Round 4...Day 1 of Chemo at UCSF...

I was a restless night for Mommy and Daddy. Delaney slept well, and woke up in a great mood hugging and kissing Mommy and Daddy. Delaney had her anti nausea medications prior to her chemotherapy start at 9am. Chemotherapy was under way before we knew it. These rounds are more challenging, the doses of chemotherapy are very big, Delaney will need to bathe 3 times a day, to wash off any chemotherapy she will excrete, we need to try to get her to brush her teeth 4 times a day, and her Broviac dressing will need to be changed everyday. Delaney has been in a great mood all day, but she is wiped out and does not have much energy. We were able to speak with the Bone Marrow doctor and put a few of our worries aside. We have been worrying about the side effects of one of the chemotherapy drugs, Delaney will receive. She ate more today than she has in almost 4 months. It still was about the equivalent of 1/2 of a normal meal, but it was an improvement. Delaney is still very anxious about eating because she is hardwired that food is going to make her sick. This could take her a very long time to overcome. Since we are in the BMT unit brother is not able to come visit. It is very hard on all of us, but especially Delaney. She really needs brother to feel complete. We can't wait to get home and have our family back together for what we are hoping to be a few solid weeks before the start of round 5. Tomorrow will be the same regimen. A 2 hour drip of Carboplatin followed by another 2 hour drip of Thiotepa, 3 baths, 4 tooth brushings and a dressing change and hopefully a decent appetite. So far we have had a wonderful experience at UCSF. All of the staff has been more than accommodating. Transplant is scheduled for Monday morning at 10:30am. We are very nervous for this, but we are continuously reassured that Delaney will be great. It is going to be an early night for Team Delaney. She has been asleep since about 6:30pm, so Mommy and Daddy should at least get a nap in while we can. Thank you all for the love, prayers and support. GO TEAM DELANEY!

"And though she be but LITTLE, she is FIERCE!"