History

Journal History

Saturday, March 5, 2005 11:27 AM CST

Hello Everyone,

I had my 2nd month check up, I am well, my blood is back to normal. The nurses and doctors gave me a party with balloons and a cake...it was fun....

Love Ashley

Monday, February 14, 2005 5:53 AM CST

Hello Everyone!!!!

I am all better and off the chemotherapy!!!!! even the ones at home. I go for a physical check up once a month for one year, then every three months, then once a year till I am 21. Dr. Lew says everything looks good... I want to thank everyone for caring about me and sending me good wishes when I was sick...

Happy Valentines day!!!!

Love Ashley

Wednesday, December 15, 2004 10:17 AM CST

Hello Everyone!!!!

Great news!!! I have one more treatment left on January 7th, also my last spinal tap and I get my port taken out too and no more steriods yahoo!!!!!!!! After that I go for a physical check up for a year every month. I do have a little cold but that is it.....I am very happy so are mommy and daddy.....Thank you to everyone for caring
Love Ashley

Wednesday, November 10, 2004 9:13 AM CST

Hi Everyone,

Two more treatments left!!!!!! In February I get my port taken out and then I just have physicals for a long time every few months. I am doing just fine....I love everyone.

Ashley

Tuesday, August 3, 2004 1:28 PM CDT

Hi Everybody,

Its been a long time since I put something new in my journal. I am still on maintainance chemotherapy until January 2005. My blood counts are good. I have to go to physical therapy because one of the medicines I take called vincristine made my muscles weak, mommy and Monica (my physical therapist) says I am doing very good.

Daddy is in TX going to security school, he will be home at the end of August. That's all the news I have. Have a nice day.

Love Ashley

Thursday, July 1, 2004 5:32 PM CDT

Wow time does fly. Daddy is home for a week before he has to go to school in Texas. We are getting to spend alot of time together. I'll miss him when he is gone, but that is ok, I'll still have mommy here.

I had to go to the hospital last week. I had a 101.5 degree temperature last wednesday so we were off to the E.R. my blood counts were out of this world so I gave more blood for a culture and got some anti-biotics and came home. Thursday the E.R. called back and said my blood grew a staph infection. So we went back to Dr Lew's on Friday, and they took another sample. My blood didn't have a staph infection after all so I was good to go.

We went to the hearing doctor and my hearing is great. Then we went to the Physical Therapy and had an evaluation. They think I have a foot drop so we do excercises at home everyday and go see Ms Monica to walk on beams and run the obstacle course every week. Its fun. Sometimes its hard, she made me ride a tricycle down the hallways this week :) Ms Monica also prescribed some things for my shoes that help me with my arches.

It was a busy couple of weeks, but everything is smoothing out. I hope to write soon.

Love,
Ashley.

Tuesday, June 8, 2004 6:10 AM CDT

Wow, does time fly! I just realized how long it has been since I have updated the page! That is good news though, because it means every things is going spectacular. I think I do need to update the colors though, arent they kind of icky? Hehe, by the time you read this they will be fixed :) There really isn't much going on in GA, except its summer time, so its kinda of hot, but that means the pools are open, yea! We went to Lake Allatoona the other day it was fun! Other than that there isn't much news to share. So have fun...

Ashley

Friday, March 12, 2004 5:50 PM CST

Hello Everyone,

Wow!!!!! I had a great day yesterday I went with Mommy and Daddy to see Tony Stewart. I got to talk to him and he signed my license plate for my barbie jeep and he let me take a picture with him so look for a new one soon.... I am feeling ok, my counts dropped mommy says and I have some sores in my mouth, we went and saw Dr.B last week he looked and gave me some medicine. My hair is below my ears but very curly drives mommy nuts! haahaa....

I love everyone
Ashley

Monday, February 16, 2004 9:31 AM CST

Well its been a long long time since I updated this thing. Just a thought to let everyone know that life is good here in Georgia. I have had a cold for a week or so now, but my blood counts are good, and everything is just peachy. I wish I had thought about it, but last January 25th, we passed the one year to go mark in my cancer victory. So it won't be much longer till I'm off treatment. That is the great news. Tony did good at the 500 it made me very happy. Oh well, happy presidents day all.

Love,
Ashley

Saturday, January 17, 2004 1:49 PM CST

Hi Everyone,

Just thought I would say hello and I am doing fine. I miss everyone.

Love Ashley

Monday, December 15, 2003 7:20 PM CST

Hi everyone,
Sorry I haven't written in a couple of weeks, but we have been sick around here. I had to have mommy rush me to Dr Lew's the other day because I came down with the flu and was throwing up. I got a big dose of antibiotics, rehydrated and sent home. Mommy and daddy say that sick kids have to sit on the couch all day, so I just lay there with Toby and my blanket. It is stinkie, but daddy lets me watch my DvD's of Sponge Bob, Nemo, and Lilo and Stitch. Mommy and daddy also have the flu to. Everyone just feels icky. Must be this time of year.

I observed the first anniversary of my dx a couple of weeks ago (12/3). It wasn't a party, just another date that I'll never forget like 9/11 or Pearl Harbor day. Lets look forward to January 2005 when I can stop the chemo and be normal.

We do have our christmas tree up. Mommy and daddy bought me a real one this year. Last year we had to have the fake one, because we didn't know if it would do anything to me, and my immune system. Oh those long ago days of induction. We have learned so much since then.

I hope everyone is looking forward to christmas. I know I am. Well, I feel kind of yucky, so I will go ahead and say goodbye for now and Merry Christmas. I hope to update before then. I love you Grandma and Grandpa.

Ashley

Sunday, November 30, 2003 4:56 PM CST

Wow, what a week! I went down to Florida to my grandma and grandpa's for Thanksgiving and alot of love! I had a great time. I saw my Grandma and Grandpa Avoglia, and my Grandma and Grandpa Stivers, My aunt Laurie and Uncle Ron, My aunt Jody and uncle Mike, my cousins Billy and Nick, and My Uncle Tony, aunt Carolyn, and cousin Caitlyn. Also my uncle Harry and aunt Candy. If you think that is alot...wait a second, I saw my grandpa and grandma's puppies, Champions, Liam, Gianna, and Eileen (thats not really her name, its something long and Irish and impossible for a 4 year old to spell.), and of course momma Heather and her husband McDougall. They are Irish Wolfhounds, http://www.iwclubofamerica.org, if you want to look them up. Plus the dobie ladies, Rose, Caramia, and Violet. Eileen and Violet are puppies and quite "active." I also saw my grandma's parrot named Polly and all of the fishes. Grandma gave me a red beta to bring home, I named him Nemo. More on Nemo later.

We had my birthday on Wednesday and I got alot of neat stuff, including the Barbie jeep, cowboy boots, a magic wand, a sleeping bag tent, nice clothes, and lots of other stuff.

The next day we had Thanksgiving dinner. It was the first time I ever spent a holiday with family (other than mommy and daddy) I loved it and can't wait for the next one. Grandma made a big meal and it was scrumptous.

We also went to the beach two times and picked up shells. It was my first time to the Gulf of Mexico, I like it better than the Atlantic Ocean.

As I said Grandma gave me Nemo, today we went and got him some friends and gave him plants and lots of neat stuff. Oh well time for a steak dinner, bye bye.

Love,
Ashley.

Wednesday, October 22, 2003 8:27 AM CDT

Hello Everyone,

Today I go to get my blood counts taken so Dr. Lew can tell me what medicine to put me back on and last day of dex for 3 weeks yeah!!! I drive mommy and daddy crazy when I am on that stuff. I will let you know how today goes later.

Love Ashley

Thursday, October 16, 2003 5:31 AM CDT

Hello Everyone,

I went to see Dr. Lew yesterday, He did a spinal tap he says to check fluid and to put some medicine in my back. My counts are low again so he took me off most of my medicine to see if they come back up. I have to go and get my counts taken next week, then Dr. Lew will decide how much of my medicine I can take, other than that I am doing good, my hair is growing and I am going to the race track with mommy and daddy next weekend to walk around with some of the drivers. I already have my halloween costume, it is called a Hunny Bunny, mommy has make my face look like a bunny with make up, I will take a picture for everyone to see. Have a good day

Love Ashley

Saturday, September 20, 2003 5:30 AM CDT

Hello Everyone,

Happy Saturday!!!! I had my appt with Dr. Lew on wednesday my counts are great and now that I am off alot of the chemo I am growing again, mommy says I am 27.8lbs, 3'2", and I wear a size 61/2 shoe, also my hair is growing in thicker than before, it is still short almost like mommy's.

Daddy is in Keywest playing with airplanes. I miss you daddy see you in a week.

I have another appt next month, it is a spinal tap one so I will probably me mad that day.

I love everyone

Ashley

Saturday, August 30, 2003 10:52 AM CDT

Haha! Everyone is sick here, but me, and I'm the picture of good health. Funny huh?

Anyways, once again I apologize for not updating much, but there really hasn't been much to say. We went to the doctors the other day, and I am great! My counts are up and we are getting chemo full strength. It makes me a little cranky, but not much, most of the time I just act spoiled, but for some reason it hasn't been working lately. Mommy and daddy are starting to say no....I had to ask at Miss April's house what that meant....they never used to say that.

Other than that I can't think of much anything else to write. Hopefully mommy and daddy will remember what yes is....oh yea grandma and grandpa's if your reading this I want a motorized jeep for my birthday...daddy says to skip the 3.5 mph toy jeep and jump to a 1/4 midget race car or something...I don't know.

Anyways everyone have a happy day!

Love,

Ashley

Sunday, August 17, 2003 7:44 PM CDT

Well....I guess I was telling stories when I said I was going to try to update often...its been three weeks almost a month.

Long term maintenance is going wonderfully. I haven't had any bad effects from the chemo, though I did scare mommy and daddy last week. I stayed up late playing Ashley Party girl in my bed with Toby Bear, Scooby Doo, and a few other friends, so when Daddy came in to wake me up at 5:00 am, I was tired. I just couldn't wake up. Of course mommy and daddy freaked and took me to Dr. Lews office to get checked out. I was find, my counts are way up in the normal range, and I am feeling good. Dr Lew gave me a bag of stuff in my port to rehydrate me, and we went on our merry way.

I get the chemo down there this week, I have an appointment Wednesday, so you know that I will be updating this week again. For all of my wonderful friends that check on me that should be good news. I know I hate reading the same webpage day after day :)

I can't think of anything else right now, so I will sign off. Have a wonderful summer!

Love,

Ashley

Wednesday, July 23, 2003 1:07 PM CDT

Hi, I went to Dr. Lew's today. It was ok. I had my counts done, and I had an LP (spinal tap). After it was all done mommy and daddy were laughing at me because the pain medicine made me all goofy. It was hard to walk so daddy had to carry me. I went home and slept it off with a 3 hour nap. Mommy and daddy must have had some too because they took a nap along with me. :)

After they found out my counts were right on target, the LP meant I started the last phase of treatment called Maintenance, or Long Term Maintenance (LTM). Don't cheer just yet....LTM lasts about a year and a half :(, but it is the final step towards cure and going Off Treatment (OT). That is a while different picnic for OT and it is at 6 Flags over GA. The bad news for LTM, other than how long it is, means that I start my steroid pulses again. It is just like the last time, 5 days at a shot, plus I take Oral Methotrexate (MTX), and 6 MP. I can't spell mercatacapourine, so I'll just call it 6MP for now.

Other than that I haven't had much exciting happen, we have been going to the pool alot, so I have just the tiniest bit of color, not a tan, but not so white either :) We have been playing alot, and Ms April is back from Texas, so I have friends to play with again. Mommy and daddy are nice to play, but sometimes they act like old fuddy duddies.

Lately my appetite has been picking up, the other day I ate three peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, which is what I am going to do, when I get done typing this.

Well I will let you all go for now, I will write next time something fun happens :) Which should be pretty regular, considering I don't have to go back to the Dr for a whole month!

Have fun and remember NO DIVING IN THE SHALLOW END of the pool, and congratulations to my Uncle Scott, and my new Aunt Lisa who are getting married this weekend. We wish we could be there, but leaving this close to starting a new phase of treatment, make mommy and daddy chicken. :)

Love always,

Ashley

Saturday, July 12, 2003 8:42 PM CDT

Hi everyone! What an exciting day! We went all the way to Snellville, GA today. It is a very nice place to the east of Atlanta about 90 miles away. Cure Childhood Cancer (This is the link to their page, it is also on the bottom of my page) had a grand old picnic for all of us kids that are sick. The had a fried chicken lunch for everyone, and I saw ponies, but didn't want to ride them, we saw little remote control boats in the pond, I did spin art, got my face painted and saw clowns. It was very very exciting. We almost had to come home because my chemo made me sick in the car, that or daddy drives like a lunatic. After I got sick though I felt better and ate all of the apple cobbler from daddy's bowl. After that we went and got lemonade and came home to barbeque porkchops. Then daddy and I went into my little pool while mommy mowed the lawn. It was all very exhausting and exciting.

I go see Dr Lew on the 23rd and then I get to start long term maintenance, but unfortunately I get the 5 day steroid pulses again. Boo Boo, but lots of Mcdonalds if its like the last time. My friend Ashley is doing better, but keep praying for her.

That I think is all for now.

Love,

Ashley

Monday, July 7, 2003 4:07 PM CDT

Hi everyone! I hope you all had a safe and happy fourth of July. We did. First I want to ask everyone to give prayers for my friend Ashley. She was sick last I heard, but I haven't heard anything in a couple of days. Her webpage is Ashley J's Page .

We went to go to more fireworks on the fourth at my town of Acworth. Daddy found a nice quiet spot across the lake and we waited for about an hour and it started to rain. After another half hour of rain he and mommy figured it would be rained out so we left and got ice cream from dairy queen. When we got home guess what happened? They started. It wasn't so bad since we saw the Kennesaw fireworks the night before.

I went to Dr. Lews today and saw Ms Kim and Dr B. They are both fine and had nice weekends. Dr B said I am doing good and am ready to start the last phase of treatment on the 23rd. It means a spinal tap, but oh well :) It is then I go back on the Steroids five days at a time. Not very much fun, but it is the "downhill" stretch. Though that stretch lasts about a year and a half :P.

Oh well have fun and stop by and visit my friends Ashley's page, and don't forget to sign my guestbook.

Love,

Ashley

Friday, July 4, 2003 8:39 AM CDT

Happy July 4th Everyone!

What a great day in America! We started celebrating last night. The next town over is Kennesaw, and in Kennesaw they celebrate the 4th of July on the 3rd. They do that so everyone can have fun and see the fireworks and still go on a long holiday.

That was the first time I had ever been up close at a fireworks display. It was very loud. At first I didn't like it, but after awhile I started liking it alot. Mommy bought me a glow-in-the-dark necklace. It is very pretty. The bad part of the fireworks is we sat next to the train tracks, and we had three trains come by during the 45 minute fireworks show. One train driver was nice and waved to us.

Before we went to the fireworks mommy and daddy bought me a blowup pool for those days where I just don't feel like going to the big pool up the street. So now I have my own, it has a built in sprinkler and everything.

Today we are going to barbeque and goto the beach at Lake Acworth. First we are going to swim, then come home and eat chicken and ribs, then we are going to go back and watch the fireworks. It will be a fun filled day.

Happy Fourth to all, and Good Luck Grandma and Grandpa at the dog show. Get all 8 points :)

Love,

Ashley

Tuesday, July 1, 2003 3:32 PM CDT

Today and Sunday haven't been very good days. I have been well, and I have been happy because daddy is home, but for some reason I have been pukie sick. Dr. Lew, Ms Kim, and mommy and daddy seem to think it is the chemo making me sick, so I have to take my medicine so I don't get sick anymore. That is about all that has been happening here.

A tropical storm is over the city so we are getting lots and lots and lots of rain. It matches my mood when I get the hurlies.

If anything changes I will let you know.

Love,

Ashley

Tony's Page

Sunday, June 29, 2003 12:48 AM CDT

Daddy came home last night. He spent two weeks in Fallon, NV doing bomb dropping training. He said it was fun. We went to the base to see him. He got off a big big airplane called a C-130. I saw him before mommy. Now we are one big family again, everything is better.

Next visit to Dr Lew lets me start long term maintenance, hopefully the last phase of treatment. Speaking of Dr Lew, send your prayers out to my friend Ashley. She is sick and needs an operation. You can visit her at http://www.caringbridge.org/ga/ashley. She needs prayers and good thoughts.

That is all for now. Being "healthy" makes for a wonderful day, but boring reading :)

Love,

Ashley

Monday, June 16, 2003 1:15 PM CDT

Hello Everyone,

I saw Dr. Rapkin today, he says I am doing well, my counts are still good. After my chemo today I was feeling icky so I went home and mommy let me take a nap in her bed, I fell asleep watching Sponge Bob on TV. Good news I am past 26lbs again and I have more hair!!!! Mommy says it almost covers my head, like a crew cut( she also says that Daddy and I have the same haircut), haha very funny. Have a good week everyone, my next appt is on June 26th I will let you know how it goes, oh, I almost forgot I saw my friend Gracie Bell today at Dr. Rapkin's office, she is so cute and doing well, she just had her first birthday the other day, Happy Birthday Gracie!!!

Love Ashley.

Sunday, June 8, 2003 6:29 AM CDT

Well it has been a nice calm week. My counts remained up and I kept on my chemo. Just chemo this week :) No spinal taps or any of that other not so nice stuff.

My friends Anthony and Angelica (they are twins) had a birthday party Saturday so I went there. It was fun, we played pin the tale on the donkey (I got 2nd place) and had cake and ice cream. It was very very fun.

For a couple of days this week it was sunny and I got to play outside, but now it is raining again. I thought the south was supposed to be sunny and Washington state was rainy. Oh well. Sorry I only update once a week, but like I always say no news to post is good news.

I hope my friend Clay is doing OK. Have fun and don't forget to sign my guestbook. Thank you.

Love,

Ashley

Sunday, June 1, 2003 6:27 AM CDT

Not much happening around GA these days. Everything is going along really really smooth!

Yesterday, we got the pictures back from my visit with Tony Stewart! It is really cool, as you can see from the front page. We had some other pictures so we put one up in the photograph section, and we fixed that one that was way big!

Today daddy and I are going to watch the race, mommy is on duty down at the base. She has to sleep there :( So I don't get to see her until tomorrow after work.

I have noticed a lot of people lurking on the page reading it and checking it out. That is great, but please please sign my guestbook. Daddy is going to print it out and make a big book one of these days for me!

Ah well, Love you all,

Ashley

Tuesday, May 27, 2003 6:22 PM CDT

Today was a remarkable day for me. I woke up starving, but mommy and daddy couldn't give me any breakfast because I had to go see Dr. B! When we got there they gave me a finger prick and my counts were sky high! I am making an immune system that could fight the Iraqi's! The bad part of that was that I had to have my spinal tap and chemo again :P The medicine they gave me made me very sleepy, so when we got home I slept for hours.

The really good news was that when I woke up we went to Home Depot over in Woodstock, GA and I got to meet Tony Stewart. He signed a picture for mommy, a car for daddy, and my Tony Stewart Rookie NASCAR card for me! Then I got my picture taken with him. I gave him a picture of me to keep for good luck :)

It was very tiring though. So I am going to eat my cookiee and go to sleep after I take a bath and brush my teeth.

Love,

Ashley

Monday, May 26, 2003 8:09 AM CDT

Happy Memorial Day! I thought I would take a minute and let everyone know I am doing fine. I go see Dr. B tomorrow to see if I can finally start IM II. Hopefully my counts are up, I think they are, I have lots of energy and no sniffles, so I think I will be back on Chemo... yuck, but it helps make me better.

Let me ask everyone to take a minute this Memorial Day and remember all the people who have died in Wars fighting for us. My mommy and daddy are in the Navy on active duty, my great grandpa Bill was in WWII, and my grandpa Ken and all of his grandpas and lots of aunts and uncles have served our country with honor. Fortunately we only have had on person killed in combat, my step great-grandpa was killed in Belgium at the Battle of the Bulge. So lets take a minute and thank them. Thank you.

Love,

Ashley

Wednesday, May 21, 2003 5:07 PM CDT

Hi everyone, well no news is good news....except I couldn't start Interim Maintenance II this week. My platelets are up, but my anc is only at .98 instead of the required 1.0. What a bummer. At least I won't have any chemo or a spinal tap before Memorial Day weekend. That is a good thing. Next Tuesday I will probably get to start IM II. That means a trip to Dr. Lew's once every 10 days instead of every 7 days :).

Speaking of next Tuesday, I have to come home and rest up, because mommy and daddy are taking me to meet Tony Stewart at Home Depot. A long long time ago when I was a little baby a nice man gave me a Tony Stewart card in a protective sleeve. It is from the same year I was born 1999! I am going to ask him to sign it! Daddy has a car that he wants Tony to sign for him. Hopefully, we get to talk to him for a little bit before our turn is over.

That is all that is going on here so have a safe weekend everyone.

Love,

Ashley

Wednesday, May 21, 2003 5:07 PM CDT

Thursday, May 15, 2003 6:16 PM CDT

Hi everyone! We are all doing good here! The weather is kind of rotten with rain and thunder everywhere it seems like everyday, but every day is a good day to live.

The only big news on the homefront is that yesterday we went to the Home Depot in Woodstock, GA to see and meet Tony Stewart. The bad news is he rescheduled to May 27th and his people didn't update his webpage. So off we go next week. I have a card I am going to get signed, and daddy has a car he would like signed. Other than that we are all very good. I hope everyone is also...

Love,

Ashley

Tuesday, May 13, 2003 7:33 AM CDT

Good morning everyone. Well I went to Dr Lew's yesterday and instead of getting new blood and platelets, he said my blood was recovering nicely and I didn't need them. We are holding off the next phase of treatment until my blood gets a little bit better, probably next week. My anc is at 900 so in a day or two it should be up to around 1000 and I will be good, it is just waiting for my platelets to get way back up there.

The IV's at home last week were something to behold, but they went mostly smooth, except for ripping my port out on Saturday night, but the nurse came out and fixed it.

I have a little cold, but since my ANC is coming back up it shouldn't keep me down long. I love you all.

Ashley

Tuesday, May 6, 2003 7:40 AM CDT

Wow! I updated the page late last night, and now it is so early in the morning and I need to change it. I am GOING HOME TODAY!!!!!

I still have to get my IV's and stuff at home until mothers day, but at least I will be at home eating real food instead of sitting in the hospital. I will write more later.

Love,

Ashley

Monday, May 5, 2003 8:38 PM CDT

Well so very sorry this has taken me such a long long time to update, but I have been in the hospital since daddy's birthday on May 1st. He was in Key West when they decided to admit me because I was neutropenic and had a fever. He was home by 8:00 pm that night, it was nice.

Anyways, I had a germ in my blood that made me sick, low hemoglobin and platelets. Besides getting alot of antibiotics, I got new blood and platelets. I might have been able to go home on Saturday, but on Friday I had a fever, and you have to have three days without a fever before you can go, so they said I can go on Monday, but I had no bands and segs in my blood and my white blood cells were at .47 or something, so they were afraid to release me. Maybe if my blood counts come up tomorrow I can go home.

The bad part is if I go home then I have to still get three IV's a day of antibiotics at my house. Some nice people will come out to the house and drop the stuff off so mommy and daddy can do that. Since my port will still be in then I won't be able to go to Ms. Aprils for day care. Mommy and daddy are going to take turns watching me so they can work and rest since my IV's are at 8 am, 4 pm, and midnight.

Well that is all for now, lets hope my blood was making bands and segs today so I can go home. Also everyone say a prayer for my friend Clayton. He lives in Woodstock the next town over and just found out he has the same leukemia that I do. Mommy and daddy are talking to his parents letting them kind of know what to expect, so a prayer would be nice for him.

Love,

Ashley

Sunday, April 27, 2003 10:19 AM CDT

Good Morning Everyone,

I am sorry it has been a long time since I updated this page. I am bald now just like Dr. Lew said I would be, but my hair is starting to grow back a little. Mommy has to give me a shot everynight in my leg, I am so happy tonight is the last one. Daddy is away he will be back next week. I dont have another appointment till May 16th, Dr. Lew wants to make sure my blood counts come back up before starting something new. I hope everyone had a nice Easter, I did.

Love Ashley

Wednesday, April 9, 2003 9:40 PM CDT

Well I feel kind of bad, well let me be a little more specific... I feel guilty I haven't updated the webpage and since I finally started Delayed intensification I feel lousy. Yes, daddy is home only for the moment, he leaves again in a couple of weeks, but that is OK.

I am back on the steroids, so my "roid rage" is up and running full tilt. My cravings this time are milk, mustard (pure mustard and mustard sandwiches), McDonalds french fries, and pickles. Everytime I ask daddy for a pickle he looks at me and shakes his head. I don't know what that means.

I have been feeling real tired lately and need to be held alot, but mommy and daddy were worried about me so we went to clinic in Kennesaw and had a CBC done. My counts were good except for my ANC (ability to fight infection) is low at 700. So I am stuck in the house again except to go to Ms Aprils. It is late and my "roid rage" is kicking so I will let you all go.

I am sorry I haven't updated lately, and I would like to thank everyone for being patient with me while I am lazy, but all of the chemo is making me tired.

I love you all...

Kisses,

Ashley

Monday, March 17, 2003 6:40 AM CST

Hello Everyone,

Happy St. Patrick's Day! I am very happy my Daddy is home. My next appt is on friday, I will let you know how it goes. Have a nice day.

Love Ashley

Saturday, March 15, 2003 8:48 AM CST

Hello Everyone,,

I am so happy today my daddy is coming home. He will be here around 3pm. Mommy and I are taking him to dinner, mommy fixed my hair and I am going to wear my new barbie sneakers. Well have a good day everyone, I know I will.

Love Ashley

Friday, March 14, 2003 6:51 AM CST

Hello Everyone,

I just wanted to say thank you for all the prayers and good wishes. I am so happy my Daddy will be home from Key West tomorrow. My mommy and I planned a surprise for him. I am feeling good right now, my next appointment is on 21 March. I will let you know how it goes. Have a good day and Happy St Patricks Day!

Love Ashley

Monday, March 10, 2003 4:05 PM CST

Hello Everyone,

I am sorry it has been awhile. I saw the doctor today, my blood counts are great and he said I am doing good and I look very good, next week I start a new phase of treatment with different medicines, one of them is suppose to make the rest of my hair fall out, so I might be bald in the next few weeks. Time to go, mommy is making homeade tomato sauce with pasta for dinner.

I love you all

Ashley

Monday, February 24, 2003 12:26 AM CST

Hi Everyone,

I wanted to let everyone know how I am doing. I had my visit with Dr. Rapkin and found out my blood counts are low, I also have a bad cold so Mommy and Daddy have to watch to see if I get a fever. Dr. Rapkin took me off the medicine that was making my counts low we will see if they come back up friday, if so he will be me back on the medicine at a lower dose. Other than that I have been very happy. I have been eating better too. Have a nice day everyone I will let you know about my visit on Friday.

Monday, February 10, 2003 2:52 PM CST

Hi everyone. I am sorry I have not updated in a long long time. Everything is going so great I have not had anything to let anyone know about! Interim Maintenance is great! Mommy and daddy only give me my Septra (bactrim) medicine on Mon and Tues mornings and nights, and I just get two medicines at Dr. Lew's. I got to see him tomorrow for more medicine.

There is one thing that is wrong and maybe everyone can help me with it. I am afraid to go to sleep at night. Any suggestions for mommy and daddy on how to help me go to sleep at night a little easier would be much appreciated. We do check everywhere for monsters and use monster spray to keep them away, but it isn't helping that much. Just leave your ideas in my guestbook, and we will try them all!

Thanks alot.

Love,
Ashley

Friday, January 31, 2003 at 06:32 PM (CST)

Hi everyone, I went to Doctor Lew's today. After he read my blood counts, he pronounced me ready to graduate to the Interim Maintenance step of the treatment. This one lasts seven weeks. He said that if I thought this last month in consolidation was a easy on my body, that IM should be even easier (at least on mommy and daddy because they don't have to give me anymore chemo at home). He did say that there will still be bumps in the road, but that I am doing great. One thing that had me worried was the weekly shots of vincristine (VCR). That is the medicine that made me too sore to walk for that month, but he said that he thinks that it was the steroid and vincristine combo that made me not walk and that it won't hurt like that this time. Too bad that isn't true about the hair falling out.

After the doctors we stopped by mommy and daddy's work. I saw everyone they work with and even got to watch daddy's airplanes drive around. Mommy and daddy work with the nicest people in the world. I like going there because it is more convincing when strangers tell you how pretty you are instead of your parents :P After they we napped a bit and when I felt better I got my hair cut! Now I will have to go back to mommy and daddy's work for more compliments!

Well Rugrats are coming on so it is time to go!

Love,

Ashley

Thursday, January 30, 2003 at 11:26 AM (CST)

Hello Everyone,

Tomorrow I go to see Dr. Lew and start a new treatment. I have been playing and stuff. I will let you know how my visit goes tomorrow.

Love
Ashley

Monday, January 27, 2003 at 06:25 AM (CST)

Hi everyone! I know it's been a few days since I updated the page, but like they say on TV, no news is good news!

I had a very good Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. I have been walking like never before, though it still hurts a little bit. Daddy says I limp a little bit, but I haven't noticed it. I don't use my car much to walk anymore, I just keep forgetting.

We start my new protocol this week and I don't have to take any more chemo at home, just my septra to keep some strange thing out of me, I think its a form of pneumonia. So that is good news, but I think I will miss my applesauce medicine, I don't like the medicine, but I like the applesauce.

I got a three day weekend this week. Mommy was off Saturday and Sunday, and daddy was off Sunday and today so we are going to play all day. Daddy said when we got get mommy at work, we will leave a little bit early and see his airplanes! He works on fighter jets for the navy and mommy gets him his parts to fix the jets!

Well Stanley is on so let me go!

Love,

Ashley

Thursday, January 23, 2003 at 10:46 AM (CST)

Hi everyone! What an exciting day! When we woke up this morning to go to the doctors office, there was snow and ice everywhere. We tried to go to the doctors, but the roads were too icy. So we had to go home, wait a little while and try again. The second time it was still very icy, but the road was flat so we made it to the interstate where we were able to get to my doctors appointment. I walked around the office by myself.

We had the usual doctors stuff today, CBC, and my last spinal tap for a long long time, at least a month and a half. Then doctor Lew called the cancer people and I finally got my arm of the study. I am in CCG-1991, treatment plan 2. He said that is one of the best they do, and a "favorite" of parents because it is pretty easy. It means less medicines, only one Delayed Intesification, I just get higher doses of some stuff. It should be pretty easy, "a cake walk!"

My happy mood is here to stay I think, because I won't get the cranky medicine anymore, but I will get the leg achy medicine that makes me lose my hair. It is different though, so maybe we can be ok this time. I will let you all know. At least there isn't anymore spinal taps!

Love,
Ashley

Tuesday, January 21, 2003 at 11:52 AM (CST)

Hi everyone! There isn't much to say today, I am back at the baby sitters, Miss April, and playing with my friends. Boy was it hard to get up early today! After a week off and sleeping in everyday, it kind of makes it fuzzy way early in the morning.

My cat Augie is so silly. He snuck out onto the porch last night when daddy went out, and got himself locked out! He had to sleep outside, it is a good thing it was kinda of warm out or we would have had augiesicles for breakfast. Ha ha.

I can't think of anything else to write so I guess I will go play and boss everyone around!

Love,
Ashley

Sunday, January 19, 2003 at 08:13 PM (CST)

Hi everyone! What a fantastic weekend. My little legs are getting stronger and stronger, my tummy virus is gone, and I have about 10 Sponge Bob movies on the computer! Yesterday we went out, and guess what? We didn't go to the doctors! It was fun. We went for a nice ride instead.

I notice that alot of different people from all over are signing my book, how is the weather where you are? It is very cold here in Georgia, almost to the point where it makes ice outside. Daddy told me what that temperature is, but I don't remember it.

Speaking of this page, did you notice that the visitor counter is up to 500? WOW, I wish I knew all of the people who stop by, but not everyone is signing my book. I think it is mommy and daddy checking a million times a day that makes it go up so fast, but then again if they checked it a million times a day it would be at 600 or more I think.

Well everyone it is late and it has been over an hour since I ate so I can take my 6MP (a chemo medicine) and go to sleep. You can't eat for an hour before you take it and then have to go to bed after you take it.

Love you all,

Ashley "The Chemo Kid" Stivers

Friday, January 17, 2003 at 08:57 PM (CST)

What another great day! Daddy worked all day, so mommy and I played! I walked around the house using my car like a cane, but my legs are getting stronger everyday! I am so happy, and I haven't seen mommy and daddy this happy in a long long time. If I knew this got me my way more than being sick I would have tried to get better a long long time ago!

Some very nice people at quilts of love have made me a new quilt! You can see it at http://quiltsoflove.com/quilt/ashleyS/ashleyS.html or the link at the bottom of the page!

Time for bed!

Love you all,
Ashley

Friday, January 17, 2003 at 03:14 PM (CST)

Hello Everyone,

Today was a quiet day. I am feeling better, my fever is gone, my stomach is still a little upset. I played alittle bit today and watched tv. Like I said today was quiet. Have a good weekend everyone.

Love Ashley

Thursday, January 16, 2003 at 07:07 PM (CST)

Today was the best day I have had since dx (diagnosis)! I smiled and laughed with Dr Rapkin and had a good time at the doctors office, even though I got a spinal tap. When we got home, I wasn't hungry so I didn't eat.

For a little while I sat on the couch and watch cartoons with daddy, mommy was taking a nap (she has had a cold now for about a month). Then we started playing, and laughing, and then I STARTED WALKING! First I used my car, but I am back to normal as I have been since we started this whole long cancer thing. Mommy and daddy are smiling, I am laughing and the world seems good again!

Well time to go watch TV in the big bed!

Love,
Ashley

Wednesday, January 15, 2003 at 04:00 PM (CST)

I got some new blood today! I feel much better now. My cheeks are rosy and I don't feel icky like before. During the 5 hours there I saw Dr. Rapkin and he gave me an exam (good news- no ears or mouth this time, bad news- he said he'll do them tomorrow:P), and I don't have the yeast infection like the ER doc said, just a lil diaper rash from my diahrrea (spelling?) and a bad stomach virus. The stomach virus is not making me want to eat or drink, and made me throw up today at the doctors office. I got some more medicine (I can't keep up with all the stuff I take, have taken, and will take, I guess that is mommy and daddy's job) and that makes me real sleepy, but makes my tummy nice.

On a side note, the ALL-kids.org email list daddy is on, he got to me another little girl named Ashley's mommy today. She was real nice, but we didn't talk because I had just taken my sleepy medicine. Well Sponge Bob is on, so I have to go.

Love,
Ashley

Tuesday, January 14, 2003 at 10:00 AM (CST)

Wow alot has happened since daddy last updated my page. I have gone to the emergency room two times! They say I have a cold, so I have gotten alot of antibiotics through my port, but thankfully my blood cultures are negative. Nothing growing :) I would tell you what they found the second time, but mommy and daddy tell me that ladies don't discuss those problems >;)

Anyways Doc Lew looked at my blood counts this morning from last nights trip to the ER and they think that my hemoglobin and Red Blood Cell's are low so I get a 5 hour transfusion on Wednesday, and some chemo on Thursday. I'll keep everyone informed of my progress!

Love,
Ashley

Saturday, January 11, 2003 at 10:17 AM (CST)

Fever dropped back to normal, I guess those new white blood cells are kicking some booty like we hired the to do :)

Thanks for the prayers!

Larry

Friday, January 10, 2003 at 09:19 PM (CST)

From Larry;

We are watching a growing fever right now, that may mean a trip to the hospital and around a 2 day stay :( Prayers are good :)

We will let everyone know what happens!

Love,
Larry

Wednesday, January 08, 2003 at 06:47 PM (CST)

Good news today! My vincristine is working its way out of my system and I am starting to feel so good I am WALKING!!!! This is the first time I have been uprightly mobile since December 3 2002! It feels good to move again and Miss April, mommy, and daddy are all smiles! I'm not up and running like I was, but my legs get tired easy, and they don't feel so strong anymore, but they say that the more I use them the quicker I'll be running! I believe them.

Well I'll update more tomorrow after my visit to Doctor Lew!

Love,

Ashley

Tuesday, January 07, 2003 at 11:07 AM (CST)

Hi Everyone,

Yesterday was a good day for me, I am happy again, last night I was playing games with Mommy and Daddy we were having a good time and I started crawling again too, boy it is nice to be able to get around. My face is still fat and my hair is still falling out but I am doing alot better than I was. Have a good day everyone.

Love Ashley

Sunday, January 05, 2003 at 09:08 PM (CST)

Wow what a busy weekend! Grandma and grandpa stopped by from way down in Florida and brought me a beatiful toy chest (its cedar and daddy says we should make it a hope chest! I just wish I knew what to hope for) and a organ, plus lots of toys and some play makeup. After grandma and grandpa were here for a little while I played with grandma lots and lots and laughed a whole bunch! Consolidation is easy :) Then mommy and grandma went to go to the store, but Uncle Tony, Aunt Carolyn, and cousin Caity stopped by on their way home from NY to back to FL. That is the most family we ever had in our house at one time in my whole life! It was great. I know mommy and daddy get sad because they are in the Navy and never get to be around family, so the visits are very very important to them.

Anyways cousin Caity and I played the organ, then it started getting late so they went back to Florida on Saturday. I'm sure they were tired of the cold and just wanted to get back to sunny florida. Then we cooked meat on the grill (steak) and grandma, grandpa, mommy and daddy, and I ate a big dinner. I had so much fun, except grandma kept taking lots and lots of pictures! I like to have my picture taken, but the steroids have my cheeks and belly so big I am afraid if they ever leaked to the press that Mr Steinbrenner won't hire me to play centerfield for the NY Yankees (if I turn down Mr Gibb's offer to drive his race car) or it might hurt me in my presidential bid!

Anyways I had lots of fun this weekend, and everyone kept saying the old Ashley is back, but when I think about it, shouldn't it be the young ashley is back since I am older now?

Oh and Grandma we did the flashcards and I got them all right except for 4 (we won't talk about the color and shape cards!).

Love you all,
The new Old Ashley

Saturday, January 04, 2003 at 07:53 PM (CST)

Just a quick note because grandma and grandpa are here visiting today. I will update you more on that tomorrow! I just wanted to let everyone know that it is official....
I AM IN REMISSION!!!!

I will write more tomorrow, because now that my Ashley the Grouch medicine is over mommy and daddy say that I have to have manners again :(

Love,
Ashley

Saturday, January 04, 2003 at 07:53 PM (CST)

Just a quick note because grandma and grandpa are here visiting today. I will update you more on that tomorrow! I just wanted to let everyone know that it is official....
I am in REMISSION!!!!

I will write more tomorrow, because now that my Ashley the Grouch medicine is over mommy and daddy say that I have to have manners again :(

Love,
Ashley

Thursday, January 02, 2003 at 03:03 PM (CST)

Happy New Years! Wow what a busy time, but I still don't know why all the grown ups look tired on New Years day...

Well I promised you a tale on how my trip outside went, it went great, it was good to get out of the house and the jeep :)

New Years Eve was fun, except mommy was sick. I couldn't stay up late so I went to be around 8pm. Then I got hungry and woke up around 11:56 pm. A couple of minutes later everyone went crazy and I had to wait for my Salami. People really are crazy this time of year.

New Years day we sat around and watched TV, but even better was the fact that I took my last dose of Dexamethasone for a couple of months. It was a good thing too, my cheeks are getting big, my third chin hits my chest, and I don't know how much more salami, cheese, and bologna I could eat!

Today we went back to the doctor. I got another Spinal Tap, some vincristine, and another bone marrow. We will get the results tomorrow. The good news on my blood, all my counts are up, and my ANC rocketed through the roof and now is very very high. I don't know what that means exactly, but if you need it to fight infection, it has to be pretty good I figure. The bad news is that the new medicine I start taking today is going to make my counts drop, but that is ok, since we know it in the beginning. The counts can drop as long as the blasts don't come back. It is a pill and I have never swallowed a pill before, so we will see what happens. My fingers are getting tired so I will go now.

And thank you Miss Pat for signing twice, it made me smile!

Love,
Ashley

Sunday, December 29, 2002 at 11:16 AM (CST)

Hi everyone how are you doing this weekend. Mommy and daddy apologize for not helping me update my journal for a day or two. It seems that they are laboring under the no news is good news theory.

Today is a big day! I am making my first journey out into the real world (except for one trip to the food store after the doctors)! We are going to go to some store and look around. They aren't telling me much, maybe its a big secret? Other than that it seems that I am losing my hair at a pretty good rate. I hope I still have some when my grandma Carolyn and grandpa Bill come to visit me next weekend!

Well that is all I can think of right now. Tomorrow I will tell you about Ashley's big adventure in the great outdoors!

Love,
Ashely

Sunday, December 29, 2002 at 11:16 AM (CST)

Thursday, December 26, 2002 at 12:40 PM (CST)

More Good NEWS!!!!

Well lets start off with the not so good news. Dr. Lew won't officially call it remission until next week when I get another aspiration and spinal tap, but on the plus side from looking at my CBC he feels confident I am in remission! My WBC (white blood cells) are up, my hemoglobin is maintaining and best of all my ANC (remember my ability to fight infections) went from .02 last week to 1.32 this week! I'm not nuetropenic and can go bye bye anywhere I want not just to the doctor!!!

The more bad news is its spinal taps for the next three weeks. That is a bummer, but now we have to make sure those stinky leukemia's don't go and hide in my brain. More good news! Only 6 days of my Ashley the Grouch medicine then I am off it. Dr Lews says it will take me about a week to get back to normal, and maybe a little longer to feel like walking again, but I betcha next Friday I'm dancing a jig and won't even want a McDonalds French Fry, (but that still leaves a whole week to eat them :)

Thank you everyone for the prayers and support and when I get big and am the first female, leukemia survivor President of the United States I will buy everyone Ice Cream. (Dad made me write that).

I hope everyones day is a awesome as mine was!

Love always,
Ashley

Wednesday, December 25, 2002 at 12:04 PM (CST)

Merry Christmas!!!!!

I hope everyones Christmas was as fun and as blessed as mine. I got alot of neat presents from Santa Claus, and a whole bunch of people. I really wasn't in the mood to open them because my head hurts, but mommy and daddy's enthusiasm eventually got me into the Christmas spirit. Everything I received was great, I really don't have a favorite toy I just bounce from one to the other playing with them all.

On Christmas Eve a whole bunch of people came over to see me, and we cooked shrimp (that Italian seafood thing on Christmas Eve), and watched Scooby Doo on Zombie Island. It was loads and loads of fun. I went to bed about 830 so Santa could come. I don't know what time he came though, because I heard mommy and daddy up real late. I was afraid they would scare him away, but that didn't happen.

I just want everyone to know that I love you and will update tomorrow when I get back from the doctors office.

I love you all,
Ashley

Monday, December 23, 2002 at 07:06 PM (CST)

Merry Christmas everyone!

Sorry I have not been keeping the journal as updated as before, but I am doing so well, that there isn't much to write about. The prayers are working and I am not even getting close to a fever.

Yesterday morning my Uncle Tony, Aunt Carolyn, and Cousin Caity left for NY. They are going up near where my daddy grew up. I hope they have a safe trip, but I bet its going to be cold!

Today was a good day. Even though my legs still hurt and I don't do much walking, I walked up the stairs at Miss Aprils house! It was hard, but I did it like a big girl. I am tired today because I got up at three oclock in the morning so I am going to go to bed now.

If I don't get to see you, thank you for the prayers and making my Christmas very Merry!

Love,
Ashley

Sunday, December 22, 2002 at 11:24 AM (CST)

Sorry everyone that I missed yesterdays journal, but guess waht? I had special visitors most of the afternoon and night yesterday. The first was my personal friend and hero, Roger. He is funny. He stopped by to say hi and watch Scooby Doo with me. Scooby Doo was funny he was making faces.

Next was the extra special visitors, My Uncle Tony, Aunt Carolyn, and cousin Caity. They live in Florida and were on their way to NY (the State not the city) for Christmas and stopped by to say hi and cheer me up. We did a little Christmas and had some dinner and watched some TV. It was very very fun, especially because I haven't seen them in so long, since I was 9 months old. Even though my grumpy medicine was working I still managed to smile and not let my Ashley the Grouch personality be too grouchy. Well its time to go, I think I am going to nap a bit.

Love,
Ashley

Friday, December 20, 2002 at 11:31 AM (CST)

Guess what everyone! The doctor called and told mommy that my leukemia in my bone marrow is down to 2%! That means my treatment is working and that my chances to be CURED are skyhigh, probably around 90%. Hopefully, next week when I go to the doctors I will be in remission! If Santa Claus doesn't come or if he brings me a new PT Cruiser (that was for you grandma and grandpa) it won't matter because I have received the greatest present a little girl could ask for!

I want to thank everyone for their prayers and support I'm sure that helped so very very much in making me better. Thank you everyone, I love you all so very much.

Love,
Ashley

Friday, December 20, 2002 at 11:31 AM (CST)

Friday, December 20, 2002 at 09:59 AM (CST)

Hello Everyone,

Good news, Mommy just got a call from Dr. Lew and he told her I have less than 2% of leukemia cells left, I am called a rapid responder. This means I don't have to go the hospital next week for a couple of days.

Merry Christmas to everyone!!!!

Love Ashley

Thursday, December 19, 2002 at 10:58 AM (CST)

Good news today. I went to the doctors office and my blood tests showed 0 blasts and other icky cells. They took some bone marrow and they are going to call mommy tommorrow to tell her if I'm in remission or not. They had to do the procedure in the office so they gave me lots of medicine that made me very very loopy. So if everyone prays tonight maybe the bone marrow test will show that I don't have leukemia cells in my marrow. If it is over 5% then I am going to have to stay in the hospital for two days to get some more chemotherapy after christmas. Thanks everyone for all the prayers and thoughts, I am going to take a nap now because the shots are making me lightheaded....

Love always,
Ashley

Wednesday, December 18, 2002 at 09:47 PM (CST)

Today was a special day. For the first time I walked in awhile. It wasn't much and it hurt. I was kind of out of it and cranky today and getting a little fat around my cheeks and belly. Mommy and daddy tell me it is because of the medicine I have to take.

For dinner Miss Pam and Mr Dave stopped by to say hi. Guess what...they brought me a christmas present. When I opened it up it was a Barbie doll. I like it very much. We watched elmo and scooby doo on tv. My head hurt so I wasn't very nice, but they understood it is my ashley the grouch medicine. I like them very much. After awhile I had to go to sleep I was very tired and have a big busy day tomorrow.

Love,
Ashley

Tuesday, December 17, 2002 at 06:22 PM (CST)

Hi! Today was a good day except mommy and daddy woke me up at 5 am. I went to Ms Aprils and played with all my friends all day. There names are Trinity, Anthony, Angelica, and Adrian. Since everyone has been bugging me to walk, I thought I would tease mommy and daddy and stand up for a minute for Miss April, that should really get them going. I played all day and made a reindeer picture and used finger paint to make his antlers out of my handprints and put a fuzzy pink thing for his nose. It was lots of fun and mommy and daddy liked it alot.

The only bad news is, that I am starting to get warm. Daddy took my temperature and said it was 99.1 degrees. This worries all of us, because if it goes to 101 then I have to go back to the hospital for probably another stay. This is bad news because the hospital is yucky and you can never sleep longer than two hours before somebody wants to poke prod or stick you :( We will let you know, hopefully it goes down. I have been taking my Spectra so that should be strong enough to fight back an infection we hope.

More good news, my friend Gracie who is six months old and also has ALL leukemia is in remission. That is the best news I have heard yet.

I love you all!
Ashley

Tuesday, December 17, 2002 at 07:20 AM (CST)

Good morning everyone,

I went back to daycare today. I will let you know how my day went later.

Love Ashley

Monday, December 16, 2002 at 08:12 PM (CST)

Hello Everyone,

Today I was tired and grouchy and I had a craving for Mcdonalds french fries again. I spent most of the day at home, Miss April, the lady who watches me during the day came over for dinner, she brought me some pizza. Tomorrow I go back to daycare, I am not feeling better yet but Mommy and Daddy say I have to go and see my friends to get back to normal, its a small daycare in Miss April's house. That's all for now.

Love Ashley

Monday, December 16, 2002 at 08:07 PM (CST)

Hello Everyone,

Today I was tired and grouchy, tomorrow I go back to daycare, I am not feeling better yet but Mommy and Daddy said I have to go back to see my friends. Miss April, who watches me during the day, came over for pizza today with her kids. Thats all for now.

Love
Ashley

Sunday, December 15, 2002 at 08:20 PM (CST)

Today was a good day. No fever not much Ashley the Grouch. It was a nice quiet calm day.

Love,
Ashley

Saturday, December 14, 2002 at 01:43 PM (CST)

When I woke up today I wasnt feeling well, I was kind of hot but not feverish and I took my grouchy medicine. My back and legs hurt, actually kinda achy all over, it is from my vincristine medicine that I get every week. Mommy made me feel a little better she got me a Christmas tree and a pink Scooby Doo blanket and gave me some Tylenol. I am helping put up the tree so I have to go. Lots of love to everyone.

Love Ashley.

Friday, December 13, 2002 at 11:07 AM (CST)

Good afternoon everyone! It is a great day to stay inside and hear the pitter patter of the rain on the roof :) I would rather it be raining in Acworth, and stuck inside than any sunny day down at the doctors :)

Today is a good day, mommy and daddy say that my temperature is normal (lower than you because of my steroids)and that is very good since my ANC is so low.

The first side effect is kicking in just like Ms. Terry said, I am not hungry all the times, but I have cravings. Yesterday it was Taco Bell...today it was French Fries, not just any French Fries, but the best French Fries in the whole world, McDonalds :) So mommy and daddy were very nice and got me FF for lunch.

Other than that there isn't much happening today. So I will just leave with the thoughts of Baby Gracie and Little Skyler, and we offer them our prayers as well....

Love,
Ashley

Thursday, December 12, 2002 at 03:34 PM (CST)

Well today wasn't much fun. Mommy and daddy took me back to the doctors. I would have figured that they would have figured that I had enough of the doctors by now :( Plus they called it bye-bye :(

First they woke me up at 0500 AM! To get dressed. I hadn't done this in a couple of weeks so I figured ok, I can remember how to do this, well....I didn't get my milk, I didn't get my vitamin, and I didn't get my bannana, and I didn't get dropped off at Ms Aprils house. That is how you start a day off bad. I was so hungry by 0730 that I was craving a 'Dilla from Taco Bell and they wouldn't give me one.

Anyways we left for the doctor and arrived early. As soon as I saw that building it put me in a bad mood. The nurses again wanted to take my blood pressure, temperature, and all of that stuff they have been doing forever, it seems like forever anyways. They took blood again, and it looked good, except for my platlets were down to 14,000. So I got another platelet transfusion, but the still wouldn't give me a quesadilla from Taco Bell.

To make a long story short, I finally got let out about 2pm and on the way home I got my Taco Bell :) I'm feeling better now.

Love always,
Ashley

Wednesday, December 11, 2002 at 11:14 AM (CST)

Good morning! Isn't it a lovely day? No not the weather, I am home and I can play with my toys and see my cat. It is the best.

I woke up a bit cranky and my apetite seems to be picking up, but my legs hurt. I don't have a fever and mommy and daddy say that is good. Well not much to write about this early except that I am doing great :) I love everyone, and thanks for signing my book, it makes me feel so very good.

Love,
Ashley

Tuesday, December 10, 2002 at 03:33 PM (CST)

Good News! I am home!!!!!!!!

Yes, this morning the doctor said I could go home, my blood looked good this morning, so we got a bunch of lessons from my nurse practitioner Terry and then we were set free. What a relief, after a week of hospital food, I got to eat a Quesadilla from Taco Bell. Mommy and daddy say that since my appetite will be growing by leaps and bounds that we can't eat out too much, because I am going to get pudgy anyways and they want to feed me rabbit food to try and keep me from getting in the Guiness Book of World Records (Daddy says to tell Rick its a different Guiness?).

My cat was happy to see me, he would not leave me alone, and daddy afraid of the germs he might have kept chasing him away.

I can have as many visitors as would like to come over, though, mommy and daddy want to make sure the house is real real clean. This is because I can't be exposed to sick people or alot of germs. Remember the ANC count? Mine is down to .9 and 500 is the almost acceptable level, while over 1000 is good. That isn't bad though. My blasts (leukemia) by the way dropped to 20,000 :) Happy Joy! If you want to visit Ashley please make sure you don't have the sniffles or a cold, and please wash your hands when you get here. I really can't complain because mommy and daddy have been washing their hands so much they look like two crocodiles trying to get me when they pick me up. I'm not scared though. My phone number is 770-529-5303 and call first so I can make sure that I am awake and ready to play with everyone who stops by. That is all for now I guess, since I am getting tired.

Love and prayers,

Ashley

P.S. Please say a prayer for my friend Skyler.

Monday, December 09, 2002 at 03:56 PM (CST)

Well I guess I told a fib about updating Sunday on Sunday.

Sunday was pretty routine except I got my pirate shot in the leg. Daddy calls it the peg leg shot, I guess that is why its the pirate shot. I don't know, sometimes I think his mind works in very very strange ways. The peg shot hurt a little bit, but I don't have to get another one of those for at least another month. That is good news, its not that the shot hurts its the stuff they put in is really really thick and kind of burns. Daddy compares it to a shot he got in his bootie in bootcamp called bicillin. Why is he telling me that? Trying to steal the thunder? Anyways it made my leg sore. A little while after that I got a visit from Ms April and my friends Anthony, Adrian, and Angelica, and guess what they brought, McDonalds! You can't really understand how good McDonalds can be unless you have been in jail for 20 years or eating hospital food for a week. They also brought me Scooby Doo pajamas, and a video of the Wiggles. We went down to the play room and tried to play, but after awhile my leg hurt and we went back to my room. Then everyone left to go home and take their naps. I wish I could go home for a nap, but more on that later. Then daddy went home to do some wash, check on my cat Auggie and bring some more stuff back. I missed him. While he was gone Mr Rick and his wife Ms Jan stopped by to see me. They brought mommy something, but I didn't see what it was. They stayed for awhile and made me smile alot, but its hard when you have been in this place for a week, so I have to thank them for doing that.

They said I might be able to leave on Monday, but now it is Monday and I have to stay again. To make a long story short it is because I had a temperature on Saturday, the doctor didn't want to take a chance and send me home. So to make sure I am strong enough on my own not to get sick he took me off my antibionics (daddy says that is a 6 million dollar man joke???) and cut my IV intake in half. They are going to let me go home tomorrow. If you are praying for me, make sure it is for me going home. :) Then the XO of NAS Atlanta stopped by, he is the second in command of the whole base and all the sailors stationed there. He brought me more prayers (which are the greatest gift) plus a Scooby Doo, ViewMaster, and some lollipops. Mommy and daddy were very much cheered up by his visit. We are going to go out later in the wagon and share my lollipops with the other sick kids, to try and cheer them up like everyone is trying to make me feel good.

I will write more tomorrow and hopefully I will be able to change the address to home instead of room 312, daddy says something about never signing that A sheet, do you know what that means? God speed and God Bless!

Love,
Ashley

P.S. We took the bag of lollipops out to all of the other sick kids in the cancer ward and cheered them up, then we had some left over so we gave them to the nurses too because they are really really nice. If anyone has any prayers could you say one for Skyler? He has germ cell cancer in his spine, lungs, brain, and lots of other internal organs he is only 18 months old, but very cute (hope daddy doesn't read this) with the brightest smile I have ever seen not in a mirror. Thank you again!

Love xoxo
Ashley

Sunday, December 08, 2002 at 09:46 PM (CST)

Ok, where were we? Oh I remember, I was just waking up after coming out of surgery.

I woke up after coming out of surgery (is there an echo in here?) and more people from mommy's work were visiting me, AK3 Suarez with his pretty wife, and SKSN Polk. They brought me another big box of crayons, a beautiful card signed by everyone at mommy's work at NAS Atlanta Supply Department, 3 teddy bears, and lots and lots of other really neat stuff to keep me busy. At bedtime that night, I was so tired from all of the people visiting and all of the really nice presents I got, but, I so was happy that so many people cared about me.

The next day was Friday, when I woke up I was kinda groggy, but that was because they had started my chemo therapy the day before, I received an injection of some big long drug to make sure the leukemia didn't hide in my brain. That drug wasn't too bad, and it really didn't do anything to me, at least that we noticed. That day, however, I started my Oscar the Grouch drug and got my once a week shot. The once a week shot we didn't notice me acting any different, but with the steriod (I take it twice a day, but the doctor says I won't look like Mighty Mouse, cuz its a different kind of steroid)I get real cranky. I was telling my nurse to get out and being real mean to everyone including mommy and daddy. Fortunately they were understanding and realised that it isn't me, its the drugs.

That day we did ok, the blood tests showed the leukemia dropping in my blood and it was kind of going away. Friday I got visits from Roger Conard who is our neighbor and works with daddy, he brought me a bear and made me laugh by playing silly games with me. Before him the whole big gang from mommy's work showed up, Cdr Cram (the real big boss over the whole supply department on the base), Rick, Ms Pam, and Ms Susan. They brought me a neat cup that lights up when you put stuff in it (it has Santa Claus and christmas trees on it), a really pretty bear, and a real fancy sign on my door, its even on pink paper! Mommy smiled alot that day seeing her friends from work and getting my real good bloodtests back.

The next day was Saturday, my blood tests continued to show improvement, my temper got worse, and I yelled alot. The chaplain from the base came by and said a beautiful prayer for me, mommy, and daddy. I saw some puppies and had alot of fun. One of daddy's big big bosses Cdr Levin (geeze I hope for daddy's sake I spelled that right), who flys airplanes stopped by with his wife and kids. They brought me a beautiful book called "Olivia" and a stuffed Olivia doll. Olivia is a piggie and much much better than the Evil Barney (I don't know why daddy says Barney is evil). They raised my spirits alot, it is very very nice to see other kids, and gives me lots of hope that soon I will be out running around in the sun again.

Since today is Sunday, I will make a separate journal entry for today. I love everyone and miss you all!

Love,
Ashley

Saturday, December 07, 2002 at 03:53 PM (CST)

Ok here we go again, wow this is alot of work. Where was I?

Oh yes, they admitted me to the hospital and gave me a very nice room upstairs. I have a TV, VCR, a nice couch-bed for mommy to sleep on, and lots of attention.

The next day Wednesday I donated blood and blood and blood for tests. The good thing about this is they figured out that I had ALL Leukemia for sure. For me this was bad news, that I had Leukemia, but good news also. If you have to have Leukemia, or any other type of cancer this is the best one to have. The doctor tells me that kids my age, 1-9, that are girls (like me), and have a WBC (white blood cell count) under 50,000 have a 80-90% chance of cure. That isn't just putting it in remission, but beating it completely. :) That day mommy's boss Senior Chief Daniels, and the NAS Atlanta Command Master Chief, CMDMC Johnson, stopped by to see me, they brought me a pretty teddy bear, and much needed support for my mommy and daddy, they were very happy after that. Later that night, my babysitter, Ms. April stopped by, she brought me crayons and coloring books, and a real neat doctors kit, and a bear from my friend Trinity. I sat in her lap for a long time, I missed her since I hadn't seen her since Monday when daddy picked me up after work.

The next day Thursday was pretty rough on me. The night before at 10pm they gave me new blood platelets that brought my count up to 120,000, then at 4 in the morning, with out warning they came too take more blood. Since I am three and only weigh 25lbs, they had a hard time getting any blood out of me so they took it out of my foot. If you don't think that hurts.... Then around 1130 it came time for my bed ride. I got to ride down to something called the operating room, mommy and daddy couldn't come. Once in there they put a valve into my chest so they wouldn't have to keep sticking needles in my arm, and they could take the IV out of my left arm so I could hold my crayons (crazy doctors put the IV in my left arm and wrapped it up like a broken arm and I couldn't color!!!!!). Then they did a lumbar puncture or spinal tap to see if the Leukemia was hiding in my brain (it wasn't bump that up another 5%) and tried to get some marrow from my hip bones. Unforutnately there was so much leukemia in my hip bone they couldn't drain any out so they took a big plug out (the chromosone test came back good on that one, maybe another 5%?). Unfortunately while I was in the Operating Room I missed a visit from Daddy's boss, Lt Garcia, he brought me some balloons, which I played with all night trying to drive my mommy and daddy bonkers. Well not all night, I slept after surgery till 5pm! What a nap that was, but it wasn't very restful, and I slept good that night also.

Well I'll go for now, and hopefully give you more information tomorrow that will bring everyone up to date on how I am doing. Thank you for the prayers and thoughts.

Love,
Ashley

Saturday, December 07, 2002 at 02:47 PM (CST)

Ok I promised a little story on how all of this came about and here it is.

Over the Thanksgiving holiday I spent it with daddy, mommy had to work (both mommy and daddy are in the Navy) all night for a week straight. It was rough without mommy, but daddy and I had fun and watched alot of Elmo. Anyways, Tuesday morning daddy got me up to get ready to go to Ms Aprils house, when he hugged me he noticed I was hot, and that my breath smelled really icky. He took my temperature and it was 103 degrees. (He denies it, but I saw him look worried) He gave me a little tylenol then called mommy at work. Even though my temperature came down they decided to take me to The Childrens Health Care Center in Kennesaw, GA. They are really really nice there. When mommy, daddy, and I got there my temperature was 105 degrees. They gave me some nice ibuprofen and took a throat culture (because they said my breath smelled like strep). It was really icky, they stuck a big long Q-tip down my throat. When that came back negative they took some blood. A little while later they came back and said that I might have a big long disease, or I might have Leukemia, because my blood platelet count was at 20,000 when it should have been at 150,000. That is when we came here to Scottish Rite.

My doctor, Dr. Lew, is very nice, he looked at some more of my blood and said it was Leukemia, but he didn't know what kind, it could either be ALL or AML. One is real bad, and one isn't as bad, though both are equally scary.

This is alot to write so I'll continue it later.....

Love and prayers,

Ashley

Friday, December 06, 2002 at 09:50 PM (CST)

Hi my name is Ashley Stivers and this is my webpage. I was diagnosed with ALL Leukemia last Tuesday, 3 December 2002. It is scary, especially for my mommy and daddy, but right now all I know is it makes tired. I will update you more, and give the brief history a little later on.

Click here to go back to the main page.

----End of History----