Força Aurelia

 Back at the hospital for our final 4-day stay of this phase! Aurelia will finish her liquid chemo in a few hours and this morning she had the lumbar puncture, so she is feeling a little tired this afternoon. I am letting her rest a little before we get back to more school work. Our week at home was uneventful, which is a good thing. We have to take Aurelia’s temperature and watch her for any septic shock or any illness, but thankfully she has not had any issues thus far. She goes to physio a few times a week because the chemo can really wreak havoc on her bones and ligaments, so we are trying to keep things strong and moving. Here she is at physio: As soon as the liquid chemo stops in a few hours the medical team will make sure her body is excreting everything smoothly before we go home on Friday. They give her a saline solution and I keep her hydrated with homemade juices and smoothies that I bring in a cooler. We also try to move as much as possible with dance and exercise video...

 Back at the hospital for treatment! Aurelia had an amazing week at home and with lots of bike rides, hikes, video meetings with school, a family Halloween party and lunch at a restaurant (outside on an empty terrace, but still!)  She had her lumbar puncture this morning and was on a school call right after. Her class is currently confined at home due to a COVID case, so all of them are online with their teacher throughout the day. It actually makes it easier for Aurelia as she is no longer the only one tuning in via video, so she is happy. The kids know she calls in from home or the hospital, so it’s not really a big deal anymore.  I wish I had more to report, but we have had really smooth sailing the past month. Her doctors are thrilled with the improvement in her blood and everything is going very well. I know this is not the experience for other families going through ALL treatment, so I’m very grateful that she feels so good and is able to have as normal a life as po...