Happy Holidays 2004

Dear family and friends,

Christmas eve 2004 will mark the two-year anniversary of Katie’s diagnosis of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. It’s hard to believe we’ve almost made it through another year.

Katie has been in the Maintenance phase of standard treatment in protocol CCG1991 since August 2003. She continues to get nightly chemo at home, an additional chemo every Wednesday evening, a prophylactic antibiotic two days a week, anti-nausea medicine and calcium supplements daily, IV chemo and five days of steroids every 28 days, and spinal taps with chemo to her central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) every three months. Katie is still fighting the osteopenia (a precursor to osteoporosis) brought on by the leukemia and chemotherapy.

Katie had so many trips to the ER due to fevers this year, we lost count. She had a few inpatient stays at CHOP due to fevers and low blood counts. The details of Katie’s battle against leukemia is documented on this web site, along with lots of photos and links to many childhood cancer resources.

We are looking forward to Katie ending her treatment on February 19, 2005, a month after her fifth birthday. We’re hoping her bone density increases when the chemo ends. As long as Katie remains in remission, her visits to the oncologist will gradually go from a monthly complete blood count (CBC) and check-up, to a once-a-year CBC and check-up with a survivorship oncologist after her five-year post-treatment anniversary. We will continue to pray that she stays in remission.

Through all the ups and downs she been through, Katie looks and acts like a normal child. She attends preschool and has made many new friends there. (see school photos) She enjoys crafting, swimming, cooking, singing, dancing and biking. And, she loves playing with her baby brother, Kyle, who will be 17 months old on New Years Eve. Kyle is very verbal and can say a few words. He does his best to keep up with his big sister, whom he adores.

Katie was featured on a brochure for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to help raise awareness for their Light the Night Walk. It was exciting to see her beautiful smile on the cover! We had a lot of fun preparing for and participating in the Walk this year. We want to thank everyone involved for your time and generous donations. KATIE’S WISH raised $5589.22 -- what a wonderful tribute to our hero, Katie.

This year, we actually got out!! We enjoyed many parties and classes at Gilda’s Club, and events run by CHOP. We were able to take a relaxing two-week vacation at the New Jersey shore this summer. The kids had loads of fun playing on the beach and boardwalk. (see shore photos) In spring 2005, we will head to Disney World for Katie’s Make-A-Wish trip, where we will stay at the Give the Kids the World Village.

Over the past two years, our focus was on Katie, her treatment, and learning more about leukemia. We hope that in the new year, we can relax a bit and focus on spending more time with friends and family. We are so very grateful for all of the prayers, thoughts and well wishes for Katie and our family. It helped us get through another year. We are truly blessed.

Happy Holidays and Good Health for 2005!

Much love,
Patty, John, Katie and Kyle

NEXT: January 6, 2005 -- Maintenance #6 (Days 57-84) / Maintenance #7 (Day 0)
no ER again!, Christmas, last spinal tap and IT MTX, nearing OT