Destination NYC... Make A Wish

As I said in the last post, any kid under the age of 18 that is diagnosed with cancer is eligible for a Make A Wish.

The process started in the hospital, letting Hannah know that she could have a Make A Wish.  That was before all the bad chemo and drugs hit.  So a moment of excitement went to not even a thought over the next 30 days. 

Once Hannah came home after her first hospital visit, we were visited by two Make A Wish reps, Raheem, and Erica.  Both of them are volunteers, and put so much time in that it is really wonderful and amazing, their passion for helping grant wishes is amazing.

After much thought, Hannah said that she wanted to see the Broadway show, "Anything Goes" and to meet the lead, Sutton Foster (Google her).

Hannah had followed Sutton's work for awhile, saw her in the show in the Spring, and had a role in a local production of the play when she was diagnosed.

Needless to say, she was unable to perform in the play, and one of the very worst nights in her first hospital stay was when she wanted so badly to see the play.  Tough night.

Over the next several months, Hannah battled, while Raheem and Erica worked to grant her wish.  Honestly, with the holiday's and trying to get Hannah home in time for them, we did not think much about the wish.

After Hannah's second hospital stay, we were told the wish would happen and when it would happen.  When dealing with a wish that involves meeting a "celebrity", schedules have to be very flexible to make the wish happen.

So this last weekend, we went off to NYC to meet Sutton Foster.

It was an incredible trip, with lots of photos to follow.

Being picked up by driver "Mogi", and riding to the airport in a stretch Excursion Limo. Sarah is missing from this picture and the trip because of work conflicts - we missed having her along.

Walking to dinner on Friday evening we see that one of the greatest guitar players in the world (in my personal opinion) is playing.  Phil Keaggy (Google him).

Friday's dinner destination, Shake Shack, OMG.

Meeting friends and shopping after dinner on Friday

 Good morning NYC Saturday morning.

Hanging out at Grand Central Station before the show on Saturday

Another Limo, We must be important.

Meeting Sutton Foster after, the show.  Her first Make a Wish.  She was great!! This was her last weekend of Anything Goes before she is off to Hollywood to be a part of a new series, we were told that she may only be able to spend 5 to 10 minutes with Hannah, well, she spent 45+ minutes with her/us and was so amazing and gracious - we could not have asked for more. Truly a wonderful experience.

Metropolitan Museum of Art

Central Park Sunday

The trip was amazing.  The Make A Wish team did an incredible job and we thank them from the bottom of our hearts.


Eucaristia.

The Cobley's Take Manhattan

It has been quite awhile since the last update, so time to bring everyone up to speed.

First, Hannah's health.  She is great!!!  Her numbers are very good, and she is getting stronger everyday.  She is now having to deal with a little boredom, however she is babysitting more, and has actually started working back at church.

Mentally she is doing great, it's as if she has said, "OK, cancer is done, lets move on!"

This weekend is going to be very exciting!  Hannah's Make A Wish has been granted, and we will experience it this weekend.  Just to clarify, anyone under the age of 18 that has a diagnosis of cancer is eligible for a Make A Wish.  It does not have to be terminal cancer, just cancer.  So with that, we are headed to New York.

As many of  you know, Hannah LOVES Broadway shows, and that is her wish.  Sharon, Jessie, Hannah and I (unfortunately, Sarah can not go due to work obligations) will be leaving for New York.  I am the only one of the four of us that has never been to New York, so I will be the ultimate tourist.

We are staying at the Grand Hyatt on Park Avenue in midtown, which looks wonderful and very fancy.  We have 2 scheduled events.  On Saturday, we will be seeing "Anything Goes" and afterwards we will be meeting the star of the show Sutton Foster.

Sunday, we will be going to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  Between those two events, we will be taking in as much as NYC has to offer before we head back home Monday night.  Personally I am really looking forward to a New York deli style pastrami sandwich.

We will post pictures throughout the weekend.

Thanks again for your continued prayer and support.



Eucaristia

Cancer...What I have learned..

Hi all, update time again.  It has been a while, and Sharon posted yesterday on Facebook that she and Hannah were at the clinic and some people freaked out.  No more freaking out, here is where we go from here.

As you know, Hannah made it out of the hospital before Christmas.  Her Doctor is amazed by that, she had fully expected her to be in PCH until after Christmas.  She had one week of outpatient chemo the week before Christmas and tolerated it pretty well and was able to get out and do a few things with friends.

She was at PCH yesterday to have a bone marrow aspiration and a lumbar puncture with a small amount of chemo injected in to her spine,  this is normal and part of the protocol.  The chemo injected into the spine is an extra precaution to fight against leukemia. Most leukemia patients with the other types –AML or ALL have 30 lumbar punctures so Hannah has been very lucky to only have to have 3, especially since it took 3 tries yesterday to get it.  The bone marrow aspiration was pulled from the front hip area this time which was new, and painful.

Provided that the bone marrow and spinal fluid are clear, there is no reason to believe that they will not be, she will begin her monthly maintenance.  Starting next Friday she will start new oral medication and to to clinic once a month.  The following week she will have her broviac catheter removed from her chest.  And oh yeah, because she is finished with chemo her hair should start to grow back.

To say that I have learned from this experience would be an understatement.  While I would never wish anyone to ever go through this, while I can not call it a blessing, I can say that we have been truly blessed.

Below is a list of things that I have learned or have been reaffirmed during the last 6 months. (no particular order, and not all of them)

The big things in life help us to focus on the little things.

God is in control

Tears, generated by fear, being scared, anger, joy or gratitude are a good thing.

Laughter truly is the best medicine

I love my family more than I ever thought I could.

My wife is a stud!

Watching "Big Bang Theory" with your kids is fun.

Each moment is precious, savor it.

Toughness is not measured by how many hits you can take, it is measured by how you move forward after each hit.

Friends are truly a gift.

My kids are the second most important gift that I have, being second only to the Gift of Salvation that I have received through Jesus.  I need to cherish both of these gifts more.

Eucaristia

Celebrate the Season.....

Hi all.   As I stated on Friday, Hannah is out of the hospital, and both she and Sharon are home!!!  I made it home from San Antonio on Saturday, so the entire Cobley clan is gearing up for Christmas.

Hannah had to go back to the clinic today for a spinal tap and bone marrow aspiration.  Along the way they injected chemo into her spine again, and then she had the first of 3 chemo infusions this week.  She has oral meds for the next two weeks, and then we are done.  If at that time her blood work comes back the same as it is now, she will be declared in remission and begin a 2 year maintenance program that will consist of monthly checkups and oral medication. 

While we are not at the finish line yet, we are close.

The last 5 plus months has been a myriad of of tubes, tests, tears, laughter, hugs, prayers and blessings.  As a family we have been touched by so many that we do not even know how to begin to say thank you.  In fact I do not think it is possible.  There are people that we do not even know that prayed, prepared meals, and helped in some way or another.

While we may not be able to thank everyone with words, I do know that as a family we will be dedicated to thanking you and helping others by paying it forward to help others that get this dreaded disease.  Our lives have been forever changed, for the better, for having gone through this, with your help.

As you gather with friends and family this Christmas season, please stop and take the time to appreciate all that you have, and realize that the material things are not what is important.  It is those that are in our lives daily for which we should be truly grateful.

Also, please take the time to thank God for this gift of His Son.  The most precious gift of all.

Merry Christmas



Eucaristia

Homecoming!!!!

Short and sweet and to the point.  Hannah is coming home today!!

God is good.

Eucaristia

Rebound..

Hi all, it was a rough weekend, as Hannah hit rock bottom on Friday, and stayed there through Sunday.  Saturday afternoon she had a bad reaction to a blood transfusion. She had received 2 bags of blood and did fine with the first one but at the very end of the second bag she reacted - this is quite common - we were very lucky the last time around and only had a slight reaction to some platelets. She started to get really wheezy and as she was getting a breathing treatment she started to develop an itchy rash all over her body. It cleared up on it's own and was completely gone by morning.

Sunday was a day of rest after the battle Saturday night.  She slept virtually all day.

Monday, the start of a new week, her immune system move off zero and began to climb.  Today brought about higher numbers, so she is getting stronger!! She has been fever free or low fever for 2 days so hopefully they will back off the antibiotics over the next couple of days. She is still pretty congested from a cold and has developed some sores down her throat making it hard to swallow and causing extra mucus (gross). Morphine is wonderful and they have started to administer some to help the throat pain.

As I sit here typing she is pulling out her hair - literally pulling it out. It has started to fall out and once you start pulling it, just like picking s scab you can't stop. Yesterday we had fun with tape and put it on her head and pulled it off, you do weird things when you're bored.

We had good news this morning, her counts (hemoglobin and platelets) are all doing what they're supposed to be doing, rising on their own. This means we MAY be home on Monday the 19th. She has a lumbar puncture on Monday morning and then home after that.

Thank you for your continued prayer and support.

 Eucaristia

Well it happened.....

A fever finally happened, we thought maybe we were going to avoid it this time but no such luck. Her counts are way down so this is very good however I guess it was just a matter of time before she started to run a fever. Her nose started to run last evening and this morning a headache all day and then the dreaded fever. Now after blood cultures have been drawn she has a lovely assortment of antibiotics hanging from her I.V. pole. So for the time being we will limit visitors, feel free to text and send notes to her on Facebook.

We continue to be forever grateful for the continued prayers and many words of encouragement.

Eucaristia