Good News

Chloe's CT scans came back clear.  An exam and a review of the scans was previously scheduled for next Friday, but we were able to take care of all of it yesterday morning while we were at clinic.  Instead she's scheduled to have her port removed on the 10th.

Chloe rocks the pinball at Jonny B's

It's great news.  We're excited about it.  Yet, we're wondering when our hearts will catch up with our brains and we'll fully be able to feel the extent of how great it is.

Chloe's oncologist showed us slices from her CT scans from yesterday in comparison to July 7, the day she was admitted to the hospital.  It's still a little hard to fathom how she could have had something so huge (roughly 13cm x 13cm x 13cm) inside of her (that wasn't supposed to be there) and we had no clue.

Once her port is out, we'll be able to return to "normal" life.  But what is normal for our family now?  Chloe's cancer has changed our family in more ways than we know how to describe.

Playing pinball at our lunchtime celebration

It's not that we not thankful, grateful, and relieved.  But I think we're all so exhausted.  And maybe shell-shocked would be the word for it.  At least the four oldest members of the H-A family.  Last week Martha burst into tears when she found out that Chloe would be going back in for scans every three months for a few years.  It was a "wait, this isn't really over?" sort of response.  I think we're all wondering when we can truly exhale.

Enjoying a celebratory cake

That said, Chloe is doing great.  Her hair continues to grow, she's gaining weight, there's color in her cheeks again.  Others have commented that she seems to have "her spark" back again.  For that we are so thankful. 

Last week, our neighbor Ellen pronounced Chloe a member of "Team Fun."  After caring for her so intensely for the past seven months, we're hoping that some of Chloe's Team Fun spirit will rub off on the the rest of us.  Heaven knows we could use it.