On Thursday, March 19th Ashley began radiation at Northwestern Memorial.  The radiation itself only takes 10-15 minutes, but she needs to be sedated every day to ensure that she remain perfectly still.  She will continue to receive radiation on a daily basis (Monday through Friday) for four to five weeks.  The radiation oncologists must carefully weigh her age, her height & weight, the organs and tissues that need to be protected (i.e. her lungs, spinal cord, heart, etc.) when determining how much radiation she is to receive while at the same time ensuring that enough radiation is given to rid her body of any remaining cancer cells. Before her first treatment we were once again reminded how aggressive and widespread the tumor had once been.  This is something that we never forget. 

On the first day of radiation we also met another family who had a 2 year old little girl who was in treatment.   She has been in treatment slightly longer than Ashley has.  Her parents shared with us that much like Ashley did their little girl lost a lot of her gross and fine motor skills.  However, after 8 months of treatment, she was finally walking again.  This of course gives us great hope.  Early on, I remember asking a physical therapist at CMH if Ashley would ever walk again.  I remember her carefully worded answer intended not to give us false hope.  At the time it was impossible for her to know the severity of Ashley’s condition and how she would respond to treatment.  We are just so thankful that she has come so far.

As always, thank you for your love, prayers and support!

Ashley's First Day of Radiation

We are now in Week 15 of Ashley’s treatment protocol.  Today, Ashley went to Northwestern Memorial Hospital to meet with the radiation oncologists. Radiation is not offered at Children’s Memorial so it is done at Northwestern. She will begin receiving radiation next Thursday, March 19th.  She will receive daily treatments every weekday for up to five weeks.  Because of her age, she will also need to be sedated every day.  Today they outlined the area that they would be treating.  

Chemo and radiation will give her the best chance of ridding her body of any microscopic cancer cells that may remain and help prevent a relapse in the future.  We would like to ask everyone to pray that Ashley responds well to the radiation and that there are minimal side effects.  She has come so far and has responded so well to treatment and we pray that she continues on that path.  

Thank you for taking the time to read our udpate and for your love, prayers, and support.

Just a quick note to let everyone know that all is well at the Constantino household. There’s been a stomach virus going around our house, but that is something that we can definitely handle.

On a separate note, we recently learned that a friend of a friend was participating in a triathalon to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in honor of our friend Abigail from Children’s Memorial.  I may have shared this with some of you, but in the beginning of our journey we met little Abigail at the hospital.  She seemed to be the happiest girl in the world despite her diagnosis.  Abigail gave me so much hope in those early days.  In the inital months after Ashley’s diagnosis my heart broke each and every single day when she would scream in pain throughout the day.  Abigail gave me hope that one day Ashley would laugh and smile again and sure enough that day eventually came.   So, I’m asking you to please consider donating in support of Abigail and in support of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. 

Thank you for your continued prayers, love and support!

To make a donation, please go here:

http://pages.teamintraining.org/sf/lavatri09/agorton

If you would like to follow Abigail’s progress, you may visit her CarePage.