Lauren is at CHLA today having her bi-weekly blood test. They are currently waiting for the results. Some concerning news: Lauren complained about a headache this morning and again in car on the way to CHLA. The headache was bad enough that she was crying. Obviously we're very-very concerned and scared, but hopefully this is due to the lower dosage of Decadron (steroids) which we lowered from .5 mg to .25 mg last Friday. We have an MRI scheduled Monday, that was scheduled a month ago, which is needed to proceed to Phase II. While we had good news after her last MRI, they are also some the most stressful and scariest times for us. The worst part is waiting for the results and all the "what if?" scenarios that go through your head as you wait for the results. The wait time for this MRI will be especially stressful since Lauren is having headaches and Dr. Finlay will not be in on Monday, and won't be able to review the MRI until Tuesday. Also (I'm not sure if I already posted this), as if we don't have enough things going on in our life, we've schedule Hil's "c" section for baby #3 for Sept. 27th.
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It's nice to see Lauren with her hair again.
My favorite picture of the girls.
Taken July 24, 2009
It's nice to see Lauren with her hair again.
Taken: Dec. 2008
Taken: Feb. 2008
sign lauren's guestbook
Enniscrone, Ireland, June 2007
My favorite picture of the girls.
Fundraisers for Lauren
Prayer Request
We just want to thank everyone for their prayers, thoughts, gifts, contributions, concerns, love and good will. It means more to us than we can express how the support of our family, friends, and even strangers have held us up through this amazingly difficult time. We thank you, love you and ask for your continued prayers and love.
*Praise God for answered Prayers, LaLa getting better and stronger everyday, the sound of laughter, sisters playing together,all of our friends(especially the ones we have yet to meet) all the miracles in our lives, and Hair Growing.
*Pray that the next round of chemo will be easy on her body with minimal side effects and that the chemo treatment is successful in attacking and shrinking the tumor.
*Pray that Lauren continues to get her strength back and she will be able to start running and playing like she wants to do. Pray for her physical Therapy sessions.
*Pray that She will adjust well to school, all the new kids that she will be meeting, and her doing well away from her family.
*Continued HOPE, peace, and strength.
*Pray for all the families that have children suffering with cancer.
* Pray for her at her next MRI.
*Pray that we would find the right dose of steroid, be able to get her off of them completely and that she wouldn't have any more slurred speech or headaches.
*A MIRACLE that the cancer would just be gone.
*Praise God for answered Prayers, LaLa getting better and stronger everyday, the sound of laughter, sisters playing together,all of our friends(especially the ones we have yet to meet) all the miracles in our lives, and Hair Growing.
*Pray that the next round of chemo will be easy on her body with minimal side effects and that the chemo treatment is successful in attacking and shrinking the tumor.
*Pray that Lauren continues to get her strength back and she will be able to start running and playing like she wants to do. Pray for her physical Therapy sessions.
*Pray that She will adjust well to school, all the new kids that she will be meeting, and her doing well away from her family.
*Continued HOPE, peace, and strength.
*Pray for all the families that have children suffering with cancer.
* Pray for her at her next MRI.
*Pray that we would find the right dose of steroid, be able to get her off of them completely and that she wouldn't have any more slurred speech or headaches.
*A MIRACLE that the cancer would just be gone.
About Lauren:
- When she grows up she wants to be a pet "nurse".
- Favorite food: ramen noodles.
- Favorite veggie: artichoke
- Favorite Wii game: Cow racing
- Favorite CD: Disney Princess (played over and over)
- Pets: belle (the beagle), Minnie Mouse the Cat, bubba the fish, and peaches the bird
- Favorite animals: dogs and horses
- Favorite cartoon character is Mickey Mouse
- Favorite princess is now Sleeping Beauty, because Lauren new favorite color is pink.
- Birthdate - Dec. 12, 2003
- Blood type is A Positive
Journal Archive
Continued: Our Story
We were told that the Lauren had a large tumor in the middle of her brain and that it has causing a build up of fluid, which was causing her headaches and if wasn't taken care of quickly it would crush her brain. We were also told that same night that her tumor was inoperable. Our neurosurgeon gave her 120 days (without treatment) to live and basically told us to take her home and make her comfortable.
However, the oncology at CHOC gave us hope. They felt with chemo and radiation that they could prolong her life. We were all set to follow their treatment recommendation.
However, after receiving a 2nd opinion from Dr. Finlay with CHLA, he convinced us that radiation treatment was absolutely wrong. He felt due to the Lauren age and the size of the tumor, that radiation would have serious side effects and would make her permanently mentally disabled. He instead recommended we follow his Head Start protocol of high dose chemo followed by autologous stem cell transplant (rescue).In
May 2008, we transferred Lauren to CHLA to be under the direct care of Dr. Finlay. She is currently receiving treatment following the HeadStart protocol and is currently in the first chemo cycle of Phase II. The past two MRI indicates the tumor is stable and that the treatment appears to be working.
While this is a difficult time for us and we face a long tough road ahead of us, we have not and will not give up hope. I can not accurately describe what a trooper Lauren has been. Her spirits remain high. She has been taking all her medication, shots and probes without complaints. She is truly our hero.
Please sign into the guest book to send your thoughts and/or prayers. We will try to keep this page updated so that you can be apprised of what's going on. We just wanted to say thank you to everyone for all your prayers and support. It means so much to us to know that we have so many caring people in our lives. It is making this most difficult time in our lives a little easier. Thank you.
However, the oncology at CHOC gave us hope. They felt with chemo and radiation that they could prolong her life. We were all set to follow their treatment recommendation.
However, after receiving a 2nd opinion from Dr. Finlay with CHLA, he convinced us that radiation treatment was absolutely wrong. He felt due to the Lauren age and the size of the tumor, that radiation would have serious side effects and would make her permanently mentally disabled. He instead recommended we follow his Head Start protocol of high dose chemo followed by autologous stem cell transplant (rescue).In
May 2008, we transferred Lauren to CHLA to be under the direct care of Dr. Finlay. She is currently receiving treatment following the HeadStart protocol and is currently in the first chemo cycle of Phase II. The past two MRI indicates the tumor is stable and that the treatment appears to be working.
While this is a difficult time for us and we face a long tough road ahead of us, we have not and will not give up hope. I can not accurately describe what a trooper Lauren has been. Her spirits remain high. She has been taking all her medication, shots and probes without complaints. She is truly our hero.
Please sign into the guest book to send your thoughts and/or prayers. We will try to keep this page updated so that you can be apprised of what's going on. We just wanted to say thank you to everyone for all your prayers and support. It means so much to us to know that we have so many caring people in our lives. It is making this most difficult time in our lives a little easier. Thank you.
Contact:
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