A Journey of Hope: One Child’S Battle with Cancer

Copyright © 2015 Jeanie James.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission. NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered trademarks of Biblica, Inc. Use of either trademark for the offering of goods or services requires the prior written consent of Biblica US, Inc.

A percentage of the net profits from sales of this book will be donated to children’s cancer non-profit organizations.

This book is not intended as a substitute for the medical advice of physicians. The reader should regularly consult a physician in matters relating to his/her health and particularly with respect to any symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical attention. The author of this book disclaims responsibility for the misuse or misinterpretation, blatant or otherwise, of her suggestions.

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ISBN: 978-1-4908-9793-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-9794-3 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-9792-9 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015911435

WestBow Press rev. date: 7/30/2015

Contents

Acknowledgment

Dedication

Strength to Endure the Journey

Forward

Induction

Consolidation

Interim Maintenance 1

Delayed Intensification

Photo Album

Interim Maintenance 2

Maintenance

Things We Wish We Had Known

(Read this first if you are newly diagnosed)

Reference

May her story bring History to light.

Therefore put on the full armor of God,

so that when the day of evil comes,

you may be able to stand your ground,

and after you have done everything,

to stand.

(Eph. 6:13 NLT)

Our Angel

Acknowledgment

Dear Lord Our God Almighty,

I promise to remember every tear. I promise to share every pain and every joy with the world. No matter how humiliating, I bend to your will. Nadia’s gallant war with leukemia will bring great praise to God because everyone who reads this will see that the pains of this world, the tortures that even a beautiful, strong-hearted, caring three year old little girl goes through, cannot keep us from loving you Lord. Let everyone who shares her journey grow closer to you in a way that others will see shining through them, and move others to seek you, our Almighty God.

Thank you Lord for allowing our story to end in happiness and that our baby girl is alive and well. We are eternally thankful to be granted your grace and mercy upon our lives, as we are able to hug and kiss her every day. We know Lord that what you bring us to, you alone can bring us through. No matter what, on this side of heaven or the other side, we believe in you Lord. May your will be done, as we ask for your blessings, grace, and mercy to cover our lives completely. We love you God, and only you.

In your precious son Jesus’ name we thank you Lord, Amen.

Your Loving Daughter and Servant,

Jeanie

Dedication

To Nadia:

My sweet little warrior, you have endured an evil that brings the bravest to their knees, and you were only three! You showed grace and mercy toward your caregivers, family, and friends that shone God’s love brighter than the brightest star. Your courage inspires complete strangers, and the closest friends to face life with dignity, just as you faced leukemia each and every day of your mighty fight. We give all praise and glory to our Almighty God, who brought you through, and saved you.

To Faith:

No sister on earth could ask for a better keeper than you, who stood bravely by her sister’s side, who witnessed everything with a silent cry, who still stands with loving arms through all of life’s trials. You, my love, stand for exactly who you are, faith; an undeniable, head strong, eyes straight-ahead, no stopping us – F.A.I.T.H.

To Our Family and Friends:

Thank you for the endless support, love, and especially the prayers. We have seen prayer move miracles, and our family knows first-hand that when people pray, our beloved God listens. There is no doubt that every family who enters into a fight against cancer truly needs people to pray for them, as it provided us the strength we needed each and every day. Please accept our endless gratitude for always being here for us.

To Our Oncology/Medical Team:

I humbly acknowledge you selfless individuals who dedicate your living, breathing lives to saving children from cancer. May the blood and sweat that you leave on the hospital and clinic floors be a path for all who follow, to understand that helping children fight this evil means facing ones’ greatest fears. May you always look to God for wisdom and discernment, that each child will see Christ in your eyes.

Thank you all for never allowing us to give up. Thank you Michelle for looking me straight in the face and saying, Jeanie you have to be strong for her! You do not have a choice! No clearer message was spoken that kindled a flame inside me, to burn through the doubt, and never, ever let my little girl down!

To Pastor Greg and Pastor Lori:

Even on one of your darkest days, you shone with the light of Christ as you stepped into our hospital room. Your love for us, support for our needs, and friendship beyond earthly measure changed our lives. It is difficult to imagine how Christ lived, so as to attempt to model such servitude. Your lives are beaming examples of the greatest love that we all hope to find. Greg and Lori, thank you for beginning this journey with us. Thank you for your friendship, and thank you for your unconditional Christ-like love. We love you both so very much.

Strength to Endure the Journey

Did you know that 98% of all cancer patients go through depression, and 95% want to have a spiritual talk with someone? The strength to endure a journey through cancer comes only from God Almighty. I pray that the following Biblical Scriptures bring light to your path, strength to your mind, and peace to your heart.

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

(Romans. 15:4 NLT)

May the God of hope fill you will 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 NLT)

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

(John. 3:18 NLT)

I have told you these things, so that in me you have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

(John. 16:33 NLT)

In you, O Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame. Rescue me and deliver me in your righteousness; turn your ear to me and save me. Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.

(Psalm. 71:1-3 NLT)

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make your strong, firm, and steadfast.

(1 Peter. 5:10 NLT)

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 have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.

(2 Corinthians. 1:3-6 NLT)

But he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ’s power may rest in me.

(2 Corinthians. 12:9 NLT)

Forward

April 12, 2011

Slowly, from the back hallway appeared the man who saved my baby’s life. He walked toward us, several nurses following behind, everyone with a very solemn look on his or her face.

Mrs. James, he began, in all my thirty years as a dentist, I have never seen anything like this. Here. Take this paper. It contains a list of tests. I believe that Nadia needs to see a hematologist right away. Please call her pediatrician as soon as you can. Staring at his face, I could not bring myself to speak. I held her as she clung to me, arms wrapped tightly around my chest. We rocked back and forth, back and forth. I did my best to smile, sing, and just comfort her as she still wept with pain from her x-ray experience.

Um. I don’t understand. A hematologist? What? I mean? Why? Stammering at best, I could barely ask the questions that fogged my mind.

So lovingly, he practically whispered, A blood specialist. Nadia may have a blood disorder. I dared not ask another question. I thanked him and left with my crying, swollen-mouth, gum-bleeding baby in my arms.

Induction

Medications:

IV vinChristine

Oral Dexamethasone

IV PEG-asparaginase

Intrathecal Cytarabine x1

Intrathecal Methotrexate

April 18, 2011

Treatment: Day 1

Hope

Sitting here, listening to the IV machine beeping, as my beautiful Nadia sleeps so peacefully, I am filled with more emotions than my mind can contain. So wonderful, so funny, so sassy, and so sick. She hardly notices and seems annoyed at others who are sad. At three years and one month old she understands that life is meant to be lived. God holds her so close.

We were blessed to have found out so quickly. Wednesday, April twelfth, her dentist of all people, said we should see the doctor and get the blood work done. Our doctor agreed and by Friday evening we were admitted into the Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Wow! This place is awesome! Ed and I were so hopeful that the test would come back negative. We were so sure that with all the prayers for Nadia’s healing God would surely spare her from this pain. At the same time, we knew that if it was positive, that meant God has a huge plan for her.

It feels unreal to even say it out loud: my baby has cancer. Even typing it makes me cry. Oh how great heaven will be, but the things of this earth can be gut wrenching. I never, ever thought that I would be able to say that I understand when someone mentions his or her child has cancer. Yet, thousands of parents say it every day.

The pain that our baby will endure, as her tiny body is forced to kill her cancer and then attempt to flush it out, is something I pray so hard to be lifted from her. I know she has to walk this path, but Jesus, please spare her the pain. Give it to me, tenfold, and I will gladly bare it all!

Everything comes down to hope, hope in God’s will to be done, hope that the journey will bring glory to God, and hope that Nadia will live through this to tell an amazing story that brings others to Christ. If not that, then it is not worth it. We love you sweet baby, our Nadia Camille.

Always by Your Side,

Mama

April 19, 2011

Tough Day

Oh wow. Maybe it’s the days meshing together, maybe it’s the headache from the stress, or maybe it’s the thoughts of what is about to happen, but today has been a really tough day. Her first IV, which was placed in her right elbow area, lasted much longer than it was supposed to, but today it ran out of life. We had to find a new vein in her left wrist. It is so hard because she doesn’t understand why, and she really hates having any kind of adhesive removed from her skin. The room was incredible though. The ceiling and walls have been painted to look like you are sitting in outer space! I thought it was really cool. Nadia did not.

As I climbed into the bed to hold her in my arms while they pinched and poked, looking for a large enough vein, I realized that nothing was going to help her feel calm. She didn’t want the old IV, she didn’t want the new IV, and she didn’t want to be there. But she did it. And she did it well. She cried, but she bore the pain. This kid has more God-like character at three then I do at thirty-six. She inspires me every day and I pray that tomorrow brings her peace.

April 21, 2011

Honor

Ugh, there are just so many things I need to get out, so many words and feelings. I don’t know how parents do this every day. It feels like I am getting a nursing education in a one-week class. The cancer medications, the pain medications, oral or IV, at home or in office, the road maps of various kinds, time frames, amounts, and counts. God, I cannot do this alone. I know you made me for this, otherwise it wouldn’t be happening to my baby girl, but it is just too much. I nearly pass out every single time I listen to someone explain the amount of medication my little twenty-nine-pound baby is supposed to ingest on a weekly basis. Seriously, the fact that she will live through this is absolute proof that she is held and protected by God alone. The fact that He has created her for this journey tells me that she is a human being in God’s favor. As crazy as that sounds, He has blessed Nadia with the honor of using her incredibly painful walk to light a path so bright that nearly every person who sees her is drawn into it.

Speaking of the pain, this is the one thing I pray so hard for God to have mercy in His plan. I know it is possible for her to get through this with little or