My Favorite

Wednesday, May 08, 2013

My Favorite

So, I saved my favorite brain tumor warrior until today. Why would you not put her first or last you may ask? Well, May may be brain tumor awareness month, but more importantly for me, it is the month we celebrate Ivee's life.
Today my baby girl is seven years old. I can't believe it has been only seven years with her. It feels like a lifetime. Emmett and I were conversing yesterday and I stated, "I can't really remember life without her. So much has happened that it feels like she has been here all the time." So, today I celebrate the life of Ivee!!! Since so many of you know her story and I don't really have to bring you up to date, I'll celebrate her with just a few pictures!

Today's Brain Tumor Warrior

Ivee Isabell Foley

Seven years old

Days before the fall from the grocery cart

The Day before first brain tumor removal

After five hour tumor surgery

Going through Chemo and trying to learn to sit up (wouldn't accomplish this for 7 more months)

First birthday celebrated in the hospital while battling infection from chemo and low white blood cells.

At home on a good week watching daddy play video games.

1. Living at St. Jude. (Right eye turned in drastically). 2. At the zoo in Memphis . Daddy's looking at the hippos, but Ivee is admiring her daddy, who she adores.

In December of 2007, we celebrated our first G.I.F.T. day.

Spring of 2008. Hair growing and looking very cute!

Loving baseball games with "her" pawpaw and celebrating her 2nd birthday at the park with Nemo.

Ivee and her favorite doctor...EVER! Dr. Merchant

In September 2008, has surgery to remove scar tissue and ease compression on the brain stem. This leads to a meningitis and the need for a shunt.

2009 - NO surgeries this year!!! Just growing and trying new things...and being silly! Turns 3!! Yepee!

2010 - Shunt line infection. Leads to shunt revision.

Ivee sees her first snow fall one week after surgery

May 2010 - Ivee turns 4

October 2010- Hip Dysplasia Surgery.

2011-Cancer returns- Goes through second dose radiation.

Make A Wish Trip to Disney World!!!

By Fall of 2011 - Ivee starts first year of Kindergarten

2012 - Ivee turns 6.

Ivee gets glasses and hearing aids in Summer and we decide to put her back in K5 that Fall.

Summer 2012 - She takes her first trip to meet Grandpa's family in North Carolina

Spring 2013 - Ivee competes in her first Special Olympics Competition.

May 8, 2013 - This Morning...So happy and so proud to be SEVEN!!!!

Happy birthday my Ivee!!!!!!

1 comment:

firefly said...: Happy 7th Birthday Ivee!!!Wishing you many more. I love your Tangled outfit. Hugs! Sarah; Wednesday, May 08, 2013 8:37:00 PM

Ivee's story in SHORT...As if....

Ivee is a tough little girl. And with our help and by the grace of God, all will go well. We pray for a complete healing, and we know that our God is big enough...He is the Great Physician.

Story: On a routine Monday, December 18, 2006. I was missing work and taking my oldest daughter to the doctor cause of a stomach virus. Stopping at a grocery store on the way, I left the oldest in the car for a moment and ran inside with Ivee. I put her car seat on top of the grocery cart as so many of us mom's do. Leaving the store, I turned for a brief moment to throw something away. I turned around just in time to see the entire car seat fall face down on the concrete. I flipped, as any mom with a 7 month old falling face first would do. I arrived at the ER in record time. She already had a huge knot rising on her forehead. As they (eventually) started a CT scan, I felt God speaking to my heart. In all but audible words he told me she would be fine, but that we would find something else, that this was why she had fallen, so He could reveal it to us. So, as I watched from the tech room, I saw something that even to me, a non-trained observer, knew was not suppose to be there. A friend of mine was the radiologist there, and he confirmed, also by doing an MRI, what I suspected. I was at peace in spirit cause my heart had been prepared...but not okay. My husband was working out in Texas and would have to drive more than 7 hours to come home, not knowing what was happening, but just that she fell. Ivee was transferred to a local children's hospital in Mobile. That night, Dr. Martino consulted, and would run an MRI the next day of his own, and perform surgery on that Wednesday. On December 20, after 5 hours of surgery, all was successful, and Dr. Martino removed 98% of what he knew was an egg sized malignant tumor, later diagnosed as Stage 3 Anaplastic Ependymoma. The remaining 2 cm was on her artery next to the spinal chord.

Deficits from initial resection/treatment: Ivee had many deficits due to the tumors removal, even though he was able to leave her nerves in tack. Her right eye was severely crossed. Her vocal chords were paralyzed (left has regained use). Her hearing was affected (loss at 2000 hz and high frequency sounds). Hearing aids received June 6, 2012 at age 6. Have already hear improvement in F, S and ending sounds in 2 days time! Her balance was never truly restored, and she has left side body weakness. After 30 days (including Christmas) we were allowed to take Ivee home. She had 6 months of chemo and then 33 treatments of radiation at St. Jude.

Procedures/surgeries:

1.) Tumor Resection (12/06) – Anaplastic Ependymoma

2.) Gbutton placed for eating. (01/07)

3.) Nissen fundiplication pyloroplasty done (wrapping of throat & stomach) (01/07)

4.) Chemotherapy Begins (01/07)

5.) 5 central lines placed (many fell out on their own) (01/07 – 05/07)

6.) Port placed at St. Jude (06/07)

7.) Chemotherapy ends (06/07)

8.) Radiation (06/07-08/07)

9.) Rare scar tissue formation in the brain removed (09/08)

10.) Shunt Placement (10/08)

11.) Shunt revision/replacement (02/10)

12.) Hip Displaysia surgery – Dega Osteotomy {Not tumor related} (10/10)

13.) Reoccurance - GTR {Gross Total Resection} (02/11)

We were shocked (as was the doctor) when her Jan. 2011 scan showed a reoccurance. It was on the same artery where the orginal tumor was left behind. GTR was done on February 18^th with much success. 2^nd dosing of radiation began March 28 and ended May 6, 30 doses.

14. Begin 2nd dose radiation on March 28 (30 doses) Ended on May 6, 2011.

Improvements:

1.) Right eye is still weak, doesn't require glasses yet. Patching the good eye to strengthen the right one.

2.) Right vocal chord is still partial paralyzed. In Fall of 2008 , to the doctor's dismay, discovered she has received movement again in right chord (update: Since resection in 2/11, Right vocal chord is completely paralyzed, no movement now)

3.) Still G Button feed. Cannot eat much by mouth. She doesn’t have the drive to try to eat, but we are treating her with an appetite enhancer. She has been approved through Modified Barium Swallow Test.

4.) Balance is still and issue. Has improved over the years. Uses a walker and wheelchair.

5.) Has learned to stand (assisted) for a few moments by herself and take some steps/usually across a room (May 2012). Uses a walker VERY WELL!!

6.) Currently watching a paraesophageal hernia of the fundoplication. No surgery required at this time.

7.) Non-cancer related surgery due to hip dysplasia in Fall of 2010. Has improved her balance and slipping out of socket.

Currently:

She is doing very well! She attended K5 full-time with a personal aid (might repeat K5). She is very smart and attentative. She used her walker often throughout the day and is learning to take independent steps. She takes a little bit of something to eat everyday now instead of once a week! She has learned to drink larger portions at a time. Enjoys Hippotherapy (horse therapy). Is extremely observant, caring and just down right funny!

The Foley Family - Trusting in God at ALL Times!!!

About Me

Wednesday, May 08, 2013

My Favorite

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