We start the scale down on ACTH!!!

Hello To All
I just wanted to update everyone on Makhi today. I am happy to report that we have made a small scale down off of ACTH (steroids)from .20 to .18 with no setbacks. I realize that this is a small scale back off the steroids but I have learned to celebrate the small accomplishments. Makhi has been on .20 since July of 2008 and we have kept the steroids at .20 until January of this year. We have received the ok to start with the scale down of the ACTH .02 per month. This is a scary to me and yet exciting at the same time. I am praying everyday that we can successfully wean him off this medicine without a relapse. The chemo has really seemed to help Makhi.

Our trip to Springfield IL will soon be here. We are leaving for IL March 10 2009 for our 6th visit with Dr.Pranzatelli. I am looking forward to this trip.


The girls are doing well. Nataly is busy selling girls scout cookies and Cierra is getting ready to start her indoor soccer season. The both just got there report cards and they both make me so proud. Cierra really has come around this year and she brought home A's & B's and Nataly is making so much progress in reading. Her teacher called me at home yesterday to tell me they just did a foresight test and she scored higher then she ever has so I could not be happier!!!! Hooray for my girls.


Makhi is still doing well in school I just had a meeting with his teacher and they are pleased with him. They are happy with all that he has learned this year. He is now able to say all of his ABC's & he knows all his colors and able to count to 17 without error. They are preparing Makhi to become Kindergarten Ready. Now Makhi will be be in Head Start again next year before going to Kindergarten so he should be more than ready. He will be one of the older kids next year in Head Start. Right now he is one of the youngest in his class. His speech is really coming along! Some days are better than others but for the most part he is doing well. He has even learned to say some not so nice words like stupid and poppy so we are working really hard with Makhi to get him to understand they are not nice words. It seems the more we talk to him about it the more he says it LOL......

THON is going to be here before we know it. We are leaving Febuary 22 for State College for the weekend. This will be our first year and we are so excited!! THON, which is short for the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, is a year-long effort which raises funds and awareness for the fight against pediatric cancer. With the support of students from all across the commonwealth of Pennsylvania and THON Alumni all around the world, they continue to make great strides towards finding a cure for all childhood cancers. Our efforts culminate with a two day, no sitting, no sleeping dance marathon during the third weekend in February.The Four Diamonds Fund is the beneficiary of THON’s fundraising efforts. The Four Diamonds Fund was established by Charles and Irma Millard after the death of their son, Christopher, who was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 11. Because of THON’s support, The Fund is able to offset the cost of treatment that a family’s insurance won’t cover, as well as provide for other expenses that may affect the welfare of the child.
The Fund also supports the medical team that cares for the children and funds pediatric cancer research through start-up grants and the Four Diamonds Pediatric Cancer Research Institute.

Well that is all for now!!!! Please keep praying along with me for Makhi and all OMS kids....