Month: April 2013

  • Easter Miracle

    After Ashtyn’s cancer cells didn’t respond to the hideous first round of intense chemo in February, I believed the cancer wouldn’t be killed with the second round of chemo either.  The second round included less intense drugs and up to this point, she had done everything the difficult way.  I simply didn’t think the A.L.L…

  • Hindsight is 20/20 and I Like What I See

    A month ago, on March 3rd, I wrote a post titled “Faith.” In it I wrote, “when I first heard that Ashtyn had cancer some thoughts came to my mind. ‘Suzanne, this isn’t yours. God is the orchestrator. Hand it over to Him.’ Gladly. I instantly handed over my daughter to God knowing He was completely aware…

  • Just Another Day

    After Ashtyn’s second trip to the ICU exactly two weeks ago, I wrote, “from now on I will constantly be on high alert with her. My eyes are more wide open for when her body does something out of the ordinary. My heart is more open to when I feel things aren’t quite right.” That…

  • Ashtyn’s Dreaming About Food

    From Ashtyn: Friday  afternoon I got back from the PICU. I was starving but the doctors said that it would be best not to eat or drink for about a week. I was very upset and I thought I couldn’t handle not eating for that long. I picked up my phone and texted my Uncle…

  • Progress

    It’s 2:25 a.m. on Tuesday morning. I am sitting on Ashtyn’s comfortable electric blue square chair with my feet resting on my couch bed with a blanket over my legs and a pillow behind my head. Ashtyn is in her hospital bed, with the head of the bed elevated, in her PJ’s, pillows positioned perfectly,…

  • Update coming soon

    I am so excited to update you on Ashtyn’s time at home. She has been home for five days! The interruptions to write a blog post have been constant during the day. At night I haven’t been able to keep my eyes open long enough to share with you all I want to share. I…

  • Home

    I can’t believe it’s been six days since I last updated the blog. I’m sad it’s been so long and I apologize. I feel like my team has been left in the dark and I need to catch you up so we can continue down this journey together. First off, thank you for reading the…

  • Normal, For A Moment

    I am in my bedroom. It is 4 p.m. Chandler (14) is sitting on my carpet playing his acoustic guitar teaching himself to play by ear “No Surprises” by Radio Head. He has no homework tonight and will be heading to the gym in 30 minutes. Ashtyn is laying in my bed thinking about what…

  • Awaiting Results

    Friday “morning” I woke Ashtyn up at 11:30 a.m. and headed to the hospital for her bone marrow aspirate. “Why do they have to do it so early?” she asked with exhaustion. “It’s at noon which isn’t early.” (It really is early to her, since she continues to go to bed around 1 a.m. and…

  • The Results Are In

    On Monday a home health nurse visited Ashtyn and her blood was sent to the lab. The results came back showing a good white blood cell recovery. Her ANC was up to 700. The instructions were that Ashtyn can do whatever she wants and be in public without a mask. After the news came, Ashtyn…