Featured Granddaughter needs prayer

My wife and I traveled to Knobles Amusement Park near Bloomsburg PA last weekend to meet with my daughter and her family.
Kylie in an active 7 year old. She walks with a pronounced limp and is pushed in a wheelchair for distances. The bones in her spine were damaged during radiation - that is a problem that will have to be addressed in the future.

My son-in-law got to talk a time about how God has blessed them over this journey.

He follows the stories of many of the kids fighting Rhabdomyosarcoma and tells me that among them all, they doctors say Kylie stands out, she has been very responsive to therapy.
She has gone through many difficult times but her battles have primarily been with the side-effects of treatment rather than with the cancer itself. She's doing well enough that they plan on increasing her chemotherapy doses during these final months.
Last week, her oncologist even talked about returning to school in a limited capacity this September, ...chemotherapy won't finish up until November.
When chemo is over, she will have scans and checkups every 3 months.

Thanks again for your prayers.

Rob

 

Wow, another month has gone by; there's less than 3 months of chemotherapy left!


With the increased dosages of chemo recently comes an increased risk of infection.
Kylie was not feeling well last week and ended up spending a day in the Children's Hospital of Pittsburg ER .
She's doing better now, ready to start an abbreviated school schedule, half days, 3 days a week.

Kylie was selected as an ambassador for the Great Cycle Challange (a children's cancer awareness organization - Facebook page link) Their month long cycling challenge starts September 1st. She had her picture on a billboard in Times Square last week along with all the riders that will be participating in the challenge next month.

Thanks for your continuing prayers.

Rob

 

What a blessing! Today was her first day back to school!

 

This is a very special Thanksgiving Day!
Kylie took her last dose of Maintenance Chemotherapy today.

She has been going to school 3 half-days a week through the year and has been doing quite well.

The Lord has blessed her in so many ways.


The beads around the cake are called, “Beads of Courage”. Each bead represents a procedure or trial she encountered during her therapy.

For the next 5 years she will have scans every 3 months to check for recurrence of the cancer. After that time the cancer will be considered in remission.

Continued prayers are always appreciated

Rob

 

I don’t think they have counted them. I see the white ones in groups of seven over the last few months. I’m guessing they were for her daily oral chemo medication, a handful of pills for a small brave kid.

Rob

 

Thank you for your concern and prayers over this troublesome time.

There is a recent tradition among those that have had cancer.
After the final dose of chemotherapy has been given, they signal the end of therapy by "Ringing the Bell".
It's a joyous signal that a difficult part of their journey has been finally been completed.
They no longer have to endure the sickness and nausea of chemo.

Kylie rang the bell today at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh surrounded by many of the friends that have supported her over almost 2 years of therapy.

Kylie thanks God for being with her in tough times and carrying her through it all.
Her journey is not over - who knows where God will take her next.

Thank you my brothers and sisters of the BaptistBoard!

Rob

 

I’m visiting during the holiday’s and was able to spend some quality time with the whole family.
I learned about some promotional shots used by different organizations.

Children’s Cancer Research Fund [link]
The picture used for the website is Kylie

If you hit the “Donation” button the header is of my daughter with Kylie

I was told that the February issue of National Geographic will feature a few pictures of Kylie and her family.

Rob

 

February Issue of National Geographic Magazine