Special Gifts

I have a very special friend that is close to me and my family. My adopted Aunt Gina. I got to spend a lot of time with Gina on Sunday's when she would hold me and play with me. We grew very close and I love her very much. She moved this summer and when she heard the news about my cancer, she had a special gift made for me. It is very beautiful and I will treasure it forever! It was made in my name and is called "Jessie's Bird". The bird is to help me remember to be strong and that I will "fly" again. It was made with a lot of love and I am very grateful to have Gina as part of my life!!!

Christmas 2010

I have to say - I am very happy to have been able to spend Christmas at home with my family!! It was the BEST CHRISTMAS EVER! Our family was truly blessed by our wonderful neighbors and friends. We were showered with delicious meals, tasty treats and some very generous donations to help out my family. People really are amazing and there just aren't words enough to express how grateful we are for all of the support. I was released from the hospital the week before Christmas and got to spend almost two weeks at home with my family. Since school was out that week - the entire family was together and boy did we have fun! I went to my Uncle Steve and Aunt Jane's house for Christmas Eve. I love playing with my cousins and we ran all over the entire house. I had hugs and kisses for everyone! I went to bed kinda early from all the energy I spent... The next morning was Christmas and Santa brought me a small trampoline to help strengthen my legs and I laughed and giggled every time I jumped. I also got some great toys to take back to the hospital for my next round. One of the biggest surprises to see when I got home... my Mom had gotten a new addition to the family - a new dog. I wasn't too sure about him at first but after he learned not to get too excited around me, I warmed up to him. He is very soft and will let me pet him without licking me!!

December 5, 2010 - A very special sacrament meeting was held at Primary Children's today. They always have a 30 minute sacrament session and bring the sacrament around every Sunday to the families that can't attend. Today Elder Ballard attended the meeting and felt inspired to give a blessing to all the children currently in the hospital. What a wonderful day and how kind it was of him to attend. All of these children benefit from the prayers and blessings - we have seen it in action for Jessie!!! Thank you, Heavenly Father, for your inspired leaders!

Special Congratulations to my Daddy!!! He passed his boards and is now officially a Respiratory Therapist. I am sooo proud of him!

Third Session 1/3 complete - December 2010

I came back into the hospital the Friday after Thanksgiving and started my third round of chemo. I was not happy about spending time in bed because I was feeling really good and wanted to play! My mom decided to let me down on the floor of my room and followed me around with my IV pole. We have named it George. This was awesome for me except that I wanted to go in and around everything. My IV tubes kept getting in my way so I decided to pull on them really hard and then I heard a "SNAP". Mom immediately freaked out because I had completely snapped the tubing of my central line and my chemo medication started dripping on the floor. My central line goes right into the arteries and into my heart so I started bleeding through the tube. The nurses came running and we clamped my line. I thought it was really funny until I realized that meant that they would have to repair my line and change the dressing. I do NOT like being held down! After the tube repair was done, I waited for four hours to let the glue dry and then we started my medication again. This put me a little behind and my Mom decided to put me in a crib so I couldn't get out. I was little bummed about that but she wasn't taking any more chances. She freakes out soooo easily. My Dad is much more calm about these things. After all, this is the third time I've broken my line but the first time I've snapped it right in two! He put me back in a bed as soon as he came up to be with me. I finished my chemo on Tuesday and am now in count recovery. I just have to wait until my blood counts go to zero and then start to recover. This will take another two weeks. I am expecting to come home the week of Christmas and that makes everyone really happy! I am doing so much better with this round than my last one. I am nauseated but the nurses are giving me Benedryl and Zofran to help me. The best part about being done with chemo is that I get to run around my room without being attached to George. My new favorite thing is to stand in the window and make blow fish faces on the glass. You gotta try it - it is pretty fun!

Thanksgiving - Start of Round Three

My third session of chemotherapy was expected to start the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. That sounds a little odd - but if I came in then I would for sure be able to be home for Christmas. That was especially important to my family that I get to be home during the holiday. I was scheduled for a lumbar puncture on Wednesday but because I had some white blood cell blasts showing in my blood, my doctors decided to do a bone marrow aspirate as well. It is a very small world - Melisa Pitt's brother was my anesthesiologist and he did a great job! I spent some time in the oncology clinic after my procedure. There were a lot of sick little kids in the clinic and I have to say... I know that my cancer isn't fun but there are much worse cancers that affect little kids. These kids were very brave and I hope they all get better. The little girl next to me was an inspiration to everyone. She had gone through some really intensive rounds and the doctors had removed one of her legs. She was looking forward to getting her new leg and was excitedly telling the nurse how she was so strong that she didn't need the walker - she just hopped everywhere. Mom cried listening to her. What a brave little girl. You definately made an impact on our hearts. I did what I could to cheer everyone up by walking around and playing peek a boo and dancing. After a few hours, the doctors moved me to my room in ICS. We were all settled in and I had just started playing when my doctors told me that my tests wouldn't be ready until Friday. They decided to send me home to spend Thanksgiving with my family. I was sooo excited! Mom packed everything back up in a flash and we were home before I knew it. I was well enough to go over to Grandpa and Grandma Reynolds' house for Thanksgiving dinner. It was really wonderful. I spilled my Mom's water all over Grandma and I thought that was pretty funny and my Grandma is awesome! I really love her. She is the best to snuggle with. My family went to the movies after dinner but I got to stay home with Grandpa and Grandma and take a nap. It was an awesome day! I have so much to be thankful for and I realize how precious time spent with family and friends is these days.

My snazzy new haircut!

I am between sessions but had an exciting new update! My hair has gotten pretty thin these days and so my Dad gave me a new haircut. I am posting some new pics to show it off... what do you think?! Mom only teared up a little... :)