Nine Months OT!

Today's the 29th, so Georgia's been off treatment for NINE months! We marked the occasion with frozen yogurt and this:

A trip to the orthopedist and a lovely parting gift.

Georgia does have a compression fracture and other signs of bone loss, but, from the MRI, it was hard to tell the extent of the damage and/or if it's in other areas. She hasn't complained of pain anywhere other than her ankle, and the other times we've dealt with this over the last three years, it's always been confined to her ankles and feet, and sometimes her wrists and/or knees. So for now, she gets to rock the boot for four weeks in order to let the fracture heal, and we're going to test her calcium and Vitamin D levels to see if those need pumping up. We'll visit with both Dr. Neff and Dr. Murdock in February, and see where Georgia is at that time and what's up next. Clearly, she doesn't mind the boot, and she said that Ivy will have fun helping her pump it up every morning. The best news is that Dr. Murdock said she can start swimming as soon as she feels up to it and that it would be great therapy for her. Oh yes, this we know!

Next Steps

We got the results from Georgia's MRI yesterday, and she has a compression - not stress - fracture. Now we're being referred to a pediatric orthopedic specialist who has worked with other leukemia patients from the clinic. We need to address the immediate ankle pain as well as evaluate the overall health of her bones, and hopefully get her some relief and a plan of action for moving ever forward. 

Georgia handled the 45 minute scan (her first) with her usual grace, which is really saying something as she had been running a slight fever and not feeling well since Sunday. Turns out, she has strep throat, or as she said with a smile, her "first normal kid illness!" Attitude really is everything, isn't it? We'll keep you posted on this latest adventure and would appreciate prayers and positive energy - thanks, y'all!

The Ripple Effect(s)

St. Baldrick's has a new website and just released this wonderful video. In simple terms and images, it delivers a great message about the ripple effect of childhood cancer and how each one of us can do something to help find cures and make a difference for kids in the fight around the world. We are so proud to be a part of this amazing organization and so grateful for the awareness and funding they bring to childhood cancer.

The Childhood Cancer Ripple Effect from The St. Baldrick's Foundation

Georgia had her monthly clinic appointment on Wednesday, and while her counts were outstanding (yay!), her joint pains have returned, specifically in her left ankle. We've discussed the issue several times during and after treatment, and usually, thanks to one remedy or another or just the plain-old-waiting-game, it passes. But because she's nearly nine months out of treatment, and we can't point to any injuries that would cause it, we decided to get an x-ray. It appears she may have a stress fracture, but we need to confirm that and/or rule out any other bone or joint problems that can be caused by steroids and chemotherapy. So, she's scheduled for an MRI on Monday, and we should have the results a day or two later. If nothing else, we're glad to finally be able to take a look at it and get her on the mend so she can hit the swimming pool soon - it's been a long, dry winter for our little fish (5'5" is still little, right?)!

St. Jude

I hung up a favorite Christmas present today - thanks, Mom.

And then, I "met" Pat. You should meet him, too. Pat is a long term ALL survivor, one of the first. His story is a testament to the power of - and the critical need for - childhood cancer research and the hope provided by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and other institutions like it. I choose to think of St. Jude as the patron saint of hopeFUL causes, and I tell him thanks every day for our walking, talking ray of happiness and possibility. And now, I'll tell him thanks for Pat.

You're a Lifesaver!

It's a new year and a great time to start a new routine. How about making regular blood donations part of your 2013? Yes! January is National Blood Donor Month, and many donation centers around the country are saying "thank you" to donors with special incentives. Our local center, The Blood and Tissue Center of Central Texas, is giving away free t-shirts and fresh flowers throughout the month - AND there is a particular need here for donations from folks with O neg and A neg blood types as the supply is running very low. All blood types are always in demand, so check in with your local center today! Please help keep healthy blood and blood products available for the patients who depend on them. Please make an appointment to donate and help save lives! Thanks, y'all!

Onward!

What a wonderful holiday break! We have had a very full, very fun two weeks, so it's hard to pick a favorite moment, but here are a few highlights:

Christmas Eve at home

Merry Christmas!

After Christmas visit with cousins, Nelson and Simon

Celebrating birthdays with more cousins, twins Trace and Ella and their big sis, Ava

Birthday morning balloon release at Mt Bonnell

May your every wish come true!

A mini birthday sundae after lunch

Happy 2013!

And Go STARS!

So much excitement can really wear a girl out ...

We'll all need our rest as we've got more big plans for the new year. Georgia will continue with her monthly appointments through April, and then she'll mark ONE YEAR off treatment! After that, she'll have appointments every two months for another year, as she moves ever closer to being officially cancer-free! We're planning another blood drive for the spring and will continue fundraising for childhood cancer research, including joining the 46 Mommas in San Antonio this summer for a MILLION dollar celebration! More on that later, but for now, thanks for Keeping Georgia on Your Mind for the past three years, and have a Happy, Healthy New Year!