WEEK 2 of 7
Well, we are almost done with Hutton’s second week of radiation treatments, and this is also week 2 of 7 that we will be living in a hotel by UCLA.
We were fortunate that Jeremy was able to be off work for the first week, to be with us, help us get used to this new routine, and figure out the “lay of the land”. But now he has returned to work and it is just me and Hutton getting quality mother/daughter time.
Overall, Hutton is doing great with the radiation treatments themselves. She is able to sit very still through the treatment and stay calm while on the table. Unfortunately, she is definitely experiencing the side effects of the treatments. She is very tired, she has headaches, and her blood and platelet counts are VERY VERY low. But…one of the benefits of us staying in the hotel near UCLA, is that Hutton can get labs multiple times a week along with the needed transfusions, as to help keep her counts up, and hopefully not delay her scheduled chemo treatments. This week, her numbers were the lowest they have ever been (probably due to all of last week’s radiation treatments) and on Monday she got a blood and a platelets transfusion before her radiation treatment. She got more blood and platelets today (Wednesday) before radiation. So, we are hoping that will help with the headaches and keep her counts high enough to stay on her treatment schedule.
All things considered, Hutton is doing wonderful and remains in good spirits. She is adjusting to living in a hotel and to daily hospital visits. She has had some rough moments, but has remained, overall, positive; and that light that shines from within her, though it may dim at times, it has never gone out, and always comes back shining brighter then ever. No idea how she can do that. She has set a daily example of strength and perseverance since she started this battle and continues to make us proud every day.
Here We Go…Again
The same…but different.
We go back to UCLA Monday for chemo.
Hutton was supposed to be done…but with the cancer still growing, we unfortunately need to continue her chemo treatments…and more. We meet with her radiation doctor this Monday as well, where we will find out if she will be doing 2 weeks or 3 weeks of radiation treatments, but we think it will only have to be two weeks at a time.
This means, we will be at UCLA for 5 days (inpatient), where she will get both chemo and radiation every day. Then, we will come home for one day, then back for 5 days of radiation, which will be outpatient. For the outpatient radiation Hutton and Steph will need to stay in a hotel close to UCLA. The radiation treatments usually will be in the morning, but with the way traffic is to and from UCLA, we think it would be better for her to stay closer to her hospital until we have a better understanding of how her body will react to this new protocol. She will then get about a week off before, repeating the treatment cycle all over again. We are praying it will only be 2 weeks of radiation, otherwise we would be spending 3 weeks out of the month either in the hospital or in a hotel.
This new chemo protocol has different (potential) side effects than the other chemo meds she has been on, and honestly they aren’t great. I mean none of the side effects are good but this new protocols side effects could more…permanent.
Hutton has been in such good spirits these past few weeks, and been able to do more and more, we are praying that she will be able to to continue this progress and since her body is used to going through chemo, it will be able to tolerate this new chemo as well, with no unexpected trips to the ER and unexpected admittances.
Thank you for all the love you support you continue to show towards her and our family and continue to pray for Hutton as she begins this new treatment protocol.
One Year Ago, Today…
1 year ago, our world was turned upside down. On September 6, 2024, Hutton’s doctor called me and told me that what we thought was a sprained hamstring was actually a tumor in her pelvis. I was 400 miles from home with Hutton at her Godmother’s house. Hutton and I had traveled to San Ramon to see her favorite musician, Lindsey Sterling, in concert. I had to text Jeremy and my mom the news because Hutton was next to me, and I didn’t want to alarm her. I remember praying so hard that the tumor was just a growth and not cancerous, but that obviously wasn’t the case.
1 year - 365 days - 8,760 hours.
It’s crazy to think that a year ago, we were looking into the unknown, and today…We are in the same position…looking into the unknown.
We don’t know why her cancer is growing and not shrinking. We don’t know if she is going to do more chemo or if we are going to go another route, WE JUST DON’T KNOW!
Over the last year, we have spent almost 100 days in the hospital. Hutton has had 56 chemo days. She has had a surgery that removed a third of her pelvis, including one of her hip sockets. She has “coded”, been in a coma in the PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit). She has been bedridden, and she has had to learn to walk again (we’re still working on that one). She has had to miss school, had to forgo birthday parties and social events. She has had to sacrifice SO MUCH, yet even through all this, she has, for the majority of the time, kept a smile on her face. That inner “light” she has has not dimmed, and still shines brightly, which should be an inspiration to us all.
Our family has also had to sacrifice SO much, and we would do it over and over and over again for Hutton’s life. Whatever it takes to kill this cancer and save Hutton’s life, we are here for and we are ALL IN!
The current treatment plan doesn’t seem to be working anymore, so again looking into the unknown waiting for what is next, and no matter what that may be…we are here ready to stand strong and fight with our all for her. There are some amazing treatments that we are looking into to add to what ever conventional treatment plan her doctor has planned…but they are unfortunately not covered by insurance, but we will find a way. We are committed to doing whatever it takes to eradicate this cancer from Hutton’s body and see her become the woman God has planned her to be.
Her First Wedding
This week, Hutton got to go to her first wedding! A while ago, when her gymnastics coach got engaged, she asked Hutton if she wanted to be a junior bridesmaid in her wedding. Of course, Hutton said yes, then asked what junior bridesmaid was 😂
Last week was the wedding, and we were thrilled that she was feeling well enough to attend and participate. I cannot tell you how much joy it brought us watching her dancing in her wheelchair, laughing, smiling, and just enjoying herself. She had an amazing time and made some incredible memories. And of course, she had to film “content” for her YouTube Channel. (While you're there, Like and Subscribe ☺️)
It is a pretty long VLOG, but honestly, it’s worth every minute to be able to experience this moment through her eyes. We sent her all the videos and pictures she took, and she did all the editing herself. She definitely has an artistic eye and a very creative mind. Now, for clarification (because I asked her), she intended to record the ground as she was being pushed around because 1. She liked the way it looked and felt in the videos, and 2. In her words, “Some people may not want to be in my video, so I tried not to get their faces”. I ended up telling her that when you are in public, there are times when it is ok to get people in the background of your recordings, and it is only when you are recording them on purpose that you should make sure to ask if it is ok. She is always trying to do the right thing and thinking of others. She was very concerned while she was recording her “content” that she had to make sure to ask her coach if it was ok for her to post her content on her channel because it was her wedding.
Thank you, Coach Danielle and Austin, for including Hutton in such a special day. It meant the world to her, and she definitely made some core memories that day. Congratulations on your wedding, and you will always hold a special place in our hearts.
