My Cancer Story

25 years ago yesterday I collapsed on the playground at school. I have no memory of that, but I do remember not feeling well and wanting to tell the teacher. But saw a kid in my class tell the teacher he didn't feel good and she sent him back in line. The teacher said it is just the beginning of school jitters.  Next thing I remember, is the teacher telling me my mom was going to come and pick me up to  take me to the Doctor.  I remember thinking "how did she know I didn't feel good." It was my first grade teacher who brought my second grade teacher, and my parents aware of my illness.( Sidni Van Allen Dohm Your mom will always hold a special place in my heart for what she did for me.)  That day my doctor felt my spleen and told my parents he thought I had cancer. Thanks to my wonderful doctor for not messing around with test after test and for sending me straight to Wichta. (Heather Hicklin Henke your dad had huge part in saving my life.) Next I was sent to Wichita for testing.  25 years ago today I was going through a lot of tests.  Spinal tap, Bone marrow, blood tests, one I remember needing to drink some orange drink and it took several hours and I fell asleep on the table.  25 years ago tomorrow the doctor walked into my hospital room and told us that I had Luekemia, ALL.  I spent the next 3 weeks in the hospital going through chemotheropy and the next three year back and forth to Wichita for treatment. I also had to miss a lot of school in that 3 years.  If there was a chicken pox outbreak I had to be out of school until it was all completely gone.  So when I felt good enough to go to school I still had to stay home. Sounds like the dream huh?  Not really.  Something as little as chicken pox could have killed me. And I was missing out on everything my friends were doing which made it hard to stay connected to friends. I did get chicken pox and had to be rushed to Wichita to the hospital so I could be be watched closely.  

Seems like a lot for a young kid to go through but I am a survivor. It forever changed my life.  It made me stronger then I think I would have been other wise and it made me take life in, and not sweat the small stuff.  It also gave me my husband and family. It also brought of amazing people in my life thanks to Donna Brown and Camp Hope. God truly has a plan for everything.

Mom of 4

I can't believe Jamie is 3 weeks old already.  Jessica was telling us that her 1 month birthday is in 2 weeks and I thought to myself "that can't be we just brought her home 9 days ago.  So I guess in some ways it feels like she is only 9 days old.  I wondered if the first month goes by this quickly for mothers of term babies who get to bring their babies home in 24hrs. of delivery?  We are so happy to have Jamie home with us and she is loved so much.  Mike and I are spoiling her so much already.  I think it is because we know she is our last baby. I would love to have more but,  I can't carry a baby to term and I am afraid I am pressing my luck I have been very blessed and lucky to carry until the critical stage is over.  Just a couple of days before Jamie was released from the hospital and little 27 weeker was brought in.  His mom's had PROM (premature of rupture the membranes)  This is what I have but I can make it until at least 32 weeks.  There is no way of knowing what causes this but I have tried every thing from bed rest to progesterone shots once a week and I still seem to go into premature labor.  We are very blessed to have the 4 healthy kids we do have.

We learning real quick that this unorganized, procrastinating mom and dad are  going to have to learn how to be organized parents.  Usually if the dish washer needs unloading and I don't have time to do it all at once I just let it set.  If I don't have time to put a whole basket of clothes away I just let them set until I have time to put all the clothes away at the same time.  Well I am learning very quick that if I have 1 minute to put the silverware away then I am that much farther ahead when I get more time to unload the dish washer.  Or if I have 5 minutes to put a few clothes away instead of the whole basket then I do it.  The older kids are good at helping out if I ask but I don't ask a whole lot.  Part of it is because I just have a hard time asking for help.  So if you just drop by or even if I know you are coming then you will find my house a mess.  I want to enjoy my kids and I always go back to the saying "My cobwebs will keep, my baby won't." 

Speaking of have a little time here and there to get things done there is a basket of Jamie's clothes that need put away, and Dillon has a basket too.  I have 2 baskets of Mike and I 's clothes to put away.  The dishwasher is still running so I don't need to worry about that yet. Dillon is wanting a snack. but I need a shower, so I better get to it.  It doesn't take long to get behind.