What a Big Day!

This is going to be long..........We woke up late to a cold and windy day. Arrived at the clinic 15 minutes late. Oh-well, I think they have come to expect that of us! Briley's counts came back good, although her ANC dropped to 890. Since it was over 750, she was good to start with Maintenance! She was then randomized by a computer to determine which of 3 treatment arms she would go down. I wanted a certain arm, and was ok with another, but I would have refused one of them. Prayers were answer when Briley was randomized to the treatment plan that we wanted! Awesome news! At that moment, it seemed a lot of weight was lifted off my shoulders! Standard protocol for maintenance is IV chemo and steroids once every month. The clinical trail that she is in now, she will be getting IV chemo and steroids once every 3 months! It will be much less chemo than the standard protocol. The arm that she is going down is standard protocol in Germany with the same success rates as the current standard protocol in the U.S. We are happy to be part of this research and are happy to support Curesearch that funds this type of research.

After all of the excitement, Briley went down for her LP with chemo at the SPA. While we were waiting, Bro. Terry and Mandy came in for visit. They have formed the HopeWell Foundation that will benefit kids with life-threating illnesses. Briley will be their first wish recipient and we are planning a trip to Disney World sometime late winter or spring. We are very excited and honored that they have chosen Briley to take part of this! I will update more on the trip as the details are worked out.

Wouldn't you know it, Briley has visitors and she was delayed in the SPA. Never fails. She was back there waiting for an hour longer than usual. I felt bad for Terry and Mandy having to wait, but I kinda enjoyed having someone to talk to while we were waiting. Alicia finally came out with Briley and Mandy gifted her with some Texas Rangers gear. She got a pink hat, pink jersey, pink glove, pink ball..........I guess everyone knows what her favorite color is!!! The LP went well, and then off to clinic for chemo. Terry and Mandy came with us to clinic. Alicia's sister and nephew, Jessica & Maddox, also stopped by on her way through to Munday. Briley and Mandy played catch for a little bit, a few pictures, and then they had to leave. We are planning to stop by their office in Ft. Worth during one of the next trips and have a pizza & frito pie party! It would be nice to visit with them at some place other than the hospital/clinic. We always enjoy having company.

Briley ate a little bit and then got the Vincristine chemo through her port. It didn't take long to run, and then it was time to go. Alicia and Briley rode with Jessica on the way home up until Jacksboro. We had family pictures done last week and we were schedule to go in yesterday after noon to pick out the ones we like. So Alicia jumped in with me and we took off towards Wichita and Briley continued on to Seymour with Jess and Maddox.

We used Julie Gilmore of Creative Portraits in Iowa Park for our wedding pictures and Briley's first year pictures. She is great! She learned of Briley's leukemia and wanted to take pictures for us. She did a great job and we have some great pictures picked out! We really appreciate everything she has done for us. It really means more to us than I can describe! I will try to post some on here once we get the disk.

Finally, we were headed home with the Ranger game blaring on the radio. We got home around 8:30 last night. Mom-in-law, dad-in-law, and sister in-law were here along with Maddox . We watched the Ranger game. I guess I should have turned Briley's hat inside out and made it into a rally hat.........ugh, it's was a good game though.

Yesterday was a great day. We haven't had a day like that in a long long long time. Above all, we thank The Lord for watching over all of us and leading us in the right direction. Prayers continue to be answered for us and we are blessed.