Getting Close

Kira has been very busy since the last update.
⁃Attended 13 full school days, which also included spending time with friends after school.
⁃Completed 3 more rounds of Chemo.
⁃Participated in the Terry Fox run at school and completed one lap around the sports track on her prostethic leg.

⁃Attended and dropped the puck at a Medicine Hat Tigers vs Red Deer Rebels exhibition hockey game played in Stettler.

-Started piano lessons.

⁃Attended a Calgary Stampeders game courtesy of the "Every Yards Counts Program".  Kira got to go onto the playing field and again meet Randy "Chevy" Chevrier #56 who visited Kira at the Alberta Childrens Hospital back in June, Bo Levi Mitchell #19, Keon Raymond #25, Rob Cote #26 and Deron Mayo #42 after the game. 

Kira has been practicing with her leg and is getting stronger and more confident each day. She is also getting a full head of hair! When at home and attending school we are getting a taste of what normal life will be like and are looking forward to being finished with Chemo Therapy. This week Kira is in Calgary for her final round of Chemo. This is the one we have been looking so forward too,  however there are many mixed emotions.  This has been the center of our world for so long, and we have met so many great people at the Alberta Childrens Hospital over the last 8 months. Following the Chemo Therapy there will still be numerous trips to the ACH for tests and scans and also to have the main line port removed from her chest, not to mention trips to see Jon, Kira's leg guy, who is nearly completed making Kira's final leg (until she grows enough that he has to start the process all over again!) which will be lighter, more durable, better looking and more comfortable than the temporary leg she had now!
Kira's doctor has given approval for Kira to travel 2 weeks after this last chemo session is complete.  We will finally get to take the trip we had booked back in January, before Kira was diagnosed with cancer, to Palm Springs to relax and unwind before completing the final tests and port removal surgery. These will not require extended hospital stays and should be completed by Christmas so we can so finally unpack the suit case and stay home for while.  

The road trips back and forth to Calgary are exhausting!

Leg fitting.

Music in the Sun Shine Room, Kira loves this!

Our cousin Cindy threw us a "3 More Chemos" pizza party to celebrate! 

Things tend to get messy in the Sun Shine Room!  Right up Kira's alley! 

When at home, we always have to go check if there is any new puppies at Home Hardware!  Kira LOVES dogs and can't wait to get her own puppy one day! 

Kira is learning to play the Ukulele in The Sun Shine Room.  She's learning a One Direction here! 

Kira's Beads of Courage are growing!

 A "2 more" party!

One of our favourite people in the hospital!  Cindy, our Child Life Specialist!  She has sure helped make our hospital stays a lot more fun!  We are going to all miss seeing her all the time!  Kira gets upset thinking about coming to the end of chemo because she knows she won't see Cindy as much.  I told her we will always come back and visit!!!!  

Kira at the Terry Fox run!  The school gave Kira a "Terry's Team" cancer survivor shirt to wear for the race!  Her and a few of the teachers rocked the red shirts! 

Kira's class!  All rocking Kira's Army pink camo buffs! 

One lap around with her new leg!

Kira's Army!  A few friends and family came to walk with Kira!! 

Miss Patti, Kira's Piano teacher!  These lessons are so wonderful for Kira!  She loves them so much!!  

Cheering on the Stamps!

Hanging out at the dressing room with some of the Stamps!  All GREAT guys!  We had a blast with them!

Bo Levi Mitchell

Chevy chatting with Kira.  He remembered her from the hospital visit!  He even sang her a song!  Awesome guy! 

Jace trying for a field goal!  

Down on the field!  

Kira filling in her board in her room.

SHE HAS BED HEAD! YAY!!

"Everybody is a hero.  Remember that."  Kira asked Cindy to leave this on the board in the Sun Shine Room to remind all the kids! 

Ready for the puck drop!

The count down...1 LEFT!!!!!!!!  That's so exciting!! 

A Step Forward

Where to begin...the last update we were waiting to see what the go forward plan would be based on the decreased heart function.  It was decided to wait for two weeks and perform another Echo before giving any more Chemo.

On August 11, Kira went back to Calgary for a leg fitting...very excited...Jon (Kira's Prosthethis) had  the foot socket and upper leg support ready for fitting.  This took a few adjustments and some measurements for the next step of putting them together.

August 12 Kira met with her orthopedic surgeon (Dr. Kiefer) to review her leg x-ray.  He was happy with what he saw and gave his blessing to start walking with a prosthetic leg!  She then had another Echo on her heart followed by a port access and a few hours of waiting for the Echo results, which when they finally came showed  no change in heart function which is good that it had not decreased. However it was expected to see an increase.  So the plan was to stop giving the Doxorubicin (chemo that effects the heart) and continue with the Methotrexate (chemo that does not effect the heart, but does effect the kidneys).  This started at 8pm and including the flush after ended at 8pm on Saturday August 15th when we headed home!  Late night but totally worth it!!

August 18th - back in Calgary for another leg fitting, this time it was mostly put together.  After a few adjustments and measurements Jon had what he needed to attach the foot and finish up the KR-001, the first temporary leg.  Nothing major, just had to basically take it all apart and start again...turns out prosthetics for rotationplasty are challenging...and Jon seems to be loving every minute of it.  

August 19th - Another round of chemo (methotrexate) and 72 hours of flushing.  This one started at 1:30 and ended on Saturday the 22nd at 1:30pm.  Much better time to go home!

August 20th - just hanging around, flush is running @ 250ml/hr so staying close to the bathroom.  Jon arrives with a rebuilt  KR-001 and some tools for another fitting.  This was the day Kira took her first steps since the morning of May 5th.  It was AWESOME!!!  Lots of cheers coming from the Oncology Unit that day!!  Jon's instructions...take it home and give it a try....the next day Kira was so swollen up due to all the fluids that the leg did not fit.

August 24th -  leg fits again!

August 25th - back in Calgary for kidney tests (GFR) and heart tests (echo).

August 26th - meeting with Oncologists to review kidney and heart tests.  Kidney tests results were perfect.  Heart test results showed.....back to normal heart function!!!  It was still mutually agreed that no more Doxorubicin be given!  Next stop...Jon's office for a leg adjustment...there's going to be lots of these!  Next stop...Banff for Cow's Ice Cream, then on to Invermere, BC for a mini holiday!

August 27th - while in Invermere Kira got to visit with Keira Neal (who also has rotationplasty) for lunch.  Great to visit with them!! 

August 29th - Kira went to the Lion King musical in Calgary which was booked before she was diagnosed with Cancer.  You can decide if she liked it by looking at the attached photos.

September 2nd - Kira went back to school!!  This was the first full day of school since February!   

So lots of HUGE things happened since last update... 

- Heart function back to normal

- Got her first prosthetic leg (KR-001)

- Took her first steps

- Invermere and Lion King

- Hair starting to grow back

- Back to school

ONLY 4 MORE CHEMO SESSIONS LEFT!!!!  The last one on October 14th!!

Jon taking measurements for Kira's prosthetic

Jon showing the kids the process of making a leg.  And what a process it is!!

Kira's new leg X-ray!  Very large plate and lots of staples.  

Kira and Kenyon crafting in bed

Had a visit from our cousins, Katie, Rylan and Kenyon

Doing surgery in the Sunshine room

One of the amazing nurses we love, Beca!

Thumbs up to getting her new leg!!

Trying out the new leg

Decorating her room door

Getting ready to take her very first step

First steps!  Walked around the nurse's station 6x.  She's being cheered on by all the nurses!

Of course the new toes have to be painted!

Walking is exhausting!

Kira's friend Mya came to visit!  They crafted, played xbox, did some play surgery,  made a movie...

Kira missed so much this summer!  One thing being her cousins birthday parties.  Thank you to Katie for sending Kira her own special cake!! 

Kira was missing Jace this summer.  This was the message they sent each other.

Post chemo swelling is down, time for another leg adjustment and a try to walk

She left wearing her leg.  So nice to have it fitting again

Cow's ice cream in Banff.  We love it!

She just wants to enjoy summer and go swimming so bad.  Some days are harder than others

Quick stop at The Continental Divide

At The Lion King.  Absolutely amazing show.  Kira loved it so much.  Everytime I looked over at her, she had a huge smile from ear to ear.  I have a Broadway lover on my hands.  

She brought home a Simba, thank you Cindy

First day of school! She was SO excited to be back!!! 

Kira with her awesome 3rd grade teacher, Mrs.VanRingen.  She was Jace's teacher last year, and has been so supportive and helpful!  We are lucky to have her teach our kids! 

Kira's hair is growing back!!!!! YAY!  She asked to use shampoo last nite!  She's excited!!