Hi Everyone,
I will first apologize and say that I have been meaning to write this email for about 2 weeks now, but somehow time has escaped me. Though I know you will all understand that, I still feel guilty, as I know many of you are thinking of us, praying for us, loving us, and waiting for the day where we are all given some good news about Evelyn. Well.....it has finally happened, and we couldnt be happier.
On November 3rd Evie had her 5th MRI. Paul and I took her to SickKids, and are quite used to the routine of the MRI department. This time we didnt really know what to think. MRI # 1 was her diagnosis, so we knew nothing. #2 was our first check in, we expected good news, but accepted the growth when the doctors explained it to be normal to progress before regress. #3 was a kick in the gut, still growing. #4 was when my heart basically dropped. I did not want to be let down once again, so I tried to not even think about it as it was approaching. It was scheduled a year (to the date) after her first dose of chemo. We all really needed some good news. Immediately after her MRI her doctors reviewed the scans and told us they thought it looked promising, potentially stable, but would not officially know until they went through with a technician and reviewed everything. The following Friday I was able to call Paul and tell him that it was confirmed. Evie's tumour was stable, at least for now. Stable is the best news we have been given in a year of treatment, and is the first step in the right direction. We are thrilled.
Evelyn began a new treatment in late September. A fairly new drug, more commonly used in adults with aggressive tumuors, more commonly other cancers. It is "thinking outside the box" as the other "typical treatments" have not been working. The drug is used only when other options have not been successful. Evelyn is administered this drug on a bi-weekly basis, via IV infusion...which basically means every other week we are at the hospital the majority of the day, similar to when she first began treatment. This drug is given in conjunction with a drug she has been on since March, given weekly. It is undecided how long she will remain on this treatment, initial hope was that it would kick start the primary drug into working, and then she would be taken off. I assume she will stay on until the next MRI and then they will decide what the best path to take will be.
There are clearly concerns with any treatment, this one is no different. Her vitals need to be taken every 15 minutes throughout the infusion, and I often am asked to obtain a urine sample.....not always easy! As always, Evie's size and age are big concerns. That being said, or little girl is growing up. Evie is now 27lbs, getting taller and taller. She is a full on toddler, and quickly becoming quite the little girl. Her blonde hair is getting thicker and longer, and is hinting at a bit of a curl as it wisps away over her ears. Her nystagmus (shaky eyes) is settling down, and is hardly noticed. Those who see her regularly, and even those who dont, are happily surprised by how much she has grown lately. Every day she is looking plumper, a little toddler belly hanging out over her pants. She runs around the house, climbs on the furniture, often falls off of it. She finds purses and sorts them for me (um, thank you?!).....she carries around my cell phone and has in depth conversations with Dada (even when he is sitting in the same room watching her). She likes to do things her way, even if that means keeping her winter hat on in the house for a good half hour after we've come inside. She runs away often to the park next door, insisting on more "yides" (slides)...no wonder it takes forever when Paul is out doing yard work. This morning she even gave me quite the look when I suggested she have Cheerios for breakast....."Mama, unt oop boops peeeeeese" (translation, Mama, I want Fruit Loops please!). Please is always said with a giant grin and shoulders raised....makes it hard to say now! Wrapped around her little finger, yes we are.
Otherwise we are all moving forward. Isabelle is adapting to life as a 2nd grader, slowly realizing that school isnt all fun and games as it has been in previous years. It's tough, but she's working hard, and doing a good job. In case word has not spread to everyone, Paul asked me to marry him in October! Wedding planning has begun, and I think my experience in tv is greatly easing the process. It's very similar to planning a special event or one night show.....except I'm used to doing it on someone else's dime! Either way, we're having fun with it, and are very much looking forward to the wedding.
As we are in our last days of November, we realize that the Holiday season is just around the corner.....we hope that we will see all of you, or at least most of you, in the near future. Evie has appointments coming in December and early January, so we wont have any other news until at least then. So for now, enjoy the build up of Holiday Cheer!
lots of love,
Paul and Kristine
ps. to my lovely loyal friends and family......Air Farce New Year's special is airing on NEW YEARS DAY this year.....crazy eh? Watch it.
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