I'm not going to lie, I have not good about keeping up on the blog. This round was definitely in the top three of hardest rounds of chemo. We tried a new nausea medication that does seem to work, but I think that the Clofarabine is compounding in her system. She has been throwing up so much and losing weight during treatment. I think Isla is more than ready to be done with treatments. I know I am.
As I'm going back through her chemo rounds, I'm realizing there are big holes in my memory. I've blacked out the really difficult parts. Especially for this round. Even before Isla was diagnosed, this whole experience has been traumatic. I am seeing a trauma therapist and it has been helping. If you are going through hard times, please see a specialist to manage the trauma. I thought I was strong enough to just push through, but it really does catch up to you.
I'm going to summarize this treatment week from the pictures I took.
Monday - December 29, 2025
Doctor Princess Isla helped us in the Salt Lake City Primary Children's today. Five stars. Couldn't recommend her enough. She spent most of the time trying to get into the computer that she could barely reach, but she was very pleasant and OH SO CUTE.
Jokes aside, she was very happy to be done with her infusion today. She wanted to walk out by herself and waved to everyone as we left Primary Children's. (Picture on the right)
Lehi Primary Children's hospital today! Yay! We love the team there. Isla colored a princess picture before getting called back. At the beginning of our infusion appointments, they always ask Isla if she wants any toys. Today Isla said, "Frozen. Princess Elsa." They had all the Frozen toys and she was so happy to play with them!
She wanted me to hold her for a lot of her infusion. She runs hot while getting Clofarabine. Her face turns a little red and sometimes she is so hot that I start to sweat. We have to take breaks. We got a portable fan this time, so I run it to cool her down a little.
As you can see, she took her pink princess dress with us to treatment. I gave her princess dresses for Christmas. She loves them! She wore it there, but we had to convince her to take it off during her infusion. Once she was deaccessed, she wanted her princess dress on. She fell asleep in the car when we left.
Wednesday - December 31, 2025
The infusion was harder today. I don't remember details. Isla wasn't happy during it, but was very happy to leave. She played with the barbie dolls pictured below. They have been played with so much that the dresses have been stretched out and don't stay on. I offered to fix them, and the nurses said that was fine. It felt weird walking out with a container of oncology toys to the car. Isla was obviously happy about it. She thought that the dolls were hers now.
She did throw up a few times later that day.
Thursday - January 1, 2025
Since it was New Years Day, Lehi Primary Children's was closed. We had to drive to Salt Lake. It was very rough getting her checked in... The oncology doors were locked/closed so we had to go check-in near the front of the hospital on the first floor. Isla was one of a few patients getting treatment that day. She was a trooper though. Cute as always. It was a rough day, but I can't remember details. I think she threw up a couple times and fell asleep on me.
Friday - January 2, 2025
Her infusion was in Lehi Primary Children's today. Finished the princess dolls and brought them back. I was able to fix their hair as well. Almost as good as new! I hope they last a long time for all the little girls getting treatment in oncology.
Isla randomly got a surge of hunger... But only for beef sticks. She would eat one and then ask for another. The nurses were amazed. She ate 5 or 6 beef sticks. Someone made the comment that they hoped it wouldn't make her throw up... Then I just felt anxiety and this sense of dread. I was so stressed. I didn't know if it would happen, but I was bracing myself.
I think about an hour into her infusion is when the throwing up started. I can't even count how many times she threw up. I sat with her and held her as she threw up into the bag. There was one point when she was so exhausted from throwing up that she couldn't even keep her head up. She would stop puking and then lay back and close her eyes. She was so tired. This infusion felt like it went on forever.
She was so happy to be done, but she was still pretty miserable. We had a long drive home and she slept the entire way. I was grateful that she was able to sleep. She so desperately needed it. She didn't throw up the rest of the day. What a week. Not excited for the next two, but grateful that there is an end in sight!
Love, Megan
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