The kind lab techs at Abby’s pediatrician’s office are ready for her. They take a break from lunch just for her. As one of the lab techs examines Abby’s arm, she tells her she might have trouble finding her vein there. Abby is scared. A past blood draw from her hand was painful, and she hasn’t forgotten. She tells the tech to try the arm first. They count down from three, two, one.
They move into another room. There they’ll speak to the doctor and prepare Abby for treatment. Abby calls it the chit-chat room. While they’re there, nurses, other staff members and even fellow patients stop by, saying hello and gathering the latest news. Rachel Segneri, a Children’s physical therapist, comes into the room. Abby is part of a research study that will show how certain
The vein is too small. Abby cries loudly and reaches for her mother
exercises affect long-term outcomes. Abby stretches, then marches
as the tech speaks softly to her and begins the draw from her hand.
in place with her mom while her dad watches and encourages her.
Her mother soothes her. And then it’s done.
Melinda Pauly, M.D., a fellow with the Aflac Cancer Center, comes
Kim hates seeing her daughter in pain, but knows she has to be strong for her. “She feeds off my emotions. She’s so tired of being stuck with needles. I know that. But if I break down, we’re done for,” she says.
in to give the Boones Abby’s new treatment schedule. She also has good news. “We have an official off-therapy date for you,” she says. “You’ll be done July 14, 2013.”
“That’s not to say that I don’t go home at night and lose it when
Until then, for the next several months, Abby will visit the clinic
she’s not around.”
every week and spend every other week in inpatient treatment.
The news is good. Abby’s counts are high enough for her to begin her new treatment round at the Aflac Cancer Center. Kim high-
After that, she’ll continue to visit the clinic every month. Her type of leukemia has a high cure rate, and Abby’s prognosis is good.
fives Abby, happy to be moving forward. The hard part is over—
Today, Abby will be sedated while she receives a spinal tap. The
for today.
medication will enter her spinal fluid to keep cancer from hiding
Thursday
there. As she receives the anesthesia, she counts up from one, two,
It’s two days after their busy day of appointments, and Kim is up by 5 a.m. She, her husband, Jamey, and Abby are at the Aflac Cancer Center long before their 8 a.m. appointment. Abby and Andy spent the day before with friends. They went to lunch. They went to see Mr. Popper’s Penguins at the theater. They had a good day, Kim says. But today will be long.
The nurse calls Abby and her parents back to check her vitals.
three. She only makes it to 17 before she’s asleep. It’s only about 10 minutes before she’s awake again—and asking for chicken nuggets. She’s had to abstain from eating since the night before, so she begs Jamey for her favorite food. “Thank you. You’re the best daddy in the whole world ever,” she says as he leaves.
Fall 2011 |
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