Updates on Jillian

Here are the latest updates from Jillian's Mom, Katie:

1. New news. Everything is being pushed up. The bone marrow biopsy (to check for leukemia) that was to be done Monday was done this afternoon. Chemo to start this evening. They don't know specifics of what cancer but they can at least start with the three chemo drugs they always use for tumors in this family. They are saying that they think it is Pleuropulmonary Blastoma.

Heidi came to visit and I am staying with Jillian tonight. She CAN hear us even though she is so heavily sedated. Every 4 hours they have to clean out her mouth...will finish in a minute.


2. Every 4 hours they have to clean out her mouth to prevent bacteria from growing and causing pneumonia. They call this "brushing your teeth" because they use a toothbrush that has suction to do it. So while the nurse was brushing Jillian did really well and didn't gag. Although she is heavily sedated she can still move and she will "cough" and gag and become agitated. So she did great and then Jeff leaned down and said "Are your teeth all clean now?" and she nodded!! It was so cute, cool and encouraging. So several times since then she has started to move her mouth and I say "oh, you can't talk right now. What do you want? Do you have an owie?" she shakes her head. "Are you hungry?" she nods "Are you thirsty?" She nods. So i explain to her that the food is already going in her belly but it is slow and then i take a spongey thing and ...more later

3. Goodness!! There is no rest here!! I thought I had trouble completing a omplete thought at home!! Here it is ten times worse. Everyone is very friendly and we are always doing something with Jillie so it isn't bothersome, just busy.

So anyway, things are looking up. New prognosis is 9-15 months of chemo. We should be out of here in 2 weeks barring any complications. The guess is Jillian will be feeling much better in 2-3 days as the tumor should shrink so fast that she will be able to breath again. The ventilator is forced air so it is causing the left lung to expand a bit, which I was pleased to hear.

First round of chemo is done. It involved pushing 2 little syringes and one drip for 30 minutes. Kinda anti-climatic really. The nurses were nice though. We had some good laughs about large families. My night nurse, Mary K, was one of **15** children.

Next round of chemo can not be started until her white blood cell count is up and that will not be for 3-4 weeks. She will lose all of her hair in about ten days.

Ummmm....what else? Gifts, cards, balloons all that kind of cool stuff would be GREAT!! We will need stuff to pass the boring days in the hospital.

Thanks for your continued prayers.