Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Aubrey

So you remember that sweet little girl named Aubrey I've been talking about? She has been fighting for her life against Leukemia? Well she is cancer free, is now 100% of her donor's marrow, and is now fighting for her life again. She has a condition called SOS caused by the bone marrow transplant and it affects her liver. There is one medication in the world that can save her, and it hasn't been doing it's job. Her bilirubin numbers have been steadily climbing (meaning the liver isn't working), meaning the medication isn't working. That is until today; her mom, Lacey's birthday. They saw a DRAMATIC decrease in her bili numbers (from 17.3 to 13.3).
This is the miracle we have all been praying for and continue to pray for!

Even though I've never met Aubrey, I just know she is a fighter. She does everything on her own time and in her own special way.

I have been telling Garrett how much I want to go see Lacey and Aubrey for months now, but it just didn't seem really practical. Last Wednesday night I started searching for flights to Indiana. I had never felt the "God is telling me to do this" feeling, but I did that night. As I was looking at flights a friend randomly messaged me. I told her what I was doing and she told me that she was flying there on the 22nd to see her family and to visit Lacey. She generously offered for me to stay with her family and her.
This all fell in to place within an hour, and I booked my flight. I am not the type of person who does this. I don't fly alone, travel somewhere I've never been with people I've never met. But I am. And I love it.
I have talked to Lacey so many times and I've always offered her virtual hugs, but I have said so many times that I can't wait to give her a real hug. That might be one of the things I'm looking forward to most about this trip. And I can't wait to see the little girl who has changed thousands of lives. She is still just a baby and has no idea what kind of impact she has had on me and my family, and I can't wait to tell her.


I am really nervous about being in a Children's Hospital again. I haven't been in one since Parker's one week stay when he was a newborn. When I thought I might lose my baby. He proved to be a miracle baby, and I hope that Aubrey is too :)
I know that what we went through was so much smaller in comparison, but to think you could lose your child is the worst feeling in the whole world. We had a lot of rough days and nights in that hospital and I can't imagine being there for months without my other baby like Lacey and Dustin are doing.

I can't wait to experience the love of the Deno family, and to see sweet Aubrey's face.
This is going to be an unforgettable weekend.

If you want to keep up with how Aubrey's doing, you can follow her Caring Bridge page.


4 comments:

SUZANNE said...

Aubrey is truly amazing and the experience really is something that can not be described. You will see :) So happy to finally meet you too!

Jen said...

SO sweet of you to do this and SO glad you get to! You are a great friend Ash! Praying for Aubrey everyday! <3!

DeDe Weeks said...

I can't begin to explain how proud I am of you. I'm sure the Deno family is very special, and I KNOW they will find my daughter very special as well; and such growth I'm seeing in you....stepping out in faith. I love it and I love you!!! XO Mom

forevermoores said...

what an amazing friend you are Ashlee!!!! I am praying for strength & safety for you as you travel. I know God will keep you safe & what a blessing for you & for them!!!!!