Hello Everyone,

I received an update from Jessica's parents on the Children's Hospital Caring Bridge Website. It is obvious that, although her treatment is going well, she is not out of the woods. She is in the final phase of her 4th stage of treatment and has had somewhat of a setback in the past week. We continue to have her and her family in our thoughts and prayers daily and look forward to seeing a healthy happy little girl once again. I can't wait to babysit again for those two sweet girls!!

Here is an excerpt from the latest Caring Bridge update:

Jessica started the week with a temperature that fluctuated between 98 and 99.6 degrees and at one point spiked over 100 degrees.  This is a concern because having a compromised immune system makes her vulnerable for a fever (or cold, flu, etc) to blow up into a life threatening situation.  She was not sleeping and we needed to check her temp every hour to make sure she did not spike to high (no one slept).  We were very fortunate as by mid week her temperature had stabilized but she started to develop mouth pain. 

Her ANC count (first responder white blood cells) were almost zero on Friday July 30th (a day she received chemo) and so continues to be in isolation (no visitors or being with other people).  The combination of higher temps and low counts caused mucositus. Mucositis is an "inflammation of the mucous membranes lining the digestive tract from the mouth on down to the anus. Mucositis is a common side effect of chemotherapy and of radiotherapy that involves any part of the digestive tract."  For Jessica it is visible huge sores in her mouth and unseen thought-out.  We needed to give her oxycodone (for pain), swish and swallow (for bacteria in the tract). Bactrum to prevent influenza and stool softener (because the other stuff binds her up).  By Friday (August 6th) we were back at the clinic for chemo treatments.  When the medical team did their evaluation the discovered more sores, blood work that showed her ANC's only at 60 and little girl in great pain.  They gave her morphine to calm Jessica down and rescheduled a follow up visit for today (Sunday) to see if she will need a platelet transfusion. 

Remember our 'big' little girl?  She has lost most of the weight due to the above issues (she has not really eaten for over a week).  Jessica is struggling with the pain and all the weeks of chemo treatments.  Please pray for our little girl that her sores will go and she continues on her healing path.

It's hard to read this and imagine this little warrior princess is not yet 4 years old!

I am continuing to make plans for the fund-raising bike ride on Saturday, August 21st at 10AM beginning at Birch Bay State Park. I have received donations for prizes and food for the BBQ, but I am still in need of a few more volunteers to help with taking registrations, handing out water, manning corners and helping with food afterwards. Please, if you can help, even for a little while, I would greatly appreciate it. You don't have to obligate yourself for the whole day!!

I hope to hear from many of you to volunteer or RSVP for the ride.....10 or 25 miles. You can do it!!

Go to www.littlewarriorprincess.com and register online today!!!

Olivia Sellinger
360 332-4470