Visit to the Oncologist

This time it was Joli's turn to go to the oncologist. She had not been seen by Dr. Grabowski since April 2006 (right when Jada was born), and I was thinking it was time to go and see him. He scheduled her MRI (last week) and the results were free and clear! It was interesting to go back to the oncologist with Joli -- I mean, she was still only 2 years old the last time she was there. It's so weird to think that way!

Joli, of course, remembered absolutely everything about the clinic. She ran into the waiting room and yelled, "MOM! It's my friends... Nemo and the Puffer Fish!!" Gosh, those were the only 2 things that helped her feel good when we went to clinic. Joli did great with Dr. Grabowski and he was amazed how much she has grown. She was having a fun time... until Dr. G said, "Okay, we have to draw blood." "GULP!" I said. Uh oh, the last time Joli had a blood draw in her arm, she was barely 2 years old and was restrained by 3 nurses -- that was a few days after her enucleation. What was going to happen now???

Well, Dr. G recommended that we put some Emla cream, but I had to get back to work and didn't have 30 minutes extra to just hang out and wait for the cream to take effect. So, I told Joli she just had to be brave and do it. Yikes.

Joli was a trooper, though! She did cry, and I watched the needle painfully wriggle around in her arm (poor thing!!). She was very upset WITH ME after it was done. Her exact words were, "Mommy!! I am SOO mad at you. You upset me. Even GOD is mad at you, MOM!" Great....

The good news is that Joli was the only patient in the waiting room when we left, and the music therapist was just coming in. So, rather than rush out in tears, and with Joli screaming about how much God is mad at me, I let her hang out with the music lady. Thankfully, she got her laughing and singing, and we left in good terms. Until... the elevator.... where Joli turned to me and said, "MOMMY. Just because I look happy does not mean that I am not upset at you. Oh, and God is upset at you, too." Nice.

Anyways, Dr. G wants to see Joli again in April because of my testing positive for BRCA1. There is a weak association between Rb and BRCA1, so he wants to see her whenever she sees Dr. Mukai.

By the end of the day, Joli said, "Mommy, I'm sorry I was so upset with you. God loves you Mom. God loves you."

Bless her little heart.

Joli's first day of chemo: September 20, 2005

Last day of chemo: February 14, 2006