Charlotte showing the way

By -
Charlotte is tolerating the second round very well so far! Just finishing day 3 of 5 in chemo and then she will have a recovery period. No fevers, still has an appetite, and some energy to play:) We'll take it in and soak up these moments where she is feeling like herself. Coming home each evening has really helped her spirits. It has helped all of our spirits.

The other morning, I buckled her into her car seat to begin our drive into the hospital and she tilted her little head looking at me and said, "God is powerful?" It took my breathe away. What she was doing was requesting a song that she likes from a Vacation Bible School CD I have in my car from last summer when our preschooler, Parker, attended our church/preschool summer camp one week.  I have never been a Christian rock/pop music listener, but this year after getting this CD and seeing how my children like it, we have all been enjoying the music and the messages. When Charlotte said those words, it rang deep within me. I was having a low moment that morning that included lots of doubts and fears. We are really trying to have FAITH over here. It is so hard and I know it is only the beginning stages and we are still coming to terms with this diagnosis, but her little voice saying God Is Powerful at that moment in time was another example of hearing what I needed when I needed it. Another example of Gods grace. It got me through that rainy morning drive to chemo where I watched our little girl show us all what being brave really means. I draw strength from her. She is leading us all.
Our friend Sarah C. shared a quote that rings true: "Sometimes, real superheroes live in the hearts of small children fighting big battles"

Still has her sweet tooth

Playing and finding joy
amid the hospital room

Comments

  1. EvansApril 13, 2016 at 3:42 PM

    Jennifer I completely believe that quote!! Even more so now seeing how brave Charlotte is and well she is handling round two!! The best thing you guys are doing for her is keeping her busy and her spirits up! Her strength is flowing and transferring to you guys!! She looks amazing and love that her big personality is shining brighter than sun!!! 😘❤️ Charlotte, keep on kicking cancer's ass!!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. ppa1dayatatimeApril 13, 2016 at 4:18 PM

    I totally believe in that quote too! You go Charlotte! One Day At a Time...so nice to get to go home every night! Yay!

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownApril 13, 2016 at 9:12 PM

    Even when your faith falters, know that's when others step up to lift you up in prayer. We are all one body in Christ.

    When my son Patrick was seriously ill, I had moments with him like that too...just when I thought I couldn't take another bad thing, he'd let me know it was ok. You're right, it's a total grace from God. God bless your precious baby!

    ReplyDelete
  4. InnaApril 13, 2016 at 10:56 PM

    What a powerful post today! Charlotte is a force to be reckoned with. Brave girl!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Kevin SweeneyApril 14, 2016 at 8:21 AM

    So encouraged to hear she is leading the way and responding well to round 2. She is wise beyond her years and giving everyone else needed strength on this road to recovery. Almost at the end of this week Charlotte, we're rooting you on!

    ReplyDelete
  6. UnknownApril 14, 2016 at 9:50 AM

    A God-incident. She is the messenger She is awesome. Way to go Charlotte
    TG
    Prayers
    LY
    Hugs
    Pops

    ReplyDelete
  7. UnknownApril 14, 2016 at 1:05 PM

    Isn't it amazing how those messages come just when you need to hear them the most?! Keep up the good fight Charlotte! We're cheering for you and sending love and strength and happiness your way!

    ReplyDelete
  8. ShelleyApril 14, 2016 at 4:30 PM

    Glad to hear Charlotte is responding well to round 2. She is an amazing little girl w/ strong parents/family/friends supporting her every move. hugs!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. UnknownApril 15, 2016 at 11:40 AM

    I love this, and her sweet little voice!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. TiffanyApril 16, 2016 at 7:59 AM

    Powerful indeed! Love comes through many voices, and Charlotte's is showing us all some very powerful love.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

ROUND 2 under way

By -
Image
It was exactly 4 Monday's ago. We left our pediatrician and ended up here at Duke Children's just about this time of day where we were about to receive Charlotte's cancer diagnosis. It was any parents worst nightmare as we came to learn and understand this diagnosis. It feels like 4 months ago. We are still coping and feeling our way, but never in a million years could I imagine being in this "place" that we are today, emotionally and spiritually. We are still coping and going through the grieving stages, but hearing the news today that Charlotte is healthy enough to begin round 2 was great news. A couple weeks ago, hearing that your child needed chemo was gut wrenching but today it is music to our ears. It means Charlotte has recovered from round 1 and is ready to continue to fight and heal while we all cheer her on. Her spunky spirit is back. She had a wonderful, restful weekend home playing with Taylor and Parker and also getting to see some family and a few f
Read more

Reliving June 13

By -
Image
Today in 2019, was probably the hardest day of my life. You might have thought that would have been the day she was diagnosed or maybe that scary time we had during Charlotte’s transplant, but it was today. We snapped this picture below waiting for Charlotte’s doctors to come into her examination room during her standard check up at Duke. Mere minutes later, we saw more than the normal 4 feet in front of the door (the oncologist and NP that would see her). When the door opened and child life was there—Brian and I instantly knew. Child life had come to distract Charlotte so we could talk to her doctors. The world went into slow motion and I don’t know how I didn’t hit the floor if I’m honest. Brian’s face instantly drained of color. We knew immediately her scans had shown her disease, her cancer, had returned.  After all she had been through, all we had seen, all we had survived as a family…this day drained the hope out of me and I can still have a visceral response remembering it. Of c
Read more

Getting some sleep and planning on a wagon ride!

By -
Image
Good morning! They think we might get to a room later today! Steps closer to coming home! Her X-ray showed improvement with lung fluids. Still fighting a fever and needs oxygen. Finally got put back in solids and ate some bites of spaghetti last night. We both slept better last night too. We didn't get out yesterday so maybe today. We have a wagon and are hoping to take her for a ride maybe even to see the helicopter on the roof:) Got a little kick in the gut with some news specifically regarding her tumor genetics. I was really down and having a hard time last night. But woke to a new day. And Brian has a contact in Cincinnati who put him into contact with a leading researcher for high risk NB and after talking with him we feel better about not just our current plan here at Duke but also about all the new research that hasn't even been published yet which has MUCH better prognosis outcomes for someone like Charlotte. I really needed to hear that and the timing of this doctor
Read more