"Hoping for a chance to exhale...." | Saturday, October 29, 2011
Jacalyn AND her parents are such warriors... she's again battling a recurrent kidney cancer, called Wilm's Tumor and as I write this, is again in the hospital, requiring a blood transfusion. Diagnosed a couple years ago, after Mom thought the Doctor was just going to tell them she had a urinary tract infection, they found a large tumor on her left kidney. 9 months of treatment, chemo and radiation, the tumor was gone....but a short lived victory. Another tumor formed in another 9 months, this time trying to dig deeper into this tiny child's body by attaching itself to her aorta and spleen.
They fight as a family... two smaller siblings giving of their time and attention, so that Jacalyn can spend weeks at a time in the hospital for another round of chemo and radiation. Parents doing 'tag-team' duty at the hospital, so she's never alone.
Jacalyn rarely exhibits fear and always has a giant smile on her face, despite only being able to attend school about a week and a half a month, missing her friends and all the 'girly girl' activities with them...and despite having her "Make-A-Wish" trip cancelled due to this new cancer recurrence. "We'll get to go again", she says with a smile and a side-ways glance at Mom.
Mom says, "She gives me strength... she goes through everything with a smile. We're just waiting for this to be over, hoping for a chance to exhale."
"In Heaven, I am going to have a giant house, painted hot pink. I am going to have wings and fly around, and grant all the wishes I want. I am going to get there when I am the oldest person in the world.... I am going to be 118 years old." - Jacalyn
Labels: cancer, childhood cancer, Kourageous Kids, Terri Shaver, The Oldham Project
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4 Comments :
I cant not begin to explain how beautiful the slide show was. Jacalyn and I watched it together.. Me in tears, Jacalyn saying "OH, I like that one, Oh i like that one too..." it was really cute. Terri you did amazing work.. Thank you so much.. I am going to watch it again :)
You all are amazing.
Very, very lovely...you Jacalyn. God has given you an amazing spirit. You and your family are quite something...God bless your Mother. You a truly an inspiration. All of you....
Jacalyn, you are so beautiful and such a strong amazing little girl!
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