No Hair
 

Here in Connecticut we've had several cases where an entire class of students shaved their heads while one of their classmates was going through chemotherapy. I hope your daughter's teacher, principal, or PTO/PTA president is watching this thread. God bless.

Thanks Kassidy thought that would be pretty funny if her principal would shave his head. Knowing him he would wait until the last day of school

SWVAREF--I sent you a PM with some information you may find interesting and helpful at this time.

We had a school here that had a girl on the softball team have cancer and the principal (who is normally a jerk) allowed the kids in school to wear hats every Friday and charged them $1 every Friday to do it. He then gave that money to the girl's family for expenses. It was a small way of allowing her fellow students to support and contribute to her defeating cancer - which she did and is now playing college softball!

SWVAREF

Sorry to be so late to this post; Kassidy, her sister, and you and Mom are in our prayers. Please tell Kassidy I'm looking forward to reading about her gymnastic feats in the future when she beats this.

update
 

We visited Kassidy's Dr today. She is scheduled to have surgery Wed to put the port-a-cath in her side,the chemo treatments will start immediately afterward. Thanks to everyone whom I have spoke to about this.Your words of encourgment has helped Kassidy now that people all over the United States is thinking about her. GOD BLESS you guys
I will update soon.

That's cool!! :)

Danny,

Just a couple things she might think about doing - (if she hasn't already):
1. Keeping a personal journal of her fight might be something to think about.
2. Get her a separate notebook that she can use to write down things she wants to ask her doctors when she thinks of them - it's a lot easier than trying to remember them later on.
3. There are boards/support groups on the web where kids fighting cancer & other serious diseases can share their experiences with each other. If she hasn't already found them, let me know & I'll email you some url's to get started with.

The chemo's not going to be fun, but tell her to hang in there - a lot of people are pulling for her. I made sure that your entire family is being specifically remembered in our book of intentions for the Triduum services this week (I'm doing music for all 5 - gonna be a long weekend!). I'm sure many others are making sure you're remembered in their prayers as well.

Keep us informed how it's going........

Pax Vobiscum

Kassidy, Keep this in mind. Prayers and the power of your mind will bring you through this. Have the faith. When you think of positive thoughts it's wild how your brain will send healing powers to the area that has the cancer. Trust me I've seen it happen. So see your self healed and it will happen soon. You will be added to my prayers. Be strong and keep the faith.

update.
 

Hey guys just a quick update as you can tell its late .I just got home with Kassidys little sister so she can go to school tomorrow. We started off this morning pretty early. Kassidys port-a-cath surgery went very well this morning. She was needed extra fluids before she could take her 1st treatment of chemo in which she got that tonight at 9pm. We left the hospital at about 10:00. She was not sick as of then. We meet with her doctor taday and found out she has to take 40 weeks of treatments (up into Christmas). If everything goes as planned and the chemo works,she will have another CT and MRI at about the 11 week mark where the will see if the chemo is killing the cells. If so they are planning to replace her right femur with a metal rod (that is where the main tumor is located)and continue. Some of the treatments will require over night stays and when the use the more stronger Meds she will be there for 6 days or more. You guys are right this will be a hard road for us. We as a family will have to doctor her while she is at home. No vacations, no going out of town anytime.We have to have someone with her 24-7. Which is great because we know she will still be with us.THANKS for listening and I'll update soon

SWVA -- There are some excellent make-up artists who might be able to give Kassidy a daily routine that will help her feel feminine and pretty, even with her head bare. Also, she's probably to young to see V for Vendetta, but you might find some stills of Natalie Portman bald. It can be stylish and beautiful!

Meantime, remember that God is always there with you regardless of what you may have to go through. And my family and I will be holding you in our thoughts and prayers, too.

My Prayers are with you
 

SWVAREF...

I just read this thread and am sorry I have skipped over it. I was saddened to see that another person has joined my fraternity as a caregiver.

Just before the season began, my wife and mother of our three young children was diagnosed with stage IV (inoperable) Melanoma. We have been battling this now for several months. In fact, I am writing this post from the chair next to my wife's hospital bed. She is scheduled to have one of the tumors removed today to do a complete biopsy to acertain the efficacy of the trial agent that was administered to her 2 months ago. She went through standard chemotherapy, but it did not produce the required results, so we are forced to participate in clinical trials.

I don't want to bore all you or the rest of the community out there with all the details or our story, but I want to let you know that I am travelling the road with you and am more than willing to share the lessons I have learned over the past 6 months as you navigate the medical, psychological and pysiological path the cancer creates. There is also a lot you can do to get involved and help fight cancer as a caregiver. (Make sure that you and your wife look after your own needs as well to maintain proper health, otherwise you wont be as effective for your daughter).

One person mentioined starting a journal and I highly recommend that. My wife and I have actually started a Blog to chronicle our journey. This is great because it allows us to document our journey, keep family and friends abreast of the latest news, and a forum for them to leave comments for us. Much like your daughter enjoys reading the posts and emails that this community has sent you, we enjoy getting the feedback from our supporters out there on our blog.

If you have any questions at all, I would LOVE to help you. Send me an IM or reach out to me on our blog as I check it several times a day. (BTW... any and all readers are welcome to visit our blog... "lyonsfamily.org"). I have to run now, as they should be coming any minute to take my wife to the OR.

God Bless you and may He hold you and your family firmly in His hands.

(BTW... this is obvioulsy why I was notably absent from the forum this season).

website
 

We have just started a website for Kassidy www.kassidyspage.com .

website
 

We have just started a website for Kassidy www.kassidyspage.com

What a beatiful young lady you have! Very blessed . . . Continuing to pray for you all!