| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| julia hayes |
Posted - Oct 30 2008 : 09:03:01 AM
Ladies, I stepped away for several days but am back. Things are good! Aria turned 5 last Friday October 24! Kristin from GA, thank you for asking about Aria! She was diagnosed with leukemia in January and has been enduring chemotherapy ever since. I've been writing incessantly about it in the form of emails to anyone who is interested. Some of you get them and they are often really long detailed accounts of what it is like. Aria, as most of you know, is a warrior. She is so inspiring to me and every day she reminds me that the most important thing in life is to live! To really truly live.....love....play...The innocence of this child is so healing for me as an adult who has lost that innocence in some ways and has replaced it with independence. I think in some ways this is what we are fashioned to do but the process of innocence to independence can sure take a toll on actually living. Aria's leukemia has simplified this for me, right to the very core.
She had a spinal tap on Tuesday this week that went without a hitch. Every 3 months she has one to make sure that leukemia cells are not detected in her spinal fluid. They never have been seen there but research knows that spinal fluid is where leukemia likes to hide. Leukemia, like most cancers, is opportunistic and will reoccur if given any avenue to do so. She also had a chemotherapy drug injected into her spinal fluid to make sure that the leukemia doesn't get any bright ideas! Years ago this was a horribly painful procedure. Children were held down by several adults. I can't imagine the emotional trauma of such a thing. Now, kids are sedated with "conscious-sedation", which means that she can breathe on her own but is completely asleep and numb. It is full anesthesia with all of the risks involved so it is no routine thing but far less traumatic and painful. So far, she has never experienced any ill effect from this procedure.
As a matter of fact, after her spinal tap we all went as a family to our family doctor and got flu shots. Influenza is very dangerous for anyone going through chemotherapy or for anyone with any kind of suppressed immune system. I'd never had a flu shot before and our oncologist recommended it. I trust her completely. I swear, if she were to tell me that lighting my butt on fire and running down the streets with my bra shoved through my ears was going to help cure Aria's leukemia, I wouldn't give it a second thought! I'm serious! So we went to our doctor's office and Aria says, "Hey everybody, I'll race ya!!" She took off running. The child had just woken up from a spinal tap procedure no more than an hour before. Doc, my husband and I were just in awe of her.
I won't kid you. I've had a rough emotional few days leading up to her birthday and after...even now. It is such a peculiar thing to know that your child is living with a deadly illness on her way to being cured of it. I have been filled with this incredible sense of gratitude for her life. I can see so clearly that it is a gift. Not too long ago, leukemia treatment wasn't so successful and Aria would not have been alive to celebrate her 5th birthday. This is very real to me and feels like the air has been sucked from my lungs. I have found myself several times in the last few days on my knees in both thanksgiving and grief thinking about those families whose kids didn't live. They no longer have them with them to celebrate. I have a clearer sense of that grief now and am so thankful that I don't actually know it. It seems almost too much to bear and I suspect it is. Yet, people go on...I don't know how they do it, but they do. I'm in awe of them too.
Living.....there are many ways to live one's life. Aria is showing me how to live a more truthful life, and one that is genuine and rich.
This is my Aria! ~julia hayes
being simple to simply be
Farmgirl #30
www.julia42.etsy.com |
| 17 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| K-Falls Farmgirl |
Posted - Nov 07 2008 : 1:44:02 PM
Happy Birthday! 5 years old and You are a cutie! Thank you for sharing her story mom.. Bless you.
http://www.k-fallsfarmgirl.blogspot.com/
Cheryl #309
Farm girl sister
Enjoy the little things in life....someday you'll look back and realize they were the big things. |
| sleepless reader |
Posted - Nov 07 2008 : 08:39:36 AM
Happy Birthday, sweet girl! And MANY more!!!!Blessings to you and mom.
Sharon
Farmgirl Sister #74
Life is messy. Wear your apron! |
| cinnamongirl |
Posted - Nov 04 2008 : 11:46:34 AM
Happy Birthday Aria!! Many more will come your way I see it in the sparkle of your eyes!! Hang in there Julia! |
| katmom |
Posted - Nov 03 2008 : 3:44:41 PM
Hugz Hugz & more Birthday Hugz to sweet Aria.
>^..^< Happiness is being a katmom.
mjf#72
Sisters on the Fly#472
www.katmom4.blogspot.com
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| Rebekka Mae |
Posted - Nov 01 2008 : 09:10:55 AM
Aria-
Happy Happy Birthday! Isabella says that 5 is a good age, because she is five;) I just love seeing Aria all painted up- savoring the moment.
Happy Birthing Day to you as well Julia- you are quite the Mama and you inspire me to no end.
LOVEloveLOVE,
Rebekka
www.bebebella.etsy.com
As a woman I have no country. As a woman, my country is the whole world.
Virginia Woolf |
| Tammy Claxton |
Posted - Oct 31 2008 : 10:34:42 PM
Happy Birthday Aria!! All my love and all the best to you!!
Crafty Bay Farmgirl Chapter
"What doesn't kill you will only make you stronger"
Farmgirl #152
http://countryintheburbs.blogspot.com/
http://bigdogmom130.etsy.com |
| julia hayes |
Posted - Oct 31 2008 : 07:19:08 AM
Thank you Farmgirls. Ronna, I just fired off an email to you! Judy, how did summer go by without you coming over and seeing me in my bathing suit? honestly, I really do wear other things than my swimsuits but it sure didn't seem that way when you were around last year! Crack me up! I hope you are well. Amanda, I haven't seen you at all and I'm not running into Autumn much anymore either! BUMMER! Dad take the kids into school most mornings these days, which is so huge for me! yippppppeeeeee! hope you are well. Give that sweetheart of a daughter of yours a big farmgirl squeeze for me!
Here's to you all! ~julia
being simple to simply be
Farmgirl #30
www.julia42.etsy.com |
| Ronna |
Posted - Oct 30 2008 : 9:40:31 PM
Julia! I've tried emailing you both through the farm and privately and they are sent back as being unable to deliver. Could you possibly email me when you have time? Happy Happy to Aria, a true cause for celebration!
Ronna |
| Firemama |
Posted - Oct 30 2008 : 7:37:16 PM
Happy Birthday Aria!! I get so much joy seeing her thrive. I love to get to say Good Morning to Rio too!! They are both such sweet kids..
Mama to 2
FarmGirl# 20
People can only make you feel inferior with your permission, and you dont have my permission......
Dont let the chain of love end with you.....
http://myfarmdreams.blogspot.com/
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| Marybeth |
Posted - Oct 30 2008 : 7:19:22 PM
Happy 5th birthday Aria. Lovely pics of your sweetheart. Thanks again for sharing your story. MB
www.strawberryhillsfarm.blogspot.com
www.day4plus.blogspot.com www.holyhouses-day4plus.blogspot.com
"Life may not be the party we hoped for...but while we are here we might as well dance!" |
| jpbluesky |
Posted - Oct 30 2008 : 5:03:24 PM
May many happy days and years and decades follow for all of your family. You certainly derseve the best and greatest gifts of life there are. When I read your posts, I can see that you have chosen to learn and grow from all the heartache and worry. So much admiration I feel for you! Love to you all.
Farmgirl Sister # 31
www.blueskyjeannie.blogspot.com
Psalm 51: 10-13 |
| junkjunkie |
Posted - Oct 30 2008 : 4:44:05 PM
Happy 5th birthday, Aria! It looks like a fun birthday party....love the 'paint job'! :)
"To have life in focus, we must have death in our field of vision." Benedictine monk John Main |
| Annika |
Posted - Oct 30 2008 : 11:36:31 AM
Happy, happy birthday dear Aria!!!
Annika
Farmgirl & sister #13
Mud Hen Queen
MJ's Heirloom Maven's Librarian
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| Alee |
Posted - Oct 30 2008 : 10:50:30 AM
Happy Birthday Aria!!1
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our blog: www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
| JudyBlueEyes |
Posted - Oct 30 2008 : 10:09:30 AM
Julia, thank you so much for sharing! Aria is Beautiful, as is her mother. May blessings continue for Aria, you and your family. FarmGirl Hugs, J
We come from the earth, we go back to the earth, and in between, we garden! |
| oldfashioned girl |
Posted - Oct 30 2008 : 09:18:49 AM
Julia, I am so happy that Aria is doing well! She is just the loveliest little girl!
Aria, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!
Monica
farmgirls rule!
www.justducky48.etsy.com |
| Tina Michelle |
Posted - Oct 30 2008 : 09:14:44 AM
Happy Belated Birthday to Aria! Give her a hug from me and mine.
~Tina and family
~Seize the Day! Live, Love, Laugh~
visit me at:
http://gardengoose.blogspot.com/
and at www.stliving.net
you can also check out my etsy shops at:http://GardenGooseGifts.etsy.com |
