News of Elizabeth Lee and Her Family

Another year

elizabethlee — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 16:29:28 +0000

It has been a year since the last post, and it is with relief and gratitude I report, Elizabeth is still doing just fine. She had her fourth year scans yesterday and they were all clear. We have one more scan, in a year, and then she will be released back to the civilian population. It is nothing short of a miracle that she has done this well for this long, and we must remind ourselves not to take these things for granted. We thank all of you who continue to keep Elizabeth and our family in your thoughts and prayers. Blessed Be

elizabethlee — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 19:41:28 +0000

Currently, less money is spent each year on childhood cancer research than the cost of one big-name Hollywood movie or a weekend take at the box office for the top five films that week. The American Cancer Society spends a small portion of its fundraising dollars on childhood cancer. So all the Relay for Life programs that involve kids in schools, while wonderful, give very little to pediatric research or the post-treatment support needed for young survivors. Other groups who are not so well known focus only on childhood cancer fundraising: Curesearch, the outreach arm of the Children’s Oncology Group, St. Baldrick’s Foundation, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, National Pediatric Research Foundation and other smaller organizations across the country.

Thanksgiving

elizabethlee — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 19:32:59 +0000

We are full of thanksgiving and gratitude to report that Elizabeth continues to do very well. The first of her annual scans came back all clear. We will have of 4 more of these, and if they all remain clear she will be considered cured. We know that Elizabeth is one of the few lucky ones to have beaten the cancer, and the side effects of treatment. We know that we are in the presence of the miraculous.

It has been that long!

elizabethlee — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 19:46:24 +0000

It is with sincerest gratitude that I report, Elizabeth is still doing well. We are down to yearly scans now, and that is indeed a miracle. The next scan will be October, and Elizabeth will be in 1st grade.

Has it been that long?

elizabethlee — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:51:39 +0000

Wow, the last time we posted it was in March, and now it is November. Elizabeth had scans in late October, and again they came back all clear. We are relieved and can breath for another 6 months. Because we have stopped posting here.. for updates please visit my facebook page martha buell.

thanks for still checking on our girl.

Good News on Elizabeth’s Scans

elizabethlee — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 03:10:16 +0000

First the important stuff, Elizabeth had a bone marrow biopsy and MIBG scan last Last Thursday and Friday and we just got the word that they were both clear! no evidence of disease. Now that that is out of the way, sorry for the long hiatus. We have been operating on the “no news is good news” principle. Plus I apparently have forgotten how to use wordpress. I wrote a posting three days ago and thought I published it only to log on tonight and be unable to find it anywhere. Part of that missing post was a thank you to Amy and Rick for putting together the gathering last Friday. It was good to see all of you, especially that cute young chick I was sitting next to, who ever she was! You are all in our hearts. Elizabeth is back in typical 4 yr old mode which is absolutely fabulous! The only trauma in her life, other than having her friends play with her “special” toys is getting her immunization shots redone. The marrow transplant wiped immunity imparted by the infant shots. These shots are, for her, the worst thing that has happened in the entire course of treatment. Month in the hospital with no immune system, throwing up the bloody remains of her GI track, no problem…dip-tet shot, you would thing they were amputating her arm without even giving her a stick to bite on. She still loves to go to the hospital but is terrified of her pediatrician! We will see Dr Grupp some time in the not too distant future and map out the next tests etc. Until then.

Hurray

elizabethlee — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 15:28:09 +0000

The scan looked good. Dr. Grupp had e-mailed Boyd but the e-mail was buried…so I e-mailed Grupp this morning and having a far higher level of OCD than does Boyd checked the in-box until the message came up!

And things look good. No change from last time. So we have another 3 month reprieve, which means the make a wish trip to Disney is a go, as will be a trip to St. Louis to see my new nephew some time around Christmas. My sister gave birth on Monday to a 5 lb. 6 oz baby boy. She was about 7 weeks early but she and the baby (no name yet, but elizabeth calls him Timtin her attempt at “Clinton” a name under consideration) are both fine. when I figure out how to do it I will post a picture of the sweet little dumpling.

Waiting for Results

elizabethlee — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 15:22:19 +0000

Yesterday, besides being a red letter day for the country, was a big day in our lives as well …Elizabeth went up to CHOP to be injected with the radioactive iodine that her neuroblastoma, if it is there will suck up, and she will be scanned today for glowing. Having the election to focus on was something of a help because it distracted us from this. Mayzie was wonderful in offering to go up with Bo and Elizabeth and so she helped entertain Elizabeth while they waited for the IV’s etc. I was very relieved that she could do this. I had planned to go up with Boyd and Elizabeth but there is so much work I have to do this semester, that to have a day when I could just work in the office with no distractions meant that the rest of the month would go more smoothly. Having Mayzie go with them meant I felt less guilty and I think it made me more productive at work.

Today Boyd and Elizabeth go back up for the scan. Elizabeth will have to lie perfectly still while they take what is essentially a full body MRI. Often children are sedated for this, but Elizabeth has been lying flat and still for these tests since she was 2, so today should go reasonably well.

I was telling Boyd how sorry I was that he had to take her to get this done today and how sorry I was that Elizabeth was having to get this done, but Boyd pointed out that we are really very fortunate and that things could be so much worse….and I know that he is right, truly things could be so very much worse and I need to be very grateful, everyday.

We will post when we get results. Peace

An Amazing Day: Thanks to the Hurlocks, The Students in HDFS at UNC-G, Annie and Nancy and CureSearch

elizabethlee — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 12:09:02 +0000

Last Friday less than a day before the Curesearch walk a check arrived in the mail for $450 this was money raised by the students in Human Development and Family studies at UNC Greensboro selling tee shirts to raise money and awareness for Pediatric cancer research. It seemed like providence that it came when it did, so we signed the funds over to Curesearch. Then, when we were at the walk we met the Hurlock’s, their support and understanding through our journey with Elizabeth’s cancer has always been a comfort. And I was so glad that there was an opportunity to honor and remember their Elizabeth during the ceremony. And of course our Annie and Nancy were there, as they have been through out this odyssey a cherished part of our family.
The day was so bittersweet. Words escape me in describing everything that went on. I continue to be completely awed by the strength so many people……Amy, Kerrie, Jean and others whose names I won’t write, as for some the journey is so personal….
I think that we are provided with teachers as we go through our lives. These last 18 months have introduced me to many who I will always consider mentors.

Martha

Milestone Walk

elizabethlee — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 14:50:02 +0000

Hi everybody:
Saturday is the milestone walk in Wilmington at the riverfront. Anyone is welcome to join our team – Friends of Elizabeth. We don’t have an official team color, but any of the princess colors will do…..and if we look like a rainbow that will be just fine as well.

https://secure2.convio.net/cs/site/TRR/784484959?JServSessionIdr001=0v5erq3791.app8a

I think that our family will be one of the lucky ones there, as many people will be walking in honor of children they have lost to the cancer beast. The battle rages on and we must continue to help those still fighting and those who will be fighting in the future. We can find better treatments and even better real true cures. Thanks to everyone who supports anyone in this fight. The luminaria on the banner was one at a relay for life event that I dear friend walked in honor of her Aunt and Elizabeth. I love it and wanted to share it…I only wish I could get the entire picture to show.

take care.