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.

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.

Aloha

We have just returned from a wonderful week on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawai'i, that was fully sponsored by the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

After an eventful lead-up to the trip (nearly missing Wren's surgery to remove her CVC due to engine failure on our flight), we were grateful to spend seven nights under tropical stars.

I can't tell you how great it was to forget about cancer for a whole week and to watch Wren's strength and confidence grow with each day. Every morning she would wake and get ready for the pool--then both girls would race down the hall for the elevator (see the blurry photo below).

In Waikiki we took a ride in a submarine that gave Wren chance to see the reef fish, sea turtles and even spotted eagle rays. It also provided Chloë with the inspiration to figure out how look for fish back at Turtle Bay. The humuhumu nukunuku apua'a (trigger fish) did not disappoint.

We caught a great hula show (the girls were mesmerized) and went for an hike in the jungle (tree ferns and filmy ferns!) near Waimea Bay. The Bishop Museum had a good display of early Hawaiian arts and culture (the woven arts were incredible), and the science wing featured the famous Oahu tree snails--a hit with our family. There was also an impressive dinosaur exhibit that was touring through which was a bit too realistic for our two young girls--they were terrified by the full-sized mechanical carnivores.

The girls were very pleased with the leis that they received at the airport and were busy admiring all of the tropical flowers at the resort (collecting all the fallen ones). They also seemed to appreciate the gorgeous sunrises over the ocean each morning through the window of our room.

But for Wren and Chloë the trip was really about being in the water, both the ocean and the various swimming pools. They just loved swimming and would have spent the entire trip in or underwater if their parents hadn't insisted on other unnecessary activities such as lunch, dinner, and bedtime.

I can't thank Make-a-Wish enough for granting Wren and the rest of us this wish. It provided lots of joy and happy memories.

Wren is doing really well. She seems to have lots of energy these days and is much quicker on her feet than I remember. We head back to Vancouver in two weeks for the final round of tests that mark the end of Wren's neuroblastoma research trial. Of course, we are hopeful that there will be no signs of cancer.

With love,

Patrick, Paula, Chloe and Wren Williston

Aloha

We have just returned from a wonderful week on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawai'i, that was fully sponsored by the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

After an eventful lead-up to the trip (nearly missing Wren's surgery to remove her CVC due to engine failure on our flight), we were grateful to spend seven nights under tropical stars.

I can't tell you how great it was to forget about cancer for a whole week and to watch Wren's strength and confidence grow with each day. Every morning she would wake and get ready for the pool--then both girls would race down the hall for the elevator (see the blurry photo below).

In Waikiki we took a ride in a submarine that gave Wren chance to see the reef fish, sea turtles and even spotted eagle rays. It also provided Chloë with the inspiration to figure out how look for fish back at Turtle Bay. The humuhumu nukunuku apua'a (trigger fish) did not disappoint.

We caught a great hula show (the girls were mesmerized) and went for an hike in the jungle (tree ferns and filmy ferns!) near Waimea Bay. The Bishop Museum had a good display of early Hawaiian arts and culture (the woven arts were incredible), and the science wing featured the famous Oahu tree snails--a hit with our family. There was also an impressive dinosaur exhibit that was touring through which was a bit too realistic for our two young girls--they were terrified by the full-sized mechanical carnivores.

The girls were very pleased with the leis that they received at the airport and were busy admiring all of the tropical flowers at the resort (collecting all the fallen ones). They also seemed to appreciate the gorgeous sunrises over the ocean each morning through the window of our room.

But for Wren and Chloë the trip was really about being in the water, both the ocean and the various swimming pools. They just loved swimming and would have spent the entire trip in or underwater if their parents hadn't insisted on other unnecessary activities such as lunch, dinner, and bedtime.

I can't thank Make-a-Wish enough for granting Wren and the rest of us this wish. It provided lots of joy and happy memories.

Wren is doing really well. She seems to have lots of energy these days and is much quicker on her feet than I remember. We head back to Vancouver in two weeks for the final round of tests that mark the end of Wren's neuroblastoma research trial. Of course, we are hopeful that there will be no signs of cancer.

With love,

Patrick, Paula, Chloe and Wren Williston