THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING SARA BRAVING THE SHAVE!
$6,000 raised for children’s cancer research!
We continue to write journal posts on both caringbridge.org and here on MTD. Once Maya stops treatment, we will likely just update on mayathedragon.com. The wonderfully supportive comments from those following on caringbridge will take more time to move over–please visit Maya’s caringbridge site to read the uplifting, loving, and beautiful sentiments that keep our spirits floating above.
Please visit our friends page.
Please visit Maya’s Knights for a humble tribute to our supporters.
It all began: On February 11, 2016 Sara and I noticed some unusual bruising on her arms, shins, back, and chest. Maya’s baby brother, Lincoln, had a pediatrician appointment scheduled for the following morning, so we decided to piggy back on Lincoln’s appointment and have Maya checked out. The doc recommended that we take Maya to Carson Tahoe Hospital to do lab work. The results came back within a few hours with the shocking possibility that Maya might have leukemia. Panicked and disoriented, we packed up the kids and a few items, and within twenty minutes we were on the way to Oakland Children’s Hospital.
Maya was admitted late that evening. The diagnosis was confirmed–Maya had leukemia cells in her blood. She received a blood transfusion and platelets that night. She began to receive intravenous antibiotics and fluids to support her compromised immune system and protect her organs.
For the next few days, Sara and I felt as if we were floating in space while world whizzed by. We are forever grateful to our parents and others for boundless support. During Maya’s 12 day stay at Oakland Children’s, Lincoln wasn’t allowed up to see Maya, and Sara was torn between worlds with a nursing one year old and a sick little girl stuck in different locations.
Sara wrote, “It just happened so fast and we left in a panic on Friday. Still feels like a dream. She 100% has leukemia- found it in her blood. Waiting for a bone marrow biopsy tomorrow morning to determine the type. Then a central line placed Tuesday. I am scared and sad for her to be put under 2 days [in a row], but it all has to happen quickly to get treatment going. Monitoring her organs. Enlarged liver and spleen and lots of fevers. But all in all she is so much better after blood and platelets. White blood cells came down from 28k to 13k- probably fluids. HGB (Hemoglobin) was 6.3 and plates at 6 too…. Not sure what it is at after transfusion. She really is doing better. Scared but adapting. Thank you so much for the support!”
Lincoln helps Nurse Pam take Maya’s labs at chemo clinic on February 26, 2018.
A ‘thank you’ video to our friends at Bishop Manogue HS: They did a fundraiser in Fall of 2016
And… some outtakes.
