Just a quick update that Esha has been sick off and on a few times, during the past month and half, with cold, cough and fevers. It was some sort of virus, with flu-like symptoms, going on around in the house and we all took our turn at getting sick. I had Esha tested for H1N1 and luckily it was not swine. She is doing fine now and is fever free for a week now. Esha and her brother got the swine flu shots yesterday.
Esha continues to get weekly chemo and labs on Thursdays. Her teacher comes home for 5-6 hrs a week, which keeps Esha buzy.
I apologize for the delay in updating the blog. Happy thanksgiving everyone.
-Esha's mom
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Monday, October 5, 2009
Oct 5th update
Esha is doing well and continues to go in for weekly labs and iv Methotrexate infusion, on Thursdays. We are very excited that Esha started school (1st grade) this year. A teacher comes home to instruct her for 5 (or 6) hours a week. She and Sohan are thoroughly enjoying the time they spend with the teacher. She sure has a thirst for knowledge and is eagerly soaking up on everything that comes out of the teacher's mouth. Our original plan was to send her to school 2 days a week, but with the Swine flu scare at schools across the country and Esha's counts being low all the time, we are just not comfortable to send her out yet. Esha did get her seasonal flu-shot (inactive one, not the live shot) recently and is waiting to get the H1N1 flu shot (inactive) whenever it becomes available, for whatever its worth.
Esha is enjoying Fall season. We had a great summer and we are looking forward to a good fall season. Hopefully no infections and no more hospital stays, with the cold season coming up. We had been to the nearby farms a few times to pick apples and pumpkins. She painted her pumpkin really cool. Talking of painting, one of Esha's paintings ended up on the walls of Maria Ferrari Childrens hospital at Westchester Med. center. We are so proud that she did a great piece of art. She continues to paint, draw and make jewelery. Lately, the homework keeps her busy too.
I ended up contacting the Whitehouse finally, about Esha's wish to meet with President Obama. Hopefully someone will get back. Another exciting thing happening this fall is the Imagination Movers are coming to poughkeepsie for a performance next month and we are really looking forward to seing them again.
I want to thank you all again for checking on Esha's blog regularly and for your comments and emails. Please do not hesitate to contact with any questions you might have. Thanks for your prayers and support.
Esha is enjoying Fall season. We had a great summer and we are looking forward to a good fall season. Hopefully no infections and no more hospital stays, with the cold season coming up. We had been to the nearby farms a few times to pick apples and pumpkins. She painted her pumpkin really cool. Talking of painting, one of Esha's paintings ended up on the walls of Maria Ferrari Childrens hospital at Westchester Med. center. We are so proud that she did a great piece of art. She continues to paint, draw and make jewelery. Lately, the homework keeps her busy too.
I ended up contacting the Whitehouse finally, about Esha's wish to meet with President Obama. Hopefully someone will get back. Another exciting thing happening this fall is the Imagination Movers are coming to poughkeepsie for a performance next month and we are really looking forward to seing them again.
I want to thank you all again for checking on Esha's blog regularly and for your comments and emails. Please do not hesitate to contact with any questions you might have. Thanks for your prayers and support.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Sep 8th update
Our week long trip (Esha's Make-A-Wish trip) to Disneyland went very well. We stayed at 'Give Kids The World' Village http://www.gktw.com and it was a great experience for all of us. We were treated royally from the minute the Limo picked us up at home on Aug 29th morning to the minute they dropped us back home on Sep 4th evening. Esha and Sohan absolutely loved everything about the trip - the limo rides, flight, our stay at GKTW village, Magic kingdom, Animal kingdom, Aquatica, SeaWorld, Epcot, Disney Hollywood studios (they also gave us tickets to Universal Studios, but we did not have enough time to go to these parks).
During those 7 days, we felt like we were a normal family again - with no doctor visits and no labs - but just pure FUN all day long. Esha enjoyed every single ride that she went on at the parks and every single show/musical that we went to, especially the 3-D shows. Sohan was a bit nervous on some of the steep rides. But all in all, they both had a blast. They also did a LOT of shopping and bot a ton of souvenirs. A big thanks to Make-A-Wish Foundation and Give Kids The World for making this happen. We took a lot of pics, some of which are posted here. These were the best 7 days of our lives, since Esha's treatment began about 2 years ago, on Sep 18th, 2007, that we will cherish for ever.
Its hard to believe that 2 years have passed by, since the whole ordeal began. We have come a long way in the last 2 years, but there's still a long way ahead of us. During the last 2 years, she had gotten numerous rounds of chemos, got hospitalized for several days/weeks, she kept losing her hair following each round of chemo, it would come and go cycle after cycle, her baby brother suffered a lot when we were away at the hospital so much, she had so many side effects from the chemo and radiation, so much pain that she went through at times, we all cried a lot, we did laugh a lot too as a family, so many bad things happened, we had some good moments too. But all that matters to us at this very moment is that she is one heck of a kid. She is compassionate, caring and loving. She is strong. She is full of life. She loves being a kid. She never complains about getting poked, never complains about a ton of meds that she swallows on a daily basis. Never asked us why she has to go through something that the other kids don't have to. She just does what she is asked to do and she trusts us, more than anything else. We all learn a thing or two from her every day. We are truely blessed to have her.
Please pray that the remaining treatment ( another year or so ahead of us) goes through smoothly and that she continues to be healthy. A huge thanks to all of you for checking on her blog regularly.
During those 7 days, we felt like we were a normal family again - with no doctor visits and no labs - but just pure FUN all day long. Esha enjoyed every single ride that she went on at the parks and every single show/musical that we went to, especially the 3-D shows. Sohan was a bit nervous on some of the steep rides. But all in all, they both had a blast. They also did a LOT of shopping and bot a ton of souvenirs. A big thanks to Make-A-Wish Foundation and Give Kids The World for making this happen. We took a lot of pics, some of which are posted here. These were the best 7 days of our lives, since Esha's treatment began about 2 years ago, on Sep 18th, 2007, that we will cherish for ever.
Its hard to believe that 2 years have passed by, since the whole ordeal began. We have come a long way in the last 2 years, but there's still a long way ahead of us. During the last 2 years, she had gotten numerous rounds of chemos, got hospitalized for several days/weeks, she kept losing her hair following each round of chemo, it would come and go cycle after cycle, her baby brother suffered a lot when we were away at the hospital so much, she had so many side effects from the chemo and radiation, so much pain that she went through at times, we all cried a lot, we did laugh a lot too as a family, so many bad things happened, we had some good moments too. But all that matters to us at this very moment is that she is one heck of a kid. She is compassionate, caring and loving. She is strong. She is full of life. She loves being a kid. She never complains about getting poked, never complains about a ton of meds that she swallows on a daily basis. Never asked us why she has to go through something that the other kids don't have to. She just does what she is asked to do and she trusts us, more than anything else. We all learn a thing or two from her every day. We are truely blessed to have her.
Please pray that the remaining treatment ( another year or so ahead of us) goes through smoothly and that she continues to be healthy. A huge thanks to all of you for checking on her blog regularly.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Aug 28th update
Our week long trip to New Orleans (Louisiana), Houston and Austin (Texas) went very well. Esha and Sohan had a blast. They were very surprised to meet with the Imagination Movers. We obviously, didn't tell them till the last minute where we were going. We just kept telling them that we will be visiting their cousins, which we did in Houston, TX. The Movers were a LOT of fun. They took us around and showed us their production unit and warehouse, all their props and the warehouse mouse's cubby and all their cool stuff. We also got to watch a show that they were shooting at that time. Esha and Sohan were mesmerised being there with the Movers. It was like their dream come true. We took lots of pics and I will post them sometime. They also got a lot of gifts from the Movers. Imagination Movers rock!!! Thank you Movers for spending your valuable time with us and making Esha's wish come true. This was one of her first three wishes that she mentioned to the Make a Wish foundation. We are so happy that we were able to fulfil this one with the help from the Movers. Esha and Sohan also had a lot of fun visiting their cousins in Houston and spending some time with them and with our other friends. All in all, it was a very successfull trip and things worked out as planned.
Esha's Make-a-Wish trip to Disneyland is coming up tomorrow and we will be leaving early tomorrow morning to Orlando, Florida if all goes as planned. Knowing what happened last time at the last minute, we haven't told the kids yet about the trip. I am just packing, with the hope that it really happens this time and they get to have some fun. Right now, her blood counts are good and hopefully she will be ok.
Esha is currently on block 1 of Cycle 7 (of 12) and she continues to go for weekly labs, every thursday and on days that her counts are low she goes as needed. She is on Gleevec, Mercaptopurine and gets weekly intravenous Methotrexate.
Esha's Make-a-Wish trip to Disneyland is coming up tomorrow and we will be leaving early tomorrow morning to Orlando, Florida if all goes as planned. Knowing what happened last time at the last minute, we haven't told the kids yet about the trip. I am just packing, with the hope that it really happens this time and they get to have some fun. Right now, her blood counts are good and hopefully she will be ok.
Esha is currently on block 1 of Cycle 7 (of 12) and she continues to go for weekly labs, every thursday and on days that her counts are low she goes as needed. She is on Gleevec, Mercaptopurine and gets weekly intravenous Methotrexate.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Aug 13th update
Esha celebrated her 6th birthday on Aug 8th. She had two of her friends over for cake. It was a lot of fun.
Esha got invited to visit the Imagination Movers and their production set in New Orleans. We are leaving today evening on this trip. Esha and Sohan are not aware that they will be meeting with the Movers, although they know we are going somewhere. Infact, we didn't even tell them anything about the travel until this noon (until Esha's labs came back). They had a huge disappointment last time when our trip to Disneyland got cancelled at the last minute. I am sure they will be surprised a LOT to see the Movers !!!!
Esha had low counts for over 10 days now and they are on a recovery mode. I took her in for labs this morning and she seems to be coming up on her counts now. I really hope and pray that this trip really works out well for the kids.
Esha got invited to visit the Imagination Movers and their production set in New Orleans. We are leaving today evening on this trip. Esha and Sohan are not aware that they will be meeting with the Movers, although they know we are going somewhere. Infact, we didn't even tell them anything about the travel until this noon (until Esha's labs came back). They had a huge disappointment last time when our trip to Disneyland got cancelled at the last minute. I am sure they will be surprised a LOT to see the Movers !!!!
Esha had low counts for over 10 days now and they are on a recovery mode. I took her in for labs this morning and she seems to be coming up on her counts now. I really hope and pray that this trip really works out well for the kids.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
July 28th update
Esha continues to go in for weekly labs, on thursdays. She is now getting iv Methotrexate, instead of the oral Methotrexate. Its the same dosage but keeps her liver enzymes stable and her white counts are not sinking down with the iv medicine. She began her 6th cycle on July 23rd. She has 6 more of these cycles to go thru and each cycle is 8 weeks long.
Esha is doing well and so far we have had a good summer. We went to Jones beach, Bronx zoo, camp Kiwi, Hershey Park (PA) and Crayola World (Eaton, PA) to name a few interesting places. So, we have been going places and doing things, weather permitting and her counts permitting, which explains why I haven't been updating the blog as often as I promised to. But atleast, we get a little break here and there and we are trying to make the most out of it.
She is on a bunch of meds on a daily basis. I am not posting the details here but if any of you need more info on the meds she is currently on or on her current cycle info, please do not hesistate to contact.
We will try and shoot for the Disneyland trip again towards later next month. This is her Make-a-wish trip which was supposed to happen in June, but got cancelled at the last minute when esha got fever. Hopefully it will work out this time. Hope everyone is having a good summer!!
Esha is doing well and so far we have had a good summer. We went to Jones beach, Bronx zoo, camp Kiwi, Hershey Park (PA) and Crayola World (Eaton, PA) to name a few interesting places. So, we have been going places and doing things, weather permitting and her counts permitting, which explains why I haven't been updating the blog as often as I promised to. But atleast, we get a little break here and there and we are trying to make the most out of it.
She is on a bunch of meds on a daily basis. I am not posting the details here but if any of you need more info on the meds she is currently on or on her current cycle info, please do not hesistate to contact.
We will try and shoot for the Disneyland trip again towards later next month. This is her Make-a-wish trip which was supposed to happen in June, but got cancelled at the last minute when esha got fever. Hopefully it will work out this time. Hope everyone is having a good summer!!
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
July 7th update
Esha is doing well and we just returned home from our mini vacation (micro rather) yesterday. We took the kids out to the Hersheypark, PA for the July 4th weekend. It was super crowded but we kept washing their hands a lot and Esha had her mask on for hours together. But they had a blast !! Poor kids haven't been anywhere in 2 years, besides the hospital.
By the way, Esha was at the hospital for a week (June 19th - 25th) with low counts and mild fevers that she had for over 2 weeks. She was feeling tired and weak and her appetite went down a lot. She would sleep for extra long hours. All these symptoms scared us a lot. I insisted on a bone marrow testing and the results came back normal. It turns out these are all the side effects of cranial radiation she got about 2 months ago ( called post radiation somnolesce syndrome. For those of you that are going thru her protocol and need more info on this, pl feel free to ask for more details). She is coming out of this slowly though. Being away from home for a couple of days and being very active helped her a lot, i guess.
She is currently getting the iv Methotrexate instead of the oral tabs (same dosage tho). Hopefully this will help her liver enzymes to stay normal. She is also on Gleevec and Mercaptopurine on a daily dose. She continues to go in for weekly blood draws. She is doing well and keeping herself busy.
By the way, Esha was at the hospital for a week (June 19th - 25th) with low counts and mild fevers that she had for over 2 weeks. She was feeling tired and weak and her appetite went down a lot. She would sleep for extra long hours. All these symptoms scared us a lot. I insisted on a bone marrow testing and the results came back normal. It turns out these are all the side effects of cranial radiation she got about 2 months ago ( called post radiation somnolesce syndrome. For those of you that are going thru her protocol and need more info on this, pl feel free to ask for more details). She is coming out of this slowly though. Being away from home for a couple of days and being very active helped her a lot, i guess.
She is currently getting the iv Methotrexate instead of the oral tabs (same dosage tho). Hopefully this will help her liver enzymes to stay normal. She is also on Gleevec and Mercaptopurine on a daily dose. She continues to go in for weekly blood draws. She is doing well and keeping herself busy.
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