonderful family and friends! We love you all. Mark and Susan

Colleen at Mott 

C's BMT

Please keep our family in your PRAYERS. C is having a BMT soon. Her information is to remain PRIVATE and CONFIDENTIAL.

It would take over an hour of conversation to tell our family and friends all the events of the past few months. The bottom line is that we are having issues with our foster care agency. They want infomation about our daughter that is NONE of their business. Her adoption is FINAL, and we will share only the information we choose to share with the foster care agency.

This BLOG will allow us to update family and friends without going public. C will be admitted under an ALIAS, and should you want to visit her in the hosptial, you will need the ALIAS. No information will be given about our daughter over the telephone or by the hosptial. Please check in HERE at the BLOG for all the updates.

Admission is scheduled for August 23rd with the broviac surgery scheduled for the same day. Then chemo and radiation for eight days, a day of rest, and day zero is scheduled for September 2nd for our W's donation and C's BMT.

Thank you so much for your prayers.

Mark and Susan and Family