Daley Ponderings

Jon just put this comment on a recent post, but I don't think most people get notified of comments, so I'm posting it here: She's getting an echocardiogram right now [July 9, 2025, 8:42am] , and then an MRI, regular oncology checkup, opthamology and audiology. We don't expect too much... (More)

Today is Day +500 and we have much to rejoice over! We are so thankful for Grace's good marrow results, so thankful to reach this milestone. I feel so much lighter now, and the smaller things that bothered me last week don't seem so bad anymore. Here are some recent pictures and quotes... (More)

Jon was reading through Grace's test results and saw that the most recent bone marrow report mentioned the JAK3 mutation. He contacted her doctors because we thought that one was gone following the transplant. Dartmouth doctors can't see her Boston results to compare  so they contacted... (More)

We had our appointment with the NF1/oncology doctor yesterday. It turns out the neurofibroma is even bigger than we thought. In addition to what we already knew, which is that it goes from her external ear where we can see into her middle ear, it also extends down under her ear into her parotid... (More)

Today is Day +365. One year ago, this is where we were: Today, Faith is recovered enough to participate in On Belay's Teen Winter Outdoor Adventure (pictures may come later, since she is there as I type.) Grace had her first post-chemo haircut (just bangs) the other day.... (More)

Because he likes to compete with Brandon Sanderson, SD Smith is launching a new Green Ember book today.  Our family loves the Green Ember series maybe even more than the Stormlight Archive. I've mentioned before that the soldiers' oath has special significance to us now that Faith has... (More)

We were so relieved and happy to have Jon and Grace with us for Family Camp. Daley summer life has been super full as usual.  Jon got special permission for Grace to ride the Summerfest carousel all by herself (and he wiped the horse down with hospital disinfectant wipes.)... (More)

The kids who have been admitted for any length of time look longingly at the airlock doors that leave the hallway they are not allowed to leave.  So, when discharge day comes, it is a pretty exciting time. For those of you who are confused - yes this was published out of order since... (More)

We left the hospital at 5pm today and are "home" at our new apartment and working out this phase.  Lots of meds to organize and schedule.  Getting used to a quiet room, so now we can actually hear the feed machine, where I never really heard it before.   Heather will be... (More)

We've probably said it before, and anyone who has been in a hospital for any length of time knows that any time someone says "soon" that means 2-10 hours, and "tomorrow" means 1-3 days, etc.  So, even though I posted here that it could be Friday, I've been telling myself Monday, though as... (More)

Grace had a great day today, despite staying up until after midnight (I went to sleep, but I asked the nurse in the morning, and she stayed up reading her new book and trying to not let the nurses check her oxygen levels since that would involve taking away her light...) She came to rounds in... (More)

We have lots of good news to report. Grace has been improving the last couple of days.  Her abdomen measured 53.5 cm, the smallest it has been in weeks.  They have changed her cyclosporin from IV to NG (nasogastric) which is a step towards getting ready to be discharged.  The... (More)

Our family will be in Boston next weekend (after the father-daughter retreat at Maranatha) and we are wondering if there is anyone who would be willing to spend some time at the hospital so our whole family (minus Grace) can go out to Boda Borg and the same  sushi buffet  that some... (More)

Grace had a fever overnight so Saturday morning they gave her Tylenol. She seemed a bit better, happier. She even gave me some smiles. She did not throw up all day. I suspect morphine as a cause, and I avoided pushing the button. The Tylenol seems to help enough, so I asked the... (More)

I walked home late Monday night, because there was supposed to be this big snowstorm. Jeremiah was already asleep, sprawled all over the bed. In the morning, it was only raining Jeremiah and I had leftover pizza for breakfast, and we walked to the hospital in the rain. The nurses and child... (More)