Praying For Nikki

As posted on Nikki’s Hospital Care Page:

Nikki was four years old when she became a big sister on Jan. 26, 2007. Exactly one month later after a week of high temperatures she was diagnosed with leukemia. AML type. It took three straight rounds of chemo to get her into remission, or 101 days in the hospital. Then after only two short weeks home, Nikki returned to the hospital to have a bone marrow transplant. The transplant occurred on June 29, 2007 and her baby sister was the perfect match. Ashley was only five months old when she was the donor. Nikki came home July 27, 2007 and has been home since, with only check-ups at the hospital. It has and continues to be a long road with a lot of ups and downs, but Nikki has been very brave. She continues to make us very proud everyday. Signed Nikki’s parents.

Update: July 27, 2008. It has been a year since Nikki has been out of the hospital. I am very happy to report that she is doing great. The best news is that all of the tests that she just had done came back normal. No signs of leukemia. Nikki is looking forward to her 6th birthday party and will be going to first grade this year. Way to go Nikki, you did it!

This week, I received an e-mail saying that an update had been made to Nikki’s Hospital Page. Her mom posted that the family had been sick, and Nikki had developed a fever that wouldn’t go away. A blood test was ordered and the results came back abnormal, and the subsequent lumbar puncture showed a high amount of blast cells. Her AML has returned. Doctors have immediately resumed chemotherapy treatments.

My heart is breaking for my friend, her family, and most of all for her little girl. Nikki knows what she is about to go through, and she is terrified.

When I told my son that Nikki’s illness had returned he was silent for a long moment. Then he knelt on the floor, put his head in my lap, and whispered “Dear God, Please make my friend Nikki all better again. She’s been a good girl, Amen”. Then he crawled into my lap, wrapped his arms around me, and hugged me tight.

So I say to you go hug your kids, and let them know you cherish them, and I ask this: Please add to my Bubba’s prayer with those of your own. If you don’t pray, then good thoughts, well wishes, healing vibes, words of comfort for the family, are all appreciated and welcomed. Thank you.

Off to squeeze my babies tight.

Blessings!
Dana

Facts about AML taken from the American Cancer Society Website:

What Is Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)?
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) goes by many names, including acute myelocytic leukemia, acute myelogenous leukemia, acute granulocytic leukemia, and acute non-lymphocytic leukemia. "Acute" means that the leukemia can progress quickly, and if not treated, would probably be fatal in a few months.

AML is a cancer that starts in the cells that are supposed to mature into different types of blood cells. AML starts in the bone marrow (the soft inner part of the bones, where new blood cells are made), but in most cases it quickly moves into the blood. It can sometimes spread to other parts of the body including the lymph nodes, liver, spleen, central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), and testes. In contrast, other types of cancer can start in these organs and then spread to the bone marrow (or elsewhere). Those cancers are not leukemia. Both children and adults can get leukemia.

How Many People Get Acute Myeloid Leukemia?

In 2008 there will be about 44,270 new cases of all types of leukemia in the United States. About 1 out of 3 of these will be AML. There will be about 13, 290 new cases of AML. There will be about 8,820deaths from AML in the United States this year; almost all will be in adults. The average age of a patient with AML is 67.

AML is slightly more common among men than among women. The lifetime risk of getting AML for the average man is about 1 in 225; for the average woman the risk is about 1 in 300.

Last Revised: 09/14/2007

For More Information On AML go to the American Cancer Society Website.