Keep Kira Smiling: August 2015

Let's mix it up a bit....again!

As planned Kira went to Calgary on July 13th for chemo, everything went as expected and following the 72 hour flush after getting the Chemo, Kira was sent home onThursday night. Due to having a slight cough, Kira was in isolation while in the hospital. This means she can not leave her room at any time and makes for a long stay.

Getting home on schedule (I had to google that word) had an extra special meaning this time. In December 2014, before being diagnosed with cancer, Kira got tickets to see One Direction in Edmonton on July 21, 2015. The Oncologists juggled the treatment schedule so Kira would be able to attend, getting home and not getting sick meant she would be able to attend as planned. Thanks to so many kind people, who treated Kira with VIP status and spoiled her rotten, she had one amazing first concert experience! It was a fantastic night! Just what we needed to see us through to the end of this cancer journey! It was perfect timing, we needed some fun!! And FUN we had!

Following the concert Kira was back in Calgary to continue chemo on July 23. This is where things start to come off the rails again, however she cleared after the 72 hour minimum flush and was sent home on the 26th.

Let's talk about the flush for a bit. To flush the chemo they are running saline through Kira's IV line at a rate of 240ml/hr. This is the same as having 11.5 500ml bottles of water over a 24 hour period. Also over the 24 hour period she has to go pee 20 times. And she does this 3 days in a row!

So the plan was to do Chemo on July 23 and then again on July 27th however, Kira's oncologist was on Holidays and the replacement oncologist did not like giving these Chemo's back to back and wanted her to have a break and also wanted a echo cardio gram to check Kira's heart function. Decreased heart function is one of the side effects on the chemo she was scheduled to get so the heart tests are a common thing.

So Kira went home on the 26th, and then back to Calgary for the Echo Cardio Gram on Wednesday the 29th with the plan to get Chemo on the 30 and 31st. Also on the 29th Kira had an x-ray on her leg so the surgeons could check how the bone was healing (we have not seen the surgeon yet to discuss) and then went for her first leg casting at Alberta Artificial Limb in Calgary!!! This was exciting and Kira's first leg is now weeks away!!! Kira is VERY excited for her new leg and is so happy this process has started!!

On Thursday the 30th the Oncologist informed us that the Echo Cardio Gram showed a decrease in heart function, not enough to put Kira in trouble (which is why they do them frequently) and the heart will Hopfully repair itself, however this will now change the program. So Kira was sent home on the 30th without getting chemo.

So we wait until next week when the decision will be made to either...continue with the current schedule after another week and Echo Cardio Gram, continue with a reduced dose of this chemo (two sessions of this one left on the schedule) or drop this Chemo altogether.

So stay tuned...no telling what next week will bring!

Kira had a visit from her buddy Cassie!! They spend about 3 hours just playing in Kira's hospital room!

Kira also had a visit from our friends The Lovells!

Kira was so excited to see her "FIGHTER" photo hanging in our Stettler movie theatre, The Jewel Theatre!

Getting ready for 1D!!! Making our signs to take to the concert!

We had to get pedis before the 1D concert!

The day has finally arrived, its time to go see One Direction!!! Thank you to Lindsay Walker for sending a limo to pick us up!! That was so fun!!

We had some help from an amazing lady, Marie, who is security at Common Wealth Stadium. She helped us get down to the floor in a wheel chair! We got to take the back stage elevator! It was cool!!!

We made it!!!! Bring on 1D!!

1D spoiled Kira! Blew her lots of kisses, gave her 2 guitar picks and a sweaty towel! lol

So happy!!

Our fav, Harry Styles!

Louis blowing Kira a kiss!!!

In the Limo!

HARRY!! We were sooooo close!! Thank you Lindsay Walker and Blair Antler for getting us awesome upgraded seats!!! What an experience that was being so close!! Also special thanks to Jim Cressman who hooked us up with some wicked VIP perks also!!