Hearts for Hadley

Blog

School – Yeah!

Hadley's Progress ·

Today is our girl’s first day back to school in a long time. She was very nervous, but as you can see, she was greeted with a hug from our favorite Principal, Mrs. O’Dell as soon as she arrived. Please say a little prayer that she can keep her emotions in check and that she has the energy to make it (she’s worried she may fall asleep in class).

March 1 update!

First full week back to school and now she has a sore throat, sinus drainage and bad cough. We may be making our way to the doctor in the morning.

March 2 update!

Temp 101…. Here we go….. Thank goodness for East Tennessee Children’s Hospital.

Hadley is back home… Got port accessed, flushed, blood test (ANC 1800), No Flu and No Strep. Pumped with antibiotics, steroids and finally got temp down.

How do you know steroids are working? Drive home Hadley was like this…Dad, you can only do 55 on the introstate, I want a swing gym, cough-cough, foot itchy, hey you can only do 55…suns out but cold, what do I want next Christmas, cough-cough, oh no, foot itchy again…Dad, you are down to 25 now…

Oh boy, Beki and I looked at each other and I swear both our eyes are crossed…

Numbers 11:23

Words of Comfort ·

Mamaw leaves a voice mail this morning, inspired by scripture. Numbers 11:23

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Is there any limit to my power? Now you will see whether or not my word comes true!”

Is there any limit? I have seen a little girl and the miracles, I have set at the side of a best friend having open heart surgery and the miracle, we have prayed for parents and children and heard of the healing, we have prayed for a friend and his business to be sold in the midst of issues, friends who’s wife dies only to live, we have seen a community with unity and strength, and I have a father that is alive today because of the technology that was not available to his own father.

None of us are perfect and yet he still loves us. In the midst of tragedy great things can happen. You find things that you often overlook, things that you are unaware of. Is there any limit?

Thanks Mamaw….

Just another day in the life of Leukemia

Our Hearts Ache ·

Just another day in the life of Leukemia. High Temp means ER. Doctor calls ahead and we head right back when we get there with mask on face. Fielding all the questions of medications, when the last clinic visit was, so on and so on. From there, it is time to get port accessed. This never gets easier. How can you get used to a one inch needle on the end of a butterfly coming at your chest? How do you even get used to a port in your chest all the time? It just becomes your new normal but sometimes it just is plain scary. Restraining a child is not something you get used to.

Once port is accessed it is time to flush the port and take blood sample. Waiting on pins and needles for the ANC counts. Are they high enough to fight an illness? Or, will we be admitted? Then you have to wait days to find out if the port is infected. Oh how traumatic that would be. Once counts are confirmed good we move into treatment. Tylenol and antibiotics, the slow drip begins. The good news, we get to come home after all this is complete.

What now? Do we home school from here? We certainly do not want to put her in situations where she has germs. Protect her too much, she does not have the chance to build immunity. The count down is on, only six months left. We are not alone though. With every week that goes by we feed new families from Hearts for Hadley. It is a constant reminder that, not only are we not alone, others are just beginning the journey. It is just another day in the life of Leukemia.

Goodbye 2016

Hadley's Progress ·

On the left: 759 pages of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
On the right: one year of prescriptions for our five year old
Goodbye 2016! We are ready to party like its July 2017!!!!

Little Elf

Good Days ·

Hadley made it through her procedure this morning without throwing up and seems to be feeling pretty good this evening. We are grateful for all your prayers and that we will be enjoying Christmas at home. Our thoughts are with those that will be spending Christmas in the hospital with their littles.

Our sweet little elf is starting her Christmas vacation off with a spinal tap and chemo this morning. Please pray with us for her to tolerate the procedure without too much anxiety, without throwing up and that she be able to enjoy Christmas.

Her brother could use some prayers too. He wants to go with us, but it’s hard for him to “be there for her” during all of this. It’s much harder to be the sibling of a sick child than we might think. Thank you for your continued support of our family.

Hospital Shuffle 2

Good Days ·

You know a nurse loves you when she says “I hope I do not see you at the hospital again”. We are so thankful for all those who pray, those prayers were answered and she is home today.

Update December 13th
ANC 1400…. Hallelujah….. Back to school tomorrow for Hadley. What a roller coaster.

Santa knows!

Good Days ·

Santa and his Elf Monte found Hadley this morning. What a special gift for Santa to tell Hadley and all the other children that he knows exactly where they are.

Hospital Shuffle

Our Hearts Ache ·

Hadley’s ANC number dropped to 50… She will be in the hospital for a few days. She is in the best place possible and we are so thankful for East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, the nurses and doctors. They are monitoring her and hopefully her immune system will bounce back. This is just the reality of Leukemia. There are so many children that are far less fortunate for these hospital stays are more commonplace. We are not only in good hands at ETCH but we are also in the hands of God. Together, much is possible.

Update December 7th
ANC is 55. Hadley is fighting this virus but we need her white blood cell count to go up. Until then, she lives in the hospital. It is a dose of reality when you go from healthy one day, to not the next. While it is a waiting game, we have the joy of family, friends and church around us. We must be thankful for that, some are not so fortunate. This is the foundation of what Hearts for Hadley stands for. To carry forward these people that are around us and surround others that are not so fortunate.

It is tough going through back surgery and while recovering to deal with this. Not be able to spend the night with your child. To leave the hospital at night. But, we have so many around us and we choose to make the best out of any situation. Go out today and find joy, be kind, love more, be forgiving and give everyone a chance. You never know, something good can be waiting right around the corner.

Chemo!

Hadley's Progress ·

Well, the chemo and steroid combination is a constant roller coaster of emotions and sickness. This is something that we share with all the kids going through Leukemia. You never know from one day to the next if school or church is an option. But, we can say that we are tremendously blessed. There are so many going through tragedy during these times. Tragedy that we cannot even imagine. We are thankful for our blessings and we pray for all those experiencing personal tragedy. “Together there is strength, together we can overcome.” Jonathan Brooks

Isaiah 40:31

…but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Hot Southern Mess Boutique

Good Days ·

The second annual Hearts for Hadley fun-raising golf event is honored and excited to be sponsored by a great local boutique…right here in Fountain City.

hotsouthernmessbourtiqueGo check out Hot Southern Mess ladies (2904 Sanders Drive).

Tell them we sent you!