Friday Update

We have had requests for updates. Thanks to all of you for you kind thoughts and concerns for Kelly and all of us.

We met with oncology today and they are waiting until they see the pathology report after surgery to decide on the next chemotherapy for Kelly. They will meet with her neurosurgeon hopefully Tuesday or Wednesday to come up with her new plan for treatment after she recovers from surgery. We also did all of her preadmitting and presurgery labs today.

One thing that made Kelly feel better today was we found out that CHOC opened their new Pediatric Intensive Care Unit last weekend. It sounds so much nicer than the old one. Whenever Kelly has these brain surgeries, she spends the first couple days in Intensive Care. The old unit was beds with curtains between them - very noisy and not very private. There wasn't much room either. We called it her "slot." It is also not a fun place to try to sleep with the nurses station just outside the curtain. The new Intensive Care sounds like it has been tremendously improved. There are all individual rooms that are large, with a separate sleeping alcove for a parent. I might actually be able to sleep. I always stay with Kelly when she is in the hospital. She feels good knowing she will have such nice accommodations her first couple days. She used to be so anxious to get moved to the 5th floor, where the neurosurgery patients are.

Kevin is flying home tonight! He will arrive early in the morning and be here until Tuesday night. We are all glad he will be here for Kelly's surgery. It will be good to all be together, since our family hasn't been together since July.

I am taking my laptop to the hospital and if I can find a wireless connection, will give updates on Kelly. I know I can get one once she is out of Intensive Care, I'm not sure how it will go until then. It is also pretty hard to use my cell phone while she is Intensive Care. I have to go down to the lobby to use it. So we'll keep everyone updated the best we can.

We are so impressed with Kelly's positive attitude. She has taken this news so well and is always looking at the bright side of this. It is amazing how easily she can find positive aspects of her situation. She continues to be an inspiration to us.