Annual Picnic

We enjoyed a beautiful day at the Mott Sickle Cell Picnic on Saturday in Ann Arbor Michigan. We had an opportunity to meet another family, son Alex had a BMT a few years ago. Alex is doing very well, as is Colleen.

Cedar Point

After Colleen's Make a Wish trip last December we were given a passport for amusement parks all over the world, however travel is at our cost so I don't think we'll make it to the roller coasters in Australia!

We did enjoy a day at Cedar Point this month. The day was provided FREE for eight members of our family by Give Kids the World and the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. The passport is good through next December, maybe we'll get to another theme park before then. Cedar Point was great, a tiny bit of rain but it kept the crowds away.

We also enjoyed a day in June at Greenfield Village gifted to us by Make A Wish, it was very fun. On Sunday Colleen will be at the finish line as a "Hero" for the bike riding fund raisers for Make A Wish. See: http://www.wishmich.org/events/heroes_hurrah.shtml
Click on "Colleen".

Update

Colleen saw her cardiologist in April and has been discharged from further follow up since she no longer has sickle cell disease! They couldn't even find her tiny atrial septal defect, so it is presumed to be completely closed!

Colleen saw her GI doctor in June and she has been discharged from further follow up with him too since she no longer suffers from any GI problems. Her low weight does continue to be of concern, but only requires follow up with her pediatrician rather than a specialist.

Colleen saw her BMT doctor in June and doesn't have to return for six months. She will go to the "long term follow up" clinic in late November. After that she will go to BMT probably only every six to twelve months until she reachs five years post BMT (Sept 2, 2010).

Colleen had her speech testing in May and her IEP in June. She did so well that she no longer qualifies for any special education services! We are so thrilled. She also won a small grant and we are using the money for her to get private speech this summer so that she keeps up with all the progress she made and is ready for kindergarten.

Thank you to everyone for your prayers. Colleen is doing so well because God has been gracious to her and our entire family.