Plan In Pencil!!

On our first day at the Alberta Children's Hospital, we sat down with an oncologist, one of the first things he told us was, "we plan in pencil here, never pen."  Wow, he wasn't kidding!  

After 15 days at home Kira went back to Calgary for the next round of Chemo today.  

Of the days at home, one was a quick trip to Calgary for a follow up with the Plastic Surgeon which lasted 15 minutes!!  He wanted to let the back of her leg heal on it's own if possible and sent us home.

We also had some very good news while at home.  The pathology report on the tumor that was removed from Kira's leg came back and it showed that after the first 8 rounds of Chemo the tumor was 95% dead!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is a strong indication that Kira is responding well to the Chemo treatments (less than 90% indicates a poor response) and it is having the desired effect on her type of cancer.

Studies have shown that even with the tumor removed and tests to this point showing no other signs if cancer, there may still be active cancer cells hiding somewhere in her system.  

Studies have also shown that the 14 rounds of Chemo after surgery have the best success of killing any remaining cancer cells and fully curing this type of cancer!!  Even after the last round of Chemo is done, only time (2 - 10 years) and follow up testing will tell if Kira is cured!

It will take Kira until the end of September to complete the next 14 rounds of Chemo.  However, as with everything else with this whole deal...we will not make any concrete plans until the last round is complete.

Take today (Monday June 8) for example.  During the medical assessment before Chemo treatment started, the Oncologist had the plastic surgeon take another look at Kira's leg.  The one spot on the back is still not healing as fast as expected.  It was decided that he would perform a quick surgery (1.5 hours) tomorrow (Tuesday June 9) to clean up the one spot.  This will delay todays round of Chemo until next week.  

Through it all Kira still keeps a mostly positive attitude and keeps getting stronger both physically and emotionally.  She has been doing Physio 3 days per week (plus at home) to strengthen and train her leg and brain to work together.  

There have been a few emotional moments because summer is here and her friends are camping, playing at the lake and having fun!  We keep reminding Kira that she will soon be done with this and we will make up for missed fun!!

Physio, Physio and more Physio!  Kira is getting electronic muscle stimulation here.  

Our Jewel Theatre in Stettler offered Kira another VIP private movie, Pitch Perfect 2!!  It was a great morning!!  Kira is hiding from me here cause the flash was too bright! This is Kira with our friend Sara! :)

The perfect reason to celebrate...great pathology report!!!!  We celebrated with a donut cake on National Donut Day!

...and a Piñata.

We baked some cookies!

Kira's mini me doll!  Created by a wonderful company called Feel Better Friends.
(Check them out on Facebook)  Kira's doll has all her surgery scars, her matching clothes, her Rotationplasty, even her port!  Also comes with hair, for once hers grows back!  A very talented lady named Annette, who lives in Ontario made Kira's doll.   Kira loves it!!

Got to have a wiener roast at Gram and Grampy's campsite while we were home.

She loved the swing while at home!!  

And more Physio! 

Back at the hospital today.  Still smiling, even after finding our that she's now having surgery tomorrow.  What a positive, awesome kid!