Now that we officially have the news our girl is CANCER FREE we can fully prepare for her bell ringing celebration in 2 weeks!! If you’re interested in coming to the in person celebration on Sept 12th, message me! If you’re able to contribute any donations for a RAFFLE (physical products or services) please let me know, raised funds will go towards Blakely’s continuation of care which I’ll explain more later. I’ll also be sharing a post on ways to make an impact in childhood cancer with $0. Share the post and my link on your stories!!

https://www.instagram.com/share/_1MYHmnyh

Though she is ringing the bell, our journey is far from over. 

We are just hoping ringing the bell will put the hardest part in the past, celebrating all she has achieved, and we can continue to move forward with our new normal. 

This is a lifelong journey. More than 99% of survivors have a chronic health problem and 96% have severe or life-threatening conditions.

One year out, Blakely still needs labs every 2 weeks until her liver numbers improve. She still receives a monthly IVIG infusion to help her immune system until her system is strong enough to create it herself. As well as monthly treatment for iron overload, a side effect from her many blood transfusions. She is still having management care for her skin and mouth GVHD a side effect from her Bone Marrow Transplant. Management care for her Adrenal Insufficiency caused by medications she was on. 

Hopefully we get a handle on these over the next few months and can prepare to be transferred over to the Oncology team. 

Part of our continuation of care I would like to take Blakely to see an Integrative Oncologist to help her body fully heal from what it has endured. To help her continue to be cancer-free for the rest of her life. Unfortunately this type of care isn’t covered by insurance and the first visit alone is $700 without any labs or services. But I would really like to do this to get her body in a place it’s thriving and healing. 

But like I said, this is a forever thing because of the chemotherapies and radiation she has received. 

She will need teeth cleanings every 6 months because radiation and chemotherapy can cause tooth decay. 

She will need yearly eye exams because the chemotherapy she received can cause vision loss. 

As well as hearing exams because the chemotherapy can cause hearing loss. 

Every 2-5 years she will receive an ECHO and EKG because she is at high risk for heart disease and heart failure because of the chemotherapies. 

Every 2-5 years she will receive thyroid and kidney ultrasounds to monitor for thyroid and kidney cancers. Yes another cancer. Secondary cancers are a huge side effect from the chemotherapies to get rid of the original cancer. Wild how that works right? 

Every 6 months to a year she will need skin checks as she is at a high risk of skin cancer due to radiation. 

This doesn’t even account for half of the possible health conditions and side effects that can happen just from the treatment she received. Not from the cancer. From the treatment!! 

I think there is so much stigma that once you ring the bell, you’re done, and I wish it was that way but it’s not. We will forever be changed by this! But each day she is here we will continue to count our blessings and make the best of this life we get to live! 

We hope you can join us in celebrating Blakely with all the hard things she has done!! I will share on the 12th a link you can join in to watch her ring the bell live as well as an opportunity to participate in a raffle to help us raise funds for her continuation of care. We are so grateful for each and every one of you!!

Use this link to make a difference with any way you can!! Happy Childhood Cancer Awareness month!  GO GOLD🎗️✨

https://bravelikeblakely.my.canva.site/support-childhood-cancer