"God made me strong"

Almost every morning whether at home or in the hospital, we have morning cuddles before we start the day.  Charlotte likes to play what she calls "capture Minnie" in which Brian or I bunch her Minnie lovie up in our hands and interlock our fingers creating a trap. She pries our fingers away one at a time until she frees her Minnie. Today, snuggled up next to me here in the hospital, we played capture Minnie like we have done so many mornings. But today she only pried half my fingers apart and then yanked Minnie out. I said "Whoa! How did you get her free when there were still fingers locked!?" And Charlotte said "I strong. God made me strong."

And so God shows up again this morning as we begin the unknown yet very essential next phase of treatment. He continues to work in ways all around us and through her. No matter our own fears, hesitations, and doubts, he reminds us that he is here with us. He is surrounding her and infusing her with strength. Coming back into the Pediatric Bone Marrow Unit yesterday was a little emotional for Brian and I, but this little one led us here yet again to begin the unknown yet again with her strong and joyful spirit full of playful innocence. As we begin Round 1 of immunotherapy this morning, we are feeling and appreciating all of your loving prayers for our baby girl as she takes this on. Her body is being programmed to seek out and destroy remaining cancer cells. Some of her own nerve cells will also be attacked so we have begun morphine to combat the pain. This Immunotherapy has given kids with high risk Neuroblastoma a true fighting chance. We know we are so blessed to still be in this fight. And so blessed to have all of you right here with us❤️🌈 #Charlottestrong