Thursday, February 6, 2014

Update

It has been 12 days since surgery to remove the other ovary and tube and the night we started chemotherapy treatments.  Evie is doing incredibly well.  She is up playing, even when I think she should quiet it down...reading, coloring and playing her tablet (given by the local dentist and staff, Riverside Dental).  At first look you would not know she was battling cancer.  Her hair is thinning and her counts are down.  Her red blood cells and platelets are at the low end of normal.  Her white blood cell are low and that means that she can get sick easier.  So needless to say a lot of Clorox wiping!
I would like to thank you all for being Evie's Angels.  I've thought often of how she has been our angel also.  She has inspired us, strengthened us, brought together family, friends and communities.  I know prayers are heard and answered.  It has been said that our prayers are usually answered by someone else coming to our aid.
I know that so many have come to James and I's families aid in a time of great need.  But just maybe Evie's story has come to your aid in a time of need....I pray it is so. 
She is my strength, my love, my daughter, my tears and my hope.  Clancy, Anna, Holt, Kristi and Gary are my angels, my answers, my love and my life also.  James is the love of my life and my best friend.  I love my family with what the scriptures describe as Charity.  Charity is the PURE love of Christ.  And Charity never faileth.
Taken the day before finding the tumor*

Saturday, February 1, 2014

Update!

Last week on January 23, we were in Salt Lake for some tests for Evie prior to surgery and chemo.  Friday was very busy.  We met with our endocrinologist at 8:30 in the morning.  He is great, very understanding, knowledgeable and excellent in explaining so we could understand.
Next we were at surgery registration at 10 and then went to the oncology clinic to meet with our Dr's before the surgery.  I have to admit that reality hits pretty hard when you walk through those doors.  The Dr's were very good to make sure we understood what the plan was as well as answer any questions....and there were a lot!
Surgery time was up.  It was about 1pm and we met with our surgeon.  He took us to a room and sat and explained everything again very thoroughly.  It was funny, he was in a suit and when the discussion was over he said "Well, I'll go get my work clothes on then." 
When they take you and your child to the doors where you have to say "see you soon, love you" and Dad gives his little girl a kiss on the forehead is one of the hardest parts.  The surgery took a couple of hours and it went really well.  She recovered from this one much faster. 
We went from recovery straight to the oncology, hematology, bone marrow unit.  She was resting peacefully and the nurses were awesome to get her all settled with great ease and quietly. 
At midnight we were having to make sure she was hydrated enough before we could start her treatment.  Finally at 2am we were able to start the first medicine.  James had went to go get some sleep at the Ronald McDonald house.  I sat in the chair beside her bed and rocked.  The nurse quietly said "Ok, we just started the first medicine."  I started to cry.  She told me it's ok to cry, it is emotional.  Then she sat on the couch beside me and cried a bit with me. 
The treatment took us through the night and I stayed awake as Evie slept.  I had so much love for her fill my soul sleep was impossible.
We did these treatments for three nights and then did hydration for 24 more hrs.  She was able to have her nausea controlled by medicine.  She even ate a good meal each day.  When we were able to come home on Tuesday her spirits were up even though she was very tired. 
Needless to say it was a heavy weekend and through much love, faith, people, support, prayers and so much more it eased the load.
Thank you to you all.  We have so many to be grateful to for so many different things.  I wish there were words that could explain how we feel, but until then please accept our gratitude.

Saturday, January 25, 2014

January 24

Today was the day we had all prepared for as much as we could.  We visited our endocrinologist early in the morning. We then registered for surgery which is her second one. The first was last December.  After being highly educated by our oncology Dr's and our surgeon it was off to surgery.  Anyone know the feeling of kissing you child before they go through the double doors without you?  The surgery went as expected.  Meaning good and found no other concerns.   We were taken to the oncology unit for recovery.
At 2:15am Evie's received her first medicine for the chemotherapy treatments. The nurse said "she just started chemo," I teared up, she said "its emotional isn't it, it's ok to cry." I simply said oh I've cried a thousand tears and more. When she walked out I lost it.
There laid my little girl, with no ovaries or tubes, and was sound asleep receiving chemotherapy. We do not know what tomorrow will bring.  Live each day with no regrets. Kiss and hug your spouse and kids. Be nice to all you meet. Enjoy the tiny moments. Cry the tears and dry them, lift your head to heaven and say thanks for another day.

Thursday, January 23, 2014




We would like to thank Rebecca White Photography for these amazing images. The love and light that flow through these images truly capture the love that these sibling share.

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Where Evie's Story Begins

I am Evie Olenslager, I am 6 years old and I am in 1st grade. I have 3 brothers, 2 sisters, and a Mom and Dad who love me lots. I love playing outside, listening to music, and playing with my family. I live in a small town called Thayne, it is in Wyoming, and I have been diagnosed with 2 different kinds of cancer.
Let me tell you my story...In October of 2013 my Mom took me to the doctor because she could tell that my body was acting like it wanted to be a teenager. We did some blood work and even though I was a little afraid of the needle I was really brave. In November my Mom said “Evie, the doctor said we need to go to Salt Lake City and go see an endocrinologist”. I didn't know what that meant but I knew it was another doctor. My Dad works in North Dakota so he is gone a lot; I was so excited when he and my brother went with us! The doctor decided we needed to do more blood work and get an ultrasound of my stomach. I could tell my Mom and Dad were worried but they kept telling me everything would be ok. The next day we did the ultrasound and I thought the pictures of the inside of my belly were funny. But it was ok because I got to watch a movie while they did it. After we left the hospital we waited until the doctor called to tell us what they found. I have never really seen my Mom cry but when she talked on the phone I could tell she was sad. She told my Dad “Evie has a tumor on her left ovary and it's probably cancer”.
Cancer was a funny word for me to say and I didn't know what it meant but my Mom and Dad said “it's ok Evie we just need to go back to Salt Lake and do surgery”. In December we were in a big hospital called Primary Children's. I like it there because they have toys and stickers. My Mom and Dad told me about having surgery and said they would be right by me and that made me be brave. The doctors removed my left ovary and fallopian tube and did a wash of my abdomen to check for the cancer cells. When I woke up from the surgery my stomach really hurt and I could hear my Mom saying “Evie mom's right here", and then I would fall asleep again. When I finally woke up they took me to my own room and my Dad was there and he gave me a big kiss and said “you’re a brave girl Evie, I love you”. My Mom stayed with me my room all night. When I had to go to the bathroom I was so afraid to walk because my stomach hurt so bad but my Mom said “it's ok Evie I will help you”. I was glad to leave the hospital the next day and go home to my family.
When I felt better it was time for Christmas! My Mom was really sad two days before though because she talked to the doctors and they said there was cancer on my abdomen lining and we would have to do more tests and chemotherapy. After Christmas we went back to Salt Lake and did a CT scan; it was funny because the machine told me to hold my breath and when I could breathe again. After the test we went to the cancer doctors. They said that I have a really rare cancer. Only 3 or 4 kids get this kind each year. It is called dysgermanoma and it grows tumors but we could use medicine to kill it out of my body called chemotherapy.
After Christmas break I could go to school if I felt good, but I would get tired really easy. In January of 2014 the doctors said that I might have a second cancer. My Mom and my Grandpa took me to the hospital to do more blood work. I was getting tired of getting poked by needles but I was really brave again. The next week the doctors called my Mom and said that I have another cancer and this one was called gonadalblastoma. She said that I would have to have another surgery and start chemo on the same day.
On January 24 they are going to have to take out my other ovary and put an IV in my chest. I am a little bit scared but my Mom said it will be ok that her and my Dad will be there with me the whole time. My Mom said that I have to go back and keep doing chemo treatments each month. She also said that I might get sick and that my hair will fall out, but that it's important because it will kill all the cancer and then I can be healthy again.
Thanks for helping my Mom and Dad, I love them so much and know that angels like you are helping them.
Olenslager family 2013