Updated 02/21/05

SIDE NOTE: Please go to the main page and go to Update #2 for current updates. Thanks!

December 16th, 2005

Thursday, December 15, 2005 we took Hadley for what we thought would be her final scan before we removed her tumor. We were told Thursday afternoon that there was a mass on the bottom of her lower left lung. Dr. Barnhart, who put in Hadley's port, scheduled to do a biopsy Friday morning. We had hopes that this would be some type of fluid on her lung but after a 2 hour surgery we were told it was a solid mass about the size of a patty sausage. Hadley had a rough weekend as she had a chest tube and two other incisions in her side. They removed her chest tube Saturday but was not released until late afternoon on Monday. Dr. Watts, Hadley's Oncologist, called Tuesday to let us know is definitely is a tumor but the pathology hasn't been able to determine what it could be. They are at the beginning stages of research, so early that they haven't even determined if there was a good margin of healthy tissue around the mass. It looks positive so we are praying this will turn out to be nothing. We are supposed to hear back after the first of the year. I will update then.

WEEK 39  - May 5th, 2005

IT'S OVER!!! We miscounted!! Hadley is through! We went in for what we thought was the next to last overnight treatment. To our surprise they told us in clinic that it was the last! It unfortunately was one of the toughest treatments for Hadley but she seemed to know and, like all of her treatments, met it with strength and hasn't hardly complained. It was the best Mother's Day present a child could give. I will update the website monthly after her checkups. She has a CT scan and Bone scan on June 2nd and a MRI on June 24th. She will then have monthly checkups until she has her port removed in November and more scans in December. It has been a journey.
                                                                                            Special Thanks
Thank you everyone for your prayers and donations! We will always remind Hadley of the love she received. I will never forget the hope she gave me. I also want to give a special thanks to those nurses who sat by Hadley through her treatments and making Hadley one of their own. Dr. Watts and Bethany, thank you for being so professional and answering our millions of questions. Dr. Seigel and Dr. Barnhart, thank you for looking out for our little girl during her surgeries. Again, thank you Linda, Ken, and all the staff at Pediatric Prosthesis for giving Hadley her arm back. Thank you Scott and all my coworkers at Wal-Mart for making it possible to be at every treatment. Thank you Jimmy, Johnny, and John at First National Bank for all your support through this. To all our family...I can't say enough. From day one when we found out about Hadley and you all rushed to our side. Ryann and I were only strong for Hadley because you were strong for us. We love you all. I hope no one is left out. I feel like the whole world was praying for Hadley. We'll keep in touch.

WEEK 37 & 38  - April 18th & April 29th, 2005

WOW!!! We just got back from Houston! We had a GREAT week there. Linda Bean and Pediatric Prosthesis Inc is everything we could have hoped for and more. I hope to have pictures of Hadley's new arm later this week. Anyone who doubts myoelecrtic arms I give a open invitation to see my little girl. They gave Hadley a test arm on Monday after they found the best place to put the sensor (that took about a hour). Nancy, Hadley's physical therapist, started right away trying to train Hadley's brain that she has a functional arm again. Tuesday went well but Hadley wasn't acknowledging her new arm but Wednesday (yes, 2 short days) Linda fit Hadley with her new arm and Hadley started noticing her arm. Hadley never fought about having the arm on and that is half the battle. On the way to Hadley's afternoon session she was running down the Hotel hallway and she started looking at her arm and veered off into the wall (she was okay) and we were amazed. Thursday morning Hadley was putting toy cookies ON HER OWN into a basket. We had a review on Friday and headed home. I can't thank the whole staff enough. Linda, our angel and excellent cook, Ken, Nancy, Gene, Kim, & Gordon. Thanks for giving our little girl her arm back!

WEEK 36  - April 14th, 2005

It always stinks when Hadley has to have a overnight when she feels so good. But the good news is she was feeling really good. Hadley got through the night pretty good. She got sick a few times but Dr. Watts decided to give her a blood transfusion since she won't be back for 3 weeks and we are going to Houston. She has felt as good as can be expected today. We are anxious to get her new arm. Thank you Bethany and Dr. Watts for getting us some contacts for some Children Hospitals in Houston. This will be the last update until May when we get back from Houston. Please pray for our travels and Hadley stays as healthy as she's been.

WEEK 34 & 35  - March 31st & April 7th, 2005

Sorry I haven't updated the site the last couple of weeks. I was in Texas on business. Hadley is doing very well. I got home and she is feeling good. Her hair is starting to grow back good. We are excited. We are headed to Houston in a couple of weeks to get Hadley's myoelectric arm. Hadley will have therapy once or twice a day Monday thru Friday while Ken and Linda fit her with her arm. Hadley has already been trying to use her passive prosthesis so we are very optimistic.

WEEK 33  - March 24th, 2005

We are on the final stretch and this treatment couldn't have gone any better. Hadley's counts were okay but low enough that Dr. Watts made the call to give her some blood. She was done with chemo by 8:30 last night and started her blood around midnight or so. She is feeling great. She has been non-stop since we got home. On a light note we zipped through clinic and was discharged by 8:30 this morning. That was great. If Hadley's nurses and doctors agree I am planning to have a page dedicated to the staff at Children's!

WEEK 32  - March 17th, 2005

Is was a easy week this time! We had a early appointment because of the possibility of getting another transfusion but her counts were up and we can stop giving shots. Hadley has been very active and happy today.

WEEK 31  - March 10th, 2005

Hadley has had a tough week since her big treatment. She wasn't too hungry and wasn't as active as usual. Ryann figured she needed a blood transfusion and when we got to Birmingham It was one of those trips that you hope won't ever repeat. We left for the hospital around 5:30 and about 11:15 they told us she needed blood and platelets. She had been bruising a little more than normal. This is the first time she has needed platelets. Hadley was a trooper. It took about 7 and a half hours to finish everything and she sat in the chair and acted like a doll. We got home around 10:30. The good news is Hadley was ready to play when we got back. She is doing wonderful now!

WEEK 30  - March 3rd, 2005

We started chemo back after a wonderful 2 weeks off including a trip to Destin, FL. Hadley had been feeling really good and had gotten her routine back. This trip was a bit rough on her. We had to start the day without food from 8am to 3pm because she had to be sedated for a MRI. The sedation knocked her out until about 5:00pm and by the time she woke up her chemo was starting so she hasn't had a good meal since Wednesday. I don't think we'll do a MRI right  before chemo again. Of coarse Hadley has been toughing it out and pulling through it. Once she got home Friday she felt better. We are counting down the days!!!

WEEK 25 thru 29  - January 27 thru February 24

Well this has been a nice past few weeks. Week 27 has been Hadley's only treatment in this five week stretch. She recovered well from that treatment and we've also seen that outside of chemo Hadley has a sleeping and eating schedule! It is kind of random when she's on chemo. Ryann and her mom took Hadley to Birmingham on the 18th to get her some blood. She is already feeling better. I guess we'll start back on the 3rd of March. We are taking Hadley to Destin, FL to the beach next week while her counts are good. We are excited to get to leave the house and not go to the hospital! We'll try to get some pictures.

WEEK 24  - January 20, 2005

Great News! Hadley's scans came back clear! We had a Chest and Arm CT Wednesday and went back Thursday and Friday for chemo. They also gave her blood last night (Thursday night). Hadley, as always, is such a trooper and was a angel all week. We have the next two weeks off so I won't update until then! Thanks for all your prayers!

WEEK 23  - January 13, 2005

We had a good quick trip today. Hadley got a good report. We go back next Wednesday to do follow up scans and will be in Birmingham until Friday. It's great trips are becoming easier and there isn't much to report on!

WEEK 19 thru 22  - December 2, 2004 thru January 6, 2005

It has been awhile but things have been going well but very busy! Hadley had a wonderful Christmas. I want to thank everyone who thought of Hadley and sent her a gift. I promise she has played with EVERYONE! She is such a appreciative baby! Since the last update she has gotten her prosthesis. Ken and Linda Bean with Pediatric Prosthetics was WONDERFUL! They flew here and molded Hadley a socket, then returned the next day with a wonderful looking arm (see new picture on the home page). In the few short weeks she has taken to her new arm and actually uses it in her everyday adventures. We are excited to get her myoelectric in April. Hadley has had a couple of rough weeks. During Christmas her blood counts wouldn't come up so she was delayed 2 weeks. Her hair also fell out but has starting growing back some! Her finishing date is now May 29th. We go for a Vincristine treatment tomorrow (01/13/05) and next week Hadley will get new scans to look for any cancer. Dr. Watts is very pleased with her progress and feels very positive. I apologize for not keep the site up to speed but we all appreciate the prayers!

WEEK 18  - November 22, 2004

We started Hadley's chemo back after a few weeks off for surgery. Her arm hasn't completely healed so we have to keep an eye on it. We were going to get her first passive prosthesis after she got her stitches out but Dr. Seigel said it was still a little tender so she will get her first arm on December 6th. She is getting along great! She is starting to realize she can use her right arm to help hold big things. I think she is going to do well with her new arm. The doctors did determine this was in deed Rhabdomyosarcoma. She will finish out her treatments through May 12th is there is no delays. Thank you all for your prayers!

WEEK 16 thru 17  - November 2004

Hadley had her arm amputated on November 5th. We got home from the hospital on the afternoon of the 7th. We were supposed to leave Saturday but we had to stay on extra night to help get her pain under control.  After the doctor changed up her medication she was like a different baby.  Friday night was a pretty bad night for her, she was up most of the time crying.  But by Saturday afternoon, she was up in bed smiling.  She has been having a fever on and off but they said that was to be expected with the level of surgery she had.  She is also having a little trouble keeping some foods down.  She has already almost completely adapted.  She can still do almost everything that she could before the surgery.  She has already figured out that she needs to use her left hand for everything, and she is discovering how much she can do with her feet.  She is an amazing little girl, and has not slowed down one bit.  The tumor that was removed will be tested and we will know in a few weeks how much of an effect the chemo has had.  They will run some tests to see how much of the cancer was still alive in the tumor.  The great news is that they got all of the cancer and that Hadley is now cancer free for the first time ever!  She had 2-3 weeks off from chemo to let her recover from surgery, and then she will start back on the 22nd for precautionary reasons. She will also get her stitches out that Monday and fitted for her first passive prosthesis. Thank you all for all of your prayers, please continue to pray for her full recovery.

WEEK 15  - October 21st, 2004

Hadley had her first chemo in three weeks. I guess she has to get back into things. She had a rough start but she is getting her appetite back today and hopefully at full speed tomorrow. We are going to have her surgery on November 5th at 8:00 am. She gets until then off of chemo. Please pray now for her doctors to have the knowledge and perform a good surgery. Please pray Hadley's pain will be minimal or none at all. Please pray for Hadley that she will recover quickly and avoid sickness. Thank you for your prayers!

WEEK 14  - October 12th, 2004

We saw Dr. Siegel Tuesday. He gave us confirmation that taking Hadley's arm was the best thing and only way to completely rid the cancer. The surgery will probably take place November 5th. The procedure takes about a hour. To our surprise the hospital stay could be as short as 1 night. It depends on how Hadley is. Hadley will probably notice her arm but after about a week or so be adjusted and on her way. There probably won't be much pain for her especially since she doesn't have pain now. She will have follow-up surgeries throughout her growing life because the humerus bone will grow and try to protrude through the skin. A simple, painless surgery will be able to fix it when it does. Please pray for Hadley's comfort.

WEEK 13  - October 7th, 2004

Hadley has two weeks off from chemo. We are going to Birmingham on Tuesday to meet with Dr. Siegel. Hadley has done well. Her counts were up so we could stop her shots yesterday. We will post how the doctors visit goes Tuesday.

WEEK 12  - September 30th, 2004

We got back from Hadley’s overnight chemo around lunch today.  She is doing really good.  The only difference in her is that she doesn’t have much of an appetite like usual after these big chemo treatments.  We are keeping her full of Gatorade though.  It’s a good thing she loves it.  Our oncologist is helping us to find a new surgeon, we have just had too many issues with our other one.  I think the final straw came when his assistant got confused and told our prosthesist that they were amputating Hadley’s arm at the shoulder.  It will also give us the chance to have a second opinion, even though we don’t expect anything to change.  We are also looking for one that is more up to date on prosthetics and the type of prosthesis we want her to have.  Dr. Watts was very supportive of this decision and talked with a orthopedic surgeon at UAB yesterday.  We will probably be going up to meet with him in the next couple of weeks.  Her surgery should still happen within the next 3-4 weeks like we had planned.  On the upside, we are at the point in Hadley’s chemo schedule now, that we have a break for a couple of weeks.  We have 3 weeks until our next appointment.  Also, on a side note we think we may have an offer on our house.  Thanks everyone for the prayers.  Please continue to pray for Hadley.

WEEK 11  - September 23rd, 2004

Not a whole lot changed with this visit. Dr Watts did her normal check up. We are going to try to schedule the surgery to take place in about three to four weeks. We pray so hard that something might change but God has already laid down a great discovery. We found a clinic in Houston, TX, Pediatric Prosthesis Inc. that specialized in putting myoelectric prosthesis on children. Linda and Ken are very nice and have made us feel comfortable about this. If this all plays out they will fly in about 2 weeks after her surgery and fit her with a regular prosthesis that has no function. This will help her get use to something being on her arm and also help with her balance. After about 3 to 4 months we will go to Houston for a week or so and Hadley will be fit with a myoelectric arm. We are grateful that Hadley will be cured and she has the opportunity to have a normal life. Please keep praying for Hadley.

WEEK 10  - September 15th, 2004

We took Hadley up to Birmingham Wednesday for chemo.  She is doing great.  The doctor says that her exam looked great.  One of her counts was low so she received a blood transfusion.  That made for a long day since it takes all day to get blood.  We talked with the doctors about our next step in removing the tumor from her arm.  Some of you may already know that the news wasn’t exactly what we had hoped to hear.  The good news was that the chemo is working and that her tumor is actually smaller and shrinking.  However, the main artery and two nerves of her arm go through the cancer.  It is also in her elbow joint.  We knew from the beginning that this would pose a problem in removing it.  The key to successfully treating the type of cancer she has is to totally remove it along with a healthy margin of tissue surrounding it.  A team of doctors from Children’s, UAB, and St. Vincent's sat down on Wednesday to look at her MRI results and came up with two options for us.  The first is to do a surgery to try and save her arm.  This would mean removing her elbow joint totally and then fusing the bones together.  This would be followed by radiation to remove the rest of the cancer.  This would result in her arm not ever being able to bend at all, and also the best case scenario would be that her fourth and fifth fingers would still bend.  As for the rest of her hand, she would not be able to use it.  Also, the area that was fused together would not grow and the area that was radiated would not grow.  This would mean that her arm would be shorter than the other one.  The worst part of this option is that she would not be able to take chemo during this time which could mean the cancer could spread and the surgery would not guarantee that all of the cancer was gone, which means it could come back.  Our second option is to remove her arm from right above the elbow.  As terrible as this sounds, it would guarantee that all of the cancer was gone, and it would give her the best chance of being cured for good.  She could also continue with chemo during this time.  They said she is at the ideal age to receive a prosthesis and learn to use it just like her other arm.  To us, there is no decision to be made.  We would rather have Hadley with one arm any day over not having her at all.  So we are going to do what provides her with the best chance of having a long life.  In a way it is a relief and an answer to our prayers, because she will be cancer free for the first time in her life, and this surgery will make her chances which were already about 85% even better than that.  Nothing is final until we meet with the surgeons within the next couple of weeks.  Please pray for her because she has already been through so much.

WEEK 9  - September 9th, 2004

This was Hadley's 4th overnight chemo treatment. She is still doing wonderful! She had a MRI to see how the tumor is reacting. From the first look of things it doesn't appear to have shrunk. However, Dr. Watts feels optimistic that the mass is becoming less firm. Also, Dr. Killian noted during her first biopsy that there was a lot of scar tissue in her arm. We will find out whether Hadley will have another surgery, get radiation, or continue the treatments as normal and try to shrink the tumor. Please pray the mass that appears to be the same size is indeed scar tissue and the mass that was in her elbow joint is gone!

WEEK 8  - September 2nd, 2004

This was another GREAT week!! Her chemo went well as usual. Dr. Watts did a Bone Scan and CT Scan on her. They both came out clear!!! Praise God! Next week we will do a MRI before her big treatment and see if the tumor has become small enough yet to remove it. Please continue to pray for God to shrink this. Once the tumor is removed Hadley is technically cancer free! We will have to finish all the weeks of chemo regardless of the outcome of the surgery. They want to continue the same routine that has been successful in curing Rhabdomyosarcoma.

WEEK 7  - August 26th, 2004

This was another good week. This was a quick treatment too! We left Birmingham at 11:26! A new record! (Thanks Bethany!!!) Hadley was up and down this week but all-in-all had a good one. Dr. Watts scheduled a CT Scan and a Bone scan for Week 8 and a MRI for Week 9. Needless to say these next two weeks will be long for Hadley. Please continue to keep her in your prayers. On a positive note Hadley's HCT was at 34.0!!! The highest yet! I guess my blood worked out after all! :) Her White Blood Cell count was good but we have to continue her shots. Here's to a good week!

WEEK 6  - August 19th, 2004

Another good one!!! Hadley had her 3rd big treatment. Her HCT was at 23.4 so we had to do a blood transfusion early this morning. She took to it well and really is feeling a lot better. I want to thank everyone who gave blood on her behalf. Hadley won't use all of it but it will go to children just like Hadley who need it desperately.

WEEK 5  - August 12th, 2004

Yet another GREAT week. Hadley took her Chemo like a champ! Dr. Watts said he thinks the chemo is working and the tumor is shrinking. He also said she is doing so good that her scans and MRI that was scheduled for Week 12 he is going to bump to Week 9. Now we will get a good grasp on how the chemo is working sooner! YEAH!!! Please pray that God will prepare her body for the upcoming scans and give the doctors a clear picture of her progress.

WEEK 4  - August 5th, 2004

Hadley had yet another great week. She didn't have to have the blood transfusion after all. Her HCT was at 26.1. However, her white blood count was good but not good enough to stop her shots. We will take her to get her blood drawn Monday and hopefully they will be back up. Hadley had a couple of rough nights this last week and the doctor thinks it is her Bactrin that is upsetting her stomach so if it happens again this weekend she will get a different medicine.

WEEK 3  - July 29th, 2004

Hadley received her 2nd big Chemo treatment. She has been handling it very well but this go around has started to wear on her. Our Nurse Practitioner says her HCT (hematocrit) level is at 25.5 and she will more than likely need a blood transfusion next week. We found out her blood type is A+ and so is mine so I gave blood yesterday so it can be ready next week. I think she will feel a lot better after the transfusion. It is a common thing to do and it is making her tired. Please pray this week she won't feel any discomfort.

WEEK 2  - July 22nd, 2004

Hadley had another GREAT day! She received just Vincristine today again. She didn't feel the needle go in. I think Daddy and Mommy are getting better at the numbing cream! :) The doctor actually said he thinks the tumor is shrinking! Pray that that is the case. Getting ready for next week, it is going to be another big one!

WEEK 1  - July 16th, 2004

Hadley had a GREAT day! She received just Vincristine today. It her a little when they put the port in but Ryann and I consoled her. She has had no side effects from the Chemo. Our best news was her cell count was great! She doesn't have to start her nightly shots until Week 3. She also doesn't have to get blood drawn until next Friday on our next appointment. Praise God for keeping her cell count high and away from sickness!

WEEK 0  - July 9th, 2004

Hadley went into the clinic and we didn’t know what to expect. To our surprise Hadley has handled this very well. She was    given her first two chemo drugs about 12:30 Friday afternoon. We were admitted into the room and they began fluids. Around 3:00 she was given the third drug with some medication to counter the side effects. We were told to expect some vomiting, nausea, loss of appetite and constipation. The only thing that seemed to bother her was around 12:30 Saturday morning she was fussy and they gave her some Benadryl. Hadley has had a good appetite and had no throwing up or constipation. Praise God for the answered prayers that she wouldn’t be uncomfortable.