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MEGAN HAS OFFICIALLY KICKED CANCER'S BUTT!!!! 
Megan 2 Years Off Treatment!BR>
Welcome to our Web Page. It has been provided to keep people updated about Megan as she battles Leukemia (ALL). Megan was diagnosed 11/20/02. Megan's symptoms began in the early fall of 2002. She started complaining of back pain. When I took her to the doctor they thought maybe it was from carrying a heavy backpack, but ran xrays to be safe. Everything was fine. A few weeks later Megan woke in the middle of the night crying in pain. I took her to an Orthopedic the following morning. He ran some xrays to check an old femur injury to make sure things were lined up properly. Again, everything was fine. He also sent us for blood work. Waiting for the results over the weekend Megan developed nose bleeds and low grade fevers. At this point, I knew. On Monday we returned to the pediatrician for the blood results. Her counts were off, but that particular Dr. did not seem concerned, even when I voiced all the other symptoms, and having gone through cancer before, begged her to think "outside the box". We were sent home. By Tuesday I was frantic as Megan still had nose bleeds and fevers overnight. I called the practice and requested to see our favorite Dr. She saw us immediately, and I knew she knew. Megan's belly was distended from a large Liver and Spleen. The doctor ran more blood tests and called me 6 am Wednesday morning. We were told to get to Children's Hospital immediately where our world was once again shattered by cancer. Megan was born 9/25/92 and has 2 big sisters Michelle 18, and Brittany 14. Thank you for stopping by.
CHEMO. IS SCHEDULED TO TAKE A DIVE IN APRIL, 2005!!
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Normal Blood Count Range
White Blood Cells (WBC): 5,000-10,000
Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC): over 1500
Hemoglobin (HGB): 11.5-13.5
Hematocrit (HCT): 34-40%
Platelets: 160,000-500,000
The End
By Megan Gutwillig 4/21/05
Now it's almost the end
And my treatments almost done.
It's been a long journey,
But soon it'll all be done.
We've laughed and cried
Many a time.
But never will we forget
The ones that couldn't be met.
For they too tried
But didn't survive.
But together we struggled
And together we survived.
Now I have
Just one thing to say
Before it's all over
Before it's the end
But never will I be able
To say it so many times
To all who came
Whenever we called
Whenever we needed
A friend who cared
But let me say it now
To everyone who was there
Never could I name them all
But forever in my debt you all are
Thank you, thank you, thank you
And a million times more
For standing by me
When I needed you all!
THE END
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The above link is to a girls' page in Pittsburg, PA that is Megan's age. She has a rare type of Leukemia that can only be cured if they find a donor.
BR>
Journal
Monday, December 3, 2007 9:17 AM CST Hello. I know it's been quite a while since my last entry. With the holidays upon us yet again, it's time.
First off, I would like to acknowledge the new photo above which took my brother a lot of time to take. His subjects were not being very cooperative that day! As most of you know, we lost my brother, Dave, to a heart attack on June 2. This photo was taken a week before at a family gathering we had before sending Michelle off to her new home in Portland, OR. Our family is still recovering and mourning this untimely loss. I would like to ask that you keep Dave's family in your thoughts this holiday.
As I reflect on this past year, it's been a strange one full of changes. Michelle's decision to move to Oregon took us by surprise early in the year. She's extremely happy and has settled into her new life very well. I was able to visit Michelle with Karen a couple weeks ago and got to see for myself why she loves it there. The city is beautiful and nothing like anything here on the East. It's very clean, has convenient transportation, and full of young people starting their adult lives. I miss her terribly, but am happy to have raised such an independent daughter brave enough to venture into the world alone at such a young age.
Brittany, now a Junior, has begun a cosmetology program offered through the High School. If all goes well, she'll have a license one semester after her Graduation. She loves the program and the fact that she only has to be at school for 1/2 a day. Brittany was able to visit with Michelle as well at the end of the summer after her yearly visit to AZ with family friends. She also fell in love with the city and accomplished a lot more site seeing than I was while there thanks to Michelle's roommates who provided the transportation.
Last but never least, Megan! She's enjoying her Sophomore year this year, and has again filled her schedule with some very challenging classes which she continues to do well in. We were treated to another horse driving event in early fall and look forward to another season in the spring. Megan and cousin Morgan have also taken up with a robotics lego club which meets every Saturday and will be competing within the next couple weeks. It's incredible to see what these kids are able to design and then use the computer to program! Quite impressive stuff. Megan's health continues to be excellent. During her last check Meg was graduated from regular clinic to the long term survivors clinic (music to our ears) where she'll still be monitored every 3 months until mid 2008, then down to every 6 months for a year before reaching the milestone of once yearly visits!
In closing, I wish you all a wonderful holiday season full of love and family. Embrace every minute you share!
Love, Sue
Read Journal History
Hospital Information: Patient Room: HOME Robert Wood Johnson NJ Institute for Cancer
New Brunswick, New Jersey
Links: http://smilequilt.com/megang.html Megan's Online Quilt
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/meganatimus/album?.dir=/ed72&.src=ph Imus Ranch Photo's
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/megans_new_room/my_photos Megan's Room
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