Day 55

Natalie is home. It is wonderful having her at home. Sean was so happy to see her that he said, "I am so excited that I am trembling!"

Sean wants to follow Natalie everywhere. He is really trying not to be too loud or too wild since he understands that she is not as active as she used to be. He is like a little, loyal puppy. He asked if he could lay down on the floor of her room next to her bed when she is laying down. Natalie has more energy than we thought she would. We are trying to help her pace herself too.

Natalie will be home for the next two weeks if she does not have any complications or a fever. She goes in for a biopsy on July 14th. We are praying for a great time at home and the biopsy to look really good on the 14th.

Day 50

I woke up sad, but really trying to enjoy my days with Natalie and feeding off her positive energy. Natalie is really focused on the positive parts of this stage. She is very excited about being able to leave her hospital room to walk around the BMT area, eating outside food, and going home soon.

We had a great night yesterday. I have not seen her this energetic and happy for a long, long time. She wanted to go outside her room for a walk. It was the first time she was able to walk outside of her room since her admission 2 months ago. She had on her silk colorful pajamas night gown, striped leggings, a rainbow hoodie, purple fuzzy slippers, and a mask. Her eyes were bright with curiosity. She looked adorable. I felt bad for her because there was not much action out in the BMT area. There were 2 nurses out there making IV lines for patients. One of them told Natalie she liked her outfit. Natalie didn't say anything but was really interested in what they were doing. She stood there watching them and I could tell she was wishing one of them would ask her if she wanted to make one too. Her hands starting swelling up so she decided she wanted to go back in her room. When the swelling went down, she went out again.

Today her nurse gave her some lines to play with. She had the time of her life injecting saline into them.

Day 49

We are staying hopeful and trying to be positive about the plan for Natalie. We hope everyone is too and praying for us with positive thoughts. We're not giving up praying for Natalie to be better!

Sean was excited that he could finally go into Natalie's hospital room today. He came to play Bingo and hang out with Natalie. Natalie's PoPo also came and made Natalie some soup and chow fun. Natalie can have outside food now since her counts are up. We are happy that her menu options have opened up. So is Natalie.

The doctors said they do want Natalie's body to get GVLD (Graft V. Leukemia Disease) so that the new cells will fight the cancer cells. Please pray it will get rid of all the cancer and for Natalie to get better.

Day 47- Please Pray for Natalie!

We are in shock as I am typing this so I hope my writing makes sense.

I woke up this morning happy. Glanced over at Natalie and she had her mouth slightly open as she was sleeping. She looked so peaceful. Got her counts for today and WBC is 1.9, ANC is 890.

Then, we got smacked with bad news that Natalie's final biopsy report shows 2% leukemia. Big lump developed in my throat and my heart raced. Grant and I met with the doctors and I was still in shock during the entire meeting. Everything was pointing to things getting better... I don't understand.

There is a plan, but we need every single person we know to please pray for it to be successful. The plan is for Natalie to get off one of the meds she has been on. It's called cyclosporine. The hope is that getting off that will help her donor cells grow enough to fight the leukemia. The risk of getting off that is the chance for Natalie to get Graft Vs. Host Disease (GVHD), which is dangerous. Here is what we need all of you to pray for with all your heart and everything you've got:

1. Natalie's donor cells to grow like wild fire to beat the leukemia cells and wipe them out.Specifically, we need her lymphocytes to grow and her leukemia to not grow.

2. Natalie to not get GVHD.
3. For this plan to cure Natalie and we can be done with this.

Please pray for us.

Day 45

We are having a great Father's Day. Grant woke up happy because Natalie's ANC is 610today. Sean and I got to spend some time together this morning. Sean said he had a good day because he got to see Natalie and she was not asleep during his visit today.

Grant asked the doctors more questions today and got clarification about going home. Natalie gets to go home after her counts hits 2,OOO, she starts eating and drinking consistently, and she is able to take her medicines orally. Of course, this is all pending that the biopsy results tomorrow looks good too. Please pray for all these things for us.

Hope everyone is having a great Father's Day too!

Day 44

Natalie's ANC is 480 today. Just 20 more and she can get out of her room for a walk around the BMT area, have Sean in her room, and eat outside food again. She can go home when she no longer needs transfusions, eats, drinks, and takes meds orally.

Natalie is doing okay. She is still feeling nauseous so she's been on the grumpy side.

We should get the final results from her biopsy on Monday. Praying it is great news confirming the preliminary results.

Day 43

Natalie's ANC doubled to 320 yesterday. Sean did his happy dance again!

Today it is at 370. Yeah!!! Please keep those prayers going.

Preliminary results from biopsy looks good too. We won't get final results until next week.

Natalie is showing interest in eating again. She has moved on from turkey pot pies to Ritz crackers with cheddar cheese.