Monday,
June 7, 2004
Once again here we are 2 1/2 months later and I don't know where the time
has gone! There is definitely lots to tell here. I will start by saying we
were wrong in thinking Haley was done with her chemo in April. She will not
finish until the last week of September. We were missing a page of her road
map and mistakingly all thought she was done because what we thought was the
last sheet really wasn't. That was a huge blow. I mean, we knew from the get
go that it would be 2 1/2 years, but when you are then told you will be finishing
6 months before you thought, and get used to that idea with the end in sight
- just weeks away, finding out it isn't so is tough for sure. So, Haley had
another spinal tap and another Vincristine - but she is now done with both
of those! No more nasty Vincristine!!! That means, so more hair falling out!
YAY! That last dose really thinned her out, but she didn't lose it all, so
we were very happy. The rest of the treatment should be super easy, and hopefully
it will all go very smoothly for Haley.
The other sad news to share is, Dr. C has left the hospital. We knew it was coming, but were still not prepared for how hard saying goodbye would be. He will be missed dearly by our family. He became like a part of our family. Our new doctor, Dr. Bryant, is wonderful though. She is bubbly and just super nice, and Haley really seems to like her. Everyone is wonderful there at the clinic, but we sure do miss Dr.C anyhow. Wewish him the best of luck wherever life may lead him. We also had one of the nurses leave the hospital just a few weeks after Dr. C. She wasn't Haley's nurse, but was still the one we dealt with the most anyhow. I always knew she would be able to get Haley's veins once we get the port removed after she is done with treatment. She was just great with Haley, and Haley seemed very comfortable with her. So, a sad few months at Portsmouth Naval's little Pediatric Oncology clinic!
In other news,
we are just so happy to say Haley has been doing WONDERFULLY! Shehasn't been
sick for a good long time and has had lots of energy and just really been
feeling great. She has made some really great strides in her physical activities
in physical therapy, like learning how to jump with both feet off the air!!
She is coming 
along
wonderfully, and we can't be more thankful for her health right now. I hope
that she will continue to be this healthy and even more so when she is done
with her chemo. She has been playing outside a lot and we have been doing
lots of fun stuff with Edmarc, her home health place. She went on a fishing
tripa few weeks ago, and yesterday was their annual picnic which was lots
of fun! That is Haley with one of the clowns in the first picture posted here.
(Look at all that hair!) Also, In April, Haley was invited to the Easter Egg
Roll on the White House Lawn. We went and had a great time even though it
was freezing and rainy! It was really neat to be a part of it, and Haley ended
up on the front page of the Washington Post! So, things are going great for
the Curtis Family. Thanks for your continued support and prayers - they mean
the world! Until next time ...
Love,
Holly, Mike and Haley
