A Different Kind of Induction

"Keep your heart open to dreams, For as long as there's a dream there is hope, and as long as there is hope, there is joy in living!”

Haley has been officially inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Make a Wish Foundation.  About two weeks ago, Haley received a beautifully wrapped box in the mail with a antique skeleton key inside and a little princess tiara . . . so cute.  Inside was a note from the Make a Wish Foundation inviting her to join their staff at the Murray location so they could meet her.  What a beautiful building.  I am told each room inside is designed by children.  We were greeted by a staff of people appointed to making Haley's Wish come true. I can only imagine the look on these small children's faces as they enter this building . . . it is truly magical.  Accompanying Haley to the Wish Center was Mom, Dad, Kayla, Tyler, Aysia Jerzi, Jessica, Darianne and Grandma LuAnn.    Haley was to write down her wish on the wishing card and place it into the time capsule in the Wishing Room.  The Wish Room is a beautiful blue glass room with a giant waterfall in the background and a large time capsule in the center of the room.  Only the wish kid's can unlock the door to this room with their skeleton key.  We all wrote down our wishes for Haley and read them before she placed her wish card into the time capsule. I cried when I heard Haley's younger siblings read their wishes for her to get better and live a long and happy life with her prince charming :) small children are so sweet!  How blessed I feel to have been apart of such a wonderful organization that gives hope and comfort to families going through very difficult times.  What an amazing experience. . . . Stay tuned to see if Haley's wish comes true . . . .

Maintenance

“Like any race that’s worth the running, it helps to have miles of support, thanks to all of those who stand cheering on the sidelines!” The Fray

Friday, March 30, 2012, marks Day 1 of “Maintenance.”  Haley has crossed the goal line of the hardest and most uphill battle of the marathon she has been running for the past 10 months.  Two weeks ago, Haley and I were sitting in the waiting room at Primary’s Children Hospital, Oncology Clinic for a routine weekly checkup when Dr. Holly Spraker burst through the door and told us she had some really good news for us. . . . okay . . . since Haley has been categorized as “rapidly responding to treatment” and they have never seen cancer cells in her spinal fluid, she gets to skip the next two-month course of treatment and will move right into Maintenance . . . YAY/cry/cry!!!  The hope of reaching this point in treatment has been the light at the end of the tunnel that we have been holding fast to these past 10 months.  Dad Dawayne and Grandma Glenda cried . . . and Haley and I celebrated with strawberry crepes at Village Inn . . . hehe J.  Darianne (Haley’s sidekick) accompanied us to this appointment to share in this good news and we all met Grandma LuAnn for lunch at the University Cafeteria. 

This may sound unusual to say, but these last few months have been the hardest but yet, in so many ways, the greatest months of my entire life.  I have seen the compassion and kindness of perfect strangers . . . the miracles of modern medicine . . . the dedication and heartfelt staff of the nurses and doctors at Primary Children’s Medical Center . . . the generosity of companies and small businesses. . . and the unbelievable unity of friends, family and neighbors that have sacrificed and helped our family in sooo many ways.  I feel sooo unbelievably blessed and overcome with gratitude and love for all of these people.  Haley’s home health nurse, Cheryl . . . told me just the other how much she has come to love Haley and Community Nursing even spotlighted Haley in the Art Show.  I have seen two sisters, who have never gotten along, become best friends.  Makayla was invited to see a movie with a friend just the other day and without a second thought, told her friend “Haley has been dying to see that movie, there is no way I can see it without her.”

Last week I received a phone call from The Make a Wish Foundation.  Haley has been selected to participate in this program and I am still in shock and awww . .  over some of things this Foundation does for kids like Haley . . . WOW!!!  More to come on that event!!! Sooo stay tuned . . . .

Benefit for Haley

Thank you to all those people that came and participated in the Benefit for Haley put on by Maggie Magee's a few weeks ago.  Grandpa Steve made big plates of spaghetti, Dad Dawayne hooked up the sound system and me (mom) and MaryAnn sang songs and played our guitars for about an hour.  Andy and Maddie came and joined in the poker tournament and Grandma LuAnn made baby blankets for the raffle. Her blankets auctioned for $80.00 . . . wow.   There are so many kind and amazing people in this world.  Being on the receiving end of so many unbelievable things that people have done, my outlook on humanity has changed so much.  The generosity and kindness of strangers never ceases to amaze me.  One young woman came in to the club and saw Haley's poster and inquired about Haley's Story.  After reading her blog, she wrote a check for $50.00 to go towards the Benefit.  I don't even know her name . . . All of these wonderful things people have done for Haley mean so much to our family.  Thank you again to everyone that helped with this event!!!

Benefit for Haley

I just found out about this yesterday.  Apparently, Haley’s name was picked out a few hundred for several local businesses to join together and put on some type of benefit for her. (I don’t even know who put her name in for the drawing).  I have been told that her blog is one of the reasons she was selected.  Anyways, I have been asked to send this flyer around.  It is very short notice but if any of you are free on Sunday, it would be really fun to see you there.

Below is all of the info from the flyer about the benefit.

Maggie Magee’s is Holding a Benefit For Haley Medford, Grand Daughter of LuAnn and Steve Day, On Sunday February 26, 2012

She is currently under going chemo therapy treatments at Primary Children's Hospital. There will be a spaghetti dinner for $5.00 and a poker tournament with a $25.00 buy in. You can re-buy in for $10.00 before the end of the first hour. At the end of the first hour you can buy more chips for only $5.00.

•      Cash Prizes for 1^st and 2^nd places.
•      Other tables available.
•      There is a silent auction to be   held on numerous items.
•      Lots of fun and for one and all.
•      Pool tables and other games.
•      Daytona 500 for all you race fans.

To learn more about Haley, check out her blog at www.haleymckenzie.blogspot.com.

All Proceeds to help out on Medical Bills.

Hope to see you all there.

For more information call 801-273-9899

(No one under 21 years of age please)

Maggie McGee's Sports Bar is Salt Lake City's favorite place for drinks, music, and atmosphere. Our legendary Karaoke is FEATURED EVERY NIGHT and includes over 50,000 titles and Salt Lake's hottest KJs. For game day we have 22 flat screen and two big screen TVs where you can enjoy NASCAR, NBA, NHL, MLB, Utah football, NFL Sunday Ticket, and of course Monday Night Football.

Locals often visit Maggie's to have fun in our 3000 ft² game room with a game of darts or round of pool, grooving to our 10 kW sound system featuring satellite music.

Karaoke starts at about 9 PM (after the game on game nights) and runs to closing 7 nights per week. Check out our events page and calendar for nightly details and special events. We look forward to seeing you at Maggie McGee's Sports Bar.

  
Maggie McGee's Sports Bar
6253 Highland Drive
Salt Lake City, UT 84121
(801) 273-9899
info@maggiemcgees.com

DI-2 Begins

After two weeks of delays due to cough, cold, wheezing, breathing treatments, inhalers, ear infections and low counts, Haley finally started DI-2 on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2012.  From the looks of things, we are in for a rough go around.  After only one treatment, side effects of full force nausea and vomiting are setting in… poor Haley… so hard to see her so sick.  The treatment Ares-C causes fever and vomiting and she will need this treatment every day for two weeks.  We will have to have the home health nurse come over and train us on how to administer this IV treatment. 

 

Also, a shocking news story tells us that some drug companies have stopped producing Methotrexate (one of the main treatments administered for leukemia patients).  Apparently, the drug companies do not make enough money on this drug and savings the lives of thousands of children is not incentive enough to produce it.  What is our world coming to :( very sad indeed.  Stay tuned...

A Special Visit

Last Saturday our family was humbled and privileged to have received a visit from Elder Marcus B. Nash of the First Quorum of the Seventy and President Craig E. Judd, Stake President of the Cobble Creek Stake.  We visited for about an hour, shared stories and cookies that Haley made.  Thank you for sharing your time with us and expressing your concern for Haley.  Elder Nash gave a beautiful blessing on our home and we feel truly blessed to have had the opportunity to meet and visit with these two extraordinary men.  

Tomorrow, February 10, 2012, Haley will start the last month of DI-2, final phase of intense chemotherapy.  She was supposed to have started this phase on January 31^st, but due to an ear infection and a pretty bad cough, her treatment was delayed for 10 days so that she could recover.  Despite her ear infection and cold and heavy treatments these last two months, Haley maintains honor roll status in school with a 4.0 this term… WOW… a teacher once told me that it is those students, whom you would least likely expect to excel, surprisingly rise above and achieve greatness despite the overwhelming obstacles they are to overcome… We are soooo proud of you Haley!!!  What an incredible example you are to your younger siblings!!!  Your strength and determination is truly an inspiration to me.  Happy Valentines Day! XOXOXOXO

Delayed Intensification (DI-1)

Haley is three weeks in to DI-1 (first phase of delayed intensification).  We have been told that her blood counts will drop and that she will be very sick.  Thus far, we have seen none of this (knock-on-wood).  As a matter of fact, this month, Haley has had more energy than she has had in the last 7 months.  The doctors are a little baffled.   Haley hasn’t missed one of her brother’s basketball games, has been to the movies three times and is the first to volunteer to drive her younger siblings to their activities.  We have seen some rollercoaster emotions from the steroids but even that, Haley hides her unexplained anger and irritations pretty well.  I look at her, and I swear she glows.  She is a true gift from God. 

My heart swells with gratitude for all the people that make our lives possible.  My sister, MaryAnn, Haley’s aunt, has been our saving grace.  When Dawayne was on the road for four months, MaryAnn quit her job to come and live with us during that time so Haley and her younger siblings would be cared for.  Regardless, of whatever troubles Mary is having in her own life, she is at my doorstop every Monday morning at the crack of dawn and spends the whole week at my house cleaning, cooking, caring for Haley and the baby, and basically makes it possible for our lives to function.  Even after Dawayne got home in October and started working full-time, my sister has remained our children’s full-time nanny.  Mary, words cannot express my gratitude and love for you.  We have always been close singing and playing the guitar together but I cannot tell you how much you have saved me these last seven months. /cry/cry.  You are absolutely the best.  I am also extremely thankful for Jessica Silotti, Haley’s closest friend.  I have called on her many times to run Tyler to his practices and games, grocery stores runs, she has come to my house and helped clean and accompanies us to Haley’s Dr. appointments.  Thank you thank you to both of you!!! You are truly my closest and dearest friends.

 January 31, 2012 starts DI-2 (second phase of delayed intensification).  A whole new set of treatments are administered so will be prepared for those side effects.  For now, we are thankful that Haley is feeling well and able to resume a somewhat normal life! Stay tuned . . . .