Blog | Brynna Kate | A Journey Through Childhood Leukemia | Page 5

Onto the Next || Interim Maintenance 2

You guys…this is THE LAST intense chemo cycle!! Hallelujah!!!!!! Now, she will have a year and a half of long term maintenance (which is by no means a walk in the park, and brings steroids back into the picture every month – cue the tears), but things should slow down, trips to clinic should lessen, and we should hopefully be able to find some semblance of routine and our new normal.

She’s Only 2

“She’s so brave, and she’s trying so hard…she’s only 2.” And just like that, our world shifted and we remembered. Continue Reading

Shirts for Brynna

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made - Shirt Fundraiser

A few months ago, my brother and sister-in-law surprised us with “Team Brynna” shirts, and we LOVE them! We immediately Continue Reading

How to Help

Childhood Cancer Series

A few weeks ago, I asked all of you in the social media world, if you had any questions about Continue Reading

Last year, we made the decision to give Wyatt an e

Last year, we made the decision to give Wyatt an extra year of carefree childhood, and delay kindergarten until this fall, and that is a decision that we still stand behind 10000%. Most definitely the best decision for our family!

And this year, with COVID, we had another huge decision to make in regards to Wyatt's Kindergarten.

We found out that our county schools were starting with an all virtual option and a hybrid option (with all in-person starting in about 3 weeks). It wasn't a decision we took lightly, and we prayed about it a ton. We both felt such a huge peace about our decision, and then we got the green light from Brynna's oncologist a few weeks ago...

So today, Wyatt started kindergarten (masked up) in person, and he was SO EXCITED! ❤️ We know he is beyond ready for this, and we pray he will be such a light to his class, and as much of an encouragement to those around him there, as he is to us here at home. We can't wait to watch him soar!

It was her 2nd to last downtown clinic day today,

It was her 2nd to last downtown clinic day today, and they threw her a tiny but OH so sweet "End of Treatment" celebration. 😭😭😍 I love every face in this picture, and so many that aren't pictured. They have become like family, and have been some of Brynna's biggest cheerleaders...and definitely my encouragers along the way (especially our dear favorite, Miss Cate). It's going to be so strange not seeing their sweet faces each month. We even got to FaceTime Brynna's doctor who just had a sweet baby boy, and that was such a sweet surprise!

The Oncologist we talked to today is one that we have only seen a few times...at the beginning, and then a couple of years ago when Brynna was having some very scary neurological issues . We've seen this doctor in the hallway, but haven't talked much with her...but one of the first questions she asked Brynna was how Jenna was doing. Jenna. The sweet baby doll that was there at the beginning, and came to every hospital stay. And she remembered. 💕

That being said, it was a rather rough day for Brynna, but she was oh so brave. We started the morning at the dental clinic, after a referral from our dentist. There is some major dental work in Brynna's near future but it will be coordinated with her port removal, and we are so very grateful for one less anesthesia day!

Then we walked to clinic and she had her first labs taken from her arm. It went about as well as you would expect, but she was so brave. 😢😩 I'm just so, so, so very proud of her!!

Her labs looked great for being less than a week off chemo. Her ANC has doubled since last month, and although it will take many more months before her immune system is considered "normal", we were given the green light for so many things now, and we are all so excited! 🙌

Her port removal and dental work is, most likely, the next thing on her list, followed by one more downtown clinic visit next month, and then transitioning to monthly visits at the long term clinic.

I'm still processing so, so many emotions from the past couple of weeks, and really, the past couple of years. But overall, I'm clinging to JOY and thankfulness for all God has done! ❤️

#bobkattough

I have yet to find an easy way of sharing videos h

"I'm gonna sing, in the middle of the storm Louder

"I'm gonna sing, in the middle of the storm
Louder and louder, you're gonna hear my praises roar
Up from the ashes, hope will arise
Death is defeated, the King is alive!"

853 days - more than half her life - and now she is DONE! She took her last dose of chemo this morning, then rang the bell, and we all joined in, celebrating this VICTORY! But it's not our victory, this victory belongs to the Lord, because look...Look at what I AM has done. 😭 More miracles than we can count, rolled up into this smiling, curly haired miracle girl, ringing her bell. She hasn't let the bell leave her sight the whole day. Babu picked a good one for her. ❤️

"I raise a hallelujah, with everything inside of me
I raise a hallelujah, I will watch the darkness flee
I raise a hallelujah, in the middle of the mystery
I raise a hallelujah, fear you lost your hold on me"

Thank you, thank you, thank you, to each of you who have walked this journey with us. 💞 Words can never express our utmost and sincere, heart-felt gratitude. You were all such a huge part of this journey, and we can't wait to celebrate with everyone tomorrow!!

#bobkattough

This past Friday, we hit the one week left mark in

This past Friday, we hit the one week left mark in Brynna's treatment, and now we're just 4 days away. 4 DAYS. But in the midst of these last days, I've found myself comparing this week to our last week "pre cancer". That last week before our world changed.

This week is filled with joy, anticipation, many thankful tears, and so much emotion as we celebrate all God has done in our sweet girl. It's a stark contrast to the week leading up to her diagnosis. I've shared this before, but those days leading up to April 8th were filled with fear, agony, despair, grief, and unknowns. By the time April 8th rolled around, we were at the point where we just needed answers...whatever that answer might be, we just needed to know what was wrong. As agonizing as her diagnosis was, there was some relief in the protocol, the process, the prognosis, and the fact that she was surrounded by the most amazing medical team, doing everything they could to save her.

I think it was the night before her diagnosis, I remember lying with her in bed, terrified, deep down knowing what was wrong, crying out to God, and I felt him whisper in my heart, "A cancer diagnosis is not a death sentence." Peace and hope were wrapped up in those words, and a week later, He whispered the words we have clung to this whole time, "Watch what I AM can do."

I never could have imagined how horrible those upcoming weeks and months would be, but I also could never EVER have imagined the beauty and joy that were found in those weeks. In my wildest dreams, I don't think I could have pictured who she is today. She is captivating.

As we get ready to close this chapter, we will forever cling to God's promise, "Watch what I AM can do", and look back and think with tear-filled eyes, "Look at what I AM has done." ❤️

#bobkattough