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Mackenzie was diagnosed at 15 months of age with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia on January 16, 2004 after weeks of high fever of unknown origin. Her bone marrow responded well and at two and four weeks into treatment, both aspirations showed remission. Unfortunately, with leukemia, it is a long road, and even when remission occurs, a 2 1/2 - 3 year protocol of chemotherapy must be completed. The first year was rough, as Mackenzie endured many, many complications. In October 2004, she entered the "maintenance" phase of therapy and was doing well until April 18, 2005 when we received news that the leukemia was back. Mackenzie's relapse occured in her central nervous system and she enduring ten more months of intensive chemo and cranial/spinal radiation, followed by another year and a half of maintenance therapy. Her doctors told us they thought she had a 40% chance of beating this thing. It was a crushing, heart wrenching blow to our lives. But we didn't know the storm wasn't over. Five months into maintenance, Mack relapsed again on January 18, 2007. This time the cancer was back in her bone marrow and the doctors thought she had a 10 percent chance of surviving. We uprooted our family and left suddenly for Cincinnati Childrens Hospital where she was inpatient for over six months. Four months of intensive chemotherapy and finally an unrelated umbilical cord blood transplant on May 15, 2007. We continue to remind ourselves that life is not about numbers or statistics... it's not about someone's best guess at whether or not my child will live or how long she may live. Rather, it's all about a plan and a purpose that God has for our lives. And so we continue to place all of our hope in Him, trusting in His constant care. His faithfulness has been evident in the many ways He continues to provide for us on this long and exhausting journey. We praise God for Mack's life everyday and for the miracle of His healing hand. We are so grateful for all the changes that have occured in our own lives through this journey we have been on and have learned to appreciate the suffering. YOU are another example of His outstretched arms and we pray that you will be touched by Mackenzie's life and blessed through your love and support for our family!
P.U.S.H. & P.U.L.L. for Mackenzie!
Mackenzie's MySpace
We have been amazed by the way God has brought you all into our lives. A special tracking map of the world has been made for Mackenzie's Prayer Warriors so she can see how many lives she has touched and how near and far her prayers have come from. Please click the "Add yourself button" below and add your name, location, picture (if you want) and, most importantly, your message for Mack!!! The map defaults to the US, but the entire world is available for posting. We look forward to printing the information as a keepsake for Mackenzie. Someday, she will be amazed as we have been! Thanks for taking the time to let us know what part of the world you are supporting her from!
Mackenzie's Prayer Warriors
BuddyMapping.com - Create your own map. Click here!
DONATIONS MAY BE SENT DIRECTLY TO THE BANK WHICH HANDLES MACKENZIE'S MEDICAL FUNDS. THE ADDRESS IS:
WAUCONDA COMMUNITY BANK
HOPE FOR MACKENZIE
ATTN: CYNTHIA TYSLAND
495 WEST LIBERTY STREET
WAUCONDA, IL 60084
Journal
Saturday, October 4, 2008 9:39 AM CDT For some reason, this month's trip to Cincinnati was very profound for me. Maybe because the fevers Mack has experienced over the past several weeks brought up alot of baggage from the valleys of the past or because I'm feeling sentimental as she is turning 6 this Tuesday (Oct 7th). But I find myself praising God in a new way. His grace is sufficient and consistent and it continues to amaze me! The IV team started Mack's IV with one poke... unless you have seen your child as a pin cushion, you have NO IDEA and will never fully appreciate how much of a gift that is! Her IVIG infusion was uneventful, without reaction. Mackenzie's labs were good and her doctors were pleased after looking at her cells under the microscope. We reflected on the miracle of Macks healing and Gods amazing grace that sustained her through the fire, leaving her without even the scent of smoke. It was like watching a film in my mind of the last four years and the "shock and awe" factor of what God had done in Mackenzie's life and for our family, hit home hard. How do you say "thank you" to a family who donated life saving cells over 11 1/2 years ago, to nurses who carefully collected those cells, to scientists who delicately froze and stored them. To doctors who knowledgably chose them, to technicians who unthawed and intricately washed them, to the team who delivered and adminstered them to our precious little girl who's broken body was failing... and most importantly to a GREAT God who oversaw it all, who brought it all together as we desperately sought His plan, who's grace and mercy carried us during dark days and who's faithful love never waivered. There just aren't words to express gratitude on that level. Its so far beyond our human comprehension, but we have been amazingly blessed to view a fraction of God's blueprint for our lives. And THAT is where we continue striving to align our lives with, and where we place all of our hope for the future!
Our next appointment is scheduled for Nov. 7th. Please continue to pray for protection for Mack as we enter cold/flu season. Praying that her new cells will learn how to fight infection and maintain memory to fight germs in the future. Also prayers for healing of her brain from all the detramental effects of radiation and chemotherapy. Her IEP meeting at school is set for Oct. 22nd and we are still waiting to hear when her neuropsych eval and testing will be done in Cincinnati.
Thanks again for always "being there" for our family and for covering us in prayer. Words continue to fall short when we attempt to express our appreciation!
Love you all,
Amy
PS I finally added new picture to the photo album, but I forgot to resize them, so they are very large. Sorry.
Read Journal History
Hospital Information: CINCINNATI CHILDRENS HOSPITAL
3333 Burnett Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45229
513-636-4200
Links: www.caringbridge.org/visit/awesomeali Remembering Awesome Ali
www.jenessabyers.com Remembering Boey
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