Blood donations make a big difference!

A note from Ki

Vava got her first blood transfusion yesterday.

The day before, she and I attempted to ride bikes to her school to get in shape for her marathon. We got a block from home and Vava stopped, suddenly huffing and saying, "I think I am having an asthma attack, I can't breathe".

When we went in for scheduled labs that day and told our NP what happened, the numbers came back to prove that what she told us was right: "We often have to give teens a transfusion at this point because when their counts are this low, their blood is not able to carry enough oxygen for them."

Getting a transfusion takes hours, 5 in our case. Just sitting there, watching the blood drip into her and seeing her color go from pasty to glowing was amazing. Boring for her....but she felt so much better.

Vava was worried the blood might give her AIDS, and we asked the nurse about this. The blood they use at Children's comes from volunteer donors only. No one is paid for it. It is all heavily screened and tested. There have been no transfusions causing AIDSor other serious infections from blood since the 80's in Seattle.

What this made me realize is that I need to give blood, and I am asking you all, if you can, to do the same. If you could see how it helped our girl, and realize how it is helping other people suffering through chemo like this, you would be so gratified. The hospital doesn't let people give blood to their own children. It's a much more democratic process, which makes the whole blood-donation business even more significant. You are helping us directly by giving your good healthy blood to the Puget Sound Blood Center.

They have centers for donation in north Seattle and Downtown. Their site is:
http://www.psbc.org/home/index.htm

The bike trip benefiting the Lance Armstrong Cancer Foundation starts next Wednesday on Lopez. This blood is going to make it possible for her to join her classmates on the trip. She has already received donations and per-mile pledges for over $500. She is hoping to bike 25 miles. If you want to get on her list, call us!

Vava hangs with her cousins

We shared a wonderful evening with Vava as the family celebrated a belated Mother's Day. We are so happy to see how strong Vava looks and feels after three rounds of chemo. Here's a pic of Vava with her cousins Crystal and Louise!

From Marty and Ki

Vava had new CT scans on Wednesday that show the tumor has been, as the
oncologist said, "dramatically reduced". The chemo is working. We are in
round 3, with 5 more to go after that. Because she was reassigned to 3b status (advanced rather than intermediate status) we think we don't get to dodge the radiation bullet. She didn't bounce back quite are easily this last round of chemo, but she is eating well and was able to go to two days of school this week. She is doing homework, playing Xbox, reading, and being her usual girl-wonder self.

We thank all of you who have continued to call about meals. We aren't needing that help right now; save your culinary delights for later on in the summer. We anticipate as Vava gets sicker from chemo, it will be a break for all of us not to have to cook and fill the house with food aromas. So thanks, and later!

Ki & Marty