Category: Trials

  • The Routine

    I suppose Ashtyn and I are getting into a routine, though it is an unpredictable, unplanned routine that we take minute by minute. Nausea and pain is constantly on our minds.  “Where’s the barf bag?” is a question she commonly asks.  It’s like her security blanket, whether she is going to throw up into it…

  • Stay Positive

    Saturday night… I mean Sunday morning I went to bed at 6 am, after a busy night helping Ashtyn.  At 7:00 am I woke up to about 10 different medical staff surrounding Ashtyn’s bed moving very quickly.  I could sense there was worry in the air.  As I watched the organized commotion, I gathered that…

  • On The Bright Side

    2/17/13   MIDNIGHT I’m not going to lie to you or sugarcoat it.  I am a “tell it how it is” person.  Ashtyn’s physical body has had a rough couple of days.  Chemotherapy wipes out cancer cells, but in doing so it wipes out other cells as well.  (Her red blood cells that carry oxygen from…

  • There is No Such Thing as a Bad Day

    At the hospital there doesn’t seem to be a big difference between the day and night.  Ashtyn is constantly being woken up every few hours, there are meds to be given at all hours of the day and night, and she has to go to the restroom every 3 hours no matter what time it is.  This…

  • In Her Own Words

    FROM ASHTYN: I was at school and didn’t feel well.  I felt like collapsing so I called my mom to pick me up.  She came in and I told her I needed to go to the doctor.  We went to the Holladay Instacare.  I was really scared because I have always hated getting poked with…

  • Fortifying and Gathering Reinforcements

    OK Ashtyn’s Army, we are all fortifying our battlefields and preparing for war!  I can feel it! Ashtyn’s Army is increasing in number, strengthening in faith, and rallying in service.  Comments are being heard, prayers are being offered, hearts are being touched, love is being poured out, visits are adding strength, efforts are gathering, children are…

  • Preparing For Battle

    Monday night Ashtyn fell asleep submerged in depression.  I worried about how she would feel when she woke up in the morning. Around 1:30 pm I realized there were three things that needed to be worked on today:  1.  Ashtyn needed a shower and hadn’t had it in her to take one.  2.  She hasn’t…

  • God’s Orchestra

    Today was a day that she grieved. Grieved for losing the life she once knew. It was a day of sorrow for not being able to go home. It was a day of stress with all the medications, vital signs, medical talk, and being attached to an IV pole

  • The Road To Diagnosis

    My brain is mush. I hardly know what day it is, let alone be clear of the events that have taken place Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.  I am definitely at sensory overload and the interruptions to write this seem to be constant.  Ashtyn’s first night in the hospital was one with no sleep.  She had…

  • The Beginning…

    Wednesday January 30th started with a prayer. “Heavenly Father, thou knows Ashtyn has missed school and has been sick for a couple of weeks.  She has been pale and has had very little energy.  Last night my mom called to pass on a message from my dad that he really feels Ashtyn needs to see…