4 YEARS

Today marks 4 years off chemotherapy.  Four years ago yesterday, we gave Maggie her last dose of chemo, but we didn't know it at the time.  We have followed other families who have gone through cancer journeys and have read about their "No more chemo" celebrations.  We, however, have not had these celebrations because Maggie still doesn't know what happened.  We have chosen to wait to tell her, but there are times that she will ask questions.  Just the other day she saw the scars on her chest and asked what they were from.  After giving her a simple explanation, that was enough for her.  Going to Dr. French's office periodically is something she assumes probably everyone does.

So, rather than a loud celebration, Andy and I reflected on those memories 4 years ago quietly within our own minds.  To be honest, I didn't even know when her last day of chemo was and had to look back on the blog to find it.  When on there, I started reading through some of the experiences we had leading up to ICU and then just the beginning of ICU.  I couldn't read on.  It was too difficult.  Four years isn't enough time and who knows if we'll ever be able to read it.

Maggie is doing very well.  She is enjoying kindergarten and has decided when she grows up she wants to be a teacher and artist.  She plays teacher at home all the time with us being her pupils.  She continues to show us how incredibly sweet, gentle and kind she is.  There isn't another little girl that is so tender-hearted as Maggie.

On Monday, we head to Dayton for what will likely be the last time.  We received word that Dr. French will be moving down to North Carolina to continue his practice.  We moved up our appointment so that we could see him one last time.  Maggie will receive an echocardiogram and EKG, along with a full panel blood workup.  I expect it to be a bit difficult saying goodbye (most likely for me).  Dr. French has been with us since day 1 and has seen Maggie progress from an 8 1/2 month old baby into a beautiful six year old girl.  With him leaving, we have decided this would probably be a good time to transition to Akron Children's hospital's hematology/oncology department.  It is a very long trip going to Dayton (though as long as everything goes well, we move to check-ups every 6 months).  It will be much more convenient to go to Akron for appointments.  We will plan on saying goodbye to our doctors and nurses that have been with us from the beginning and we will most likely say goodbye to our old "Maggie house" and Dayton.  I don't expect we will go back for a very long time.

We continue our journey, though we are much quieter on this space than before.  We appreciate your continuing to follow with us and for the prayers that might be said for Maggie.  I pray every night that the disease will never return.  This will be my prayer always.