Monday, February 15, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
A good night, sneak peek, and food. 02.11.10
Grant: I'm in a good mood tonight. Natalie is reading a 2nd book and she has already finished one. (I'd tell you which one, but she might get mad at me. Natalie likes her secrets.)
A few days ago, Borders donated a bunch of books. I picked up Newbery award winning book, the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. I started it when I got it and finished it tonight. A great read and I am happy to have been able to finish it. I saw a movie adaptation of the book when I was a kid, but I didn't realize it until I was halfway through it. It was a good flick.
I've been thinking about the blog for a while, but things have been pretty crazy.
===
Sneak peek:
http://www.facebook.com/jackie
Jackie Chan An appeal from Jackie: "I recently found out about an 8 year-old girl who has leukemia and needs a bone marrow translplant. I recorded a public service announcement to appeal for your help and now I am asking all my Facebook fans to do what they can. Please help!" Click here for information: http://www.dkmsamericas.org/drives/help-save-natalie-and-others
Yes, that Jackie Chan. A friend of ours got him to record a short video. They're editting the video now and it will be coming soon to a website near you! We're touched that he is helping Natalie.
===
FOOD!
A number of people brought us food and we enjoyed it all. Special thanks to Mrs. Lutz for her homemade mac and cheese and divine chocolate chip cookies! Natalie is not a chocolate chip fan, but she ate at least 2 servings of the mac and cheese. My parents and I love Mary's chicken soup. Susie's roasted chicken, carrots, garlic, onion, and potatoes was another favorite. I could go on, but I just wanted to let you know that the Nakatanis are eating well.
Natalie's fierce appetite at the hospital is surprising all of us. We're really glad she is eating. We eat the hospital food and she orders different dishes from home or takeout. I feel like there is always plenty of food around, especially now that Tammy's mom is back.
(Natalie just finished the 2nd book.) Natalie also just sold 2 bracelets.
A few days ago, Borders donated a bunch of books. I picked up Newbery award winning book, the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. I started it when I got it and finished it tonight. A great read and I am happy to have been able to finish it. I saw a movie adaptation of the book when I was a kid, but I didn't realize it until I was halfway through it. It was a good flick.
I've been thinking about the blog for a while, but things have been pretty crazy.
===
Sneak peek:
http://www.facebook.com/jackie
Jackie Chan An appeal from Jackie: "I recently found out about an 8 year-old girl who has leukemia and needs a bone marrow translplant. I recorded a public service announcement to appeal for your help and now I am asking all my Facebook fans to do what they can. Please help!" Click here for information: http://www.dkmsamericas.org/drives/help-save-natalie-and-others
Yes, that Jackie Chan. A friend of ours got him to record a short video. They're editting the video now and it will be coming soon to a website near you! We're touched that he is helping Natalie.
===
FOOD!
A number of people brought us food and we enjoyed it all. Special thanks to Mrs. Lutz for her homemade mac and cheese and divine chocolate chip cookies! Natalie is not a chocolate chip fan, but she ate at least 2 servings of the mac and cheese. My parents and I love Mary's chicken soup. Susie's roasted chicken, carrots, garlic, onion, and potatoes was another favorite. I could go on, but I just wanted to let you know that the Nakatanis are eating well.
Natalie's fierce appetite at the hospital is surprising all of us. We're really glad she is eating. We eat the hospital food and she orders different dishes from home or takeout. I feel like there is always plenty of food around, especially now that Tammy's mom is back.
(Natalie just finished the 2nd book.) Natalie also just sold 2 bracelets.
Still Waiting
We are still waiting for Natalie's counts to go up and trying to make the most of the time here while we are waiting.
Natalie has been pretty happy, energetic and eating well the past week. Her weight has been stable too so that is good news.
I took some pictures of the beautiful rainbow and butterfly decorations in her room with my blackberry. It looks like a butterfly garden in here thanks to her gramps. He is amazing with scissors. Natalie tells everybody that he doesn't even have to draw out the butterfiles before he cuts them. I will try to post them up for you all to look at tonight.
One of the doctors gave Natalie the idea of making bracelets to sell to the staff here. She has a bunch of beautiful beads that were given to her by my work to keep her busy. Natalie wasted no time in making and posting a sign on her door to sell her bracelets for $10. So far, she has sold 11 of them so business is doing well. We even got an order to make a poodle collar so her business is expanding beyond just bracelets. Natalie is saving the money for her Tiffany fund. Yes, one of the nurses told Natalie about Tiffanys and now Natalie wants to buy something special from there. In fact, she has been on their website a few times looking through the inventory in the $150 or less section on their website. So far, the decision is between an elephant bank or a silver butterfly necklace. At least, the business is keeping her happy and busy.
Natalie has also been busy with visitors. Christine came on Sunday. Ms. Danna came to visit her on Tuesday with cupcakes to decorate for the nurses. Natalie had so much fun and she even got Ms. Danna to play WhooNu with her. She also has her regular visitors that work here who keep her entertained.
We have a full day today too. Her hospital teacher is here spending time with her now, Bingo is at 2:30, and then we are in the playroom for a big chunk of time after that.
Please keep praying for her counts to go up soon. Sean misses her so much and said the other day that what he really really wants is for Natalie to come home.
Natalie has been pretty happy, energetic and eating well the past week. Her weight has been stable too so that is good news.
I took some pictures of the beautiful rainbow and butterfly decorations in her room with my blackberry. It looks like a butterfly garden in here thanks to her gramps. He is amazing with scissors. Natalie tells everybody that he doesn't even have to draw out the butterfiles before he cuts them. I will try to post them up for you all to look at tonight.
One of the doctors gave Natalie the idea of making bracelets to sell to the staff here. She has a bunch of beautiful beads that were given to her by my work to keep her busy. Natalie wasted no time in making and posting a sign on her door to sell her bracelets for $10. So far, she has sold 11 of them so business is doing well. We even got an order to make a poodle collar so her business is expanding beyond just bracelets. Natalie is saving the money for her Tiffany fund. Yes, one of the nurses told Natalie about Tiffanys and now Natalie wants to buy something special from there. In fact, she has been on their website a few times looking through the inventory in the $150 or less section on their website. So far, the decision is between an elephant bank or a silver butterfly necklace. At least, the business is keeping her happy and busy.
Natalie has also been busy with visitors. Christine came on Sunday. Ms. Danna came to visit her on Tuesday with cupcakes to decorate for the nurses. Natalie had so much fun and she even got Ms. Danna to play WhooNu with her. She also has her regular visitors that work here who keep her entertained.
We have a full day today too. Her hospital teacher is here spending time with her now, Bingo is at 2:30, and then we are in the playroom for a big chunk of time after that.
Please keep praying for her counts to go up soon. Sean misses her so much and said the other day that what he really really wants is for Natalie to come home.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Our Friday
Natalie's biopsy procedure went well. We are still waiting for the results, which may not come until Monday. Our poor little girl woke up hungry and we had to hide all the food in the room so she was not too sad to see them. Good thing her procedure was scheduled early so she only had to fast from 10 pm until 11 am. The moment she was back in her room, she asked for food. I had to walk to a dim sum bakery that was 15 minutes away from the hospital to get her the sticky chicken rice she loves so much. It was worth the walk back up the hill since she devoured almost all of it.
She was a little sore from the biopsy draw. It made me think that this is what her bone marrow donor will feel when we find that special donor for her. The only difference is that her donor will only have to feel the soreness once and be done with it all. Natalie has had to do this procedure and deal with the soreness so many times.
After sitting on an ice pack for an hour, she was up and ready to play WhooNu with Grant and I. We've been playing this game with her ever since she found it in the playroom on Wednesday. It's a game she played with her class at school. It's pretty fun, especially seeing how happy Natalie is while she is playing the game. We all realize we know each other too well to stump each other though.
Natalie did not have a fever the whole time we were with her today. We are hoping it's gone for good.
On our way home from the hospital, we were hurting. It's really hard to be away from Natalie. We know she has fun with her gran and gramps, but we really miss her spunk at home. The house is so quiet without her around and it doesn't feel the same. We all want her home and healthy again.
She was a little sore from the biopsy draw. It made me think that this is what her bone marrow donor will feel when we find that special donor for her. The only difference is that her donor will only have to feel the soreness once and be done with it all. Natalie has had to do this procedure and deal with the soreness so many times.
After sitting on an ice pack for an hour, she was up and ready to play WhooNu with Grant and I. We've been playing this game with her ever since she found it in the playroom on Wednesday. It's a game she played with her class at school. It's pretty fun, especially seeing how happy Natalie is while she is playing the game. We all realize we know each other too well to stump each other though.
Natalie did not have a fever the whole time we were with her today. We are hoping it's gone for good.
On our way home from the hospital, we were hurting. It's really hard to be away from Natalie. We know she has fun with her gran and gramps, but we really miss her spunk at home. The house is so quiet without her around and it doesn't feel the same. We all want her home and healthy again.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Fever and Biopsy
Natalie had a rough night last night. She spiked a fever and they had to draw blood from her broviac and poke her arm for blood at midnight to make sure that she did not have a broviac line infection.
They started her on some strong antibiotics last night. Her fever subsided this afternoon, but looks like it's creeping up a little again.
Today is Bingo Thursday, Natalie's favorite day all week at the hospital. She is in good spirits, although a little tired. They want to do a follow up biopsy tomorrow at 10 am to check her bone marrow. We need prayers that the biopsy results are good, biopsy goes well, and Natalie's fever stays away.
Thank you to all who are praying for us, working so hard organizing the bone marrow drives, getting tested, wanting to get tested, and getting the word out to people about the drives. It really means so much to us that you are doing everything in your power to help Natalie. We are blown away by people who don't even know us at all, but are working hard to help Natalie. You are all incredible people. Your efforts free us up to focus on taking care of Natalie's daily needs (emotional and physical).
Natalie's website, www.hopefornatalie.com is up and running. Thank you so much to Patrick for filming and working his magic to create such a beautiful video for us. Please visit the website for information on all the various marrow drives that are taking place in Northern CA and Southern CA in the next few weeks. We really need to get the word out to all people of asian descent to please test to see if they are a match. Please pass the word out to all your asian friends. I know this is asking people to step out of their comfort zone, but we really want people to not be afraid of the testing or the word, "transplant". The test is just a cheek swab with a cotton swab. If they are a match, they will be asked to be a donor for Natalie's bone marrow transplant. I think a lot of people hear the word "transplant" and they think they have to give up something that they can't get back again, like an organ. It's not true. They are basically being asked to donate some blood or marrow that will be transfused into Natalie if they are a match. Some people resume normal activities the very next day and their marrow is replenished by their own body in a few weeks. Their act of kindness makes a huge difference for Natalie. There is more information on Natalie's website. We just wanted to post something here to help people not be afraid of the process or help their friends to not be afraid of the process. I really don't think a lot of people are educated about the whole bone marrow transplant process. Honestly, we were not educated about this until now. After being in the midst of this with our little girl, we would totally not even think twice about being a donor if we were a match for somebody out there.
They started her on some strong antibiotics last night. Her fever subsided this afternoon, but looks like it's creeping up a little again.
Today is Bingo Thursday, Natalie's favorite day all week at the hospital. She is in good spirits, although a little tired. They want to do a follow up biopsy tomorrow at 10 am to check her bone marrow. We need prayers that the biopsy results are good, biopsy goes well, and Natalie's fever stays away.
Thank you to all who are praying for us, working so hard organizing the bone marrow drives, getting tested, wanting to get tested, and getting the word out to people about the drives. It really means so much to us that you are doing everything in your power to help Natalie. We are blown away by people who don't even know us at all, but are working hard to help Natalie. You are all incredible people. Your efforts free us up to focus on taking care of Natalie's daily needs (emotional and physical).
Natalie's website, www.hopefornatalie.com is up and running. Thank you so much to Patrick for filming and working his magic to create such a beautiful video for us. Please visit the website for information on all the various marrow drives that are taking place in Northern CA and Southern CA in the next few weeks. We really need to get the word out to all people of asian descent to please test to see if they are a match. Please pass the word out to all your asian friends. I know this is asking people to step out of their comfort zone, but we really want people to not be afraid of the testing or the word, "transplant". The test is just a cheek swab with a cotton swab. If they are a match, they will be asked to be a donor for Natalie's bone marrow transplant. I think a lot of people hear the word "transplant" and they think they have to give up something that they can't get back again, like an organ. It's not true. They are basically being asked to donate some blood or marrow that will be transfused into Natalie if they are a match. Some people resume normal activities the very next day and their marrow is replenished by their own body in a few weeks. Their act of kindness makes a huge difference for Natalie. There is more information on Natalie's website. We just wanted to post something here to help people not be afraid of the process or help their friends to not be afraid of the process. I really don't think a lot of people are educated about the whole bone marrow transplant process. Honestly, we were not educated about this until now. After being in the midst of this with our little girl, we would totally not even think twice about being a donor if we were a match for somebody out there.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
More Rainbows
I walked into Natalie's room today and there are more beautiful rainbows up. Natalie was happy and talkative. She asked us to bring her some penne pasta from Pasta Pomodoro with parmesan cheese and butter, and gulped almost all the plate of it down. She said she ate a little brunch today too.
I love the rainbows in her room. I love to see Natalie so happy and eating. She is happily reading a book now.
These are the days that I treasure in my heart.
I love the rainbows in her room. I love to see Natalie so happy and eating. She is happily reading a book now.
These are the days that I treasure in my heart.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Good Day Yesterday
Yesterday was a great day for Natalie. Her gran and gramps came and helped her decorate her entire room with rainbows and hearts. They made paper dolls with her too. When I walked into her room that afternoon, she was beaming with joy and hope. She was so proud of the decorations and she was so happy that her grandparents came to spend time with her. She was smiling and happy. I haven't seen her like this since we got back to the hospital, so it was truly a gift for us yesterday to see Natalie happy.
Her counts are low, but they are suppose to go even lower in the next few days. We are scared and trying to face each day by day. We are also treasuring the good days.
Thank you all who are working so hard for the many bone marrow drives and getting people tested. We are grateful for all your kind hearts, your friendship, your support and your prayers.
Her counts are low, but they are suppose to go even lower in the next few days. We are scared and trying to face each day by day. We are also treasuring the good days.
Thank you all who are working so hard for the many bone marrow drives and getting people tested. We are grateful for all your kind hearts, your friendship, your support and your prayers.
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