Update 9/21/06

We started week 2 (of 6 weeks) today. Naomi did very well. I started off this week with concerns about her PORT catheter. A friend of Jermaine's fell while holding Naomi on Sunday and knock her PORT out of alignment. I was very nervous, praying that she would not have to undergo another 3 hour surgery to have it adjusted. Thank God it was OK and she could still receive her Chemo through it.

I've included some photos from her chemo treatment so you can get a sense of what Naomi's experience is. As you can see, I always set Naomi up with a favorite Movie and make her as confortable as she can be. Today Naomi wanted to stay in her new stroller (a gift we received on Tuesday, 9/19/06).






























After the nurse starts the machine, we just wait for it to adminster all the chemo into her PORT, which is located on her chest. Naomi is so brave. She never cries anymore when the nurses access her PORT. There was a two year old boy in the room next door crying his eyes out as the nurse tried to access his PORT. Naomi walked over to his bed and held her shirt up so he could see her connection and the little boy stopped crying. Naomi is so sweet. The boy's father thanked Naomi for helping.

After chemo Naomi was in such high sprits that we went to the hospital play room where she completed this beautiful painting.
















Please come visit us! We are starting to get pretty bored here. Naomi's Chemo appointments are on Thursdays (for now) and the best days for visits are Tuesday and Wednesday. Yesterday we were delighted to have a visit from my aunt Debra.

Also please continue for strength in Naomi's organs. We are approching the dangerous week #4 where most children have a significant drop in health. The chemo may have to be stopped and there is potential that she may need to be hospitalized. We're praying that this will not be the case for us and she will sail right through to week 5 and 6 where chemo will be given everyday.

Bless God,
Nina

Naomi meets the 49ers!

On Sunday, 9/17/06, Naomi's family received tickets to see the 49ers play the St. Louis Rams. They had a great time, although Jeremiah found the cheerleaders more interesting (he's such a flirt already). Naomi slept during the game. LOL They all got the biggest thrill in meeting the players after the game here are some pictures from our exciting day.

Naomi, Jeremiah and Manny Lawson



















Naomi, Jeremiah and Tony Wragge















Naomi, Jeremiah and Justin Smiley















Naomi, Jeremiah and Bryant Young















Nina, Naomi, Jeremiah and Anthony Adams















Nina, Naomi, Jeremiah and Anthony Adams















Jeremiah flirts with Katherine (we think she's a cheerleader)















Naomi and Auntie Tiffany















Naomi and Grandma

Update 9/14/06

UPDATE: On Thursday, 9/14/06 Naomi began Delayed Intensification Maintenance. For this 56-day portion of Naomi's chemotherapy she and I will stay near the hospital at the recommendation of her doctors. Unfortunately, today we had a rough start. Naomi and I stayed up last night until 2:30am and woke this morning at 6:30am. The goal or purpose was to exhaust her so that she would sleep through her spinal tap procedure. Normally she would go to the APU where an anesthetist would put her to sleep, but they had open appointments and considering her hypoglycemia, we couldn't go on the waiting list (which requires fasting until an opening comes available. Hypoglycemic patients require food intake every 4-6 hours). Naomi fought me and the nurses during the spinal tap procedure and ended up with some bruses on her shoulder from the nurse trying to immobilize her. She is scheduled in the APU for the next spinal tap but if her ANC numbers drop again, she will have to forfet the appointment again, thereby leaving us faced with the option of putting her on the waiting list or trying to immobilize her again.

This phase is broken into a series of 3 weeks. Naomi will receive chemotherapy once per week, and will receive steroids for the first 21 days. Week 4 is for recovery from the intensity of the drugs but is also the most dangerous week, 90% of patients end up being hospitalized during this week as the body taken off the steroids and makes the necessary adjustments. If she is hospitalized, cheomthropy will stop untill she recovers. During weeks 5 and 6, Naomi will need to get chemotherapy at the hosiptal everyday. Finally, during weeks 7 and 8 she will be off all medication and be allowed to return home.

PRAISE REPORT: Naomi had an echocardiogram of her heart on Tuesday and the report came back as normal and healthly!!!

PRAYER REQUESTS: Please keep us lifted up in your prayers. The family separation we must endure is hard on all of us.

Until later, may the Lord bless you,

Nina

Camp Okizu

Naomi had a great Labor Day weekend! She, her brother and her parents went to Camp Okizu near Lake Oroville, CA. Here is Nina's account of the trip:

Camp Okizu was created by Larry Bell, who wanted to create a special place for children with cancer to go and experience camping. Mr. Bell took a $3.8 million loan and built a beautiful camp site on 500 acres of land. He pays for the $1.2 million in operating expenses per year to keep the camp going. Additionally, Mr. Bell does not charge any family to come to the camp. Mr Bell depends on donations and volunteers to act as counselors. On our weekend we had several Oncologists and Register Nurses available for medical assistance and to answer our questions.

We arrived on Friday and immediately started making friends. Jeremiah was taken off by a 5 year girl named Samantha, who was also the sibling of a Leukemia patient. Naomi made friend with two other Leukemia girls, both 3 years olds: Little Mimi and Ella (seen in the picture with Naomi).

Our days where full of activities. In the mornings, the parents met in support groups while the children where divided by age into small groups. Jermaine and I learned a lot about how to manage our sick child and our healthily child during Naomi's Chemotherapy.

After the sessions we had lunch/nap time. The afternoon was filled with a list of activities. On day one, we stayed in the craft room because it was too hot to be outside. On day two, Jeremiah and Jermaine went fishing and to archery while Naomi took a nap. After her nap, I made Ice Cream with a Red Ice Cream Ball that had to be shaken for 20 minutes. I tried rolling it on the ground to ease the pressure on my arms. That Ball got heavy!

After ice cream, we all went to the ropes course and got to fly through the trees. Naomi took two turns first with me, then with Jermaine. Jeremiah went twice by himself. On his 2nd trip through the trees, Jeremiah got daring and let go of the rope to fly more freely. After our flights Jeremiah and I climbed up some trees to reach a cat walk in the air. I made it across the first log, but Jeremiah gave up at about 20 feet above. We had fun dropping to the ground and swinging back and forth. After the ropes course, all four of us played flag football with other campers. Jermaine was on the opposite team as me and the kids, and he led his team to the first victory.

In the evening, we had smores on the first night and a party the second night during which the entire camp created a nice song by beating tubes. The party lasted until 10pm. During the party, we also played "Mafia" with 20 other campers. Jermaine and I where both "killed" early in the game. Our main purpose for going to camp Okizu was to check it out before we allowed Jeremiah to go to the Sibs Camp (camp for the siblings of cancer patients) on his own. Jeremiah is excited; he made a lot of friends and looks forward to going back.

For more information about Camp Okizu or to make a donation go to Camp Okizu

Photos of the trip:




The Cabins where the family stayed













Naomi having fun













Nina and Naomi making Ice Cream











Naomi eating home made Ice Cream











Naomi saying goodbye to her new friend, Ella