After her first five-day round of chemo, Mariah was admitted to the hospital for two weeks because of low white blood cell counts and fever. Once she recovered, she had a stem cell "harvest". In June she had a stem cell transplant and spent three weeks in the hospital. When her white blood cell counts were up, she again began chemo and radiation treatments. During this trying time, her aunt, uncle, cousins and 'Papa' would come visit. Another family staying at the Ronald McDonald House gave her a teddy bear that has been her favorite toy ever since. She named him 'Baby Bear.' At the age of two, she has the IQ of a three-year-old and more strength than most adults. Mariah is just as energetic as any toddler should be. When she's not dancing to The Wiggles with her Baby Bear, you can bet she's climbing on whatever she can.
Grandma Mary says that they believe the cancer has gone into remission. Mariah is now being treated with 'maintenance chemotherapy' to help keep the cancer from recurring. They are in the middle of this twelve month process and every month her blood cell counts are coming back faster... and that's a good sign that her little body is winning the fight! Hopefully, Mariah and her family will get to stay at home and get back to the normalcy they had before her diagnosis. Until then, Mariah will keep the nurses laughing while 'riding' on her IV pole and making her funny expressions. (She doesn't quite understand that she needs to pull it around with her... it's too much fun to stand on it and be pushed around!)
Grandma Mary says that she doesn't know what they would have done without the Ronald McDonald House. Because of your help, we are here for families such as Mariah's and on behalf of everyone here, "Thank you!"