Remission

Abby is officially in remission!!!!!!!!!!!!

MRI and labs are normal. It is going to be a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!!!

Abby will continue to have a MRI, spinal tap and labs every few months to make sure the cancer has not returned. Once she is in remission for one year, she will be given growth hormone injections due to her very low functioning thyroid. This will help her maximize her height potential and to get through puberty. She will be on hormone replacements medications for the rest of her life for low functioning thyroid and pituitary gland.

MRI Results

MRI results show that things "are stable and no evidence of disease". Awaiting results from blood tests for tumor markers which take a few days.

MRI an Spinal Tap

Abby had a MRI of her brain and spinal cord today. Along with that she had labs done for tumor markers. These are all routine tests to make sure the cancer has not returned. I will update the blog when we get the results of todays tests.

Dr. appointment today

Abby had an appointment with her Neuro Oncologist today as a follow up from the recent hospitalization. All is well. Nothing major to report. The cells found in her spinal fluid are white blood cells and he is not concerned about it. She has another MRI and lumbar puncture scheduled in January.

Abby had a visit from the Make A Wish Foundation this week. To be a make a wish child you need to have a life threatening illness, but you do not need to be terminal. I just wanted to clarify for those who are curious:) During the visit the ladies asked her what her top three wishes are and they would do their best to grant one. Her first choice was a puppy, much to Cori and Craig's surprise. Thankfully, they cannot give animals:) Her second wish is a Disney Cruise with her family. The foundation is working on that and they should be going within the next few months. A well deserved vacation for her and her family for all they have been through this year.

Second Test Result

Cytology results came back today and showed that the 13 cells found in her spinal fluid are NOT cancer cells. Yeah! Great news!

One Test Result

Received results from blood test today. Came back negative for HCG and AFP which are tumor markers. Good news! Still awaiting results from the cells found in her spinal fluid from the lumbar puncture.

Home Again

Abby was discharged from the hospital tonight at approx. 10 PM. Today she had an MRI and a lumbar puncture. So far we know that there is a "light" on the pituitary gland that was seen on the MRI. That is believed to be from the radiation. Her lumbar puncture had a 13 cells in it that are being sent to a lab for examination. We will not get the results of that until next week. In addition, she had a few blood tests yesterday. One showed that her thyroid levels are low and she was given meds to improve that. Another is a protein level to determine if there are any tumor markers. Results from that will take a few days. She also had an eye exam from the Ophthalmologist and it was determined that she needs to wear her glasses 24/7. She has a follow up appointment at the end of October with the Ophthalmologist.

Being admitted in the morning

I have not written a blog update in awhile. Things have been going well for Abby. She is back in school, she was feeling well, her hair is growing back and generally happy. Soon after school began, Abby had been complaining of headaches. She went home from school early a few days. It was thought that she was having headaches from adjusting to her new glasses. Within, the last week and a half Abby has been extremely tired. She has come home from school early and missed a few days of school to come home and sleep. She has taken 2-3 hour naps sometimes 2 times a day. She went to see her Pediatrician yesterday. Labs showed that she is not anemic and felt that she must be fighting a virus. Well, parental instincts felt like it could be something else. Cori and Craig were feeling anxious and worried, so Cori emailed the Neuro Oncologist today and he got back to her right away. He thought it may be a delayed response (reaction) to radiation. It is common to have these side effects months after treatment is over.

Abby is being admitted to Children's Hospital in the morning for approx. 2 nights to run multiple tests. She will have an MRI and lumbar puncture to make sure the tumor is not present. Other tests to rule out endocrine problems (hormones) and rule out hydrocephalus. Primarily they will be looking into "Radiation Somnolence Syndrome" which is a side effect from radiation.

I will post more as we get results from tests.

Radiation Ends - School Begins!

Well, it was the day we have all been waiting for - Abby had her last day of radiation and has completed all of her treatments!!!! We are all so excited for her resume her normal life and get back to being a kid. Abby went back to school yesterday and all of her friends were so excited to see her. It was a great day.

So, where does she go from here? Abby is not technically in remission yet. She will have another MRI and lumbar puncture in 8 weeks. If all is clear and normal, she will be considered to be in remission. She will continue to have MRI's and lumbar punctures every 3 months for the first year post treatment and then every 4-6 months for four years after that. A patient is considered cured after 5 years post treatment with all tests and labs being normal and no relapses. She will always be considered a "cancer survivor" and followed by doctors throughout her life. Along with that, she will always be on hormone replacement medications for the hormones her pituitary gland and thyroid gland no longer produce. These are not an affect of chemo or radiation. It was the lack of these hormones that brought our attention to her diabetes insipidus and then the brain tumor. She will most likely require growth hormone injections to help her through puberty. It is unclear and unknown what this will mean in her adult life and her ability to conceive children. Lastly, she will have another neuro psych test in 18-24 months of completing radiation to see if radiation has effected her cognitive development.

Her journey is not over, but for now we are so grateful and overjoyed that she is doing well and her progress is going in the right direction. Abby has shown a tremendous amount of strength and courage throughout this process. She is truly amazing and we are so proud of her!

Back to School Soon

Abby had an appointment with her Neuro Oncologist on Thursday. All of her counts are good, she is doing great and has the approval of her doctor to return to school. School starts on Wednesday, August 11th. Abby has made the choice to start school after her Child Life Specialist can go to her class and talk to the kids. Her CLS, Andie, was able to go to her class at the end of last year to explain to the kids why Abby is no longer in class and tell them a little about cancer and the treatment Abby would go through. Well, this year of course it is a new grade and new students, so Abby would feel more comfortable if Andie talked to the kids about cancer and her hair loss. Although Abby is handling all of it very well, she understands that she does not have hair, people are curious and want to know why. She knows that she needs to wear a hat when she is outside, but immediately takes off her hat when she is inside. She seems to not care too much about her hair loss. She has mentioned that she hopes it grows back brown like before and long enough for a ponytail:)

4 more radiation treatments to go! Almost done! Yeah!

Half Way

Abby is about half way done with radiation. 8 treatments down, 9 more to go! She is doing amazing! Abby has and appointment with her Neuro Oncologist on August 5th to find out when she can return to school. This is a big year for the Radke's. Carly is starting preschool, Mason is going to kindergarten, and Abby is going back to school!

On Saturday, September 11th the Radke family will be participating in a fundraiser brain tumor walk in San Diego. We would love for you to walk with us and celebrate Abby's victory of her journey. It is a family friendly event, so all are welcome!

://www.braintumorcommunity.org/site/PageServer?pagename=BTW_SD_Homepage

Radiation Today

Today was Abby's first day of radiation. She did great! Cori was a little nervous going into the appointment. Worried how she would do with the mask over her face. She said that Abby came out of the appointment with a smile and the imprint of the mesh mask on her face:) The treatment itself lasts approx. 10 minutes and she will have a total of 17 treatments. Monday - Friday, everyday. Saturday and Sundays off. She is scheduled to complete treatments on August 12th.

Prior to radiation, Abby got some freedom and was able to get out into society. Her counts were good, so she was able to go to Carly's dance recital and shopping!

Great News Today!!

Last week Abby had an MRI and a lumbar puncture (spinal tap). Results given today showed that there are no cancer cells in her cerebral spinal fluid. There had not been any cancer cells in her CSF all along, so the good news is that it did not spread. Along with that, her MRI looks clean and normal. The tumor cannot been seen. Even more great news is that all of her lab counts are normal By normal, I mean they are normal of when she was healthy and pre cancer diagnosis. There are no tumor markers or elevated blood levels that would indicate cancer. She is not "cured" yet. Any remaining cancers cells that she has are at the microscopic level and still requires radiation. We are very excited about the progress she is making. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel!

Today, Abby went to the radiation clinic to be fitted for her mask. This mesh like mask will secure her head to a platform so she does not move during radiation treatments. She will have 4 weeks of radiation and will begin next week.

Radiation Soon

Last week Abby had a Neuro Psych test, which was approx. a 4 hour exam. This was an important test to have before beginning radiation to establish her baseline for her cognitive functioning. She did very well and scored average and above average on different aspects of the exam. The results will be used to see if radiation affects her mental development.

Radiation will begin in approx. one week. She will receive radiation treatments every day (Monday - Friday) for 4 weeks. 

MRI is scheduled for Friday, July 9th to "map her brain" to target the radiation. 

Abby got her new glasses today. Pictures to be posted soon. 

Discharged Today

Abby went home today. The medication put in her port was able to clear the line and it is now functioning properly. Also, her blood counts are rising and did not require a blood transfusion. 

Port

Abby is still in the hospital. She is doing fine, but there has been a turn of events. Her port may be failing. The nurses are able to push fluids in the line to flush it, but unable to draw blood from the port. Medication has been put in the port to try and clear the line. We will know later today if that was successful. In addition, her blood counts are still low and not rising. Blood tests today will determine if she needs another transfusion. 

This visit to the hospital Abby has been pretty bored. The playroom is only open for 2 hours each day on the weekend. She has to wear her mask while in the playroom since her counts are so low, she had a fever and she is very susceptible to infection. She doesn't really like wearing her mask, so her visit to the playroom yesterday was brief.

Transfusion and Hospitalization

Thursday, Abby had a platelet transfusion. Her levels were at an all time low. Friday afternoon, Abby had a slight fever. She was monitored at home. She continued to have a fever and the chills. She was admitted to the hospital late Friday night for her fever and vomiting. She will be there at least 48 hours. Abby is complaining that her head hurts. I will post as I get more information. 

Another bump in the road, but we are approaching the home stretch soon. 

Radiation scheduled to begin in approx. 3 more weeks. Cori and Craig have decided to have radiation done in San Diego at Moore's Cancer Center at UCSD. 

Thank You

Wow, who knew that a garage sale could be so much fun! Thank you so much to everyone who came to help make this fundraiser such a success!!!  A HUGE amount of money was raised. A special thank you to Grandma Jackie and Grandpa Ray for hosting this event. Thank you also to Cody Maxwell for coming and helping out and delivering furniture to those whose cars couldn't accommodate such big items. Thank you to my family, you know who you are, for getting up at such an obnoxious hour and setting up. Lastly and most importantly, THANK YOU SO MUCH to all of you who donated items for the garage sale, without these donations the garage sale would not have been possible.

Much love to all,

Cori and Craig

Update 6-11-10

Today is Abby's last day of chemo!!! Yeah!!! This round of chemo has been pretty uneventful. No reactions to medications. She has been feeling nauseous. She takes Zofran for nausea, but that was not strong enough. In addition to Zofran, she is taking Reglan for nausea. Since she has had reactions to medications in the past, she is given Benadryl before any new medications. All three medications make you sleepy, so Abby has slept most of the time the past two days. She should go home tonight after completing chemo.

Tomorrow is the garage sale at Grandma Jackie's house. Stop by for a visit or rummage through the goods. 

30587 Calle Pina Colada

Temecula 

(Meadow View Estates) 

7am-1pm

Fourth and Final Round!!!

Abby was admitted to the hospital today for her final round of chemo! 

Platelets and Vision

Abby is at the hospital now getting a platelet transfusion. This should take about an hour and is given in the outpatient clinic. 

Prior to the transfusion today, Abby had a breathing treatment. This is to keep her lungs strong and healthy and prevent pneumonia. Abby was on a medication to help prevent pneumonia, but apparently it tastes awful and she refused to take it. So, now she will have a breathing treatment once a month for the next 9 months. 

Yesterday, Abby went to the Opthamologist for a vision test to see if the treatments are effecting her vision. They found that she was having trouble seeing close up and will need glasses. This is apparently not a result of chemo treatments and she needed glasses anyway. 

Garage Sale Reminder

Reminder: Grandma Jackie is hosting a garage sale on Saturday, June 12th at her house in Temecula. If you would like to donate items to sell, please contact Jackie to coordinate. All proceeds will go to Abby's medical expense fund. All unsold items will be donated to the American Cancer Society.

Jackie's cell 951-805-7097  or jackieo4@verizon.net

Another Transfusion

Abby got a blood transfusion today. She did not require a platelet transfusion, but may need one before the next round of chemo. She will be retested for platelet count in a few days. The transfusion is given over a four hour span in the outpatient clinic and did not require a hospital stay this time. She was also given Benadryl prior to the transfusion in case of another reaction, which made her sleepy. She napped through most of the transfusion.

The final round of chemo is scheduled for Tuesday, June 8th.

More Tests

Abby went to the clinic at the hospital yesterday for two tests. The first one was a urine test which consisted of collecting all of her urine for 24 hours and testing the urine for kidney function. Test came back normal. The second test was another routine blood test for platelet, red and white blood cell counts. As of yesterday, she was borderline in terms of needing a transfusion. She will most likely get a transfusion on Monday. Abby's appetite continues to be poor. She hardly eats anything and her energy level varies throughout the day. 

Home Again

Abby was discharged from the hospital last night after completing chemo. She had a bit of a rough night. She was feeling nauseous and vomited a few times. She is feeling better this morning. Her appetite is poor and she is not eating much.  Her lumbar puncture results came back and are not conclusive and do not correlate with the blood tests and markers from MRI. In short, doctors have asking to redo the lumbar puncture for better results. She will also be having a urine test redone this week. In addition, she will have a vision test this week to see if chemo treatments are effecting her vision. One more round of chemo to go, then radiation. 

Round Three

This has been an busy week. Abby had a hearing test on Monday to see if the chemo treatments are effecting her hearing. Her hearing is great! Good news. Tuesday, Abby had another MRI to see how the tumor is responding to treatment. Results showed that the tumor is responding well and has decreased in size. More good news! Wednesday, she had another lumbar puncture (spinal tap). Results unknown at his time. Wednesday afternoon, Abby was admitted to the hospital for her third round of chemo. So far so good. She had a small reaction to an anti pneumonia medication which caused her to have low oxygen saturation levels in her blood. She had oxygen in her nose (which bugged her)  to bring up her levels. The medication has been changed and she is doing fine. Abby said the highlight of her week is when her newest cousin, baby Genevieve, came to the hospital to visit :) All in all, it has been a good week. 

A note from Cori

When Abby was first diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor, I was in total disbelief and had a hard time accepting our new reality. This illness affects the whole family and without the outpour of love and support we receive on a daily basis, our family would not be as strong as we are today. Knowing how many people are praying for Abby everyday brings me to tears because it is truly remarkable how many people genuinely care. When I’m feeling sad or frustrated about this journey that we never wanted to take, this is what gets me over the hump and puts a smile back on my face. Thank you to all those who care, you will always hold a special place in my heart.

To all of the awesome mom’s from Blessed Sacrament Preschool in Arizona…

Thank you so much for all the time and energy invested in planning the fundraiser at Peter Piper Pizza. Due to the unpredictability of Abby’s illness I was unable to attend, but I have heard through numerous emails and voice mails what a truly amazing event it was! Thank you also to everyone who contributed to the evening to help make it such a success! I am so touched that so many people took time out of their lives to support my family. 

To Girl Scout Troop 1526, the staff at Nicholas Valley Elementary School, Mrs. T. (Abby’s 1^st grade teacher) and my sisters Julie and Suzy…

It takes a pretty spectacular school and community to pull off an event like “Abby’s Carnival!” Thanks to everyone for coming out and contributing in so many ways…from working the game booths to walking the cake walk, it is all pretty phenomenal that everyone was there for the same reason…to support our girl. It was an awesome night, one that I will never forget!

To our family, friends, and anyone that has been touched by hearing Abby’s story…THANK YOU! Your graciousness and generosity will forever impact our family.

Much love to all, 

Cori

Another night in the hospital

Abby will be staying in the hospital again tonight. She had a blood test 4 hours after completing the transfusion. Results showed that her red blood cells and her platelet counts have gone up. The white blood cell count have gone down, which is not good. Along with the white blood cell count, her ANC (Absolute Neutrophil Count) has decreased as well. She is considered severely neutropenic and is at high risk for infection. Blood cultures are showing a possible upper respiratory infection which would explain why the white blood cell count is low. She will get a G-CSF shot which speeds production of white blood cell count and will boost the ANC.  She will get this shot every 24 hrs for the next 4 days. 

Allergic Reaction

Abby received the platelet transfusion first last night without a problem. She did, however, have an allergic reaction to the blood transfusion. Her body started to itch and was red and blotchy from head to toe. The transfusion stopped and she was given Benadryl. She was having a reaction to the preservative in the blood which they use to store donated blood. The transfusion resumed this morning with new blood with a different preservative. Two hours after the transfusion is complete, they will test Abby's blood to see how she responded and if her counts are up. 

On another note, Cori is saddened that she will not be able to attend the fundraising event tonight in Arizona.  She was so looking forward to seeing everyone! As you can understand, Abby needs her right now. Have a great night! Sounds like it is going to be an awesome event!

Admitted to the Hospital

Abby had a slight fever today. The doctors asked her to come to the hospital for a blood test and check for infection. A fever of 100.0 or higher can be an alert of an infection. The danger is an infection in the port which is near her heart and can cause organ damage. As of right now, she is being given IV antibiotics and her fever is coming down. Doctors are running blood tests to check for infection. In addition, her white and red blood cell count along with her platelet count has dropped since yesterday. She is being admitted to the hospital now for a blood and platelet transfusion. This process will take approx 4 hours. She will most likely go home in the morning depending on how she responds. 

5-11-10 Blood Test Results

Results from Abby's blood test showed that her counts are very low, the lowest they have ever been. Tests will be repeated on Thursday. She may require a blood transfusion if there is no improvement. Seems to be the same as last cycle with much lower numbers. Let's hope for better counts on Thursday! 

Reminder of Fundraisers This Week

Just a friendly reminder that there are 2 fundraiser events this week. So much effort, thoughtfulness and time has gone into planning these events. Thank you to all who are involved! Unfortunately, Abby cannot attend either event due to germ exposure. Cori will be flying to Arizona to be with everyone at the event on Thursday. She is very excited to see everyone! She will be back for Friday's event along with Craig, Mason and Carly. We hope to see you there.

Thursday, May 13th 

Peter Piper Pizza in Scottsdale, AZ

Frank Lloyd Blvd @ Hayden

4-9pm

Friday, May 14th

"Abby's Carnival"

Nicolas Valley Elementary, Temecula

4-7:30pm

Update

Abby has been home for about a week and a half after completing her 2nd round of chemo. The first 5 days home were pretty rough. She was experiencing lots of side effects of the chemo...nausea, loss of appetite, and constipation. The constipation was a really big issue and hard for a 7yr old to understand. Lots of crying and being uncomfortable. It was a rough couple days at the Radke house for everyone. It is really starting to impact the whole family, especially Carly and Mason. In frustration and anger Mason said "chemo is stupid!" Once the constipation passed Abby was much happier:) She continues to have tummy aches (nausea) and is starting to get very bored being at home. Taking her medication can sometimes be a battle of the wills, but what child gets excited about taking 5 different medicines right when they wake up! On the bright side, she finally lost her 2nd tooth and is very excited about it. Next week she has an MRI, LP (spinal tap), and if blood counts are good she will start round 3 of chemo.

Garage Sale, June 12th

Grandma Jackie (Cori's mom) is organizing a garage sale at her house in Temecula Saturday. June 12th. Clean out your closets, house or garage and get rid of your unwanted items. All the money made at the garage sale will go to Abby's fund. All items not sold at the garage sale will be donated to the American Cancer Society. You can drop items off at Jackie's house or she will come pick it up. Call or email her to coordinate.

Jackie's cell 951-805-7097 or jackieo4@verizon.net

Home Sweet Home

Abby completed round two of chemo today. Two down, two to go. Besides the allergic reaction on the first day, this week went pretty smoothly. Doctors mentioned that only one kid a year has a reaction to the medication a year. Abby's tumor is rare and so was her reaction to the medication. While most kids are allergic to peanuts and cats, Abby is allergic to chemo :) 

She was discharged this evening from the hospital. Abby will continue to have weekly labs done for white and red blood cell counts and platelet counts. In addition, she will have another sedated MRI and lumbar puncture (spinal tap) in two weeks to see how the tumor is responding to treatment. 

Abby's appetite is poor and did not eat much this week. She continues to loose her hair. It is thinning rapidly and is getting patchy. 

Round Two- never a dull moment

Abby's blood levels increased which means she could begin round two of chemo. She was admitted to the hospital today and began chemotherapy around 5pm. She receives 2 chemo medications over a 3 hours span. The first one is given for and hour and the second one is given for two hours. Approx. 10 minutes into the second medication Abby had a severe allergic reaction to the medication. She complained of dizziness, headache and was holding her throat because it was swelling. Her skin started getting blotchy. Nurses rushed in and gave her a shot with the Epi Pen and followed it with Benadryl. Chemo has stopped for today and will resume tomorrow with a different type of medication. Abby slept a lot this evening and seems to be doing OK. 

"Abby's Carnival"

Girl Scout Troop 1526 is hosting a fundraising carnival in honor of Abby. We hope to see you there and help us raise money and support the Radke family.

Friday, May 14th

4:00 pm-7:30 pm

at Nicolas Valley Elementary School

39600 North General Kearny

Temecula

Please join us for games, jumpies, food, silent auction and family fun!

Special thanks to Mrs. T, Shelley, Krista, Terri and Girl Scout Troop 1526 for organizing this event!

Today's Blood Test

Blood test results today showed that Abby's levels have increased slightly although they are still considered low. She did not require a blood transfusion today. She will have another blood test on Tuesday April 27th. If her levels have improved she will be admitted to the hospital that day to begin round two of chemotherapy. 

Preparing for Round Two

Abby is scheduled to start round two of chemotherapy on Tuesday, April 27th. This is all dependent on her blood levels. Her labs drawn on April 13th showed decreased levels of white and red blood cells and decreased platelets. This was to be expected. Follow up lab work on April 20th showed continued decrease of all levels. It was the hope that the levels would increase this week to be able to receive the next round of chemo. Abby will go back on Friday, April 23rd to repeat all blood work. At this time she is dangerously low of all levels and may need a blood transfusion and possibly a bone marrow transplant as well. She is considered neutropenic which is a term used for chemo/ cancer patients who have low white blood cells and needs to be on a neutropenic diet as well. This diet means eating food with no bacteria. All food must be prepared at home to avoid contact from restaurant cooks and germs. All food needs to be cleaned well and fresh fruits and vegetables must be peeled. 

Abby is doing well. She has a great attitude and is acting normal. She gets tired and takes a nap almost every afternoon. She looks a little pale and puffy which is a result of the steroids she is taking. Her hair is starting to come out in her brush and on her pillow in the morning. 

Let's hope her levels start to increase by Friday! 

Scottsdale, AZ Restaurant Fundraiser

"A Celebration of Hope and Love - A Benefit for Abby Radke"

Peter Piper Pizza in Scottsdale AZ  

Thursday, May 13th at 4:o0 PM - 9:00 PM

Peter Piper Pizza is located on Frank Lloyd Blvd at Hayden

During the fundraiser there will be a raffle, kids t-shirts and kids visors for sale and bracelets.

This event is being hosted by Terri McSherry, Marie White, Joan Olson, Candy Terris, Samantha Holligan and Terri Carman.

Those unable to attend may make a donation in the name of Abigail Radke. Checks should be sent to Terri McSherry: 5046 E. Peak View Road, Cave Creek, AZ 85331

Home to a Germ Free Zone

Abby was discharged from the hospital today. She did really well with her first round of chemo. Doctors and Nurses explained that the effects of chemo will come 5-7 days after chemo. Meaning, she may feel tired, nauseous, lose of appetite, start losing hair and generally feel weak. The chemo eliminated cell division in her body and now her body needs to recover from that. She will have blood tests once a week to test white blood bells, red blood cells and platelets and see how they are restoring. During this time, Abby is susceptible to infection and illness. It is important for her to stay in a germ free environment (as much as possible) to stay healthy. She also needs to stay healthy to be able to get the next round of chemo.  Abby will be home schooled. She cannot go in crowded germ filled places (mall, grocery store, restaurants or even the park due to germs on the play equipment). No flowers or exposure to plants and grass due to the pollen and fungus she could inhale. It is a whole new way of life. 

Flowers

Please do not send flowers to Abby. The nurse informed us that Abby cannot inhale pollen and fungus on some plants and flowers. Thank you!

4-7-10

Today was a better day.  Matthew (cousin) and I (Auntie Julie) visited in the morning. We were able to play with Abby, Cori and Craig in the playroom at the hospital. We made art projects, played air hockey and played UNO. We had lunch together before starting her next chemo treatment. Abby's appetite was pretty good today. In the afternoon, Mason, Carly, Grandma Jackie and Bridget (cousin) came to visit. She enjoyed seeing everyone and playing. Chemo treatment went better today. She responded well and did not seem to have the side effects as bad today. One more day of chemo. She may go home as early as Friday, but that is all dependent on her sodium levels which are a little low today.

Round One

Abby was admitted to Children's Hospital yesterday to begin chemotherapy. She was supposed to start yesterday, but there was some confusion about lab work that needed to be done 24 hours before starting chemo, so today was her first day.  Yesterday started out rough. Abby got very afraid when they tried to access her port and needed several people to restrain her to allow them to get to the port. I don't think it actually hurt her too badly, but more so that she was scared and felt out of control. The room she was assigned is not private and had a patient in yesterday, but was discharged yesterday afternoon. Today, she has the room to herself and hopefully it stays that way as long as possible. The room is very small. This afternoon she got her first dose of chemotherapy. She will receive chemo treatments 3 hours a day for 3 days. Cori and Craig said she was doing well until approx 30 min before the treatment was over. I got to the hospital today just as she was completing the treatment. She was in obvious discomfort and complaining of feeling dizzy, nauseous, headache and stomach ache. She is on medication for the nausea and the stomach ache is from the steroids. She is given medication for the stomach pain and is being tapered off the steroid. 

Abby has a "Child Life Specialist" which helps her through the process and explains things to her at a child"s level.  Today she talked to Abby about cancer, chemo and some of the things that may happen to her (hair loss, feeling sick, etc.) I think it was shocking and overwhelming to her as it is for all of us who know and love her. 

Gold / Silver Fundraiser for Abby

Hostesses: Theresa Valade

When: Friday, April 16th 10am-noon (open house, come by anytime between 10-12)

Contact Info: tevalade@cox.net or 480.235.4043

Theresa is donating all of her proceeds from the fundraiser to help pay for Abby's medical bills.

Do you have gold jewelry you no longer wear? Broken chains or rings? Unused earrings because you lost one of the pair? Gold from dental work? Silver serving pieces, flat wear, etc? Valley Goldmine is a highly reputable gold and silver buyer in Arizona, with a perfect record from the Better Business Bureau. ABC 15 rated Valley Goldmine #1 for the highest prices in a Consumer Report. They buy gold including white, yellow and tri-colored, coins, scrap gold, sterling silver, silver and platinum. 

Can't be there? No problem!  Just mail your items to Theresa or you can drop them off at her home.  Simply put them in a zip lock bag with your full name and address and she will hand deliver or mail your check to you on April 16th.  Out of State?  No problem as well!  Just mail your items to Theresa no later than April 14^th and she will mail your check to you on April 16^th.  The jewelers will remove any gemstones you wish to keep for later use, just let her know. 

Please RSVP no later than April 10^th.  Please let Theresa know if you will be attending, dropping off or mailing your items to her.  Thanks for your support!  Together we can help Abby and make some extra money at the same time!

What can we do?

It looks like Abby will have the port put in on Friday and starting chemo on Monday, April 4th. It is times like these in our lives where we all feel helpless yet we want to do something. So many people have asked "what can we do" to help them and Abby through this process? I have a few suggestions. Abby has enjoyed the cards from her friends, videos of friends, thoughtful gifts and things to do while in the hospital. Cori and Craig will have their computer while at the hospital, so emails and pictures are welcomed and appreciated.  To make things a little easier while they are at home, meals are always appreciated. I realize that not everyone lives nearby and can make food, but gift cards for them to pick up dinner would be very helpful. Temecula has most restaurant chains, but some of the family favorites include CPK, Rubios, BJ's pizza, Starbucks:), In and Out, Cheesecake Factory and PF Changs. 

During chemo treatments, Abby will need to limit her exposure to germs and will be home schooled by her teacher from her school. It is truly unbelievable what is happening to Abby. On behalf of the Radke's and our entire family, we thank you for the love, support, prayers, phone calls, emails and concern for our girl! 

Family Meeting Today

Today we met with the Neuro Oncologist to discuss the treatment plan. Next week she will have a port put in near her collar bone. This will allow the doctors to administer the chemotherapy medication and it is also used to get blood for misc. lab work without poking her every time. The port will remain in place for the duration of chemo treatments. If all goes according to plan, she will begin chemotherapy treatment next week. Chemo will be administered inpatient over 3 days. She will have approx 21 days off and repeat this cycle 4 times total. After chemo is completed she will begin radiation for approx 15 days (Monday through Friday for 3 weeks). At varying points of treatment she will have MRI's to make sure she is responding to treatment.  I will, of course, keep you updated along the way.

3-27-10

Abby was discharged from the hospital this afternoon!!! 

Biopsy Results/ Diagnosis

Biopsy results showed that Abby has a pure germinoma, which is a cancerous brain tumor. With chemo and radiation the cure rate is very high (95-100%) and the return rate is low. Central Nervous System Germinomas are very rare. Statistics show that about 38 kids a year in the United States are diagnosed with this type of tumor.  They occur primarily in teenage males. I guess you could say that Abby is "super rare". The family will have a meeting with the Neuro Oncologist next week to discuss the treatment plan.

3-26-10

Yesterday, Thursday March 25th, started out rough. Cori and Craig said Abby looked really bad. Her eyes looked grey and sunken into her head and generally looked exhausted. This was due to dehydration. Her urine output was more than her liquid consumption. She is not able to take her medication to control that right now because it causes her sodium levels to decrease.  The Neuro Oncologist met with Cori and Craig yesterday afternoon. He informed them that she does have a germinoma, but the pathology is still not back to determine whether it is a pure germinoma or mixed malignant. He also reported that her thyroid levels are low, which have been for a few months. Abby will now be on thyroid medication along with her vasopressin (hormones that her pituitary gland is not producing) for the rest of her life. It is possible that other hormones can be effected with chemo and radiation treatments, which we will not know until that process is completed. 

Today, Friday March 26th, Abby seems to be improving. She and Cori got a good nights sleep, Abby looks better, she got up and is moving around her room and ate a good breakfast. Her sodium levels are still low and she can not be discharged from the hospital until her levels are stable. She will definitely be there through tomorrow and possibly Sunday.

3-24-10

No biopsy results yet. Abby is still in the hospital and had a rough day today. She had an emergency CAT scan last night because her heart rate was low. Doctors were looking for air pockets or blood on the brain. The CAT scan came back normal. She continues to have headaches when sitting up and walking. She is also experiencing an electrolyte imbalance / low sodium which is a complication of the diabetes insipidus and can cause heartbeat irregularity and fatigue.  At approx. 9:30 pm this evening she was transfered to the Intensive Care Unit because her sodium levels are dropping quickly and she needs to be monitored closely. Doctors have put in a central line near the groin this evening. This will allow the nurses to get blood from her every 2 hours tonight and monitor sodium levels. An emotionally draining day for Abby, Cori and Craig. Abby desperately wants to go home. She has gone through so much in the past few days. 

Biopsy 3-22-10

Abby had the biopsy today. The surgery was approx. 2 1/2 hours long. To get to the effected area the surgeon entered through her skull above her right eye at the hair line. The incision is small and did not require stitches. It's "glued" together. We will not know the results of the biopsy for a few days. The surgeon did mention that the tumor was also in fluid filled spaces in the brain that were not detected in the MRI's. It is unclear if it has spread along the ventricular system in the brain or whether it has been there all along. Abby has slept most of the day and is on morphine for pain. She woke a few times briefly and complains of a headache and the need to urinate, but does not understand the concept of the catheter. Once she drinks enough water they can remove the catheter and saline IV. She has not felt like eating, but had a bite of licorice and talked on the phone to Mason and Carly to say good night.

Thursday's ( 3-18-10) Test Results

Yesterday, Abby had 2 MRI's and a bone scan. She did well through all the procedures. Results were negative for LCH (Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis). We suspected that this would be the result. Now, she will have the biopsy on Monday to determine what type of tumor she has- a pure germinoma or a mixed malignant germ cell tumor. Biopsy results may take a few days. Once we know the result, a treatment plan will be put into place. Abby will be at Children's Hospital in San Diego for a few days after the biopsy. Cori told me that she is making her packing list for the hospital which includes pj's, licorice, little oreos, little chocolate milk, almonds, cashews, goldfish, raisins and a chocolate bar:) 

Biopsy

The biopsy is scheduled for Monday, March 22nd. The biopsy may take a few hours. Abby will be in the hospital for a few days after for monitoring. 

More Tests

On Thursday, March 18th, Abby will have a sedated MRI of her spine and a 4D MRI of her brain. Later that day she will have the bone survey, which I believe is a typical X-ray. The MRI of the spine and bone survey are to rule out Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (LCH). The 4D MRI of her brain is for the surgeons to "map her brain" for the proper approach in preparation for the biopsy. 

The Beginning

As many of you know, Abby has undergone many tests to figure out what her diagnosis is. I wanted to give you a little history in how it all began. Cori had mentioned to me last Fall her concern about Abby awakening several times in her sleep to drink water and urinate, sometimes up to 5 times a night. In December Abby went to her Pediatrician. Her doctor said she was a "classic case of diabetes insipidus". This type of diabetes is considered "water diabetes"  and not the common sugar diabetes. So, why does she have this? A common cause is a tumor on your pituitary gland in your brain. After Abby's pediatrician visit in December, she was sent to Children's Hospital in San Diego that day for an MRI of her brain. At that time, a tumor was not seen but it was noticed an absent pituitary "bright spot". In short, she was experiencing declining pituitary function. Abby then met with an Endocrinologist who performed many blood tests and she is now on hormones to replace the ones her body is not producing naturally. She will be on these hormones for her lifetime. Tests continued. Abby then had a spinal puncture (spinal tap) in January which showed no cancer cells in her cerebral spinal fluid. Positive news, although doctors informed Cori and Craig that she has elevated levels of proteins ( I don't know which ones) in her blood and cerebral spinal fluid. The doctors were confident that a tumor was forming. On February 24 a sedated MRI was performed and at that time it showed an enhancing mass on the pituitary stalk. Most likely the diagnosis is a germinoma which is a form of cancer and not operable. With this information we went to Children's Hospital in Los Angeles for a consultation/second opinion from a Neuro Oncologist there. Doctors in SD and LA are in agreement. The doctor in LA recommended a bone survey and MRI of the spine to rule out Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (LCH), which are bone lesions an also considered a form of cancer. There is a 10-15% chance of this diagnosis. Abby will have the MRI and bone survey sometime this week. If these tests come back negative, Abby will require a brain biopsy. She will most likely require chemo and radiation.

I know all of this information is detailed an overwhelming. As a family, we are trying to understand it all and support Cori, Craig, Abby, Mason and Carly. I wanted to create this blog to keep everyone informed of Abby's journey and upcoming treatments. Also, to offer support and love for Abby and her family. I will update the blog as I receive more information. 

In the meantime, please keep Abby and her family in your thoughts and prayers. The doctor in LA assured us that this is highly treatable and curable with minimal to hopefully no long term effects. I know she WILL be okay. It is going to be a long rough road, but together we will help her get there!