Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Beating the Odds

Kelly had an appointment with her opthamologist at CHOC today. He has been following her since he first saw her in the hospital 2 days after surgery, when she couldn't read.   Dr. Sami hadn't seen her in 6 months.  After hearing how she has done with treatments and MRIs the during that time, he looked at her, smiled, and said "You're beating the odds."  She really is so far.  No one expected her to be doing as well as she is right now when she recurred about a year ago.  


Kelly's next MRI is October 29th, 2 weeks from today.  We pray she will still be beating the odds.

Shannon is away at 6th grade science camp near Big Bear.  She was so excited to go away to camp for 4 days with her classmates.   It is quiet here without her, but we know she is having a great time.  She comes home Friday afternoon.  Then we are going to see Wicked at the Pantages Theater in Hollywood that night (thanks Kevin, this was a birthday present from him last weekend.)    Shannon is very hesitant about going to see this show.  She used to be obsessed with this musical.  But the first time we were going to see it was when Kelly had her seizure, which was so scary for Megan and Shannon to see.  Kevin and Kelly were still at the hospital when I left with Megan and Shannon to get them to the show.  The plan was that Kevin and Kelly would meet us there as soon as she was released, which we were led to believe would be soon after we left.  They never made it.  Instead of being released,  the doctor came in and told Kevin they found a mass on her CT scan.  He called me at the theater to tell me, and I don't remember watching the rest of the show. This was the night our lives turned upside down. We couldn't leave the theater, we had been picked up by friends from the hospital.  Shannon must have felt my anxiety and had a hard time enjoying the show, knowing that her dad and sister were supposed to be there with us and they weren't.  
I told Shannon that going to see the show with Kelly would be a good way to be able to enjoy it again, knowing we were finally all there together.  I hope it works and she can finally enjoy what used to be her favorite musical.

It's not to late to join us for CHOC walk, or sponsor one of us to raise money for the hospital that helped Kelly still be with us today.  Thank you so much for those of you that have contributed or will be joining us Sunday.  If you still would like to help, please scroll down to the CHOC walk post below for the links.   You'll be making a difference in so many children's lives. 

13 comments:

Gabby's Mom said...

Hi Kelly!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend - it will be busy with the CHOC walk and "Wicked." And I do so hope Shannon (and all of you) is able to enjoy the show. I know the memories are scary but you will make new good memories this weekend in so many ways.

I am sure once in the theatre with you there she will have a "wickedly-good" evening.

Hugs,
Pat

Anonymous said...

I agree with Pat! You will make new good memories this weekend! Enjoy Wicked and the CHOC Walk!!! We'll be right there with all of you in our hearts and minds! Maybe next year we'll plan to physically walk with all of you!! :)

Kelly, you just keep on amazing those doctors!! You are amazing and wonderful!! Shannon, hope you had a great time at your 6th grade camping trip!!! Can't wait to hear all about it!!

Enjoy your special weekend!

Love,
Aunt Jenny, Uncle Bob, Kylie and Ryan

Anonymous said...

Good Luck on the CHOC Walk this weekend.
Kelly you are in incredible inspiration to us all! Kathy, you too - for everything you do!!!
Hugs & Blessings from Heidi :-)

Anonymous said...

Beating the odds is what I love to hear! We are praying for Kelly's next MRI and may Dr. Muhonen deliver great news for all of us!

Have a great weekend!

Anna Thomas (Hannah's mommy)

Catalina Eddy said...

I'm looking forward to the CHOC Walk. Huge thanks to all who contributed. If the dance studio is Megan & Shannon's second home, then CHOC is Kelly's. I'm looking forward to the fundraiser on Sunday and volunteering with you at the first children's symphony concert of the season on Saturday morning.

Sharon said...

See you at the CHOC walk on sunday!!!

Anonymous said...

Hi Laudes,

I also hope that you all have a WONDERFUL weekend!!! Like the others have said, may you now replace last year's memories about this show, with GREAT new memories!!! Good luck with the CHOC Walk! All of you are in my prayers.....Have fun........

Love,
Patty J.

P.S. Shannon, I hope you had a BLAST at your sixth grade camp!

Anonymous said...

Good morning, Team Kelly!!! Just stopping by to let you know you remain in my thoughts and prayers. Thanks so much for ALL YOU DO!!!!!!

~Heide
m/o ^Jessica^ (forever 17) and Jake (17)
http://caringbridge.org/visit/jessicarandall
TEAM UNITE! Help Conquer Childhood Cancer!

Gabby's Mom said...

Hi Shannon!

Camp sounds fun. I wonder if there really were Big Bear there once. I laughed at the posts this AM because they seem to mostly always show up in time zone order - your Aunt Jenny is the aunt you visited in Florida this summer I think?

Anyhow, I am writing because I have been wondering for two days if you like "Wicked" because you like the "Wizard of Oz?" I wondered if I would like "Wicked" since I have never seen the "Wizard of Oz." My Mom did not like it; it was on television every year on Thanksgiving - my cousins Jack and Jill (Kelly will tell you that I have sworn before these are really their names) got to see it that nite but we never did. Ken loves it but the few scenes I have seen I have just been drawn to the little people since I am only 4'11" tall...perhaps I represent the lollipop gang! (see bits of it have crept into my life over the years probably much to my Mom's dismay). Anyhow, I hope you have a good time tonite.

I will be thinking about all of you tomorrow and hope the CHOC walk is fun too!

Hugs,
Pat

Anonymous said...

Thank you Laude family for letting us join you this morning for the Choc Walk. We had so much fun being with you all! Shannon - Ashley wants to come hang out with you and Bailey soon!

Big Hugs,
Pam and Ashley

Gabby's Mom said...

Hey Kelly and Murphy - I went to the radio station website again and there was a pop-up for the cutest dog contest in connection with "Marley and Me!" I thought maybe Murphy in his new duds would be a contender!

Anyhow, still no interview...

Hugs,
Pat

Gabby's Mom said...

Hi Kelly - tomorrow is chemo day, I think. I hope you feel well throughout and get to bring the buckets home for Murphy to tear up and play with ^..^

Hugs,

Pat

Gabby's Mom said...
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