Warning

We are very sad to report that there is a young man going door to door in the Las Vegas area representing himself as part of Kassidy's Army. We would NEVER go door to door asking for donations, please call the police or email us at kassidysarmy@live.com. See official fundraisers below!

Monday, February 6, 2012

February 6, 2012

I am writing today a bit zombie like.  We've had quite the week.

Kass was a bit symptomatic this past week, she struggled a bit with nausea.  Last Sunday, she came home from an errand and quickly ran to her bathroom, which is not unordinary since she drinks so much water.  Soon after, I received a call from her cell asking me to go to the bathroom to help her.  She had thrown up all of her dinner. :(  So I called the clinic and asked for a refill of her decadron.  Decadron made her feel a bit better even though she wasn't so excited with me giving it to her for a day or two, it has made her face a bit swollen again.  But I do believe she wanted to make sure she was ok for bowling regional playoffs that week.

Playoffs started on Tuesday and Kass did really well that day, but on the last game that day her whole face changed.  She was so nauseated, but just wanted to finish her frames, she made it.  She helped her team advance that day to the next day of playoffs.  Great job Kass! The next day we played Cimarron HS and lost by 30 pins.  We were so proud of all the Centennial Varsity Girls Bowling team, they had a great season and we were so glad Kassidy could take part.  Especially, since she can now uncover another year in her letterman's jacket.
Kass in action.
Celebrating their 1st day win against undefeated Bonanza HS

Friday, we were so excited to go see the Hope, Strength, & Joy play at the high school to benefit Make a Wish.  In the parking lot Kassidy's pump started making the sound that a hospital monitor makes when someone flat lines and it flashed system error 3.3.  OH MY GOSH!!!! NOW!!!!  I tried all the tricks I've learned and not one worked.  UGH!  We decided that we would just shut the pump off and skip the dose.

The play was amazing and uplifting, such great talent!  Kass being off treatment made it so she could make it thru most of the play without going to the bathroom 500 times.  Bonus! After intermission, coach Spencer got up and told Kassidy's story to the crowd.   Boy, this brought me to tears.  Sometimes reliving those first couple of days is so hard, but it seems like forever ago.

When we got home, Ryan & I went into a bit of panic mode.  We had one and half hour before Kassidy's dose needed to start again.  I had gotten a crash course from the infusion nurses at the clinic the day we left Houston to come home (truth is I was more focused on coming home that day).  They told me that I most likely would never really have to do manual mode, that it didn't happen that often.  Ha!!!

Thank goodness I recorded everything they taught me at the clinic to have video libraries as reference.  Ryan ran to the computer to get a crash course himself and I was on the phone with Sigma calling their 24 emergency customer support line.  Deep in the back on my mind, I knew this pump was done.  I just knew it! Sure enough, Steve from Sigma confirmed my fears.

So, Ryan & I watched the video about 5 times to make sure we got it right.  Our hearts were beating so fast, we were so afraid to get it wrong and maybe overdose her on either bag 1 or bag 2.  We hung the medicine bags on a clothes hanger, figured out the new tubing and the medicine started to drip.  We set our clock alarms for every 2 hours, but we really didn't sleep much that night.
ANP Ghetto Style

Morning came quickly and unfortunately there was no way we could take the clothes hanger and medicine bags with us to the Run for a Wish.  Kass didn't want to miss the event and we decided that we would skip the morning treatment.  Unfortunately by doing so, she was a bit pale that morning, but she insisted on coming along, her nausea was back.  So glad one of our friends let us borrow a wheel chair so she didn't have to walk around, this helped.

When we got there we met the Kassidy's Army team in the middle of Town Square and it was so great to see everyone.  Kassidy's Army Team raised a little over $1,900 for Make a Wish and had over 60 walkers and runners.  I was so proud to help this great organization that puts smiles on children going thru such hardships in their lives.  We cannot wait to have a bigger group next year and make more of a difference.  Thank you all that signed up or just showed up to support our team and Make a Wish.
Some of Kassidy's Army Team for the 11th Run for a Wish
Softball Girls, love them.
Sue, Robin, & Ryan pushed Kass the whole 5k.  Way to go!
1st Place Winner, Thomas Johnson, notice his shirt!
3rd Place Winner, Ian Lee, another Kassidy's Army team member. Woot woot!
Just a couple of us at the finish line!

After the race, I had made reservations at Ihop for a small brunch for some of the team members.  Everyone except for Kass had knowledge of the surprise we had in store for her.  Earlier in the week when I had gone to pick up our team packets at Make a Wish, I spoke to Mary at the office and she reminded me that we needed to start planning.  Start planning??????  She informed that Kassidy's WISH had been granted.  OH MY GOSH!!!!  I couldn't stop smiling.

Last year in July we had met this young man, Justin, who participated in our Kassidy's Army golf tournament.  Well he happened to work for Make a Wish as a wish granter.  He and another wish granter had met with Kassidy in September to talk about what her wishes were.  Never in our wildest dream did we think they would grant her first wish.  So I couldn't just tell her, it had to be special.

At brunch we purposely left an empty seat to Kassidy's right.  A person dressed up in kangaroo costume came and sat by her, but nobody else on the table made a big deal.  She looked at the kangaroo like he had made a mistake by sitting by her.  LOL!!!! He proceeded to tell her " Hey mate, would you like some shrimp on the barbie?"  HA!  She was confused.  He finally asked her what he was, she obviously answered kangaroo and then a light lit up on her face.  She said, " Oh my gosh, did I get it?"  We all yelled and clapped in unison: "Australia".   Tears were rolling and smiles all around the restaurant.  My heart was happy!  It was a perfect moment.  So for Spring Break we get to be part of Kassidy's wish as a family, Kyle included!  How exciting.
LOL Classic!

Oh now I get it!

Australia!

After the race we swung by Everything Medical and got one of those rollie IV poles to hang Kassidy's medicine and help her be more ambulant.  When we got home we dialed in the medicine and we were back on track and even figured out the correct rate flow.  It has been a pretty tiring weekend waking up so much at night, but it also was such a great weekend.  Today I kept Kassidy home since the pump arrives sometime today.  Our plan is to have her back tomorrow.

Ohhhh and there's Fedex.  I already like this week..........


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