Random Erickson Numbers

132 = the number of days "post bone marrow transplant"!!!
0 = the number of central lines Miss Emilie will have in 2 days
106 = the air temperature for playing baseball in AZ
14 = the number of days Eric was out of the country in June
70 = the number of days until school starts.  Happy number for Emilie, not so happy for the boys.
600 = the number of lymphocytes in Emilie's blood (per mL) a week ago...needs to be 1000 before the above number can really be a happy number...maybe late August, early September
2 = the number of clinic visits per month for Emilie
3 = the number of "swims/day" for Nicolas and Sandy
1 = the number of "dirt rolls" following swims for Sandy
1 = the number of daily baths for Sandy
118 = the number of Facebook friends I have...told you it was random
7 = the number of days Paul will be serving families with kids with disabilities this summer
40 =  the number of days Emilie and I have been home
∞ = the amount of God's love for all of us...it's endless  (∞ is really not a number)

This is the day that the Lord has made,

I will rejoice and be glad in it. 

Psalm 118:24

My Frosting is Eight!

Happy 8th Birthday Nicolas!!

I love that you are thoughtful and kind!

I love that you still hold my hand!

I love that your best buddies are Paul and Emilie!

I love that you throw your head back when you laugh!

I love that you smile almost all the time!

I love that you are brave and strong!

I love that you are curious about science and nature!

I love that you are my frosting!!!!

There Has To Be More

For a while now, I have been thinking that The Erickson All-Stars blog is purposeless.  Sure, it is a wonderful space to update on Emilie and other family news, but there just has to be more.  There has to be some "good" to be done outside my little family's sphere, so here is some "good" that you all can help us with.

This is sweet Matthew.  Matthew is a fellow LPCH patient who has been battling ALL since he was 2 months old.  Matthew is now 22 months old and is in the fight of his life.  You see, he relapsed around the same time as Emilie and was planning on receiving a bone marrow transplant.  The cancer has been relentless despite numerous chemotherapy treatments and NK cell therapy at St. Jude Children's Hospital.  He and his family will be headed to St. Jude's again for a bone marrow transplant.  I am shamelessly asking that you consider making a donation to this family.  Matthew has two sisters and one brother and his parents are self employed.  Having a child with cancer and dealing with treatments, clinic visits, prescriptions, travel, etc. can be financially overwhelming for a family.  Please consider making a donation.  Any amount can help. Perhaps skip your lattes for a week and donate your savings.  Maybe pack your lunch  for a week and send your savings to Matthew's family.  Please, please help!!  You can donate and read Matthew's story HERE.

This is precious Kayla Rose.  I first learned of Kayla's malignant brain tumor on the same day that we learned of Emilie's relapse.  I was in clinic waiting for Emilie to be moved to recovery after her bone marrow aspirate reading my email when our Purple Peep, Bobbie, informed me of Kayla.  My heart just broke knowing that another child was diagnosed with cancer.  So unfair, I thought and then a couple hours later I learned of Emilie's relapse.  Kayla was diagnosed in November of 2011 and underwent brain surgery here in the bay area.  She is on her second stint at St. Jude Children's Hospital receiving chemotherapy treatments.  Both of her parents and her cute little brother are also in Memphis.  Again, I am going to ask that you consider making a donation to help support this family.  Both Kayla's parents are in Memphis yet the mortgage and other bills still have to be paid in addition to other medical expenses. I can't even imagine.  Please, please consider helping out this family.  It happens to be Kayla's 8th birthday today; you can read her story, wish her a happy birthday and perhaps make a donation HERE.

Please consider helping these strong, brave and courageous families as they travel the road that is called cancer.  Thank you!