Quick post.....For those of you who live in Phoenix, a great friend of mine has organized a blood drive this weekend at his church. According to the Red Cross, they are at a "super-critical" stage with blood banks being very low. If able, please attend and give blood.

Community Blood Drive
Unity of Divine Love Spiritual Center
325 N. Austin Dr. Suite 4
Chandler, AZ 85226
Sunday, June 27th
8:30 - 12"30 pm

Schedule by appointment online or by phone:
www.redcrossblood.org
Enter sponsor code: unityofdivinelove

or 1-866-236-3276

For more information contact Jim Mulvany at jmulvany@mac.com

Thanks so much to Jim and his family for doing this!!! Lives depend on this.

Well...it has been a full week of unemployment for Sean and I. We are both actively trying to find jobs but as many of you know, the market is tough right now. We continue to try to focus on the GREAT news from last Friday of NED (No Evidence of Disease) for Taylor.

I can't believe that 1 year ago last week, our unbelievable journey of Leukemia began. I am so thankful that today we are no longer living in the world of central lines, dressing changes, chemotherapy, and numerous side effects. We now try to live month-to-month. Each month brings more happiness and joy that Taylor continues to be healthy. Each month I continue to have so much anxiety around her blood tests. Every bruise, cough, stomach ache, etc causes me to worry that the Leukemia is back...but each month she proves me wrong. She is so strong and brave. She is also SO happy to be a kid again. The things that are normal to most children mean so much to us now.....swimming, bike riding, watching movie together, and just being "normal". It is hard to put into words but just being home and seeing Taylor and Savannah together is worth everything. As I also reflect back on our journey, I truly realize that the love, support, and prayers that we received from all of you will never be forgotten. So....thank you again to ALL of you for believing in Taylor and your continued prayers.

With all of that being said....when I am sad and stressed about being unemployed, I do look at Taylor and Savannah and my world is put back into perspective. It is truly about them. I don't know what my next employment path is going to bring but I do know that if my 4 year old amazing daughter can live through 8 months of INTENSIVE treatment, I can do whatever it takes to give them a great life!!!

To Courtney - we miss you so much. Thank you for all that you did for all of us. You are truly amazing and loved by all of us so much.

I will continue to post updates as they come along.

XOXO
Kristen

Well....at least we had a good ending to a crappy week. Taylor continues to be NED - No Evidence of Disease.

I will post more this weekend but wanted to share the great news.

Thank you for your prayers.

Have a good weekend,
Kristen

Tonight I post with a very heavy heart. Like many of my friends at Takeda, Sean and I have both been let go from Takeda. Today was a very tough day. My heart and prayers go out to all of my friends that have been let go....

I really don't know what to say......really bad day.

As I have mentioned in my earlier posts, Taylor's next Leukemia check is this Friday. Please, please pray for good news....

It is truly hard to believe that after 11 1/2 years at Takeda, I am now unemployed!!!

Friday has to bring good news.....

Well...things have been a little crazy for us. Taylor started feeling sick last Thursday. I took her to the doctor and as I suspected she had croup. She had gotten a horrible cough and was losing her voice. She had a rough day on Friday and woke up feeling worse on Saturday. So...back to the pediatrician we went. I was worried that she was dehydrated and her cough was getting worse. They didn't think she was dehydrated and felt like she was OK. By Sunday she was feeling even worse. She woke up on Sunday night at 10:30 pm and she and I stayed up the ENTIRE rest of the night. She couldn't sleep because every time she would even start to nod off she would have a coughing attach. By early Monday AM, she was crying that her ears hurt. So.....off to the pediatrician we went again on Monday.....double ear infections!!!! While we were at the pediatrician, they decided to draw labs on her because she was not getting any better. If you all recall, almost 1 year ago, our nightmare began with an ear infection and getting labs drawn. I was beside myself. I was trying so hard to not let on to Taylor that I was super scared. All I could think was that the lab results were going to show leukemia cells were back. After waiting most of the day, the pediatrician called and sent Taylor and I to the ER for 3 bags of fluids. She was VERY dehydrated and they were also worried that she might have pneumonia. They ALSO called the oncologists to go over her blood work because some of her levels were slightly elevated......SCARY. After about 2 hours in the ER, they finally let me know that they had consulted with Oncology again and the Leukemia was NOT back....thank goodness. She also does not have pneumonia but does have bronchitis. So....after hours of getting IV fluids, I took my poor, sick baby home....double ear infections, croup, and bronchitis. What a couple of days. I can't even explain how scared we were....I really believed our nightmare was starting all over. But now that she has 4 days on antibiotics in her she is doing much better. She got to go to her last day of tennis camp today and was excited. Their field trip was to a Diamondbacks game and the girls LOVED it....they had a great time.

Other than all of the sickness drama, we are doing OK. Taylor's next monthly leukemia check was changed to June 18th....exactly 1 year from her diagnosis. I still can't decided if this is a good or bad sign....please pray for it to be a good sign.....No Evidence of Disease!!!

Sean and I are anxiously awaiting June 15th....the day we find out if we are still employed. The waiting is hard. To all of my many Takeda friends, you are all in my prayers for June 15th. My fingers and toes are crossed for all of you. Over the past 11 years, I have made life long friends at Takeda....I think of many of you as family. We truly wish you the best!!!

So...I will post again on the 15th about our jobs and then again on June 18th about Taylor's results....it is going to be a scary week.