New Photos from Rose

Rose Dykstra posted a few photographs of our family after having a visit with us in September. They are posted on her blog:

http://www.simplyroseblog.com/2011/11/02/one-tough-cookie-smithers-family-photographer/


All is well.

Patrick

New Photos from Rose

Rose Dykstra posted a few photographs of our family after having a visit with us in September. They are posted on her blog:

http://www.simplyroseblog.com/2011/11/02/one-tough-cookie-smithers-family-photographer/


All is well.

Patrick

Great News

We've just returned from Vancouver to good news.

The official report on the MRI shows no evidence of recurrent disease, and Wren's blood counts are approaching normal levels.

We celebrated the end of Wren's treatment with our doctors and nurses at the hospital and had a chance to catch up with family and friends in Vancouver.

We flew home tonight. Nice to be back in the housecicle. Time to light a fire.

Lots of love,

P2, C and W.

Great News

We've just returned from Vancouver to good news.

The official report on the MRI shows no evidence of recurrent disease, and Wren's blood counts are approaching normal levels.

We celebrated the end of Wren's treatment with our doctors and nurses at the hospital and had a chance to catch up with family and friends in Vancouver.

We flew home tonight. Nice to be back in the housecicle. Time to light a fire.

Lots of love,

P2, C and W.

Full of Thanks

It is the time of year to reflect on life and to give thanks. We have so much to be thankful for.

Yes, it has been a long time since I've posted a note on Wren's blog. Needless to say, it has been a busy past few months. And Wren has been doing so well. Just keeping up with Wren and Chloë is a challenge, and then I was away for much of the summer doing field work.

The northern summer was a little disappointing--very cool and wet--and yet, many things in the garden seemed to grow fairly well. Here is Wren with some of that world famous Bulkley Valley Rhubarb.

 

One year ago we had just returned to Smithers from Wren's second stem-cell transplant and had learned that Wren would require 15 days of radiation back in Vancouver. It was disappointing but we knew we just had to keep going. Then we began the research trial.  I would have never imagined that one year later Wren would be in swimming and dance lessons, and attending "Strong Start" at the elementary school. She is quite serious about school and often teaches her stuffed animals at her own school here at home. And sometimes Chloë is allowed to be the helper.

Chloë is in grade one and is having her 6th birthday in a few days. She remains super enthusiastic about nearly everything and often seems to be the engine that keeps us all going. That hasn't changed. She's been helping get the firewood in for the winter and it won't be too long before she'll be chopping it all too. Can't wait.

We made it out to Haida Gwaii in late August. The mystic isles never disappoint. They are enchanting...

In a few days we'll be heading back down to Vancouver for Wren's next check-up. She'll have blood work and an MRI. Wren and Chloë will also have a little celebration at the hospital with our doctor and some of the other support staff to mark the end of treatment.

We are feeling pretty confident about things right now because Wren is so full of life.

Yes, we are very, very thankful.

Keep well,

P2, C and W.

Full of Thanks

It is the time of year to reflect on life and to give thanks. We have so much to be thankful for.

Yes, it has been a long time since I've posted a note on Wren's blog. Needless to say, it has been a busy past few months. And Wren has been doing so well. Just keeping up with Wren and Chloë is a challenge, and then I was away for much of the summer doing field work.

The northern summer was a little disappointing--very cool and wet--and yet, many things in the garden seemed to grow fairly well. Here is Wren with some of that world famous Bulkley Valley Rhubarb.

 

One year ago we had just returned to Smithers from Wren's second stem-cell transplant and had learned that Wren would require 15 days of radiation back in Vancouver. It was disappointing but we knew we just had to keep going. Then we began the research trial.  I would have never imagined that one year later Wren would be in swimming and dance lessons, and attending "Strong Start" at the elementary school. She is quite serious about school and often teaches her stuffed animals at her own school here at home. And sometimes Chloë is allowed to be the helper.

Chloë is in grade one and is having her 6th birthday in a few days. She remains super enthusiastic about nearly everything and often seems to be the engine that keeps us all going. That hasn't changed. She's been helping get the firewood in for the winter and it won't be too long before she'll be chopping it all too. Can't wait.

We made it out to Haida Gwaii in late August. The mystic isles never disappoint. They are enchanting...

In a few days we'll be heading back down to Vancouver for Wren's next check-up. She'll have blood work and an MRI. Wren and Chloë will also have a little celebration at the hospital with our doctor and some of the other support staff to mark the end of treatment.

We are feeling pretty confident about things right now because Wren is so full of life.

Yes, we are very, very thankful.

Keep well,

P2, C and W.

Summer Time?

All is well at the Big House. Paula and the girls have been busy in the garden and when I am home we often get out canoeing. We even got a chance to go paddling with Uncle Luke who visited from Tofino. Wren is doing very well and continues to gain agility, though one leg seems to give her a bit of extra trouble. She often enjoys helping to cook in the kitchen, or else whips something together in her play kitchen.

Chloë has finished kindergarten and already misses her teacher. Fortunately she has (at least) 12 more years of school to look forward to.

All four of us made it to the music festival where the girls were magically transformed into dancing tigers. Check it out.

Summer Time?

All is well at the Big House. Paula and the girls have been busy in the garden and when I am home we often get out canoeing. We even got a chance to go paddling with Uncle Luke who visited from Tofino. Wren is doing very well and continues to gain agility, though one leg seems to give her a bit of extra trouble. She often enjoys helping to cook in the kitchen, or else whips something together in her play kitchen.

Chloë has finished kindergarten and already misses her teacher. Fortunately she has (at least) 12 more years of school to look forward to.

All four of us made it to the music festival where the girls were magically transformed into dancing tigers. Check it out.

Morchella elata!

On Sunday we went morel hunting with friends to a two-year old fire south of Houston, B.C. Both Wren and Chloë (and their parents) were at fever-pitch. Wren was very excited about finding so many mushrooms and merrily clambered over fallen logs and up hillsides. It was a perfect day, complete with blackened hands and soot-stained, smiling faces. After about four hours we had gathered nearly 20 pounds of Morchella elata. We had morel pizza for dinner, and a few left over to dry for winter.

We are a family of gatherers. Sap, mushrooms, plants and berries, gathering is something all four of us seem to really enjoy.

Morchella elata!

On Sunday we went morel hunting with friends to a two-year old fire south of Houston, B.C. Both Wren and Chloë (and their parents) were at fever-pitch. Wren was very excited about finding so many mushrooms and merrily clambered over fallen logs and up hillsides. It was a perfect day, complete with blackened hands and soot-stained, smiling faces. After about four hours we had gathered nearly 20 pounds of Morchella elata. We had morel pizza for dinner, and a few left over to dry for winter.

We are a family of gatherers. Sap, mushrooms, plants and berries, gathering is something all four of us seem to really enjoy.

Wren's Celebration

The news is good. All of Wren's tests came back negative for neuroblastoma. The next tests are in three months. It's time to celebrate!

We would like to invite friends to come to the Big House to celebrate the end of Wren's treatment and her return to good health. We'll have an outdoor barbecue and bonfire with hotdogs starting around 5:00 pm on Saturday June 11th. We will take care of burgers, dogs, buns, tortillas, and fixings but you could bring a salad, appetizer or dessert to share, or just swing by for a visit. Plan B beer will be here and a special cake for Owie Baby who is having (another) birthday--her fourth one of the year! We could run short on chairs, dishes, and cups so if you can, bring some along.

We are deeply grateful for the care that you have given us. We struggle with words to express how much this has meant to us.

Hope to see you here.

The weather has been good and the girls have been playing outside all day, every day. They've been helping in the garden and we are anticipating a great harvest this fall. Wren has been full of energy and has rediscovered her passion for interpretive dance and trampoline, sometimes at the same time. Life is very good.

Love Wren, Chloë, Paula and Patrick

Wren's Celebration

The news is good. All of Wren's tests came back negative for neuroblastoma. The next tests are in three months. It's time to celebrate!

We would like to invite friends to come to the Big House to celebrate the end of Wren's treatment and her return to good health. We'll have an outdoor barbecue and bonfire with hotdogs starting around 5:00 pm on Saturday June 11th. We will take care of burgers, dogs, buns, tortillas, and fixings but you could bring a salad, appetizer or dessert to share, or just swing by for a visit. Plan B beer will be here and a special cake for Owie Baby who is having (another) birthday--her fourth one of the year! We could run short on chairs, dishes, and cups so if you can, bring some along.

We are deeply grateful for the care that you have given us. We struggle with words to express how much this has meant to us.

Hope to see you here.

The weather has been good and the girls have been playing outside all day, every day. They've been helping in the garden and we are anticipating a great harvest this fall. Wren has been full of energy and has rediscovered her passion for interpretive dance and trampoline, sometimes at the same time. Life is very good.

Love Wren, Chloë, Paula and Patrick

Wren's Tests

We arrived home a few hours ago and the girls are settling into bed. Wren chanted "Big House! Big House!" for most of the 14-hour long drive, at least when she wasn't busy poking Chloë. It felt like a pretty long drive, but thankfully the weather was beautiful and spring flowers were in bloom along the roadside. The rivers were all bank-full and silty brown.

We had a fantastic trip down by way of the ferry from Prince Rupert to Port Hardy and were fortunate enough to see four humpback whales, a few black bears on the shore, and a pod of hunting killer whales. We also had great visits with Grandma, Papa Georgio, Uncle Mike and the kids, Nana and even Great Grandpa in Victoria who was very happy to see how well Wrennie was doing. The camas lilies in Victoria were in full flower--spectacular.

Eventually we made our way to Vancouver and on Tuesday Wren had a long and difficult day of tests including and MRI scan, blood work, urine test and a bone marrow biopsy. After we left the hospital, Wren slept for several hours. What a brave kiddo. I pretty tough day. This was followed up by a one hour MiBG scan on Wednesday and a half hour MiBG scan on Thursday.

The good news is that all of these tests have shown no signs of cancer. We haven't had the full results from the final MiBG scan, but all other tests are negative for neuroblastoma. This is a tremendous relief.

It is so good to be home again.

Then again...Hawaii was pretty fun...

Wren's Tests

We arrived home a few hours ago and the girls are settling into bed. Wren chanted "Big House! Big House!" for most of the 14-hour long drive, at least when she wasn't busy poking Chloë. It felt like a pretty long drive, but thankfully the weather was beautiful and spring flowers were in bloom along the roadside. The rivers were all bank-full and silty brown.

We had a fantastic trip down by way of the ferry from Prince Rupert to Port Hardy and were fortunate enough to see four humpback whales, a few black bears on the shore, and a pod of hunting killer whales. We also had great visits with Grandma, Papa Georgio, Uncle Mike and the kids, Nana and even Great Grandpa in Victoria who was very happy to see how well Wrennie was doing. The camas lilies in Victoria were in full flower--spectacular.

Eventually we made our way to Vancouver and on Tuesday Wren had a long and difficult day of tests including and MRI scan, blood work, urine test and a bone marrow biopsy. After we left the hospital, Wren slept for several hours. What a brave kiddo. I pretty tough day. This was followed up by a one hour MiBG scan on Wednesday and a half hour MiBG scan on Thursday.

The good news is that all of these tests have shown no signs of cancer. We haven't had the full results from the final MiBG scan, but all other tests are negative for neuroblastoma. This is a tremendous relief.

It is so good to be home again.

Then again...Hawaii was pretty fun...

Moving On

Returning birds are building nests around our house, and the nettles and rhubarb have awakened. Wren grows more strength and confidence with each passing day of spring. We spent Mothers Day in a canoe on the lake and then made guest appearances as a part of the "Salmon Symphony", an afternoon performance celebrating salmon and our rivers. I read to the girls (and the audience) a story about the life cycle of Pacific salmon, and Wren effortlessly stole the show with her funny little questions about the events unfolding in the story. She is doing so well and sometimes has more energy than Chloë, which is no small feat. On Saturday evening Wren attended a friend's birthday and was running around outside with a bunch of other kids having the time of her life. It was wonderful.

We return to Vancouver in a few days for the final round of tests relating to Wren's treatment and the antibody trial. It is a full week of MRI, two MIBG scans, bloodwork and a bone marrow biopsy (I nearly passed out last time). If all goes well, Wren will not require further tests for three whole months!

We are very positive about how things are going, though with neuroblastoma, even the short-term prognosis is impossible to determine. This disease is notorious for relapse. We celebrate Wren's good health and each day we share with her.

Today I am playing "medical kit" with Wren and we are giving one another "injections" in our knees (like when we used to give her G-CSF and GM-CSF). Owie Baby has an IV and an NG tube right now, and is covered from head to toe with Dora band-aids.

Our lives are beginning to settle a little. Paula is in the garden and I am returning to work soon. Our financial situation is sound. We remain grateful for all of the support that we have received, it has made our finances stress-free for the past year and a half. Recognizing that we think we will be able to make ends meet, we will be closing Wren's account at the credit union. Thank you so much for carrying us along all of this time. I feel that it has really contributed to Wren's health.

I took a roll of black and white film while we were in Hawai'i. Here are a few of the better photos.

With love,
P2, C and W.