Update on Nick 4/29/12

Hi All!

I hope this finds you and your loved ones well. It has been a while since I have updated on Nick...mainly because everything has been very routine. Nick is still getting his chemo and IVIG treatments every 21 days. There haven’t been any new tests or scans done since the last set in February.

Nick’s blood work has been holding steady. His iron levels are good. Nick’s blood pressure appears to be responding to the medication. Hopefully this means that Nick’s kidney function is settling down.

Nick is still receiving the big doses of steroids as a part of his chemo regimen. I have noticed that the length of time without steroid side effects has gotten shorter. That is likely due to the build up of the steroids in his body. Not much that can be done about it. I just try to ride the mood roller coaster and keep Nick in check as best I can. It’s getting tiring though...

Kacie is doing ok. She and I were in a serious car accident the day before Easter. My SUV was totaled. I was taken by ambulance to the emergency room. It was suspected that I had a broken collar bone and other injuries to my shoulder, ribs, elbow, hip, and knee. The initial x-rays the day of the accident didn’t show much bone injury, but I am still having trouble with my shoulder and collar bone. I’ll be seeing an orthopedic specialist soon for further evaluation. Kacie sustained injury to her left knee, which hit the dash at impact. She didn’t break it, but has some pretty deep bruising. The orthopedic doctor has put her in a knee brace for three weeks. She will be reevaluated then.

We are very, very blessed to have not been more injured. We were rear-ended at a stop light. It is estimated that the person who hit us was traveling about 60 mph.

Needless to say, it has been a trying few weeks. I will be so glad to have full use of my left arm once again. Kacie will be glad to dance full out without her knee being an issue. My insurance got my car replaced quickly and all is well there. We just have to feel better now. (The driver at fault was under insured.)

Nick wasn’t with us at the time of the accident. I am also thankful for that. He was at fire training that day. It was very frightening for him to hear the reports of the accident through the county dispatch though.

That’s about all I can think of right now. It has been a somewhat steady routine, except for the wreck. We return to Children’s Hospital for more chemo and IVIG on May 9.

T

hank you for the continued thoughts and prayers.

We do remain...

In His Grip,

Kristy Baxley

Over a month since...

I can't believe it's been over a month since I've written here. I've been writing a lot in my personal journal. I have had a lot of emotional ups and downs during the last month. Some of the downs are simply due to grief. Yes, I still have grief.

The grief lately has come from the reality of Keith's absence during this time in the kid's lives. Nick is coming to the end of his junior year in high school.  He will be a senior in a matter of weeks. I am sad that Keith isn't here to see the young man Nick is quickly becoming. I'm sad that Keith isn't here to celebrate this life that Nick is living. Remember, we were told Nick wouldn't survive in December 1995...

Nick is getting closer to meeting some goals he has set for himself. He is really feeling called into service as a volunteer firefighter. That is a hard calling for this Momma to accept, but accept it I will. God definitely has plans for Nick!

Chemo is still going. Nick is doing ok with it. He tires easily for the first few days after his treatment. Then the mega dose steroids kick in and the roller coaster ride with his emotions begins. There's no real defined plan with the chemo. We are in a sit back and wait pattern I guess. I really don't want to admit what we are waiting for, but after watching Keith's battle, it's difficult to NOT wonder if things will end up that way.

Kacie is doing pretty well. She got the last bracket of her braces finally placed. We were waiting on the very last adult tooth to come in enough. The orthodontist is pleased with her progress. Her hip seems to be holding. The physical therapy she got for it really strengthened it. Kacie is gearing up for dance recital in June. It's hard to believe that she has been dancing for 7 years already!!

The most major event since my last post is the car accident Kacie and I were in on Easter weekend. My Pilot is likely totaled. We thought I had a broken bone, but I don't. Kacie wasn't majorly injured either. We are both still very sore though...even a week later. Nick was not in the car with us. He had the fear and worry when the call came out that we had been in an accident.

We are all slowly healing from this trauma. As with any trauma, it will take time. I find that I'm antsy whenever  I see a vehicle coming a little too fast. The kids are too. There is truth in the saying, "Time heals."

It really does. I look back at how wounded I was three years ago, 2 1/2 years ago, even a year ago. I am so much more healed now. The emotions and grief no longer feel like they will take me under. I have times of happiness and joy. I actually have more of those times than the times of sadness and grief.

That's all for now. We are back in Birmingham this week for chemo...again.

In His Grip!

Kristy