Now What? Clinic Visits As Usual

We’re home! Now what? After a wonderful arrival in Salt Lake City Tuesday night, Wednesday morning we went to Primary Children’s Hospital and spent 4 1/2 hours in the outpatient oncology clinic. Hugs were exchanged with our hospital family who welcomed Ashtyn home with admiration and love. Medically we got right on track with where we left off in Seattle. She received a platelet transfusion, got her central line dressing changed, and reviewed with the team where Ashtyn currently is in her recovery and the plan to continue moving forward. She’s going back to the hospital today (Friday) to receive a red blood cell transfusion and talk with her healthcare providers. We are scheduled to return to the hospital Sunday for an IVIG and platelet transfusion and then a clinic visit Wednesday. Even though medical appointments occur often, it’s all good. We get to see people we love at the hospital and then go home and see family and friends there! Morgan and Ethan have been so grateful to have us home. They genuinely appreciate the time we have together. On Wednesday they hung out with us at the hospital and will do the same today. Morgan is completely present and incredibly helpful with anything we ask of her. Ethan has had a permagrin since being home and seems so relieved. We feel very blessed. Ashtyn of course loves being with her dog Marlie, family, and friends. She feels healthier and stronger from just being home. It does continue to be a struggle for her to not feel herself. Her outward appearance looks very different than when she first started her third fight with cancer. She told me, “I think if I could lose the steroid weight and be able to walk, my recovery would fly.” Please pray to our loving God that 1. she’ll lose steroid weight so she can feel herself again. 2. be able to walk so she can be independent. 3. her kidney’s will recover so she won’t need nightly IV fluids. 4. remain cancer free.