Cytoxan journey (week seven)

Well, Emma is in the home stretch of her cytoxan treatment. She is beginning her seventh week of treatment which means she has this week and next week and then she will be completely off meds for the first time since January of this year when she was originally diangosed!!!! My husband and I couldn't feel more blessed! This year has seemed longer than most and my husband and I agree that we can't wait until 2009 in hopes that we have a better year than 2008!! We have had our fair share of "unfortunate events" happen to our family this year but we still feel blessed by the Lord that our battle with Emma's condition may be nearing the end. I know that the odds are she will probably relapse again over the next few years but I still pray every day that she is one of the few that will never have another episode with this condition and that this will just be one of those stories that we tell people about the "strange condition" Emma had when she was little!!

Emma has been doing great with getting her blood drawn. She hasn't cried even once since the last time I went with her, which was week two!!! Apparently I did more harm that good..ha..ha..ha! Maybe she could sense my fear, who knows. She calls me at work every week when she and my husband are done at the doctor and brags about what a big girl she was. She wears it as a badge of honor now!! Pretty funny!

She still hasn't exhibited any major side effects from the cytoxan with the exception of her hair thinning (which I have previously posted about). But, with only two weeks left she is looking great. Her hair has thinned quite a bit luckily she started with a head full so most people wouldn't even notice it unless I told them. She has also lost a good bit of weight. Her appetite has become a fraction of what it was while she was on the pred. She still eats, but in much smaller portions and much less frequently! Her face is starting to look much more like her "pre NS" face. The moon shape hasn't gone away completely but is much less swollen. The neph told me that it would be several weeks to months after she is completely off the pred before her face shape goes back to normal. I am not complaining about that one bit....I am counting my blessings and even if her face stays the same shape forever...I DON'T CARE!!! As long as she stays in remission!!

My prayers go out to those of you who's children are having a tough time fighting this condition. It has been tough for me and my husband not to "self pity" ourselves to death! It would have been easy for me, in the beginning, to sit around and cry all day and feel sorry for myself and for Emma. But, I realize that there are so many people in this world that have a far worse situation than I do and I need to just be unendingly thankful for the blessings I have in my life!! I praise God for the work he does in our lives and will continue to be faithful that He will provide for all of my needs no matter how big or small. Again, I will continue to pray for those of you who are battling NS or who have children who are fighting this condition. Keep your faith, even though sometimes it seems pointless, God will provide the strength you need to carry on!!