January 15, 2016

Ugh! Ricki was actually feeling good today -(the first time since the middle of November) She had a seizure at school and was unconscious for about 8 minutes so they called the ambulance.  She is doing better now but they want to run some tests.  I am glad it's Friday. It has been a long week. 

One more January 12,2016

One last post for the day....after finishing up her EMG and dr appointments she finished off the day by taking in some more craft kits.  It has been fun to see how that always lifts her spirits.  It has been a good day...feeling blessed, grateful, and hopeful. 

January 13, 2016

Today started out early with our first appointment at 8:30. Ricki was checked in at the University of Utah for her EMG.  Ricki is so Brave! I was just sick watching as she had the EMG done. BShe did request to play some Disney music to keep her mind focused on something else other them poking her with needles and shocking her to see if the nerve would react.  She has become pretty amazing with her breathing techniques as she deals with her pain. We met with the neurosugeons after and they EMG showed she did have nerve damage in about half the nerves they tested.  Ricki walked out of her appointment with a smile on her face.. There is hope for some relief from her pain.  She is in good hands with Dr. Bollo and Dr. Mahan. They both agree the tumor needs to come out! It is kind of sad to be excited about surgery.     

January 12, 2016

They got. Ricki's EMG scheduled for tomorrow along with an appointment to visit with the neurosugeons afterwards. It is a crazy set of emotions that are just hard to express...I found this picture yesterday and it made me so grateful for the time in her life we didn't have to worry about the tumors in her little body. Looking back however we had begun to notice some small things that weren't quite right but couldn't pin point the problem.  

January 7, 2106

Ricki's neurosurgeon Dr. Robert Bollo contacted us today to update us.  He has been working with Dr. Mark Mahan to determine the best treatment to address Ricki's pain. New are excited to have another wonderful surgeon on 

Ricki's team. Life is always an adventure with Ricki.  She has had EEG's EKG's and now they want her to have an EMG! Thanks again for all the prayers in her behalf.bI can see in her countenance that although the pain has not been removed that her burden has been made light. 

January 5

We are still waiting to hear from the doctors and Ricki amazes me with her strength and patience.  She laughed and smiled tonight when her youth group came over for a visit and afterwards she cringed in pain but said it was totally worth it...Last night she wanted to put a few more coloring kits together to give her something to take her mind off the pain. She is definitely stronger than her mom because during those moments when she just wants to hold my hand because she is really hurting -I think my heart is going to break :( 

Service Club 2015

Ricki was excited that in December she was able to meet her goal of donating over 1000 items to Primary Children's Hospital in 2015. Ricki has been so blessed by the service of so many! She has loved her stuffed animals that have given her comfort and each sweet blanket she has received has been like being given a hug in the hospital. She loves and cherishes each of them. Ricki has also has been so grateful for the many craft projects that have kept her mind occupied during her stays at the hospital.  

Recently,  while waiting in the waiting room we were watching a mother with some very cute and lively girls. A volunteer brought a cart of projects for the girls to chose from. The smile on Ricki's face was bigger than the little girls faces when they picked a bag that had markers and coloring pages of some disney princesses. They were some of the kits Ricki had organized and put together.  The little girls sat down and were kept busy the remaining of the time we were in the waiting room. Another time we were in the elevator and they had the cart filled with projects to deliver to patients and Ricki smiled when she saw more of her craft kits on the cart. 

What a sweet experience it has been to be giving back after we have received so much!