2012

January 1st, 2012

We look forward to this new year and seeing Isabella blossom into a thriving 2 year old.  We will put updates on Isabella's Facebook page.  Her page is PrayForBella all one word.  Thank you for all of your support and continued prayers for Bella that her cancer will NEVER come back!!!

Answered prayers!!!!!!!!!!!!

December 27th, 2011

The LORD has heard our prayers and answered them with a YES!  We are blown away by the way God has been so faithful to Isabella and our family.  Today we got the results of Bella's MRI and MIBG scans and they both showed that there was no more evidence of cancer!!!!!!!!!!! 

It's hard to put into words the thankfulness, joy and relief we feel right now!  Thank you for praying for Isabella's recovery.  Your prayers have been answered!!!!  Thank you also for the support to get through this hardship.

Isabella will be followed closely for 5 years before she is considered to be cancer free.  We plan on getting her central line out soon and then she can start living life like a normal toddler again. 

James 5:15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well

Merry Christmas

December 25th, 2011

Bella did her tests this past week.  We are waiting for the final results.  Merry Christmas to all of you and thanks for all of the support and love!  

Last of the testing before she can be off protocol

December 19th, 2011

Bella has her final testing this week before she can be off protocol.  We have a busy week of scans, tests, Dr appointments, and getting ready for Christmas.  We are praying for great results of all her tests so that she can be finished with her chemotherapy rounds.  After all of this she will be on cautious observation for five years to make sure the cancer doesn't come back.

Prayer of protection

December 14th, 2011

Bella is home and back to her usual toddler ways.  Good and bad.  Great for obvious reasons, but bad because she is clumsy and can hurt her abdomen.  Please pray the next five weeks Bella is accident free so no damage occurs to her surgery site.  

Bella gets home today!

December 11th, 2011

After three long weeks away Bella and Bo get home today!!!  She has some follow up testing to see exactly how much of the cancer is left over, but we are very hopeful that she is done with chemotherapy!  The testing will take place in the next month and we will keep you all informed with the results. Either way we are going to have a very Merry Christmas and thank God for all the blessings he has showered on us and for the BEST gift of all baby Jesus!  

Bella had her follow up appointment today

December 9th, 2011

Isabella had her follow up appointment today with her surgeon.  He said "he wished all of his surgeries went as routine as Bella's."  Bella's surgery and recovery has been miraculous and proves that she has had many people praying for her.  Thank you for your prayers, they are being answered! 

Bella and Bo fly home Sunday and we can NOT wait for our family to be back together again after three long weeks apart! 

Please continue to pray for Bella's complete recovery, safe travels, and that there will be no further complications from the surgery. 

We keep being amazed with God's answers to prayers!  Thanks for being part of Bella's healing!!  We treasure each and every prayer she has gotten from you all.

Bella's recovery is going well

December 3rd, 2011

Bella is making a GREAT recovery from surgery and hopefully can leave the hospital tomorrow.  Bella has had some hard days and rough moments in her recovery, but overall we feel she is doing wonderful.  Kids are amazing!  Today she got out of bed a couple times, sat up in her chair for about 4 hours, ate and drank well, and is not on IV pain medication anymore.  Once she leaves the hospital she still has to be in Boston for another week to get checked out by the surgeon and then can come home. 

We thank you for all of the support and prayers that have been given to Bella.  We pray for continued healing and that she will be completely cancer free soon!!!! 

Post operative day 1

November 29th, 2011

Bella did well over night and gets to leave the ICU today.  She is unable to eat anything by mouth today, has an epidural for pain control and is getting her hydration through her IV. She has been sleepy, but looks around once in a while and has watched some movies.  Her passy, Elmo doll and Minnie mouse lovey are giving her much comfort!  Overall she looks great!!!

Surgery is over and a SUCCESS!!!

November 28th, 2011

Bella just got out of surgery.  Surgeon said he got 100% of tumor with out hurting her kidney.  Thank you for praying!!!

Tomorrow is the BIG day!

November 27th, 2011

Please pray for Bella as she has surgery tomorrow at 9am eastern time. Please pray for the doctor as he takes out her tumor to do an awesome job and that Bella will tolerate everything without any complications!  

Monday is the big day!

November 24th, 2011

Bella has done so great in Boston.  She has been Miss Aloha and is making friends and greeting every stranger, hotel worker, and hospital worker she's been in contact with.  Thanks for praying for her to remain healthy!

Her surgeon told us that her tumor has shrunk another 10% with her last round of chemotherapy and that he plans to take the whole thing out!  Please pray for Bella on Monday that her surgeon will do the best job possible and that Bella won't have any complications. 

They made it!

November 22nd, 2011

Bo and Bella made it to Boston today.  Bo said there were a lot of sick people on the plane and that it is very cold there.  Please continue to pray for their health this week as they go to different doctor appointments and do all of Bella's pre-op tests. 

With Thanksgiving coming up this week our family thanks each and everyone of you for all of your support and prayers! 

Bella traveling

November 21st, 2011

Please pray for Bella and Bo as they travel to Boston today float they will be safe.  Please also pray they will stay healthy this whole week before surgery!!

Travel plans set

November 14th, 2011

These past two weeks Bella has been getting stronger and is about ready for surgery.  We have had some busy days in our house with Bella, a newborn, and making travel plans.   It's been stressful making the travel plans, but now they are finalized and we are feeling more at ease with everything.  Bella and Bo are leaving this Sunday for Boston.  Please pray for safety in their travels, that they stay healthy, and that God would give our family an extra measure of grace and peace to get through the next 4 weeks.  Please also pray for Bella as she has surgery on November 28th that everything will go GREAT, no complications, and that her recovery will be as quick and pain free as possible.  Thanks for all of your support and prayers!  

Boston/surgery update

November 4th, 2011

We talked with Bella's surgeon today and it looks like we will be going to Boston for surgery on Nov 28th. Thankfully he said we could do all her pre-op stuff and surgery in one visit.  The surgeon was very positive, answered all of our questions and we couldn't be happier with our decision to go there! 

Thank you for all of your prayers because Bella has handled her chemo GREAT this round as if she only got sugar water through her IV.  Such a miracle!!!!!!!!! 

It's been a week since Jackson was born and Bella has adjusted so well.  She helps with his bath, brings him a paci when he is crying and has been very sweet to him.  What a great big sister!!

Please pray for wisdom and guidance for  Dr Weldon as he prepares for her surgery and that Bella will stay healthy as she travels. 

God's timing is quite a surprise!!

October 28th, 2011

Bella started her fifth round of chemotherapy yesterday and I went into labor while at the hospital with her.  It was quite a stressful day on all of us, but at the end of the day we had a healthy boy and Bella tolerated her chemotherapy well so it all worked out.  God's timing isn't something we understand, but all together perfect in itself.

Please continue to pray for Bella as she has her final day of chemotherapy tomorrow for this round. 

Pray for Bella's fifth round of chemo tomorrow

October 27th, 2011

Bella starts her fifth round of chemotherapy tomorrow.  Please pray that she tolerates her medications well with minimal side effects both now and long term. 

Thank you, thank you, thank you for praying for Bella.  She is so blessed to have them!!! 

Plan for fifth round of chemo

October 21st, 2011

The plan is to do Bella's fifth round of chemotherapy next Thursday, Friday and Saturday and then have her brother Jackson Tuesday.  Isabella's labs are low right now and have to recover before we can start her fifth round.  Please pray that happens so we can give her the fifth round starting Thursday. 

Boston's Children is doing a full work up on Bella right now.  We are waiting to hear back from them to see what they think about surgery and how many times we will have to fly there.  Still praying that she has to fly there one time only!

Even though Isabella has been receiving chemotherapy for the past 3 months she has still gained a pound and a half and grown an inch!  She is also developing normally and hitting all of her milestones.  Yesterday she had so much fun decorating pumpkin cookies. We are so thankful for all the small miracles along the way, but can't wait for her to be cancer free!!! 

Thanks for all of your support, concern, and prayers! 

GREAT news about MRI results!!!!!

October 19th, 2011

Bella's doctor called and told us that Bella's tumor has had a significant reduction in size.  The tumor now has shrunk 50% and is putting less pressure on her major blood vessels and organs!  What an answer to prayer!!!  Thank you for all of your prayers and thank you Lord for answering them!!!! 

MRI tomorrow and update on Bella

October 17th, 2011

Bella is going to have a MRI tomorrow to see how much her tumor has shrunk.  Praying for good results! 

Surgery update.....Our insurance approved us to go to Boston's Children, but waiting for her to be accepted by the Dr. we wanted and to see what kind of consultation he will accept.  Praying her Dr. will allow Bella to have a consultation a day or two before her scheduled surgery so she won't have to fly there twice.

Bella has had a few rough days this past week and a half, but thank the Lord she has felt good overall.  As you can see in the picture she is learning new skills and water coloring is one of them!  She continues to love watching sesame street, dancing, laughing, smiling, running around and climbing on things.  It shall be interesting to see her adjust to being a big sister. Just yesterday Bo put up the new baby's crib and Bella has been very curious about it and trying to climb into it. I think overall because she loves people so much she will absolutely love her little brother! 

Thanks for praying for Bella, she needs it, and we treasure every prayer!

4th round of chemotherapy done!

October 9th, 2011

Isabella is done with her forth round of chemotherapy!  Thank you for all of your prayers because she has done miraculously well!!!  

Please continue to pray for Bella that her side effects will be minimal, that her cancer cells will continue to die and that her surgery will get approved on the mainland soon! 

Thank you for all of your love, support, and prayers for Bella! 

Round 4 of chemotherapy starts tomorrow

October 5th, 2011

Round 4 of chemotherapy starts tomorrow.  Please pray for Bella that she will tolerate the medications and have minimal side effects both now and in the future.  Please also pray that her cancer will continue to die off and that all the details for her surgery will get taken care of.

Thank you for thinking about Bella, praying for her, and supporting her so much.  We all thank you VERY, VERY, VERY much!!!

Update on Bella

October 1st, 2011

Isabella is doing so GREAT!!!  This round of chemotherapy has been a nice break for Bella and our family because the side effects have been very mild on her.  She has been playing and acting like her normal self for the past week and we have been loving it!  She has really started talking more and playing pretend. 

We have a referral to Boston Children's in the works and should find out in the next 2 weeks if Bella will be approved by our insurance and accepted by their doctors.  Praying!!! 

Her next round of chemotherapy starts Thursday and she is getting the medications that made her REALLY REALLY sick last time.  Please pray she stays healthy enough to start on Thursday and that the side effects won't be so hard on her like they were before. 

Thanks for all of your prayers, love and support.  Bo, Noel and Isabella

Please pray for details to work out!

September 27th, 2011

We have decided that Bella would have the best outcome from surgery on the mainland.  Please pray our insurance will pay for her to go.  That it will be with just the right surgeon.  That the expenses it will cost to go for the surgery will be raised. 

As for an update on Bella.....Thanks for the prayers!  She is doing GREAT!  She has been eating well, playing, learning new words, and in overall very high spirits.  Her next round of chemotherapy starts next Friday.

Bella is doing well

September 22nd, 2011

This third round of chemotherapy has been Bella's best round!  She only threw up once, has had a lot of energy, eating well, playing, laughing and smiling.  Thanks for all of your prayers! 

Two big prayers requests about Isabella are: 1. That her tumor will continue to shrink and pull away from her right kidney and the blood vessels surrounding that kidney.  2. That God will give Bo and me wisdom about where to have Bella's surgery.  Either here in Hawaii or somewhere on the mainland. 

Bella says "HI" and blows you all a kiss!

Bella's third round of chemotherapy

September 18th, 2011

Bella's third round of chemotherapy is complete.  She is doing well so far.  Please pray that her tumor will respond to this round of chemo and the next round of chemo so that it can be safely removed.  More specifically please pray that her tumor will pull away from her right kidney blood vessels. 

Thanks for praying for Isabella.  She thanks all of you a ton!!!

Round 3 of chemotherapy starts tomorrow

September 15th, 2011

We found out today for sure that Bella will need two more rounds of chemotherapy before she can safely have surgery.

She will get chemo Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  Please pray that her side effects are minimal both short term and long term!!! 

Bella has such a joyful and happy spirit about her.  She has been feeling good the past 4 days and has been dancing to any music she hears, blowing kisses, playing pretend, riding her horsey, laughing and having a good time! 

Thank you for all of your prayers for Bella!!! 

Bella's tumor has shrunk 20%

September 15th, 2011

Bella's tumor is shrinking and responding to the lower dose chemotherapy like we had hoped and prayed for!!!  Unofficially it does look like she will most likely need two more rounds of chemotherapy before her surgery though because it hasn't shrunk enough to safely take out.  We will find out for sure tomorrow. 

We are very happy that her tumor is dying and that she is responding to therapy. That is the most important thing by far!!! The only thing that adds a little more stress about the timing and situation is that Bella will most likely have her surgery the first week of November which is the same week I am having her brother via c-section.  The good news is we will be in the same hospital and we serve such a BIG God!! 

Thanks again for all the prayers!  They are appreciated more than we can express!!!

Bella's MRI is tomorrow, Tuesday at 1030

September 13th, 2011

Bella has a MRI tomorrow to see what progress the chemotherapy has made on her tumor.  Please pray for wisdom for her cancer doctor and her surgeon.  From the MRI results they will decide if Bella's tumor is ready to be taken out or if she needs 2 more chemo rounds first.

Round two of Chemotherapy update

September 6th, 2011

These past 3 days Bella has been feeling a lot better.  She is pretty much back to herself besides the normal teething pain she is having. 

Next week she is going to get a MRI to help the doctors decide if she will need 2 more rounds of chemotherapy or if she is ready for surgery.

Please pray for the doctors to have wisdom about what is best for Bella and the surgery to go REALLY well whenever that does occur.

Thanks for thinking and praying for Bella so much.  She is such a treasure!!! 

Bella's second round of chemotherapy

August 31st, 2011

Bella's second round of chemotherapy has been harder on her.  She has been more tired, more fussy, and her tummy has been more upset. 

Please pray that the chemotherapy kills her tumor/cancer cells are we are able to have surgery soon to remove it.  Please also pray that as her immunity decreases that she will not get sick from any infection.

Thanks for thinking of Bella and praying for her!!!

Thanks for your prayers

August 28th, 2011

Bella is not back to normal, but is feeling better today.  Thank you for saying a prayer for her because they did help!!     

Please pray for Bella, she is doing BAD!

August 27th, 2011

Bella got her chemotherapy yesterday and has been VERY sick on her stomach.  She was up all last night throwing up, crying and unconsoled.  Please say a prayer for her now to feel better.

Bella's labs were good today, 2nd round starting

August 26th, 2011

Bella's labs were good today so she is getting her second round of chemotherapy.  Please pray for minimal side effects both now and long term.  

2nd Round of Chemo on Hold, trying again Friday

August 24th, 2011

Bella's labs today weren't good enough to start her second round of chemo.  Please pray with us that her body will recovery and be able to get her chemotherapy on Friday.  

Bella starts the second round of chemotherapy tomo

August 23rd, 2011

Please pray for Bella as she gets her second round of chemotherapy tomorrow.  She is going to get three very strong chemotherapy medications tomorrow so please pray her side effects are minimal both now and long term. 

Bella is still such a happy baby who loves to ride her rocking horse, dance, laugh, smile and blow kisses.  We were all very blessed that she had minimal side effects from her first round of chemo and praying the she does well with the second round also. 

Thanks for all of your prayers they are very much needed and treasured.

Thanks for praying for Bella while her immunity wa

August 21st, 2011

Thank you for the prayers for Bella this past week.  She didn't run a fever or have any signs of infection while her immunity was the lowest.  Now her labs are almost back to normal as she gets ready for her second round of chemo this Wednesday.

It's nice to see her feeling better and acting more like herself.  She is eating well, sleeping better and has not developed any mouth sores yet which is quite a relief because she LOVES her paci.  The main side effect of the chemo that we are seeing is that she is starting to lose her precious curly locks.  We are so happy she is 18 months and not 18 years old because at her age she doesn't even notice, but still kind of hurts her parents feelings. 

Say a prayer for Bella not to get sick

August 16th, 2011

Today Bella's labs showed that the chemotherapy has decreased her immune function and she is at HIGH risk for infection for the next couple days.  Please pray God has his hand of protection on her life and that she doesn't get any secondary infection.  

Bella had good lab results this week!

August 13th, 2011

Praise the Lord Bella's labs came back good this week for her red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.  7-10 days after you get chemo your bone marrow functions declines and you are at HIGH risk for infection. Bella is still at risk for infection, but her body is making pretty good amounts of RBCs, WBCs, Plts so that will help protect her some.  Praying she stays infection free and that she can fully recover before her next round of chemo in less than 2 weeks from now.

Being Bella's parents we notice every little change about her and we have seen that her belly is not as round and tight as it was before.  She has not lost a pound yet so we  believe that is the tumor shrinking.  Please keep praying her tumor responds well to the chemo she was got and will get and dies off VERY quickly!!! 

Thank you for your prayers for our precious daughter!

First Round of Chemo is Done!

August 8th, 2011

Bella's first round of Chemo is done.  The next round should start around the 25th of this month.  Bella isn't sleeping as good as she normally does, but overall she is playing well when she is up.  Her appetite is about 75% back to normal.  She seems to have an upset tummy at times, but after we give her medicine for that she seems to feel better.  Wish she could talk and let us know exactly how she feels, but her nonverbal communication is pretty good. 

After a person gets chemo their immune system becomes compromised so please pray that Bella is able to stay healthy and not get any infections in the next 10 days.  Also please pray that her cancer cells die and her tumor really shrinks!

Bella is a trooper!

August 6th, 2011

Sweet Bella is a trooper!  She was tired and a little fussy yesterday, but overall is such a happy baby that her chemo didn't slow her down to much yesterday.  When she was getting her chemo she was waving and talking to all of the nurses and other workers.  This girl has such a joyful heart and didn't let being in the hospital change that! 

She will be on the same dosage of chemo for the first two rounds.  Please pray with us that this dosage of chemo will work to shrink her tumor so that they don't have to go up on her dosages.  Every time they have to use higher dosages her side effects will be worse, both now and long term effects.  Even though she has a very large tumor the Dr did say sometimes after 2 rounds the tumor can REALLY REALLY shrink, let pray for that miracle!!! 

Thank you for all of your support.  Bella especially appreciates all of your prayers for healing.  The bible talks and talks about prayer and how important it is and we agree! 

Bella's second day of chemo, what an answer to pra

August 5th, 2011

Thanks to all of the prayers for Bella and the change of anti-nausea/vomiting meds Bella tolerated her chemo well yesterday.  Praying for another day like yesterday!!

Bella's first day of chemo

August 4th, 2011

While Bella was getting her chemo she did great, but as excepted a few hours later she started feeling bad.  The poor thing had a lot of nausea and vomiting and that is even with the medications we were giving her to prevent/stop the vomiting.  Praying today is a better day for her.  The good news is she is one day closer to recovery!!  

Bella starts chemo Wednesday

August 3rd, 2011

Bella starts her first round of chemo tomorrow.  Praying that her tumor will shrink with the dose of chemo they are given her and that she will have the least amount of side effects.  Thankfully Bo's mom is here to help with this round because I am pregnant and can not because it will hurt baby Jackson.  Thanks for all of your prayers we can feel God moving in all of this.

Pray for Bella's Doctor to get the right plan of c

August 1st, 2011

We got all of Bella's data now from her biopsy and all the tests ran this past week.  Please pray that her doctor can contact the right neuroblastoma specialists from the mainland and formulate the right plan of care for her as quickly as possible! 

Week one down with good results!!

July 29th, 2011

This week has the been the hardest week of our lives, but have gotten encouraging news.  Last friday they told us Bella had either a stage 3 or stage 4 cancer.  After all the tests this week we found out she is for sure stage 3.  The difference between the treatments and overall outcomes are drastically different for a stage 3 cancer compared to a stage 4 cancer.  We thank God for allowing us to catch this cancer before it's spread and are praying for a complete recovery!  The picture is Bella at her favorite place celebrating the good news today.