A Month Without Chemo

Yes! It's been a month. And life has been blissfully wonderful and everything is back to normal. The End.

Except, that's not the way it really works. True, she hasn't had more toxic radioactive fluids pumped into her body. But it's still caused nausea for a couple of weeks. And she is still experiencing pain and fatigue.

What has she been up to the past month with all this going on?

Well, her first follow-up the next week to get her blood levels checked, she was given a special gift, courtesy of Caps for Kids. The same organization that sent the young man a hat signed by Mark Ruffalo sent Matti this hat:



That is from Chris Pratt, currently one of Matti's favorite actors. No, she doesn't wear it. It sits on display in her room.

Then, on the next Saturday, we had some good family time at dinner:

And, thanks to a good friend, a show to celebrate Matti being done with chemotherapy.(And maybe it was my birthday, too):

The following week (the one full week of school in November), Matti had the LVA Smith Center performance. Preparing for these shows takes a LOT out of her, as well as the performance. However, it's these opportunities to sing and perform that bring her so much happiness amid that crap she has been having to endure. Here's a shot of her in the choir, just before the performed "Come Thou Fount" arranged by Mack Wilberg:

The following week was the Vocal Jazz Concert:

And this one just wore her out. She was completely exhausted and in pain the next day. Thankfully, her teachers have been so understanding of her needing these moments and working with her missing schools so she can perform in the concerts. She has been working on making up all her work for the past couple of weeks.

The weekend was restful in Enterprise with family over Thanksgiving, for sure. But, on Sunday, Nicki took her north to Salt Lake, while I drove south to home (we split the boys evenly, 2 & 2)

In Salt Lake, she had appointments with Dr. Wright and all the scans, CT, PET, MRI. The scans came back - "pristine" was the word they used.

Talk about Thanksgiving. Then, Primary Childrens did their thing for kids who are done with treatments. A song and dance, some gifts and the bell. I wish I could have been there. Just thinking about it, though, definitely does not make me cry.

AND...this:



No, she doesn't get to keep it as a memento, since...radiation and toxicity. But it's out now.

Yesterday, as part of the LVA Choir Department's All Nations activity, Matti got permission for she and her friend Rachel (also LVA student who works for Party Ever After) to entertain as Elsa and Anna. Needless to say, she was in her element as little girls flocked to her wherever she went to have their picture taken with Elsa:

That's all she's been doing the last month.