Disneyworld Bound

Sunday, July 1, 2012 marks Haley’s one-year mark from the date she was diagnosed with A.L.L.  It was this day one year ago that we were shocked and stunned to find out that 91% of the cells in Haley’s blood were cancerous ~ Today, one year later, after a long and treacherous battle against chemotherapy side affects, fevers, mouth sours, hair loss, 30 lb. weight loss and everything else you can imagine, Haley is Cancer Free~yay!~.  She will resume on monthly maintenance treatments for another year and then the world is hers for the taking.  How perfect it is that today, to help us celebrate, Make-a-Wish-Foundation showed up at our doorstep with a huge bouquet of balloons, cookies, a Harry Potter T-shirt and a Proclamation stating that Haley’s wish to see the Wizarding World of Harry Potter was Granted!  We leave for Disneyworld on July 9, 2012 . . . wow . . . Haley and her little brother and sisters are so exciting they can’t stand it.  We have never been to Florida so this will be a trip we will never forget.

I would like to dedicate a paragraph in this blog to Haley’s Doctor, Holly Spraker.  What an incredible person she is.  Every time I see this cute lady I just want to hug her.  She has been our hope, our inspiration and our friend for these last 12 months.  I personally would have never survived emotionally without her.  She is so cute and bubbly and has that calming sparkle in her eyes that makes you feel like everything is going to be okay.  We are so unbelievably thankful to have her as Haley’s Oncologist. Thank you for everything you have done for us!

 

 

Make-A-Wish-Foundation will be hosting a huge party for Haley when we get back from Orlando and we would like to invite all of you that have followed “Haley’s Story” to join us for this celebration.  More details to come on this event so stay tuned . .

Cancer Poker Run

Underneath that rough and tumble exterior of tattoos and leather are the most kind-hearted and compassionate group of people you will ever meet.  Hershel of the Harley Davidson Motor Club and Budweiser sponsored a Cancer Poker Run for Haley on Saturday, May 19, 2012.  All of the bikers started out at Copperton King Bar in Magna, Utah and traveled all over Utah and Salt Lake Counties.  There to see them off was Jessica, Grandpa Steve, Grandma LuAnn and me . . .Mom :). Wow, what a sight that was to witness and be a part of. My deepest thanks goes out to all those that helped and participated in that event!

This morning as I woke up, I felt so overcome with emotion that I quite literally fell to my knees and wept.  It was long overdue.  I prayed that someday I would have the opportunity to pay forward all of the kindness and blessings that have showered my family this last year.  With all of my imperfections, I didn’t feel worthy enough to have received all of them.  But then I remembered that I have been privileged enough to not only be in the presence of an angel, but to have raised her and called her my own.  The thought of her graduating and going off to college next year and leaving our home, is almost unbearable.  Haley is registered and will start school again for her Senior Year at Copper Hills High School in August of this year!  I can’t believe she will be 18 soon ;(~!

Make a Wish update . . . sooo . . . if any of you know Haley, you know that she is a die hard Harry Potter fan with movie posters covering her ceiling . . . it will be no shocker to find out that her wish was to go with her little brother and sisters and see the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando, Florida! . . ~~Stay tuned~~ . . . 

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...