chasophonic

WBC: Sat 0.0%; Sun 0.1%; Today 0.2% !!!

I'm smiling.

Thanks for all of the good thoughts, prayers and songs sent our way today.

Cecilia woke up after the transplant and asked if she could go home now. She's napping again. Now we wait. I think I might have a good show tonight.

My life has been an emotional rollercoaster lately. I’ve spoken and posted about the good news, the ups in Cecilia’s battle with leukemia, but not so much about the downs.

The cancer reasserted itself in mid November. The heavy chemo drugs they put her on shut down her insulin production and she almost died on the day after Thanksgiving. That particular drug ran a short course and blood sugar levels could be managed the same as for a diabetic. When she was done with it her pancreas went back to normal functioning.

The rest of the heavy chemo continued through last week, to force her into remission. It did. She was over to our house two days last week. She was her normal bight, funny, cheerful self. Except for being a bit frail and bald. She did crafts with Grandma, played games and made delightful comments on anything that came up. Then the world changed.

This week that rollercoaster is making its slow suspenseful climb to the high peak. (Kachink….. Kachink….. Kachink…..)
Cecilia has been in the hospital since Friday undergoing a lot of chemotherapy and radiation treatments. The difference is that these are designed to destroy her bone marrow. On Friday her 18 month old brother Sylvio will be put under general anesthesia and as much marrow as his little body can spare will be harvested. Cecilia, also under general anesthesia, will be waiting to receive this. Sylvio is an almost unheard of 100% tissue match.

Long before this was scheduled, Riverfolk had scheduled a show at the Coffee Grounds this Friday evening. When these surgeries were scheduled last week, I considered canceling the show, but didn’t. I suppose this is my version of denial. In troubling times I seek out doses of normal. Everything will be fine and I can do the show as planned. At present I am still planning to do the show.

I was going to work as usual on Friday as well. “Nothing to do at the hospital but wait.” I’ve changed my mind. My child is putting her healthy, precious, baby at risk to save her very sick precious eight-year-old daughter. I’ll be there. Being there is important.

Kachink….. Kachink….. Kachink…..

Cecilia

She appears to be in remission. ( Long version behind the cut )

She turns 8 next week.

My fingers

I'm on my second day with no bandages. ( Long version )

All-in-all I'll be back in all night jamming form soon. I expect no problem with the next Riverfolk show on Oct 23.

My daughter said something like this Sunday.

My 7 year old granddaughter, Cecilia, was sent to emergency Friday then admitted to the hospital with Pneumonia in both lungs. Saturday her blood work showed some oddities in some cells. Sunday she was diagnosed with Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Monday, after it was determined which type she has, she began what will be a 2 year long regime of treatment with her first round of chemotherapy.

She's only seven.

Prognosis is good. Complete remission rate for children is %85. She has several other factors going in her favor beyond that. She is doing amazingly well settling into life in the hospital. It will be here home for the next three or four weeks.

I wrote about needing more music a while back. I've gotten a few good doses recently.

( Read more... )

Silvio, our 12th grandchild, was born at 2:22 this afternoon. 8 lbs 12 oz and all around healthy. Mom and Dad tired, but doing fine. Grandma is bouncing.

I've just posted a few entries at circleofmusic.

There are two different kinds of participation in lj communities that I think doesn't exist for friending lj users. You can watch a community or join a community (or do both). I point this out because there are several people who I would hope and expect to participate in the discussions at circleofmusic who are listed as watching, but not listed as members. I think you have to be a member to comment.

So please go over to circleofmusic and read, join, and post.

Thanks

Tomorrow, Sept. 29, I will playing set at Betsy’s Back Porch, from 11 to noon. Joining me for this set will be my friend, Jeremiah Bohn of Bluegreen.

This is part of an all day benefit for this wonderful neighborhood coffee house (they serve wine, beer, sandwiches, and a variety of other treats as well). Located at Lyndale  Nicollet and Diamond Lake Road in south Minneapolis, they have seen a large drop in business with the since the nearby freeway construction started. The owner decided to close the business a couple of weeks ago. This benefit is part of community response that will keep them open for now.

Edited to correct address