February 3rd, 2018

Chapter five

Kindness. 17.

I have felt nothing but kindness since I entered the doors of this hospital. I have shared laughs with nurses and wonderful conversations with doctors that I know I will remember for the rest of my life. As I have traveled around this remarkable medical center for different tests and procedures, my Dad has taken pictures of the different room numbers that I have visited. A few of them being 123, 4, 5, 9, and 17. These may just appear as regular numbers, but I feel that each number has a story. I hope you’re up for some reading!

For this chapter I have decided to start with the last number, 17. Though this disease called Hodgkin’s Lymphoma was diagnosed in my body as an individual who had recently turned 18 and become an “adult”, I was still a 17 year old girl when I truly started developing the disease. This is both frightening and amazing to me. We have now learned that my body probably started developing Hodgkin’s as long as 6 months ago. I can honestly say now that my strength through those months were none other than the Lord’s presence in my life. My senior year thus far at Round Rock has been nothing but amazing. I am thankful that I was given the opportunity to build new relationships, participate in senior school events, and carry on just as I always have. My life from here on out is going to be completely different, both during the process of Chemotherapy and after treatments are over. But that doesn’t mean the Rylie that I’ve always been has gone anywhere. She is here, she is strong, and she is ready for 17 and many more beautiful years of adventuring, loving others, and living life for the creator of all things.

A little side note: Throughout this whole process, my friends have been unbelievable. If you’re reading this you know who your are. Wow. Thank you for being there for my family  during this time while we are away. Thank you for thoughtfully building the community of Round Rock and beyond into this massive team of people who are fighting alongside me. Thank you for showing me the importance of our earthly relationships and the beauty of true love. This next phrase is used a lot when we talk about those that we love, and those that love us. But, I cannot say it enough about some of my most favorite people on Earth. God knew what he was doing when he put y’all in my life. I love all of you more than you will ever know, and I only hope one day that I can return the amount of world changing love you have given me.

Speaking Medically: Today will be my third full day at Texas Children’s Hospital. After having my PICC Line placed on Thursday night, I have been receiving IV fluids to keep my body hydrated for the start of Chemotherapy. Starting Friday morning I got a CT scan to get a better picture of the anatomy of my cancer, Especially anything that may appear outside of the Lymph system. My mediastinal mass is not causing problems…I have continued to breathe normally. Although I do have some fluid around my heart, it is not affecting my heart’s normal function. I will be getting another Echocardiogram this afternoon to ensure that the function of my heart is stable. Last night Dr. Dreyer visited with my parents and I about my future Chemotherapy schedule. It feels good to know what lies ahead, and I am excited to “hit the ground running” with my treatments. In addition, on Monday I will have surgery to get a bone marrow biopsy, so that the doctors have a baseline of my bone marrow involvement. My chemo treatments may begin as early as tonight, depending on the results of the Echo.

Throw Kindness like Confetti today.
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Love, Rye