Some Bad News

We found out wednesday that the air in Emma's stomach has come back. After a few days of eating, they took another x-ray and it was back. We were worried because she was having the same symptoms as before. So, they immediately put her back on antibiotics and nutrition, and she is not allowed to eat or drink. They were going to initially do this for another 10 days, but since she has 4 weeks of chemo left, they decided to do this for 4 weeks. That means that she is not allowed to eat or drink anything for for weeks from monday!!! How is this going to be possible?!? They are hoping that with the rest they are giving her gut, it will heal in that time frame. Usually, they see this in premature babies and they go without eating and drinking for 3 weeks, but since she only has chemo for 4 weeks they decided to extend it.

They are still not sure what is causing it, but chemo is a possibility. We are going to start her on one chemo monday and if she tolerates it ok, they will do the other. We will stay here in the hospital for at least 2 1/2 more weeks, and then they will possibly send us home. This will mean that we will have to be sent home with a pump and will have to administer the antibiotics and nutrition through IV. The nutrition runs for 20 hours a day and the antibiotics for 30 minutes every 8 hours. We are not sure if home health care will come do it or if we will be trained. Whatever the case, we will be glad to be home.

The downside to going home is we will have to arrange the kitchen so no food or drink are out for her to see. We will also have to eat in shifts so she will not see any of it. Jonny and I feel so guilty for eating and drinking when our little girl can't. But they say we need to take care of ourselves so we can take care of Emma. Plus, I have another sweet girl growing inside of me.

Emma is extremely sad that she can't eat and asks continually for something to eat. She even loves taking her medicine because it is all she can have. Although, they have allowed us to give her ice chips every once in a while. It is so cute because she says "mo ice". We are taking daily xrays until the air goes away and then we will just look for symptoms after that. We do not want to continue putting all of that radiation in her body. She is still in isolation until they can test for the VRE again, and they won't do that until she is done with antibiotics. She has adjusted to staying in the room well.

If she will let me, I am going to go to toys r us today and get her a little kitchen for the room. She loves the kitchen in the play room up here, but they won't let her go in since she is in isolation.

Please pray:

For Emma as she does not understand why she can't eat or go play outside of the room.

Pray for rest for her as it is very loud up here and she is being disturbed every 4 hours or more.

Pray for patience for Jonny and I as were are exhausted from being in the hospital for 3 weeks.

Pray for rest for our entire family

Pray that God heals her body from the air in her stomach and the leukemia. (We are praying that this air is not a long term healing process for her)


On an exciting note!

We are gearing up for The Tee It Up For Emma Golf Tournament on April 26th. If you would like to know more information, you can find us on facebook at the Tee It Up For Emma Golf Tournament or you can e-mail me at jessjoycewilliams@yahoo.com.