#HealingforHaylie-Post 29

Hello everyone this is Haylie

I am so happy to be home and when I came back, seeing how many people cared about me blew my mind and I can't believe how much people care. Thank you for all that you have done for me, Mrs. Mindi Adams Bone for planning the parade and thank you TC for waving at me and making signs too! Thank you for all you do!

Just to let you know my mom always told me that I could change the world. I didn't know it yet, but now I think I started a few blood drives all over the U.S and have helped save thousands of other people who are in need of blood. The human body obviously needs blood to function and if you don't have enough you die, which almost happened to me. The hospital I was at, like most hospitals, didn't have enough blood on hand for me so I was going to have to wait until they got some the next day. They kept pushing the time back and then finally after several hours they got enough blood for me. My experience at the hospital wasn't the best and I don't want ANYBODY to go through what I went through so please donate blood sometime because it really can save a life. It actually saves three people every time you donate. You can donate blood or platelets either one, both help. 

Thank you!

Haylie Geraci

#HealingforHaylie-Post 28

Here are a few pictures of our journey home from the hospital and getting home. I put captions on all the pictures. Oh, it is great to be home.
#HealingForHaylie

Spinal tap and bone marrow puncture done. She was still coming out of anesthesia but kept saying how happy she was to be going home.

We were just officially told we were going home. Tears of joy!

Finally getting her mozzarella cheese sticks. That is the first thing she asked for when she woke up from the anesthesia 😂.

Going home. First time outside in 30 days.

Loading up!

Pulling out!

5 mins down the road. So tired.

Finally we are home!!!!

Peanut coming to say hello.

Snuggling with Peanut. How she missed him.

I don’t know who is happier, Haylie or Peanut.

#HealingforHaylie-Post 27

From her Mom:

We just had the most amazing welcome home by the best town ever! Thank you Trophy Club! Haylie wanted to say thank you personally.

Haylie Thank you!

#HealingForHaylie-Post 26

Haylie update- June 29

This is our big day. Today we are supposed to go home!!! Right now we are sitting here waiting for the anesthesiologist to get here to take Haylie back for her spinal tap and bone marrow test. We are praying to again find no cancer cells. All her labs have come back clear on her blood, but we have been told that cancer cells always hide in the bone marrow. We are standing in faith that all the results will come back cancer free!

Yesterday was probably her best day since we have been here. She had more energy and her labs were great. Her ANC number was actually over 1600 which is fabulous! We have lots to be thankful for. They didn’t even have to do labs last night because her numbers were so good from the day before. 

Sitting here waiting is hard. This is day 30 for us. But next door they just tested a young boy and it was really hard to hear the mom walk out in tears. Today is their day 1. I tried to see if I could catch her in the hall and pray with her and try to bring encouragement, but they had already gone through the doors. I don’t know who she is, but God does and I can guarantee you that they will need prayers and strength. Please pray for them as well. I don’t have a clue how anyone can get through this without the hope, peace and love or Christ.

Today I really understood the meaning of 2 Corninthians 1:3-4
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”

I know exactly the hurt in that mama’s heart. I pray that God would bring her comfort as he has to us. I pray she is able to put her trust in Christ. God has, and continues to go before us. We are still at the beginning of our journey. It’s a long road, but I know we are not alone.

I’m learning that each of us is on a journey and sometimes our pain and victories can be used to help someone else. Don’t be afraid to share the good that God has done for you. You just might be the blessing someone needs today.

I’ll try to post an update again later today. We can’t wait to get home!
#HealingForHaylie

6/29

6/29

Trust… 

It is a theme that our family has lived by.  It is a word that has tried us over these nearly 15 years of marriage.  It is an action word that has literally left us gasping for air as if time were running out and we are about to sink under the seemingly towering waves.  It is a word that this very night, one year ago, that I had to say with great sobs and fear.  Many of you were with us this time a year ago.  You checked in on the Foxhole knowing that something wasn’t right.

At exactly 3:09 AM on 6/29/17 Princess awoke stuck in a convulsive state.  Earlier, the night before,  we battled minute by minute with hallucinations.  The routine was she would try to get out of bed, have a seizure, back in bed, lay down, and then back up again.  This went on and on till I guess she somehow tired herself or God provided a break for what was about to come…

Stuck in a convulsive state, I took care of my Wife for Life, thinking this will end….I mean all the other seizures stop after 2 minutes or so…  10 minutes bore on and I was calling 911 for the first time in 12 years of dealing with this affliction.  3 hours later, after an ambulance ride to the hospital and the ER scrambling to stop the convulsions we made the decision to put Princess into a coma and on a ventilator. 

Trust...

My words I don’t think can even begin to describe that night or even the next 30 days, but it was God that pulled us through.  It is surreal to think that just one year ago that I nearly lost my wife.  Critter nearly lost her mother.  A mother nearly lost a child.  This world would lose one more amazing, gifted, talented person.

Trust...

Many of you followed our journey closely and were instrumental in your support for us in that greatest time of need.  And while the Foxhole has seemingly gone silent since then, you have continued to check in.  Since July of last year we have experienced some amazing growth and improvements for Princess, followed by brief setbacks, and then again, some amazing successes. 

As many know, Princess is continuing her use of CBD (Hemp Oil) to treat her seizures.  It has truly been life giving and has provided so much for her.  Reduction of seizures, protection of her brain, opportunity to be a mom, opportunity to be a wife.

It has also allowed her to significantly reduce her pharmaceuticals that have never really controlled her seizures.  While the CBD has been very promising, you may recall that our research has led us to believe that Princess’ hospitalization and convulsions last year were due to an extreme drop of her sodium levels brought on by her tapering of one of her AED’s, Onfi (Clobazam- a benzodiazepine).  The problem, the drug was really the lowest we could get it, and despite the Pharmaceutical Manufacturer’s claim that you can just stop taking the medicine based upon the dose we were at, the claim is just simply not true. 

Since last year, Princess has made huge strides.  For example, she officially was off the support of a walker in November to move around.  While balance can still be an issue at times, it is nice to be able to be more free of any devices or assistance to just get through the house or even to do a quick errand.  More frequent outings for her have also been a blessing and given her some freedom from the confines of home.   

During this time, we did experience several days and weeks with no seizures.  After some stability and nearly a month of seizure-free days, we felt confident that Princess could resume her taper (this especially after the hospitalization had increased one of her drugs by nearly 500%).  So our work began again to put our trust in the Lord and His provision of CBD and that for us, Princess continuing to be on the pharmaceuticals was not an option.  Through the help of a Compounding Pharmacy and an amazing Pharmacist, Princess today is 99% off of the aforementioned increased drug, and is now 96% off of Onfi.  Next Wednesday, July 4^th will be a special day as Princess will be off of one of her two anti-seizure pharmaceuticals and another victory for a simple plant.  While certainly the months since then have not been great, we have seen Princess generally experience 20 to 28 seizures per month. However, as she is nearing the end of one of her drugs, her body has had immense withdrawals in the form of seizures and even some setbacks and has totaled nearly 50 seizures this month alone!

Memory is still an ongoing issue and even events of yesterday are hard to recall.  And for us still, is the call to Trust. 

So as I close this entry tonight, my mind is flooded by so much from last year.  But, praise Jesus.  Princess is here.  She is amazing and I am truly blessed to have her as my Wife for Life. 

Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart; do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.  Proverbs 3:5-6

Please pray:

• Princess will do well coming off of her Pharmaceuticals and this this next week she will be able to celebrate a great victory in being able to come off of 1 of her 2 pharmaceuticals
• With one pharmaceutical remaining, the wisdom and guidance in reducing the medicine (it will be a 1 year taper!!!)
• Wisdom in timing and whether to increase the CBD
• Princess’ ability to create memories and to have many more consecutive days without a seizure

#HealingForHaylie-Post 25

Haylie update - June 26

We are in the final stretch of our induction phase! Everything is still looking good for us to head home on Friday! We can’t wait. It’s hard to believe it’s been almost a month since we started this process and our world flipped upside down. I’m so excited at the thought of being a family again under the same roof. It has been hard on all of us having to be apart. Brennen is our man of few words, but I think I realized he is internalizing things more than I thought when he ran up to give me a hug after I made it to one of his baseball games on Sunday. He was very disappointed that I had to head back to the hospital again after his first game. He has been such a trooper. It does help that we have had so many incredible friends and family members pick him up and take him to do fun things so he can maintain as normal of a schedule as possible. Thanks again to all of you who have helped out.

Haylie had a pretty good day. She didn’t have as much energy and strength today as yesterday but sometimes it just goes up and down. She absolutely amazes me with her new Michael Phelps breakfast of champions eating appetite. Doctors told us she would be hungry on the steroids she would be on, but wow, I don’t know how its possible for her to eat this much. Yesterday for breakfast she ate 2 eggs, 6 pieces of bacon, a blueberry muffin, yogurt, a dinner roll and then had a cup of macaroni and popcorn and was still hungry. 😳. Her cravings crack me up too. Today she was wanting Olive Garden Chicken Alfredo so bad when a commercial came on she couldn’t stand it and had to turn the TV off to resist the urge to eat. Doctors said Friday will be the last day on those steroids so her hungry pains should subsidize. Thank goodness, I’m not sure I would be able to afford her weekly grocery bill at this pace. Lol.

I’ve made great progress in getting around today also. I actually walked Haylie down to a playroom event they were having and was walking the same speed as Haylie today. The event was a neat surprise because it was sponsored by the Carson Leslie foundation. That is a foundation that Michael has sponsored for several years now. He actually has worked with Craig Leslie for about 15 years in business transactions. They lost their son several years ago to childhood cancer and have set up the foundation to help fight childhood cancer and have just done an amazing job. It was nice to meet them. They turned their tragedy into something positive and I hope we will be able to someday help others from our experience also.

I did have one hiccup in my progress when I accidentally inhaled a popcorn piece down my windpipe. Y’all I seriously thought it might be better to choke than cough it up at one point. A nurse gave me great advise yesterday and told me to lay down and squeeze a pillow against my tummy to relieve some of the pain. I’m pretty sure she saved my life today. I was concerned that Haylie was about to hit the emergency call button on her bed at one point. I’m thinking I’ll stay away from popcorn for the next few days and all will be alright. As long as I don’t cough, laugh or sneeze I do just fine.

Today has been difficult in the fact that Haylie has just about lost all her hair. She had planned to donate her long hair this summer, before she was diagnosed with cancer herself. The plan was to cut it and still donate it before it all fell out. That has proven to be a more difficult task than we thought. Everyday we planned to cut it, we would then decide to keep it just a little longer because it is hard to part with. Then I got sick and was gone for 6 days. She wanted me to be there when she cut it so we waited. We were trying to cut it the morning before my surgery but didn’t have a chance. While I was recovering and my sister was here, it began to really fall out in massive amounts. It is so thin now that it is both hard to keep, but still hard to cut off what little is left. She has done remarkably well in dealing with it. Looking in the mirror can be difficult because it is not the reflection she remembers from last week. She has still found something positive in deciding that she thinks she wants to be Gru from Despicable Me and to dress our dog up like a minion as a costume. Even through everything she is going through she has still kept her humor and still can make me laugh. I have prayed for years over her that the joy of the Lord would fill her and overflow out of her to be a blessing to others. I can see that now as she interacts with the nurses. The hair thing will be a challenge for us to overcome for the foreseeable future, but I know we will get through this also.

I read Philippians 4:13 this mornings and am reminded of where our strength comes from, so I know we will overcome the hair obstacle, but more importantly we will overcome cancer too.

I can do everything through Him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13.

#HealingForHaylie

#HealingForHaylie-Post 24

Haylie update - June 25

So thankful for another good day! Doctors are very pleased with her progress. It is looking like we will get to go home on Friday if we keep progressing the way we are. Today she finally felt well enough to go back to the playroom for the first time in 2 weeks! She is able to walk farther and faster than she had been able to in quite a while. It is small steps, but we are so thankful for the progress.
I am also doing much better. I’m starting to get around and walking by myself again. It is also slow progress, but again we will celebrate the victories. 

We have a lot to be thankful for. I have to remind myself of that often. We have had a lot of obstacles come at us lately that have been unexpected, but they were not unexpected to God. He was there waiting for us and He will use them for His glory. I have been doing the Bible app devotional Unexpected by Christine Caine. I started it a few days before Haylie was diagnosed when our lives were still normal. It has been so amazing and encouraged me so much. God knew I would need that devotional even before I knew what was coming. As I look back, He had begun to prepare us for this unexpected event weeks and even months before with small things. He has gone before us and He is with us now.

Just as Hebrews 13 promises, Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you. I put my trust in Him. He was there for us in the past, and I know He will be there for us in the future.
#HealingForHaylie

#HealingforHaylie-Post 23

Haylie update - June 24

It’s been a good day! I was able to stop by Brennen’s baseball game this morning and watch them win the first round. I was able to watch the rest of the games on game changer and we were cheering at the hospital for the last 2 games. Even the nurses got in on the championship game. So proud of the boys and how hard they fought to win the championship. Brennen told me he was playing for Haylie this morning. ❤️. I learned that after the boys won, they chanted Haylie’s name. Y’all, my heart just exploded and Haylie was so proud. 

I’m so thankful to be back with Haylie at the hospital. Lord willing this will be our last week and we will be home next Friday! She has been such a trooper with me not being able to be at the hospital the past few days again after my surgery. She wanted to make sure that I was ok and stayed home to recover. Her strength continues to amaze me and the nurses here. I know God is growing all of us through this, and I am so proud to see her keep her faith and stay positive.

Doctors are very pleased with her progress. Her numbers dropped just a little today, but that was expected since she had another round of chemo. We will keep fighting this battle until we have won. Chris Tomlin’s song Angel Armies keeps going through my mind. “I know He goes before me, I know He stands behind, the God of angel armies is always by my side. I know we have angels watching over us now and that gives me peace.
#HealingForHaylie

#HealingforHaylie-Post 22

https://www.gofundme.com/5mqf14o

#HealingForHaylie-Post 21

Haylie and Life update- June 22

Thank you everyone for the prayers. My surgery went well and I am home recovering. It turned out to be a little worse than my doctor expected so surgery was over 2 hours instead of 1. Thankfully we caught it before it got any worse. It had attached itself to my intestines and colon and had to be cut loose. Recovery is going to be a little bit longer, but I’m hoping to be back at the hospital to see Haylie soon.

Haylie had a much better day. Her tummy made big improvements last night and today. Praise God! She had been in a lot of pain so I’m very excited it is better and she is not in so much pain tonight. Her numbers are still improving. Her platelets amazed us once again at 239! I have been praying for her platelets specifically and God has really answered that prayer. I’m going to start praying for her white blood cells to start coming back now too. I’m excited to see God work again. 

It was great having Nanny stay with her last night to help her and me. Nanny also stayed with her this morning during my surgery so Michael could go help me. Man when we met our deductible, we are getting all kinds of use out of it now. On another note, I had to suck it up and follow Haylie’s example of how she took her IV’s and how she is handling her treatments. I’m pretty sure she is tougher than me.

I’m thankful for my sister who is staying overnight with Haylie tonight so I can have help. It’s never easy having two family members in the hospital on the same day. Lol. Keep that in mind. That is my public service announcement for today.

Tomorrow will be an even better day.
#HealingForHaylie

#HealingForHaylie-Post 20

Haylie Update - June 21st

Oh, this mama’s heart is happy! After 6 days, I finally got to see my sweet girl again. I have to tell you, there were a few tears of joy when I finally got to hug her! Having to stay away from her because of my sickness was one of the hardest things I have had to do. She has been so amazing and strong through all of this. I am one super proud mama of how she is handling herself. She has matured so much and has had to endure things I wish no child ever has to, and she has done it all while maintaining a smile on her face. 

I am scheduled for surgery tomorrow morning, which is good to get it taken care of and on the road to recovery. I’m excited because I still get to spend the night with her here at the hospital. I’m hoping to be able to come back full time for her on Saturday. My recovery time should be pretty quick and I am excited to not be in pain every morning after this.

Haylie’s platelets continue amaze all of us. They were at 212 today! Doctors are very happy with her progress and so are we. Her tummy still continues to be our biggest issue right now. Please pray we can get her tummy pain and issues under control. This will be my first night back with her so praying we have a good night as well.

A super huge thank you to my Aunt Melloy who has spent several days and nights filling in for me. It’s not an easy task and she stepped up to the challenge. We will forever be grateful for her kindness and generosity in helping us in our time of need when I couldn’t be here. And thank you to Jamie Wheeler for helping so much also. Y’all are awesome!

I’m attaching some pictures I got from today. Thanks for sharing this journey with us. Love you all.
No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him. 1 Corinthians 2:9
#HealingForHaylie

#HealingForHaylie-Post 19

Haylie update-June 20

Haylie had a really good day! She has made big improvements in just getting around and feeling better today. Her platelets continue to amaze us at 185 today! She has kept such a great attitude in dealing with a difficult situation. Unfortunately, doctors still felt that I could be contagious so they advised that I stay away one more day. That makes it 5 days since I have last been at the hospital. I can’t wait to see her again soon. I’m so thankful for my Aunt Melloy and my cousin Jamie who stepped in and stayed with her last night and today. Michael has been awesome and Haylie always perks up a little more when he is there. 

Some days just don’t seem to go the way we would expect them. That would be my day today. After a long crazy ordeal, I was finally able to get my CT scan results. It turns out that I don’t have kidney stones. I instead have a giant cyst the size of a grapefruit that is on my ovaries. Total bummer, but at least now I know why I’ve been in so much pain the last few months. I thought I was just beginning to feel old age and I needed to suck it up. I was fortunate enough to get in to see my doctor and find out what my options are. Long story short, I will be having surgery tomorrow or Friday. Certainly, not the news I was wanting but thankful the cause has been found and I can get it taken care of quickly so I can recover to be able to help Haylie next week.

That being said, I may have to ask a few friends for rides and a little help the next few days. Brennen has his last baseball tournament this weekend so I am really hoping that I am well enough to make it to a few of his games. And our amazing baseball team is having their homeruns for Haylie event so I’m going to try my best to be there for that as well. Sometimes life really throws you curveballs. I told Michael at least we have met our deductible so we might as well get all our medical procedures done now. 😜.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
#HealingForHaylie

#HealingForHaylie-Post 18

Haylie update - June 19

Praise God, Haylie’s MRI showed no blood clots! She is still very dizzy so doctors are going to have her meet with the neurology team. They think it is just a reaction to the chemo, but they want to double check everything which is good.

Her blood results are still improving. Today she has amazed all of us with 162 platelets. Still zero cancer cells. Praise the Lord!

Y’all it has been a morning around here. I think I was passing a kidney stone so I’ve spent most of it laying on the floor. I am having a CT scan done at 3:00. Hopefully we can get some answers as to why I keep getting these terrible pains. I was actually supposed to get a CT scan the day we got called into the hospital for Haylie, but they said it would be to be over $1500 so I said no, I’m not hurting that bad. Good thing, because I got the call to take Haylie to the ER when I should have been getting the scan. Now we have totally met our deductible, so I figure, why not! I’m desperately trying to swallow all this barium liquid and it is all I can do to keep it down. Oh my!

Ok...just finished my scan. After drinking both cans of that awful stuff I get there and the x-ray lady said I didn’t have to drink it. 😳. They gave me an IV which I had a reaction to and caused me to throw up all the barium that I didn’t have to take after all and it has my tummy tore up! I just hope to get some good results after all this craziness.

On to some super positive news. I got an email yesterday from Carter blood care and since Haylie’s story has aired, they have received tons more blood donations and he reported that all blood supplies were out of the red zone and they had an extra supply of platelets! Haylie is making a difference and helping to save lives. He thanked us for sharing our story to encourage others to donate. God is good.
I’m praying that I can finally return to the hospital after 5 days away. It seems like an eternity. I’m ready to see her smiling face and give her a big hug. I’m thankful for FaceTime but I can’t wait for a real hug. 🤗. I’m also super thankful for her awesome daddy that has stayed by her side all night and day. A nurse told me it was the sweetest thing, he slept in a chair by her bed and held her hand all night long. Now that is a loving daddy.

It’s been a tough day for Haylie. The chemo and the meds have side affects and they have really tore her tummy up. Pray for her tummy pains to all be corrected. I’m continuing to pray for her levels to amaze her doctors and be a testimony of God’s goodness.

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn or my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies. Psalm 18:2,3
#HealingForHaylie

#HealingforHaylie-Post 17

Haylie update - June 18

Haylie continues to amaze me with her strength. Last night was the first night she stayed at the hospital without mom or dad. I’m so thankful my wonderful aunt Melloy was able to come up and stay with her while I’m still under quarantine. I feel much better but still have lots of mucus and a cough so doctors still don’t want me around her. 😩. I’m praying I can return tomorrow afternoon.

Last night was a little crazy for us. One day we will look back on the situation and laugh, but I’m not there quite yet. Michael left the hospital and was going to pick up food on his way home. When he got to the restaurant, he realized he didn’t have his wallet. When he got home we went through everything. No luck. He was pretty sure it must have fallen out in the parking lot. We said a prayer and God bless, Melloy found it in the hospital room. Crisis averted. Then we realized that our air conditioner line was stopped up so Michael worked on it until 11:30 last night. He couldn’t get it cleared so we called a repairman. Thankfully, he can come tomorrow.

And a huge praise for Haylie’s numbers today. Still zero cancer cells detected and her platelets are up to 151!  That is in the normal range for anyone.

Ok prayer warriors, we need you. I just got a call from the doctor and they are trying to get Haylie in for an MRI tonight. They are afraid she might have blood clots on her brain because of her headaches and dizziness. Apparently, blood clots are a side effect of one of the chemo drugs she is taking. This is so very hard for me since I still can’t be around her due to my sickness. Michael just got to the hospital and will be with her, but oh how I want to be there, too.  Please pray for guidance and wisdom. Please pray for no blood clots. We are calling on angels to surround Haylie and give us peace and protection. Nothing is too big for God. I know He is still going before us. Right now He is carrying us.

#HealingForHaylie

The Greatest Daddy Ever

To the greatest Daddy I've ever known:

B Fox is by far the greatest Daddy that I've ever seen in action. He has had to step up and be Mother, Father, Sister, & Brother to Critter! He has loved her & me in so many amazing ways!! I am so grateful to the Lord that He blessed me with Ben!! Thank you, Jesus!!! If you see my man around town, be sure to pat him on the back, give him a hug, or just say Thank you for all that he is for us and for living up to what Biblical Manhood calls him to....