Favorite Hannah Picture

Favorite Hannah Picture
"Yes, the park!"

Hannah Ballerina

Hannah Ballerina

Play Time

Play Time
"Go super fast!"

Hannah's Room

Hannah's Room

Happier Hannah

Happier Hannah

Hannah sleeping 4-13-10

Hannah sleeping 4-13-10

Preschool Friend's Art

Preschool Friend's Art
Yeah! Friends!

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Last Day of DI, Part 1


Yesterday, was Hannah's last day of the first DI. Her treatment is broken into phases. This last one, Delayed Intensification, or DI, is designed to deliver a "knock-out punch" to the remaining leukemia cells. It is brutal and because of her high risk status, she will get an extra loop of this more intense phase again in two months. It is a very important stage of treatment and we are so glad to have at least one of them behind us.

Yesterday was also unique in that for the first time, Hannah's ANC came back at zero. Which means she officially has no available immune response. Her lowest had been 21, which is unsettling in itself. Even I'm a little spooked at the zero number.

I just keep reminding myself that those numbers will come back up. The best thing I can do is to make her a germ free bubble to live in until then. She will start the next phase of treatment, Interim Maintenance #2, or IM #2, when her counts are above 750. So, she has quite a ways to go! I am putting my bets on two weeks, but they will check her next Friday, just in case.

IM is an easier phase of treatment and Hannah did pretty well on it last time. We are really looking forward to the small break. :-)


I will leave you with a picture of Hannah in an adorable hat sent to her from our friend Heidi. She is with Smacna, the most awesome group of people you could ever hope to meet. Thank you, Heidi!!

10 comments:

  1. What a beautiful little girl! Her smile is gorgeous!

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  2. The hat looks lovely!

    One DI down....enjoy the "easier" phase....and see you next Friday....I'll buy you a drink :)

    Liz

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  3. Best wishes for this stage.

    Fab hat and lovely girl!

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  4. The hat looks darling on her! Hope you and Hannah enjoy her little break and that her ANC counts start looking up soon! And, I just found that oreo-turkey picture. Trust me, you and Hannah could probably out-oreo-turkey me anyday, haha.

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  5. Just love that smily face and hat! What a star.

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  6. Hannah, you are a Rockstar! So glad you have this phase behind you and you get a little break. Love the picture. You are such a cutie. Hope those ANC numbers come up soon. xo, Kathy

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  7. hello Carrie, dropping in to see how things are going. Glad you have one set of DI behind you. It's sounds brutal, and my goodness 0 is spooky. I guess it must be climbing each day? I hope so. The hat is brilliant. You have a great smile Hannah.
    Best wishes to you both.
    Gemma as in Helloitsgemma

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  8. So will she be home with you or at the hospital in her germ-free bubble? Good luck! Love the picture.

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  9. Hoping to hear about good counts soon. Enjoy the little break from the real nasty stuff, and I look forward to more pictures of the lovely Hannah and her increasingly impressive wardrobe of hats xxx

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  10. Carrie what does Hannah's Christmas list have? I would like to get something for her but don't know what she needs/wants (I wish I had a power to knock the illness, or bring health faster). Can you please contact me at btunca@gmail.com

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