Harper, I Will Follow You Anywhere

My previous post was a little more emotional, so I'll focus this one more on providing an update on Harper and how she's doing overall.

In general, we're seeing slow improvement daily. Not everything gets better all at once, but there seems to be a small victory or milestone just about every day.

For example, she is eating. She is even requesting food, at times. We are making daily trips to the grocery (or so it feels) to buy the things she asks for, but that's a small price to pay if she'll eat it. Yesterday is was mini chocolate donuts and ravioli (Chef Boyardee).



Taking medicine has been a battle since the beginning, but we've also made great progress there as well. She is cooperating a lot more, taking the meds when we ask, and not fighting nearly as much. Since the oral antibiotics are not very tasty, I understand why she doesn't like those, so I try to cut her some slack on pushing back on those, but even there she is doing better.

Her activity level is slowly climbing. She gets out and walks the neighborhood just about every day. It's no power walk, to be sure, but she does it. She can make it about halfway around the neighborhood loop before she needs us to get her home. Yesterday a neighbor offered a couch, and then drove her and Melissa back to our house.

A home health nurse came out yesterday to draw blood for another CBC. The doctors want to see if her white counts stay up a few days after a Neupogen dose. Unfortunately, they were down, so we had to give another's dose here at home.

This was the first time we had given the Neupogen at home, and it was a little tough. Of all the things she hates, shots are near the top of the list. But, after we shed some tears, discussed (again) how the medicine could not go in her central line and were reminded, multiple times how much she hates it, she was brave and let me give her the shot.

The show of bravery is so encouraging. There were times in the hospital when she would just melt and withdraw mentally so it seemed she wasn't even there. Now, at home, we're seeing the same anxiety, but times when she can control it and, to a degree, master it. THAT reinforces she's fighting.

And seeing her fight helps energize and inspire me to keep up the fight for her as well. She's the General on this campaign, and we are mere infantry soldiers. She's in command, and honestly we take our orders from her.

Lead away my dear. Take charge. Lead the fight. And Harper, I will follow you anywhere.