AMAZING GRACE...

Oh y'all. If I could erase the last few days, I would. I have not had the energy and seriously could not bring myself to sit down and write this post...

These past few days have been....a nightmare...Our best friends, The Hamiltons, went to the beach last week and I picked them up Saturday from the airport. They have a sweet daughter, Grace, who is a miracle baby. Amy and Forest tried for years to conceive, finally got pregnant with twins, and then lost both of them, one at week 8 and one at week 10. When they finally became pregnant with Grace, it was a miracle. She truly is amazing Grace...

Grace loves me and I love her more. I am Aunt Kat. I was at the hospital the day she was born...She begged to come home with me Saturday, but her mom insisted that she stay home and rest. She had been running fever off and on all week, not eating, and tired and restless. On Sunday, they took her to the ER at Vandy due to temperature and not feeling well.... After running tests, they thought anemia, possible blood transfusion due to low hemoglobin levels, or leukemia. We waited for hours in the ER and cried and begged God and prayed.

Finally, the results showed early signs of leukemia. Amy fell apart. I was in shock. And denial. Forest was strong and Grace was scared. We all pulled it together and she started transfusion immediately. They admitted her to patient floor and planned for a bone marrow biopsy first thing Monday.

All the immediate family came into town, and we all cried and shook our heads no.We were sure the results were wrong. How could this be? Not Grace. She was perfecly fine a week ago. Finally, at 8pm, the news was finalized. Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. 89% success rate, with aggressive chemotherapy for 1 month at Vanderbilt, followed by 1 treatment per week for 6-8 months, then maintenance therapy.

Please pray for my friends. They have been through more than any couple should have to bear. Miscarriages, failed IVF, IVF miscarriage of twins, and finally pregnant with Grace. She is Amazing Grace. She is their life!

Amy is the sweetest, most caring, compassionate friend. She is truly like a sister to me. We are kindred spirits. I love her so much and it is so incredibly hard to watch her suffer over sweet Grace. And Forest is a gentle giant. Sweet, compassionate, and witty. Paisley simply calls him Fro....

Grace is outgoing, loves babies, animals, Barney, Dora, and M&M cookies...Pray for all of them in the weeks to come. Pray for strength, courage, and energy. All I can think about is that easily it could have been our babies....

Grace is so funny and sweet....she is a typical 2 year old....

I will end of all this saying that today was a better day. The port is in for chemo, it was painful, but she made it through. She starts Prednazone tonight, and please pray for mood swings with this drug. Also pray specifically for the night time. This is the hardest time for them for pain....

I love you all very much and please continue to lift up our friends...

There is a Caring Bridge site set up. You can go to it here.

If any of you could make me a hospital gown or anything Cinderella, I would love it!! I will post pics!!

Paisley and Grace...

Grace at our Valentine's Party...

Me and Grace at Paisley's 2nd Birthday....

Paisley and Griffin

Please pray....

KJ

KJ