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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, November 8, 2008 8:53 PM CST Just got in the door from Cincinnati. Mack had a good check up. Labs were good, IV was started with 1 stick, infusion was uneventful and we had a great time. I had the opportunity to share our gratitude in a speech given to donors of the hospital. It was amazing to reflect back on all the hospital has done for us. Mack got to play with her best friend Caroline... swimming, shopping and dining out, does it get any better than that? Of course, our shopping extravaganza included a trip to build-a-bear!
Next month (Dec 5th) Mackenzie will have dental surgery at the hospital. I guess the work that needs to be done is extensive and therefore it will be done under general anesthesia in the main OR. They said it would take about 3 hours to put some crowns on, extract teeth, extensive cleaning and xrays. After her surgery, she will get her infusion of IVIG again.
I'm exhausted from the trip... heading to bed. Thanks for continuing to pray for Mack and our family.
Much love,
Amy
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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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