Friday, September 5, 2008

Week 3 & 4

Sorry for the delay... we had our second child on Sunday.
_Coco Caldwell Crawford
_Sunday, 8/31/2008  8:15 AM
_8 lbs. 1 oz.
_20.5"
Mom went sans drugs...and Coco was slightly posterior... so the "all smiles" pic is very deceiving. Casey is gnarly.
Rogan loves sister Coco and they like to watch Elmo together... Dad is over Elmo and can't wait until she graduates to "Surf's Up" and "Finding Nemo".

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Rogan made phenomenal progress during week 3 & 4... maintaining "best response possible" and "highest cure rate" bracket.  Week 3 clinic day, 8/25, we were told to expect transfusions, possibly both red blood & platelets.... but her counts were stable and she didn't need either!  ... so with just vitals and a blood draw, no surgery... that was the easiest clinic day to date.

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The side effects from the "chemo cocktail", specifically the steroid, have manifested full force:
_irritability
_raging appetite, weight gain & water retention
_restlessness, insomnia
This is how chemo makes you feel:

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...still no walking due to:
_bone pain from being overcrowded w/ Leukemic cells to going hollow
_muscle pain from the roids
_weight gain & water retention
....resulting in plenty of Elmo hours logged:

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The hair lose was mounting, so we were forced to do some maintenance:

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...and then was force to do even more maintenance a day later whilst side tracked by a Cafe Rio burrito [raging appetite]

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CLINIC DAY_Week 4_9/2/2008

Epic news Tuesday as they drew prelim blood and saw that her counts were up from last week!... meaning she is starting to make her own cells again.  In particular, her bacteria fighting white cells [ANC]...so they hope she will be out of the extreme danger zone in a couple weeks!  This is best case scenario and the doctors targeted goal.  We then needed the 1st month bench mark bone marrow aspirate and spinal tap.  Mama went to feed Coco and Papa Roger and I were left with the daunting task.  This one is gnarly and doesn't seem to get any easier...as you must carry her into the operating room [O.R.] which is bright white, well-lit w/ all sorts of equipment and docs and nurses everywhere... [plenty intimidating in itself].  I hold Rogan and the doc injects anesthesia directly into her central line in her chest and she goes limp and falls asleep within 3 seconds.  I lay her down, she gets oxygen via mask, and they go to work.  It was subsequently followed by 2 grown men crying and then some good meaningful father / son connection and conversation.  30 minutes later [seemingly hours] we were both in recovery with Rogan.  She was on her side and came to... asked for baba and numana.  Big sigh of relief. The bone marrow went to Seattle Tuesday for an extra-microscopic review.... we will know this afternoon, Friday 9/5.  
...so this first month [INDUCTION] has been targeted at the cancer in her marrow....where it lives and grows [metastasize].  This second month [CONSOLIDATION] will be a new chemo-cocktail targeted at her central nervous system...in case there is any cancer in there, which we believe there is not.  She starts this coming Monday, 9/8 and we are fired up.  In the meantime, she gets an entire break from ALL chemo drugs!... even the steroid.  Which is ideal... within 48 hours of being off the steroid we saw a drastic improvement.  She slept through the night without snacking...woke up without crying, smiled often, took a bath without bawling, laughed for the 1st time in 3 weeks and even crawled for the first time in 3.5 weeks. A wild world of difference. That was a tear-JERKER.  Captured below is evidence of the REAL ROGAN... off steroids and loving it.

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...as I type, Rogan is on the floor, reading a book by her self [which is unprecedented]...doing her "shoulder shimmy" to the back ground beats. [insert tears of pride and joy here] She is a grandchild to Charles Mason Crawford III, that is for sure. I am missing him a lot nowadays...so thank you very, very much to the special friends and mentors in my life who are helping me fill in that giant gap. 
Thanks again to all our friends and family for the over the top love and support.  LOVE & RESPECT.

21 comments:

Weston said...

Congratulations on all fronts! Welcome to the world Coco! Great news keeps coming from Rogan too. I hope you guys are holding up okay. things seem as well as they can be right now. We are still thinking about all of you.

ishybeanie said...

congrats on little Coco, she is adorable!! Im sure Rogan will be a great big sister. I think of you all daily. It sounds like thing are going so well considering. Kim

suzan said...

I am so happy for all of you right now! I am especially happy for Rogan that she is feeling well and getting the best possible results!!! I can't even tell you how happy it made me to see Casey yesterday. She looks amazing!!! Coco is beautiful and Rogan was so sweet with her. I am so glad I got the chance to visit, it meant the world to me :)

Congratulations from The Mooneys!!!

Beth said...

Hooray to all. Congrats on Coco, I can't wait to see her. Her picture is adorable. So exciting to continue getting good news on Rogan's progress. I'm glad she gets a break from her meds so you can enjoy the real, happy Rogan for a few days. I loved seeing her laugh as the balls popped out at her. Way to GO Rogan.
Hugs & Kisses

Julianne said...

Congratulations! Coco is beautiful!! Casey is gnarly, that, we know.

I loved the videos of Rogan - she is so sweet. The haircut shots look like she halfway enjoyed the process - again, congrats. So glad to hear she is doing as well as she possibly can.

WE LOVE YOU, "Baby Rogan"!!!! - (As my Anna calls her.)

Brooke Eriksen said...

I couldn't be happier with all the good news! Rogan is a big sister AND smiling:) What a little fighter!

Sending our love, prayers and strength.

-On another note, thanks so much for keeping us updated. We think of you all daily and love to know the progress. So thanks for letting us be a part.

Leslie said...

To all of you Crawfords:
CONGRATS on the new baby, she is beautiful. How could she not be, look at her parents...And such wonderful news about sweet little Rogan. I got choked up reading about her milestones. I am so happy for you on all fronts. Oh, blessed day!!!

Leslie Clark Hurst

Chelsea said...

coco is so cute! and I could not be happier about Rogan I am so glad things are going as well as possible, hang in there guys we think of you every day!

candace said...

Welcome Coco!! I'm so glad all went well. I think of all of you constantly and wish I could be there. It was so good to see Rogan smiling and laughing. I love you all and pray that things continue to get better. All my love, Candace Foulger

Dianne Young Erwin said...

your writing brings tears to my eyes! I know CMC is up above orchestrating this healing and welcoming Coco to the world. I know your dealing with a tremendous task! You both are amazing and we are so happy to hear Rogan's good news.
All our love. Dianne, Conner & Van

sweetb said...

CONGRATULATIONS!!! We are all so thrilled to hear Rogan's prognosis and so happy for her to be a big sister. Casey= you ARE gnarly. wow. I can't even imagine. I wish we were closer so I could bring you dinner. Lots of love, The Heits

Anonymous said...

i am late in commenting, but SO thrilled about the progress and all of the good news-i'm sure Casey is so happy to have Coco out and i can't say much more except that your family is beautiful and strong; with a start like this, it is bound to be that way forever!

Anonymous said...

I am so relieved that things are looking up! Casey had mentioned what a big day that day was going to be. Coco is beautiful and so is Rogan. She will be a fantastic big sister. Congratulations to both of you and thanks for keeping us updated. It's so comforting to see pictures and Corey's commentating makes me crack a smile between tears. Love you all. --Kristin

Anonymous said...

That is absolutely AMAZING news about Rogan!! Loved the videos of her...she is so cute and looks so happy! Also great job on the new addtion and COngrats. Casey.....you are an animal!

Best Wishes,

Dennis Earley

Kelley said...

Congrats on new baby Coco! I am so happy that the prognosis is looking good for Rogan! You are all amazing and continue to be in my prayers!
XOXO
Kelley

LG + PL + LF said...

Congratulations on the birth of your precious new arrival. I am so excited to read about Rogan progress! Corey you are one lucky man to have these so many beautiful women in your life especially Casey, Rogan and Coco! Just wanted to say hi and let you know that I am thinking about you and wishing everyone in your family the best… much love, Lindsay Wooten

Sher Bear said...

What a precious new baby girl you have. Rogan is a little trooper, just like her amazing parents. We think of you often and pray for you daily. Sherrie Bills

barbchuck said...

What a great post! Thank you, Corey, for taking the time to write the detailed, touching, and humorous updates. They mean so much to us. We are relieved to get so much good news this time. We loved the videos and the darling picture of little Coco all bundled up next to Rogan. Coco looks so tiny! We love you all and continue to send bunches and bunches of positive thoughts your way.

Currie said...

Corey,Casey,Rogan,and Coco-
We love you all and have been following the wonderful blog; praying,crying,smiling, and enjoying being a part of your daily lives. Congratulations on the great results for Rogan and on your beautiful addition to the Crawford family.

Anonymous said...

I have re-read that last post so many times and have watched those videos almost everyday for the past few days. Go Rogan! I am so thrilled that her little body is fighting and cooperating.

WELCOME LITTLE COCO PUFF! Camie says she is absolutely beautiful and I can't wait to see for myself. If she looks anything like her older sister, she is one lucky girl.

We love you a ton and think, talk, and pray for you daily.

Love, Kath

Anonymous said...

Casey & Corey- Congrats on Coco! My thoughts and prayers are with you and Rogan.
Lisa Swann