So this is a hard post to write. Shortly before last week's post, Mom and Dad got some very concerning news regarding Devin on their way back from Denver last Tuesday. Devin had another "heart episode" while at school, and insisted that her Mother (Ms. Heidi) take her to the ER. Ms. Heidi discussed with Devin on the way to the ER, that if the ER was super crowded and full of sick people, that they were going to head home and Devin was just going to sleep things off. Well, the ER was EMPTY. So they got RIGHT IN. The ER doc hooked Devin up to the ECHO and EKG tests, and everything came back normal. The ER doc was about to let Devin go home...before he decided to do a quick X-Ray of her chest. Devin said that this doctor was very bubbly and full of energy, until he came back in the room with the results from the chest X-Ray. Devin said his face had turned "white as a ghost" and his disposition did a 180. He explained to Devin that she had a "mass" at the opening of her trachea, and that she would be immediately transported to Cook Children's Hospital in Fort Worth where she would be met by a team of Oncologists. Devin said that part of her was relieved that they finally figured out what was causing her "heart issues," but was obviously devastated by the news that this was Cancer. They just had no idea how severe, what type, and what her prognosis would be. The news was surreal, and Mom and Dad's heads were spinning. Devin was just here a few months ago! And everything was GREAT! And now...this. But we truly believe that the ER doctor who decided to do that Chest X-ray instead of sending her home may have very well saved her life.
Fast-forward to the next afternoon (Wednesday), and she was in surgery getting a bone-marrow biopsy, a PIC line installed in her arm, and a biopsy of a swollen lymphnode in her neck. The initial results came in as Hodgkin's (the less-scarier version) Stage 3 Lymphoma with an intermediate chance of reoccurrence. THANKFULLY, the doctors ended up changing her diagnosis to STAGE 2, after a scan that showed no sign of cancer below her diaphragm. She has a VERY good prognosis, and the doctors told her that if she HAS to have Cancer...THIS is the one to have because it is not only treatable, but curable. She is going to be okay! But the next 4-5 months of chemo are going to be really, really, rough. She started her first round of chemo on Friday night (October 17th), and she has a REALLY terrible reaction about 5 hours after the last chemo med was administered. The nurses had to sedate her she was feeling so awful. All we can do is hope and pray she can get through these next few months, and that the doctor's can get her at a functioning level. She will be exhausted and sick, and won't be able to go to school or ride her horse...but she is going to survive and be tough as nails when it is all over...and even be an inspiration to other young people battling this same Cancer.
She got to go home yesterday, and has to go back this Friday to finish up the last half of her 1st round of chemo.
Mom, Dad, Alex and I left last Wednesday night to visit Devin in Texas. Below are a bunch of pictures that were captured from our visit. Mumsie and Granddaddy hung with Alex and I all day on Saturday so that Mom and Dad could get some uninterrupted time in with Devin. They took us to the Pumpkin Patch and Momma and Aunt Amanda got to join us also!
Packed and ready to go. We drove Wednesday night after leaving at 7:30 PM to Clayton, NM.
We went straight to the hospital upon arriving in Fort Worth on Thursday afternoon. Devin's sister, Ashton was hanging around waiting to meet us...and we made friends right away!
Devin was in great spirits after her surgery the day before.
The hospital Devin was at...is AMAZING. Cook Children's in Fort Worth is not only HUGE in size, but has the most amazing staff, a very bright and colorful culture, a Starbucks, Chick Fil A, Frozen Yogurt shop, Build-A-Bear, and a HUGE indoor and outdoor play area. It is by far the BEST place she could be. And the good news is, even though she turns 18 next month...she will continue her treatments here and come back here for future scans for the majority of her adult life. Score! Here is a Lego model of the campus:
Alex and I felt VERY welcome at this hospital.
Pooped after spending all day on Friday at the hospital.
Late night dinner with Granddaddy and Mumsie. I spent the entire dinner...sleeping on Dad's lap.
Later on Saturday evening after being sedated all day, Devin woke up to shoot out a few quick texts (what she is doing in this pictures). It made us happy to see her want to text! She claims that she didn't remember ANY of Saturday after they had to sedate her around 3 am in the morning.
Trip to the Pumpkin Patch with Mumsie, Granddaddy, Aunt Amanda and Mommma:
On Sunday, Grandaddy wasn't feeling well so Mom stayed back with us kids so that Dad could visit Devin all Day. We ended up going fishing and to the park with our friends, The McCrate's!
And I totally caught my first fish!!!
And Alex took a nice, long nap afterwards.
And Alex and I got to play on a "See-Saw" for the first time! We LOVED it!
Dad sent this picture of Devin while he was visiting her on Sunday afternoon...and she was feeling MUCH better:
Monday morning we brought Devin McDonalds. She specifically requested a Large Sweet Tea, a double cheeseburger and small French fry...and she gobbled it all up!
And we said goodbye, and hit the road to head back home. Daddy was sad having to leave Devin behind. And we are going to be making plans so that he can come back and visit her often.
On our way back home...
We managed to get to Dumas, TX on Monday night...and finished up the rest of our drive on Tuesday afternoon. We aren't sure how the next weeks and months are going to play out, but we do know that we will take it day-by-day and Devin has a HUGE group of supporters cheering her on.
