Saving Sarah

We had a wonderful week.  Sarah is totally used to her routine now, she even gets excited when we pull into the parking lot of her treatment center.  When we get in the building they scan Sarah's badge and take us back to a holding room while they take Sarah's vitals.  Sarah plays with toys, throws a cute little football across the room and giggles when her nurse throws it back to her.  Then they take her across the hall to the treatment room where she sits patiently on the table while the anesthesiologist accesses her line and puts her to sleep. I was really sad to leave our friends at Primary Children's.  Sarah and I had our favorite nurses that we would ask for and they let us have them whenever possible.  We love the doctors that care for her and know her so well. They truly became part of our family and we were so sad to leave them.  I was surprised how easy the transition has been though.  The people at SCCA are all so kind and are dear to...

Week two of radiation finished!  Monday morning we were about to walk out the door of our place to leave for her appointment when Camden found a cracker and shared it with Sarah.  I heard her take a bite and ran over to fish the bite out of her mouth.  I got it out but was nervous they would put off treatment for a few hours because of it.  Instead of putting it off and making her be NPO for another six hours they canceled her appointment for the day.  It is too risky to put her to sleep if she had any food.  I was pretty mad at myself the rest of that day.  We have since made extra sure there is nothing either of the kids could find in the mornings before her appointments. Tuesday after Sarah's appointment we went on a drive and she was SO excited to see a Chick Fil A.  She loves Chick Fil A!  Her appetite is back and she is doing really well. Thursday morning Sarah had an MRI at Seattle Children's Hospital, then we went straight to her ...

It has been a fun week here in Seattle.  Sarah is tolerating the treatment really well so far.  We go into the clinic about the same time each week day.  She can't have anything to drink for a couple hours before treatment because they have to put her to sleep before treatment, that's probably the hardest part for her because her "mimi" (bottle) is a huge comfort to her right now. We get to the clinic and they take her vitals while an anesthesiologist comes to meet with us and makes sure Sarah is ready to go.  I carry her with me across the hall to the treatment room and hold her while she falls asleep, (it takes effect really fast).  After she is asleep I wait in the lobby with Grandpa and Camden or play Mario with Camden in the playroom. They come to get me when she is waking up and we are done for the day.  She is happy and well and we are able to go on some fun adventures with Grandpa or Daddy. Nathan and Hannah flew in Thursday night and we ...

It has been a wonderful two weeks since Sarah's surgery!  She loves being with Hannah and Camden outside of the hospital.  Aside from the scar on her cute little bald head, she looks like a healthy little girl.  She runs around the house, climbs the stairs, plays hide and seek and loves life. Nathan drove Sarah, Camden, and I to Seattle last week.  Before we left we stopped to get gas and ran into a dear friend whose encouraging words were straight from heaven and just what we needed.  We left early in the morning and drove all day.  When we made it Camden said, "That wasn't too long." Just a few of many, many tender mercies! The first day there she had an appointment at Seattle Children's Hospital.  We will be meeting with the doctor there weekly while she undergoes radiation.  We spent the rest of the day exploring and getting familiar with our temporary home.  The next day we met our radiation team at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. ...