...Indie has been on an antibiotic for four days now and she's feeling much better. We haven't been blogging much lately, just enjoying the calmness....

Indie has a bit of a bacterial infection, possibly in her line. We were in the E.R. at Primary's from midnight till 6:30 this morning because she was running a dang fever. Her blood counts were good. We just need her fever to stay down so she doesn't have to check in to the hospital again! Please keep her in your prayers. Thank you! Love, Heidi

Back poke, no back poke?

So out of the habit of our new routine of weekly visits to Primary's, it was hard for Indie and I to get ready to go. Indie had done the usual fasting from midnight on and she reminded me the day before that she is not to take her blood thinner medicine the day before and the day of a back poke. We arrived at the hem/onc clinic at 11 for her routine check up, then back downstairs for the back poke. I get to go in the procedure room to be with her when they knock her out, then I go back to the waiting room...and well, wait. Then I go into the recovery room while she wakes up.

Not five minutes after being asleep, the Dr. who does the back poke came to me and asked when we stopped the Coumadin (blood thinner pills).....I told him the day before like always (with the Lovenox, blood thinner injections). "No!, No!", he said, "we cannot do this today she has to stop the pills 5 or 6 days before or she could bleed internally from her spine and we would not know about it for a long time". He was not happy (that no one figured that out before hand), I was not happy (that no one told me differently), Indie was happy when she woke up 3o minutes later and we told her "No back poke today!" (Laugh) "That's funny" she said, in a groggy voice.

We go back on Tuesday to do it again, but through it all Indie keeps a sense of humor and of course that million dollar smile, If SHE can do it so can I!

Sorry, that's a mouth full but its as 'in a nut shell' as I could get! Indie is great, rosy cheeked and going to school almost full time. And the boy in her class that likes her is still staring at her all day....

Thanks for checking in.

Love, Heidi

Grace and poise.

When all of this started I had a million questions, worries and fears. As we approach the six month mark and looking back at what we have learned I still find myself somewhat in a state of disbelief as to how we have all grown from this rather challenging set of circumstances. The one true miracle is how the girl herself (ahem soon to be a young woman) INDIE has taken on this dubious and Herculean feat and met it with superb poise and undeniable grace. How many times have we placed ourselves into her shoes and have shook in horror at the thoughts of going through her trials at this time. We have worried, prayed and thought of her so much that it seems that our intercessions and humble prayers have kept us all busy. During the last few months have you noticed that her spirit grows stronger, her countenance glows brighter and her capacity to adapt, and roll with the ever changing situation seems almost miraculous. We have no doubt (and who would anyway) that the Prayers and fasting and temple blessing have served us and blessed us all as we have held fast to our faith and to the trust in the medicine and doctors of Primary Children's Hospital. I ask you whom among us who reads this has felt the spirit stronger, or has had their testimony increased because of the path that we have all been walking? In the writings recently I have included you all in the concept of our family. Do you feel the closeness one to another after having shared in the ups and downs of this journey of childhood non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and our daughter Indie? In turn our prayers have been not just for her but for one another. There are prayers of gratitude and thanksgiving. The birth of a young cousin James to a loving mother and father. The announcement of another child soon to be born into a wonderful family. We have all been blessed and for that I am eternally grateful. When I think of this blog I think of Julie H. who struggles in her fight to clear her body of cancer has inspired and helped me to feel the gratitude for my life. I just feel closer to you all, my sisters, my Mother, Aunt, grandma, cousins families in law and to anyone who holds a tender spot in their hearts for a special 12 year old girl who will beat this and live to share many years with all of us. I have rambled yet my heart was full and today was a beautiful and blessed day for us. Thank you all. May God continue to keep us in his grace.
Love,
The Dunlaps


Thank you to the troops of our United States armed forces who give of themselves to protect us and keep us safe. May God be with you as a constant companion.

Normal.

As of today we have had what feels like a long spell where nothing bad (Indie being sick) has happened. I thank God for this restful and peaceful time. She is no longer afraid of having thin short hair, and with a little eye liner she looks amazing ( she always looks amazing to me). I was wondering how the students at her school would respond to her returning. I asked Avery and he said that even the bully asked how she was doing and said to tell her, I said get well. Can you believe that. I stand amazed. As we have traveled this road as a family and you know you are ALL our family even Allison and my mom's work friends. We have been grateful for the blessings of well wishes, prayers and even the moments in the day when you have a spare moment and think of her.
People at times have asked us how do we do it (deal with this cancer issue). Well we have no other options. We have stuck together like glue. Our family has been put through a bit of the refining fire and have come through this part better people, except for Indie at times who is HOUNDING us daily for a dog. It will make her happy, she says. We will cross that bridge when we come to it.
Our house has been transformed into a medical storage unit (actually it's not that bad) and we have gained a knowledge of how to care for her. I feel blessed to call her my daughter. I sometimes feel unqualified to be her father, but I have faith that we are father and daughter for a reason. With each day she teaches me and our family something new . Could I list them yes, but somethings are sacred. I will hold on to them in my heart and my journal will never tell.
Sometimes people don't know what to say when they see us around town or here and there with Indie. The preferred greeting would be hi. How are you all? Nothing else. If you see Heidi or myself then feel free to ask the other questions, we really don't mind and it helps us to share with those who care. Thank you very much.

We are so grateful for everything. Our hearts are full and are are greatful for everything. Thank you for lightening our burden and sharing this difficult journey with us.

Much love,
The Dunlaps.