Jesse Dee

COUGH COUGH

2012-01-13T13:38:00.000-08:00

Jesse went to urgent care, and has bronchitis, fluid in her lungs with inflammation.
That is what you get when you love on little kids at the daycare she works at. Jesse, stop kissing the little kids!!!!

Its been a long time

2012-01-12T18:46:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone,
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!!
We have had a great year, with very few problems Jesse's health. She is continuing phlebotomy, and that has brought her iron count down to 1250. She still needs to
dump another 1200 to be normal. In February, she will go in for another liver scan to see what damage the iron and chemo has, or prayerfully has not done to her liver.
Tomorrow she will be going to urgent care, she has had a chest cold for way to long, and we have to worry about her getting pneumonia. Of course they will draw her blood and gasp at the low platelets and kidney counts and insist she needs a transplant. Jesse will have to talk them down off a cliff and tell them that is
her normal.....
We lost jesse's website jessecatron.com - someone bought it at renewal. So I bought jessedeecatron.com you can enter that into the search, and the blog should show up.
I will update those results when I get them.
Be blessed, and thank you for checking in.

Oops

2011-07-28T20:23:00.000-07:00

Went in for the blood draw, they used a huge needle to draw the blood. The amount to draw for the first time was 250cc. With Jesse's past heart problems, that was a safe amount to draw. All went well until.....
They called us 4 hours later, and accidently drew 500cc !! Thank God Jesse's heart was in much better condition to allow that much to be taken out.
Jesse is doing fine, she still wants to be a phlebotomist :)
Team Catron

Jesse gets a LARGE blood draw.

2011-07-26T20:05:00.000-07:00

It is official. Tomorrow will be the first try at using phlebotomy to get out some of the extra iron. For now she will be going once a month, to make sure she can produce new blood fast enough to not effect her heart or blood pressure.
This is a slow process, but the iron has to go. Having to much iron in your blood affects your heart and other vital organs.
Praying for Jesse

Phlebotomy

2011-07-25T17:59:00.000-07:00

Hi All,

Jesse had her Oncology appt today. Her blood looks great and her platelets are at 128,000. Normal would be a minimum of 140,000. Dr Boklan has decided to keep her off the exjade (med that takes iron out of her liver), as it is causing more problems with her kidneys. Instead she will have phlebotomy done once a month for now. We can go to United Blood right by our house and have about 400cc taken out. This will help rid her blood and in turn her liver of the extra iron. It will take many many months to achieve this.
Jesse wants to be able to hydrate and draw her own blood once she gets her phlebotomy license. We will See :)
We are still waiting on the labs to get her Creatine and iron counts. Hopefully tomorrow we will have the update.
We are so blessed,
Love Team Catron

Kidneys

2011-06-16T20:33:00.000-07:00

Hello,
Jesse had a two week blood draw today. Her creatine is too high. We where referred to the kidney institute for a better look at her kidney function. The thought is that the liver med she takes to get the iron out is not doing well with her kidneys. So the plan is to take her off the liver med for two weeks to see if they improve. The doctors ,ay have to find a way to decrease the iron and save the kidneys, one thought is phlebotomy.
Jesse has an idea that she wants to be a phlebotomist. She could go to Estrella mountain community college as soon as she is able to get a grant. We are hoping she can start next term.
Have a blessed weekend,
Team catron

My Appointment

2011-06-04T12:34:00.000-07:00

Well I had my appointment Wednesday. All my counts are good. My liver iron count dropped 1,000 to only 2,200!!! It needs to get down to 50 to be normal. On the down side my creatinine in my kidneys is elevated, so that means that they are not functioning well. =( I have to go back in two weeks to see if they are getting better.

In July we are going to Oregon for a week, I am super excited to see the family =)

HAPPY 19TH BIRTHDAY

2011-04-30T11:19:00.000-07:00

Today is Jesse's 19th birthday, her last year as a teenager. I will have to let her know that also means living for free is coming to an end :)
Have a wonderful day Jesse, we love you!!
Mom & Dad

What to do??

2011-04-17T21:07:00.000-07:00

Hello,
Jesse had her top two wisdom teeth pulled on Thursday, and all went well. The next day the inside of her mouth was full of ulcers. We all know Jesse well enough that this means she wont eat or drink! So, Sunday we were off to Nextcare to see what we could get for her mouth. They drew her blood and hooked up hydration, all good. Then they come back in and stopped the hydration, her potassium is to low to give her water. If they dilute the potassium she does have, it will not be enough for her heart. So back home to take her potassium pills in hopes it will come up. She is drinking gatorade, and had some mac & cheese. They also took a urine sample and found protein and blood in the urine. He asked us if she was in kidney failure, hmmm not that we know of. Now we get to call PCH in the morning with those results and I am sure a further look into the problem there. Sounds like our week is about to fill up with appointments.
Have a blessed week,
Team Catron

Whats up with Jesse???

2011-03-30T20:06:00.000-07:00

We went in today too see Dr. Boklan regarding Jesse's nausea, fatigue, and swollen lump on her neck.
They just need to start ruling things out. On Friday she will she her cardiologist for a heart echo. Last month they stopped her heart medication, because the echo revealed a normal heart. But the symptoms of heart failure is nausea and fatigue, so that is the first thing we will try to rule out. She also gave her a medication for her intestinal track, in case this is the cause. Her labs show very high liver enzymes etc..., so we will go back in two weeks for more blood work. I can imagine if they are higher a liver biopsy will be in order. We just cant rule out liver failure because of all the iron built up in there. They have also increased her exjade to try and get the iron out faster. The lump in her neck appears to be lymph nodes, soooo another blood test to check her thyroid. Poor Jesse, just one thing after another.
On a positive note, we are thankful for Micah. He brings a smile to her face and she looks forward to seeing him everyday.
Much Love,
Team Catron

Not feeling well

2011-03-25T20:44:00.000-07:00

Hello,
It seems we have not had to post anything but good new lately. Jesse now seems to be having a few problems. Her high iron count is not going down as quick as it should. Jesse is showing some symptoms that are concerning us. Constant nausea, tired, weak and itchy skin. These seem to point to her liver. We are going in the see Dr Boklan on wednesday so she can take a look at Jesse. They now have a liver specialist at the hospital, so maybe she will be able to see that DR and take a closer look into how the iron has taken its toll on her liver.
We will update on Wednesday if we have any new news.
Team Catron

Appointment Woopee

2011-03-04T17:44:00.000-08:00

Today I went to my appointment with Kenzie and Micah. All my counts were good. I got my liver scan info back and obviously the pills I am taking are not working. So, Dr. Boklan wants to me take 8 instead of 5 =( My least favorite meds to take. Other than that, everything is awesome!

Dakota Comes home tomorrow!

My parents left today for a 2 week cruise!!! No parents!!!! haha It will be fun to run the house =P They are going to the Bahamas and some of their excursions are riding ATV's!!!! I'm jealous

Crackerjacks!

2011-02-27T06:59:00.000-08:00

Yesterday Mom, Dad, Kenzie, Micah and I went to Crackerjacks with Make-A-Wish! It was a lot of fun we did the race track and mini golf. Micah and my dad got competitive lol They manually killed my dads car because he bumped Micah into the wall! The rules are no bumping =P

Friday is my next and appointment and the same day my parents are leaving for 2 weeks on a cruise!!!! How exciting parent-less for 2 weeks!

Liver MRI

2011-02-03T14:53:00.000-08:00

Hi, Tomorrow I have a liver MRI. This is a new machine that will check the iron in my liver instead of having a biopsy. I really tried to talk them into the biopsy, as with that comes my favorite - anesthesia!!
The new Phoenix Children's Hospital opened up this week, so my mom and I will be having lunch in the new hospital tomorrow. They have amazing food, and will be fun to check out the new building.
Other than that, I am doing great. I am having fun with Micah, and spending time with Dakota and Josh when she comes home on the weekend.
Love Jesse

Monthy Appointment

2011-01-05T18:42:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone!!
Had a great appointment today. All my numbers are up, a great way to start the new year. Dr. Boklan does not want to see me again for 2 months :( I will miss my monthly visit with my friends at PCH.
Today Micah came with me to witness the blood draw and get all the great news.
Happy Days

Jesse

Appointment

2010-12-01T17:20:00.000-08:00

Well today was my check up. This week didn't have to get IVIG. My HHV6 virus dropped a little so thats good news. My hemoglobin is still staying strong at 12.4, my white blood cells are 3.6 and my platelets dropped to 71,000. Last month they were 121,000. Dr. Boklan said it might be because I have a cold but it might also be allergies. Next thursday I am getting my blood taken again and it it doesn't go back up then I will have to have a bone marrow biopsy. Pray that all goes well.

Other than that unsure appointment all has been well. I've been working and going to lots of movies and coffee =)

Jesse

Ya It Feels Like Fall

2010-11-08T17:27:00.000-08:00

Hello,
Jesse had her monthly appt on Wednesday. wow time flys, feels like she was just there. We have had many appts this last month. Jesse's Echo of her heart looks great, she is slowly being weaned off the heart medication. Her blood work also looks great, her platelets have risen to 120 (140-250 is normal) Her next appt she will not receive the IVIG she normally gets by IV each month for her immune system. They are hoping the HHV6 blood virus does not increase by not having it. If it does, she will go back to once a month. If the virus goes crazy, that could be colitis or pneumonia. She will be watched closely.
Jesse's job is going great, she loves working. Please pay her a visit at Mcdowell and 99th by the Harkins Theatre at Yogurtland. We have also started to workout at the gym. That is also going well, just keeping it simple. It is amazing to see Jesse lead a "normal" life after all we have been through. We talk alot about the year in the hospital and how truly blessed we are to have made it through. Thank you for continued prayers for Jesse to remain cancer free and an inspiration to us all.
Much Love,
Team Catron

Happy Anniversary To Me =)

2010-10-17T08:40:00.000-07:00

Two Years Ago Today I was diagnosed with Cancer. God is so amazing. Our family stayed strong and never strayed from his path. Isaiah 40:31 "Those who trust in the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as EAGLES they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint"

Still Improving

2010-10-09T21:29:00.000-07:00

Hello,
Jesse had her monthly appt on Wednesday. Counts are still good, Red and White blood cells are still up. Dr Boklan ran into Jesse's cardiologist, and he told her Jesse's Heart Echo looked great. We see him on the 28th. I can imagine she will only have to take one med for her heart. Yea, one more gone.
She will continue on the liver med for at least 6 more months.
Jesse is enjoying her new job and car. It is great to have one more driver that can go make ice cream runs, or take mckenzie to a friends.
Much Love,
Team Catron

I Got My Box!!!

2010-09-15T19:51:00.000-07:00

Yipee!!! I got my Scion... I love it. It is in such great shape, comes with a sunroof, awesome stereo and cool rims. I also have a warranty for another 2 years! I drove by myself to work today for the first time. I am sure my parent never thought this day would come :) I am blessed..
Love Jesse

Wisdom Teeth 2 down 2 to go!!

2010-09-10T20:15:00.000-07:00

Hello,
My appt Wednesday went well. I am still Leukemia Free!!! My iron level went down 1000 points. I am still 5000 points to high, but the meds are working. My hearing is also fine.
I had my bottom wisdom teeth pulled today. All went well, but recovery is tough. I hope I feel better tomorrow. My dad is taking me to look at a Scion Xb tomorrow !!! That is my dream car.
Have a great weekend everyone :)
Love Jesse

Hi Ho Hi Ho its off to work I go!!!

2010-09-07T21:21:00.000-07:00

Hi,
Well, my life has changed so much this month. I got my drivers license, food handlers card, and a job at Yogurtland. Starting out slow and getting back it to the groove of life. Tomorrow I have my monthly Drs appt. IV meds and blood work. I also will have a hearing test. The liver meds I take could damage my hearing and eyesight, so they are checking out if I can hear ok. What did you say mom??? Joking... Friday I get my bottom wisdom teeth pulled. YEA I get to go under again. I am sure I wont feel that way when I wake up and the pain sets it...This has been a very exciting and busy month.
Love Jesse

Drivers Test!

2010-08-30T09:47:00.000-07:00

Hello =)
   Tomorrow I am going to take me drivers test so I can finally get my license!!! I am so nervous. It is where a person will come pick me up and I will have to drive around for 3 hrs all the way down town phoenix! So If I pass that test then they will give me a certificate that I can take it down to the MVD and get my license!

   Also this thursday we are going to the cardinals football game! We have awesome seats! We are sitting next to Matt Leinarts family! Thank you so much Pete!!! What a blessing for our family!!!!

   Jesse =D

Another Great Checkup!!

2010-08-09T09:40:00.000-07:00

Good Morning Everyone.

Jesse has had another good checkup. Her platelets are finally on the rise. She was at 86,000 last month, and 126,000 this month, a huge jump. Her red and white blood cells are also normal. Her kidneys are not in such good shape, she really needs to drink lots more water. Dehydration comes very easy for her, so we have to keep on her.

We had a great time in Oregon seeing family, visiting Astoria, Portland and Eugene. Everything went smoothly, and we did not get lost a single time. I am sure Clent is shocked!

Have a great week,

Team Catron

Oregon Trip!!!

2010-07-28T15:33:00.000-07:00

Hello,
Tomorrow Dakota, my mom and I are heading out to Oregon. Sadly Dad will have to stay behind and do some male bonding with Jericho =) We are going to visit Lindsay, Nick, Malea, and her New Baby Caden. Then we will go see my MorMor and Grandpa, then head over to Portland to see my other grandparents!!! On the way we will be making some pit stops to the coast.

I'm so glad Lindsay gets to cook for us and not my mom, she gave everybody food poisoning =(

Also My MorMors sisters Jane & Winnie and their hubbies will be in Astoria. We haven't seen them since Dakota and I were a lot younger. Can't wait!!!!

Thank you for your prayers =)

Jesse

Jesse is in ER

2010-07-27T18:50:00.000-07:00

Just an update, Jesse is very dehydrated from vomiting all night long. The catron all had food poisoning, yes it must be my cooking.
The hospital tanked her up with two bags of water, and a new med we have never tried for nausea.
We are getting ready to go home now
Love, team catron

San Diego

2010-07-26T09:02:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone,
We just got back from a mini-trip to San Diego. We had a great time, and even took the trip over to California Adventure for a few thrill rides. The weather was great, we were so glad to get out of the heat. The girls and I are off to Oregon on Thursday, poor Clent has to stay home and enjoy the quiet house with no chatter.
Jesse is doing great, next Doctor appt is Aug 6th. We are happy to report that since she is 18, she qualified on her own for insurance. We wont have to scramble every few months re-qualifying anymore.
Have a great week,
Team Catron

Monthly Report

2010-07-07T20:09:00.000-07:00

Hello,
Jesse had her monthly visit to see Dr. Boklan today at Phoenix Childrens Hospital. Her blood reports came back great. Her red & white blood cells are still normal, her platelet count is still low, but at least steady. She received her IV med for her immune system, and we were out of there by 10:30.
Today is Clent and my 20 yr anniversary. We have been blessed with four beautiful girls inside and out. Thank you girls for being such a joy to raise, we love you!!
Team Catron

2010-06-27T16:39:00.000-07:00

I have recently started physical therapy. I didn't realize how flabby I am and unfit. I'm hoping that all of this working out will give me that awesome figure. My first day my legs felt like jello. My second session went a lot better he gave me new exercise and ways to strengthen my muscles and have better posture. I am such a wimp lol

This week was VBS! SO much fun, I love working with all the kids and watch them praise God with a pure heart. Oh so sweet =)

I have another appointment on the 7th so after i get my IVIG my mom and I are getting our wisdom teeth pulled. Yay more anesthesia =)

Later on in the month on July 28th we are going back to Oregon to visit some family!!!!!!!!

Its All Good

2010-06-18T16:23:00.000-07:00

Hello,
Jesse has had her share of appointments so far this month. Her Heart Echo showed that her heart continues to improve. She will be able to drop one heart med now, and in 3 months cut the other one in half. Her lung CT showed no change. I am believing that the tiny nodules are still there, but doing nothing. Jesse will start Physical Therapy next week. She has lost a great deal of muscle laying in bed for as long as she did. She has begun the search for a part time job, so anyone that knows of an opening that they think she can handle, you can send her an email jessecat777@yahoo.com .
Thank you for continuing to pray for a complete recovery,
Team Catron

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!

2010-06-10T15:25:00.000-07:00

Hey mom, cant believe you are 24 again, congrats on still looking young.
Hope you have a fantastic birthday, we appreciate and love you very much.

Your Family

2010-06-07T14:53:00.000-07:00

Hello ,
I got back from Oregon yesterday. I had so much fun and it was really nice to see Lindsay, Nick, Malea and the new baby. The weather was really weird it was sunny till I got there then I rained the whole time. Lindsay said it was sunny today.

We had a lot of fun I tried a lot of new foods and it was nice to get out. Its amazing to see how much little Malea grew up. Thanks again Lindsay and Nick for letting me stay =) Love u guys

Jesse

Jesse Arrives in Oregon

2010-05-20T11:18:00.000-07:00

Jesse was off this morning, flying for her first time alone. She has made it to Eugene, Or to spend time with her sisters family for two weeks.
Kenzie started the morning crying that Jesse was leaving, and wearing one of her sweatshirts to feel close to her. I missed her as soon as she was gone, the house is empty. Dakota went to work this morning also. All 3 will have to stay home forever, I cant imagine them moving out!!!
We hope she has a great time with Lindsay, and has two weeks of normalcy, without any Doctor appts to tie up her weeks.
LOVE YOU JESSE !!!

Iron Man, Meet Iron Woman :)

2010-05-12T07:50:00.000-07:00

Good Morning,
We got the call yesterday with the results of the biopsy. Her iron count is 5,700. She will start a new medication shortly to reduce the amount of iron in her liver. It may take up to a year to see it back to normal. Jesse is not looking forward to a new medication. This one dissolves in juice, (must have a bad taste) and she drinks it when she gets up. The side affects are vomiting and nausea, oh joy what a wonderful way to start the day :)
Jesse is really looking forward to traveling alone to Eugene, Or. She will arrive back home June 6th, just in time for an Echo and blood draw.
Team Catron

Liver Biopsy

2010-05-07T17:18:00.000-07:00

Hello,
Today was Jesse's liver biopsy. We started at 8:30 this morning and got home at 4:30. All went well, she did not have any excessive bleeding, they just watched her for 4 hours after the procedure. She woke up in pain, but nothing a little morphine cant fix. Later on became nauseated and threw up on the way home. Luckily we had the grey magic bucket.
She will take it easy, and hopefully be able to eat and drink something later tonight. We will not have the results for another week, and more than likely start the new med to get rid of the Iron.
Have a Happy Mothers Day, I know I am blessed to have such a wonderful family.
Dee

Monthly Appt :(

2010-05-05T15:28:00.000-07:00

Hello,

Jesse had her monthly appointment today. For the most part all is good, she does not have Leukemia..YEA!! But, because of the 100 or so blood transfusions she has received, they have built up Iron in her body. Her levels are off the chart. A normal person would have about 100 count, Jesse has over 5,000. This is a problem, as it can settle in her heart and other places and cause problems. So, on Friday she will go under the knife again and have a liver biopsy to check the amount in her liver. They are 95% sure she will start on a medication to help rid her body of the extra iron. Jesse is very excited about once again going under anesthesia, she loves it. Hopefully this will be out patient, and she will not have to stay the night. We have a women's breakfast with the ladies at church, and would hate to miss that.

Have a wonderful Mother Day-

Love Team Catron

HAPPY 18TH BIRTHDAY JESSE

2010-04-30T09:27:00.000-07:00

Wish Ball 2010

2010-04-25T14:10:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,
Last night was a blast. We started the evening "walking the red carpet" and having our picture taken. As soon as we arrived, I was asked if I was "jesse"? Hmmm, How did they know. Then we went to the auction area, and I helped sell $100 teddy bears. Each bear had a key around its neck, and 1 opened a box with a $5,000 dollar necklace, that person would win. At 7:30 we went into the ballroom, WOW is was amazing. We where seated with 6 other guests, most where the original founders and members of Make A Wish. We got to see county artist Kevin Sharp, he sang a song he wrote about kids with illness and getting a wish. He was also a wish kid when he was in High School. After that, the auction started, and I had the diamond necklace on. I went up stage with the auctioneer, and she had me talk about my wish. So much for being shy and just blending in. Funny, they also introduced my parents, and they had to stand. Then I walked around the room showing the necklace as it was being auctioned. They received $2,700 for the necklace. Over all, a lot of money was raised to benefit the Make A Wish Foundation, and I was blessed to be a part of it.
Love Jesse

Make-A-Wish Ball

2010-04-23T14:52:00.000-07:00

Hey,
This saturday My dad mom and I were invited to the Make-A-Wish Ball. They would like me to wear a star pendant the has 50 diamonds on it. They also want me to walk around wearing it so the guest that are there can bid on it. I'm super excited but mostly nervous because I would rather blend into the crowd (Very Shy). Also excited we get to dress up and have a blast.

Last week my dad found a kitty in the ceiling at his work. It is only 5 weeks old so we have to bottle feed it. I didn't know how much work they were. For now I decided to call him Hudson but he is going to a cat rescue so it can be given to a foster home. We can keep it because my dad is allergic and McKenzie gets all rashy =P

Prom

2010-04-12T15:53:00.000-07:00

Hello Its Jesse =)

Saturday I went to prom with some friends and it was so much fun. I got all dolled up =) We rented a party bus but didn't really have a party on it. I learned how to 2 step but didn't really succeed at it. My dad tried to teach me so I would be a little prepared but it didn't really help =P It was a blast to be able to go out and just be with friends and have a good time.

We went to dinner and I managed not to throw-up on my date haha We went to Carrabas and I had an awesome Chicken caesar salad. My date was a really nice guy that my friend introduced me too.

Monthly Appointment

2010-04-07T20:32:00.000-07:00

Hello,
Jesse had her monthly appointment today. It started off pretty rocky. She was throwing up in the morning and continued to the hospital. They gave her zofran as soon as we got there, and that seemed to help. She got her normal IVIG, and added to bags of hydration in case she lost to much on the way. Jesse slept through the 5 hour appointment and then another 5 hours at home. Poor baby!!!
The good news is her blood is clean again :) Red & white blood cells look good. Her platelets are still only 86, but what do we expect from the national record holder for the slowest platelet recovery?
Jesse has been invited to the Millennium prom this Saturday. It took 2 days and 3 malls to find the perfect dress. She looks so pretty, we will post pics on Sunday.
Love Team Catron
P.S. if you read this Rebecca from Canada, can you email me. deecat777@yahoo.com

A Wonderful Family we met on the way...

2010-03-28T20:53:00.001-07:00

This is a picture of a great family we met in Maui. Rebecca was so kind to share a song on her Ipod with Clent and I as we where sitting by the pool. It was a great song by Casting Crowns. We later met her 4yr old son Samuel, he played with Mckenzie for many hours. Later that day at the airport, who do you think we saw in line. Yep, the whole family. We met her husband Adrian, and their other two sons Jesse and Hudson. After we all checked in our bags, we found an empty room and laid a quilt on the floor and played phase 10 until it was time for them to go back home to Canada. That beautiful family touched our hearts and our lives. Thank You :)
We are all back home safe and sound. The house is still in one piece, but I did notice a few extra weeds. Off to work for Clent and Dakota tomorrow. Jesse has a Dr appt. to try and adjust her estrogen and Kenzie back to school.
Thank you Make A Wish, we had a wonderful time enjoying each others company and being silly (most of the time) We are thankful for people and companies that give to a foundation that touches the lives of children and families who's lives have been devastated because of an illness.
Much Love,
Team Catron

Maui Ocean Center

2010-03-25T12:42:00.000-07:00

Aloha,
Yesterday we went to see the Maui Ocean Center. We saw many amazing sea creatures. I think the favorite was watching two people scuba with the sharks and sting rays. It seems the sharks were not very hungry, as the divers left the water with all their limbs attached.
Today we are just going to kick back in the room, and maybe a walk on the beach. The girls have rented a movie for later on.
2 More days left....
Love Team Catron

Surf'in USA

2010-03-23T11:45:00.000-07:00

Good Morning,
Everyone had a great time surfing yesterday. The girls and Clent received there instruction, and took off towards the waves. They all got up on the boards the first or second try. They all received many bumps and bruises from falling off in the knee deep water. Clent was taken out to the really big waves, and surfed his first one in about 100'. Mckenzie was really consistant riding almost everyone she tried. Dakota and Jesse had a little more trouble staying on the board, but where able to ride a few. The two hours proved to be more than enough time to tucker them out.
Today we are going to go see Alice in Wonderland and have a restful day. We are still contemplating taking the road to Hana. We are not sure we want to take a long ride, and dangerous one.
Enjoy the photos,
Team Catorn

Panic Mode

2010-03-21T18:55:00.000-07:00

Catron's reporting from sunny Maui,
We awoke this morning to Dakota coming into our room saying "Jesse cant breath!!" We jumped into panic mode, because last night at dinner, Jesse broke out in a rash, and all we could think was anaphylactic shock. Her upper chest hurt, and she could not get a deep breath. My first thought is anxiety. We gave her a drink and sent her out on the deck overlooking the ocean. This calmed her down, eased her breathing and all was fine. Jesse told us she had been this way for hours, so she did not think it could be anxiety, as she did not feel anxious. Anxiety is odd, and can show up even when you do not feel stressed or anxious. A few hours later her and Dakota went down to breakfast, arrived back at the room, Jesse got sick again and threw up. THis seems to be the normal routine. By afternoon, she is fine and continues to eat and drink. So, tonight she will not get the estrogen at all, and we will see how the morning goes.
Clent also has a rash all over his arms. This showed up last Wednesday. His arms are puffy and itchy, and nothing seems to be helping at all. I guess we should have taken up the offers of the nurses asking if they can come along :)
Tomorrow if all goes well, we are planning on surfing lessons. I will be sitting this one out, and have opted to take the photos instead.
Much Love,
Team Catron

ON TO THE WESTIN

2010-03-20T18:02:00.000-07:00

Hello from Maui!!
Yesterday Jesse again proved to e a Rock Star and lost her breakfast in her favorite bush. We have discovered that the Estrogen she is on makes her sick. She did not take one this morning and her food stayed down. She will start taking it at night, and hopefully will wake up felling great. Today we went Boogie Boarding in Kaanapali. Jesse made the statement "last year I could not walk, and today I am Boogie Boarding!" So true, we are very thankful for her recovery. We had a few good waves, and road them into the shore. We all ended up taking a lot of sand back with us to the room :) . Dakota missed out on the fun, she is sick and stayed in the room. Stuffy nose, dizzy and just not feeling well. Praying that she will feel better tomorrow.
Much Love, Team Catron

Trilogy/luau

2010-03-18T21:44:00.000-07:00

Aloha,
What a great time we are having on the island of Maui. Tuesday we went out on a Trilogy boat and went whale watching and snorkeling. To our surprise, Kenzie was the first one in. Clent opted for the snuba gear, and was able to go down 35' to get up close and personal with the fish. The girls all floated on the surface, safe from all the ocean predators. The next night, we went to was the Old Lahina luau. We had lots to eat, and a great show. To our surprise, the family sitting with us was also from Phoenix, then as we all shared our family info, we found out we where sitting with Brian Urlacker from the Chicago Bears. As Clents says, he is the "baddest guy on the planet" .
Jesse has had some pretty rough mornings. yesterday we had breakfast, and as soon as we jumped out of our car, Jesse threw up in the bushes. Jesse says she now officially feels like a "rock star". Today was the same, omitting the throw up. She felt sick and stayed in the room most of the day. She did feel much better in the afternoon. We all went to Hard Rock Cafe for dinner, and took many crazy photos along the way.
Clent is being eyed everywhere we go. Many think he is the WWE wrestler Stone Cold, other know he must be famous, but cant decide who he is.
Well, tomorrow we check out of the Hyatt, and into the Westin-More great times ahead.
Much Love,
Team Caron

Zippppppppp

2010-03-16T17:32:00.000-07:00

Aloha,
What a great day yesterday was. We all went ziplining through the tropical jungle. We had great guides that made the experience so much fun. The girls raced side by side to see who could get to the bottom the fastest. It was a lot of exercise climbing up the walkways to get to the top of each one. Jesse did great, and never even seemed out of breath.
Love Team Catron

ALOHA!!

2010-03-14T19:55:00.000-07:00

Aloha everyone, We have made it to Maui!! The girls got a kick out of taking a limo to the airport, we arrived in the nick of time. It took 25 min just to check in the bags, and another 30 through the strip search. We made it to the gate with just minutes to spare. (Arrived in Catron style) The first day is nice and sunny with a gentle breeze. We spent the day at the pool getting wet and going down the water slide a few times. We have already seen many whales and dolphins, just driving down the road next to the coast line. Jesse was excited to finally dunk herself underwater, I dont believe she has done that since Oct of 08'. It was joyful for Clent and I to watch her run (stumble) on the beach and let the wave take her into shore. Tomorrow we will be going ziplining!! We are all very excited. More pics to post later!!
Much Love,
Team Catron reporting from Maui

Getting Ready for Maui

2010-03-03T20:36:00.000-08:00

Today was an exciting day. Make a Wish came to our home to present Jesse with her wish. She arrived with Lei's for the family, a tropical fruit tray, and our itinerary for the trip. We will be going ziplining, snorkeling, & a Luau. We cannot believe what a gift Make a Wish has given to us. It was such a long journey going through Jesse's treatments, and here we are packing our bags for a trip of a lifetime. We will be leaving on the 13th, and found out that a limo will be picking us up at home to take us to the airport. Wow, we feel so spoiled :) We will post many picks through out our stay in Maui, the girls are known to take 100's of silly photos, mostly of themselves, in the car, on the plane, in the airport, I think you get the picture......
Jesse has an appt on Wednesday the 10th, for a check up and IVIG. Praying that her blood remains clean and everything is as it should be.
Nick & Lindsay, our oldest, will be having a baby boy tomorrow, his name will be Caden. We are excited to be grandparents again. We wish that Lindsay, Nick, Malea and now baby Caden lived closer so we could do all the things grandparents are suppose to do to annoy their kids :)
Much Love,
Team Catron

Got My Permit!!!

2010-02-23T11:19:00.000-08:00

Hey its Jesse =)

Yesterday I got my permit!!!! I drove my moms Hummer from my old house to the new house and it was sooo scary! But my mom said I did a great job. At the moment I am looking for a job and car hunting.

Hawaii is coming up so fast we are leaving in less than 3 weeks =) I can not wait to go and chill on the beach all day!

Thx for all of your prayers =)

Jesse

Cardiologist News

2010-02-17T19:46:00.000-08:00

Hello,
More great news to report. Jesse's heart has reached normal function (with heart meds) but still a huge improvement. When she left the hospital last June, she was in heart failure. We are very excited to have such good news. Dr. Jedeikin has given Jesse the green light to do whatever she would like in Hawaii, concerning her cardiac function. He does not want to see her for another 3 months.
We are busy packing once again. We are moving back into our house that we left last April. Needless to say, much needs to be done when a house is unlived in for a year. The algea had to be removed with a snow shovel once the water was drained. A few rodents where found floating, but mostly green gook. The 27th is out official move in date.
Have a wonderful rest of the week,
Team Catron

Another Great Report

2010-02-09T14:07:00.000-08:00

Hello,
We are happy to say, that Jesse's CT scan showed tiny tiny tiny nodules, and the doctors are taking her off the medication that she was taking for that. This should give her liver a nice rest. Her blood work came out clean again, and she is still recovering nicely.
A new concern is Jesse's HOT flashes. She heats up like a little stove, about 10 times a day. They are waiting for her hormone levels to come in, to see if her levels are off.
Other than that, she feels great, and is looking forward to working tomorrow.
Much Love,
Team Catron

Quick Update

2010-02-05T13:07:00.001-08:00

Hello,
Jesse is doing fine. We have an appt on Monday for a CT scan of her lungs. They are hoping the nodules she had are gone, and will no longer need the V-Fend medication. She has her Doctors appt on Tuesday for IVIG and the routine check of her blood.
Make a Wish has finalized Jesse's wish, we will be going to Maui on March 13th. YEA!! She was able to choose two excursions, and picked zip lining and a catamaran ride with snorkeling. Both should be very exciting.
She has found a seasonal job at Edibles Fruit arrangements. She will be working for 4 days right before Valentines. She is excited, and we are all hoping she holds out working 32 hours.
We will update on Tuesday with all the Dr results.
Love,
Team Catron

Happy Days!!

2010-01-17T15:36:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone,
Another great check up for Jesse. Her hemoglobin has remained at 11, her platelets are the same, still low, but holding. Best of all, she remains Leukemia FREE!!!! What joy to hear those words. Her appointments will be scheduled every month now.
Jesse and Mckenzie are doing another Fashion show this coming week. They will be modeling the the amazing fashions from the Garage Boutique. The show will be held at the Barrett Jackson auto show this Wednesday night at 6:00pm.
Have a great week,
Team Catron

Best Check Up Ever

2009-12-30T16:17:00.000-08:00

Hello,
We have been blessed with great information today. The last time Jesse received blood was Dec. 4th. Her visit today showed that her hemoglobin level is at 11.3 !! Amazing. No blood transfusion, This is the first time in over a year that she did not need someone else's blood, she is finally making her own. Her platelets are also up from 56 to 76, that is a big jump. Tomorrow she will be having an echo on her heart, she does that once a month. We are praying for some more great news.
We all had a great time in Oregon, visiting family and friends. The weather was sunny most of the time, but still much to cold for this Arizona group. It did start snowing in Portland 2 hours before the plane was ready to take off, which delayed it another 1 1/2 hours while they removed the ice from the plane. I was really hoping they also remembered to remove the ice from the runway. We are all back to work, but enjoying the memories of Christmas vacation.
Much Love,
Team Catron

Traveling to Oregon

2009-12-20T19:46:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone,
We headed off to Oregon on Thursday. First off while we are still at home waiting to go to the airport, Jesse doesnt feel so well, and throws up her breakfast. Shortly after that, we head to the airport, all seems pretty good. As we are waiting to board, Jesse starts feeling sick again, and gets a panic attack boarding the plane. Upon entering the door of the plane, I motion to Clent to get a sick bag just incase. Well, good thing- Jesse throws up her entire walk down the isle of the plane to the back where our seats are. You could see the faces of the other passengers as she walks by (please dont let her sit by me) One guy actually looked like he was going to get sick, watching her get sick. So finally in our seats, she sips a little water to try and hydrate. During out 2 1/2 hour flight, she begins to feel a little better. Finally the plane lands, we walk off, and Dakota gets her to the bathroom, where she again throws up. At this point, we are worried about dehydration, and her heart being at a high altitude and her blood thinning. We decide to call airport EMT's to take a look at her. They arrive, take her blood pressure and oxygen level, and all seems good. Off we go to Astoria. We had a great time clam digging, and just hanging out. Time for more drama, Dakota wakes up, and heard her neck crack at 4:00 am. So, not knowing if she has a bone out of whack, off to emergency clinic, I am sure Jesse was pleased as punch it was not her we where taking. Dakota pulled the muscles in her neck, and was promised a few days of little neck movement.
Today was a good day, Jesse ate and drank without getting sick, and Dakota's neck is feeling better. I am sure my mom feels like she is now living in an urgent care clinic. We still have plans to get back down to the beach, climb the Astoria Column and do some more sight seeing.
Hope everyone had a great weekend,
Blessings-Team Catron

Getting Ready for Oregon

2009-12-13T18:43:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone,
Jesse is doing well-Her last appointment, she just needed IVIG (immune booster). All of her levels where great, and we are hoping they stay that way throughout our vacation to Oregon. We will be leaving the 17th, and returning on the 29th. We already have her return appointments lined up for a possible blood transfusion, Echo of her heart and Doctor followups. Again we are battling the insurance program from the state. Her coverage ends again on Jan 1st. We have to have $20K in outstanding monthly medical bills to qualify. That is really hard to do considering the state was paying 100%. It is a catch 22 that is really unreasonable. Sounds like an extended stay at Phoenix Childrens Hospital may be in order for her to continue to receive her meds and blood transfusions.
Jesse is somewhat relieved to not have Kenya. She had forgotten what a tough job a new puppy is. Kenya went to a wonderful organization called Amazing Aussies. They specialize in placing special need Aussies, and will give her the confidence she is lacking to become a great pet one day.
Have a great week,
Team Catron

My Baby Kenya

2009-12-08T16:09:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone its Jesse.
Today was a very tough day. This morning my mom had taken Kenya out to the bathroom and I called her upstairs and I noticed her eye looked really odd and was dilated and all foggy. We took her into the vets office and he said that she is blind. So we are trying to find an Aussie rescue that deals with blind Aussies and see if they will take her. I am so sad and just heart broken that I have to give her up, but I know that I am not able to train a blind dog. I know that they will love her and be able to train her. My life just keeps getting better and better every day.

Jesse

National Record

2009-11-30T09:39:00.000-08:00

Hello,
Jesse had her appt last Wednesday. We found out that she tied the National Record for the slowest platelet recovery. She finally has enough to go to the dentist and fill some cavities. Jesse has been feeling nauseous most mornings, today it was bad enough that she threw up. Not sure what is going on, but seems to feel a little better mid-day. Back in on the 9th for another appt. IVIG and most likely 2 units of blood. They need to fill her up before our 13 day visit in Oregon. Jesse is keeping busy trying to keep Kenya out of trouble. We really realize now what a good boy Jericho really is....
Much Love,
Team Catron

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAKOTA JO !!

2009-11-24T08:06:00.000-08:00

Our baby is 19 today !! Oh how time flies by. Parents of little ones, enjoy every second of every day, before you know it, they will have one foot out the door, heading to start their own lives. We have been blessed with 4 wonderful girls, who we are very proud of.

High School Graduate

2009-11-20T11:10:00.000-08:00

Congrats to Jesse, she has graduated High School!!! Her GPA is 3.7 and with everything that has happen the past year, she still has graduated early. We are so proud of her.
Her appt on Wednesday was fine. They where worried about high potassium, but it is at a normal level. She continues to have to take magnesium and potassium, as her kidney's are "stupid" per Dr. Boklan. Her platelets are really low, and have dropped since last week, they are just at 42. She bruises really easy, and it may be the HHV6virus that keeps hanging in there. She is still not being medicated for that, they Dr's are just hoping her body will start to fight it as her ANC rises.
Have a Blessed weekend,
Love Team Catron

New Addition to the Family

2009-11-18T09:05:00.000-08:00

Good Morning,
Jesse had a very exciting long awaited day yesterday. She received her new puppy, Kenya. Kenya is a female Australian Shepherd. She is a Black Tri with blue eyes. Jesse has plans of getting Jericho and Kenya together in about a year. They should produce some pretty puppies with blue eyes. As soon as Clent and Jesse got home, Kenya bolted out of the truck and ran. Clent was in the house, so Jesse had to chase her. Jesse does not have the muscle or balance yet to take off running, but did her best to finally catch her a block away in a cul de sac. That was a huge emotional and adreneline rush, she just didn't need. All is fine with a little rest.
Jesse is doing well, she goes in tomorrow to check her blood. She seems to be getting a little high on potassium, so that will be watched closely. She had her echo and ekg last week. Her heart remains at the bottom of normal. She will have her first dental visit in a year on monday. During her 10 month hospital stay, she was not allowed to brush her teeth, just gently sponge them.
Have a great weekend,
Love Team Catron

2009-11-10T08:15:00.001-08:00

Jesse on Fox News for Fashion Week

2009-11-03T12:43:00.000-08:00

ANC 2500

2009-10-29T10:59:00.000-07:00

Good Morning,
Jesse had her appt yesterday. Since her broviac was taken out, she knew she would have to receive her meds through an IV. She used a cream to numb her arm, so the pain would not be so bad. Jesse was expecting the worse, and to her surprise, the IV went in painless!! She received IVIG (immune globulin) and Pentamidine (protection from pnemonia). All went well, and we where out of there in 6 hours.
Her next appt is in just a week, as her hemoglobin is 10.2. She may need a unit of blood by then, unless her body kicks in and makes it. Jesse has not had a transfusion in 3 weeks.

Jesse has been choosen to be featured in a runway event for Scottsdale Fashion Week Nov 7th. The Garage childrens store will be putting on the event to raise funds for Make A Wish Foundation. They will be outfitting Jesse, along with bringing in a makeup artist and hair stylist and runway coach for her. Jesse is very excited to do her first runway event!! We will post photos and video sometime after Nov 7th.
Have a great weekend,
Love Team Catron

The Broviac is out!

2009-10-16T13:07:00.000-07:00

Good morning to all of Jesse's followers,

Dee and I took Jesse in today to get her Broviac taken out. Amazing how many memories that Hospital brings back as you are sitting in the waiting room waiting for the Doctor to come out and tell you everything is OK. For a surgery that was to take only a short time the amount of time we sat and waited seemed like hours (half hour really). But the longer the time went by the more all the possible problems seem more likely to happen. They had to give her two bags of Platelets to ensure her blood would clot from the incision. So what if her blood was having a hard time clotting. And her heart is still not good. She is at the bottom of normal (whatever that is). We just had to hold hands and trust the Lord that he had her covered. I am sorry to say (and partly ashamed) that is not always as easy as it should be when it's your baby in on the table. She came out all right though. When she was waking up from the Anaesthesia she had an anxiety attack and was breathing really hard and crying. I had never seen her like that before after going under so many times. I don't know if Dee's and my voice, trying to calm her down, made it better or worse but the nurse gave her something to calm her down that put her back to sleep for a little while.

A year ago tomorrow we were admitting her. Our hearts were broken (and in our throats) getting the news. I still remember that Dee and I drove home to try to get a quick nap after being up with Jesse for over a day when we admitted her and walked in the house and sat on the couch crying for an hour then went back to the hospital because we couldn't stand being away. Dee and I have always been very close with the girls. This experience has drawn us all so much closer. The caring from Dakota, Lindsay, and McKenzie for their sister is stuff you don't always see. It's the kind of love they make "chick flicks" out of. And they are my girls. How very proud I am of all my girls. How thankful I am to Dee for the way she has raised our babies.

Tomorrow we have decided to get Jesse a ring, with a diamond in the middle, that for the next five years she can add a "small" diamond on the sides to celebrate each October 17th because she is still healthy and to remind her that we love her very much.

I want to personally thank everyone that checks in on Jesse and our Family. It is amazing what technology has done for being able to talk to so many people and the love and affection it has brought back to my family. Thank you all so much.

Have a great day and God bless you all

2013 ANC

2009-10-14T13:22:00.000-07:00

Good Morning,

Today is Jesse's weekly appointment at PCH. Her Anc went up 700 points from 1300 to 2000. That is great news, as it shows she is making bone marrow. Her platelets are rising slowly, but not enough to get the flu shot. She will have her next appointment in 2 weeks. If her platelets are not at 50, they will transfuse her so she can get her depovara shot and she can also get the flu shot at that point.

Friday is the big mile stone for Jesse. She will be getting her broviac out!!! She is so excited to not have those tubes hanging from her chest. She will be able to shower (and really get wet)or take a bath. The down side is, any meds or transfusions will have to be done through a arm IV. Jesse is more than willing to endure a little pain in place of the broviac.

Our trip to Prescott, was nice and cool. A huge thank you to Gary and Liz for opening their guest home to us. We had fun just walking around town, seeing a movie and just hanging out.

Thank you for all who continue to pray for Jesse, to keep her body clear of Leukemia !!

Much Love,

Team Catron

Now, This is Recovery !!

2009-10-01T11:29:00.000-07:00

Hello,

Jesse had her weekly appointment yesterday. Her blood and marrow is making a recovery. Again, she did not need a blood transfusion, and they can tell from the sample of blood that she has started to make her own. Her white blood count went up as did her platelets. They have scheduled her broviac to be taken out on Oct 16th. Jesse was disappointed with the late date, but we reminder her that it WILL be coming out. I offered to remove it for her, but she declined. Hmm go figure :)

Jesse and I are off this weekend to Bison Ranch to a womens retreat for some much needed R&R with the ladies from church. We also went last year around this time, and did not know that Jesse had Leukemia. When we think back, we remember that she was tired that weekend with headaches. Little did we know her Red & white blood cells were so low, as were her platelets. A week later is when the year long journey began.

We are so thankful that Jesse is improving daily and able to feel somewhat normal again.

Much Love,

Team Catron

Day of Blessing

2009-09-23T10:45:00.000-07:00

Good Morning, As most of you know, we have been waiting for this day to have Jesse's blood drawn and check her white blood cells. We get this done every week, but the last 4 weeks, her counts have been very low, which means her bone marrow is not being made. We waited patiently for the blood count to come back, and Dr Boklan was nothing but smiles as she delivered the news. Jesse's White blood cell count is up from 1.0 to 1.7. This is not in the normal range of 4.0 - 12.0, but it is an upward trend. Her red blood cell count held at 12.0 which means no blood transfusion. This is the first time we have gone in, and she did not need blood. She has been scheduled to have the broviac removed early October, as long as next Wednesday everything still looks good. Jesse is so excited, she was grinning ear to ear.

We do have an appointment tomorrow morning with the cardiologist. She will have an echo and EKG to check the strength of her heart. We are praying for equally great news.

Thank you everyone for your prayers for Jesse and our family through this difficult year. We are so thankful for the peace that passes understanding. It has been such a blessing to feel calmness even though we have faced such devastating news week after week for almost an entire year. We have refreshed hope and a shiny new tomorrow.

Much Love,

Team Catron

Dakota's dream

2009-09-20T20:14:00.000-07:00

Hello,

This is an update for Dakota. She applied at Starbucks over 4 months ago. She was very persistent going in everyday, and letting them know she really wanted to work there. With all the cut backs, hiring was at a minimum. About a month ago, she started college full time and stopped pursuing Starbucks. On Friday, they called and hired her to begin on Monday. She is so excited to be a "partner" at her favorite coffee house. I am sure we will be stopping in regularly to place an order and harass her best we can.

Jesse is doing great, after 11 months, she finally has an appetite. She is eating full meals and snacks along with 80-100 oz of liquid a day. We will be going in for her appointment on Wednesday. If her white blood cells are on the rise, she will be scheduled to finally have the broviac taken out of her chest. If she shows no improvement, she is scheduled to have a bone marrow sample taken to check and be sure the Leukemia has not returned. We will be updating the blog Wednesday afternoon with that information.

Have a blessed week, Team Catron

Feeling Better

2009-09-16T13:30:00.000-07:00

Today we are in outpatient for the weekly visit. Jesse has had a few bad days, vomiting and not eating at all. She bounced back on Tuesday, and felt completely normal and ate and drank all day. Her ANC is still low, only 430 (normal range is 6,000 - 10,000) and her platelets are at 10 (normal range is 140-450). Dr. Boklan is giving her one more week and hoping all the numbers come up. If not, she is scheduled for the bone marrow sample on Wednesday. Dr. Boklan still thinks the low numbers are from the med she was receiving for the HHV6 virus. Today she is receiving IVIG and 2 units of blood.

We have plans for a family getaway to Prescott, AZ the first weekend in October. Matt's Uncle Gary and Aunt Lizzie have opened up their beautiful guest house for us to stay in. Jesse has been there several times in the past with Matt's family. They always talk about how much fun they have and the scenic views. We are all excited to go and will pack our boots and jackets. (hoping for really cool weather).

Have a blessed week, Team Catron

Feeling Groovy

2009-09-10T09:00:00.000-07:00

Good Morning,

This is our weekly update, since Jesse just goes in once a week for labs and a check up.

First, she has gained 3 lbs since last week. She achieved this by wearing a really heavy sweatshirt and boots. Not really, she actually gained 3 lbs. She has been eating food and drinking weight gaining shakes all week. Most of her counts remain the same. Which is not great, but better than them falling farther. Her platelets are still really low, at only 8, so she received a transfusion. Her hemoglobin really was good at 10, but they gave her a bag of blood anyway to last the week. Her white blood cells are still .9, which is also really low. Those they cannot transfuse. Dr Boklan really thinks that the low counts are just from the HHV6 med that she was taking, and her counts should recover next week. If they do not recover in two weeks, they will take a bone marrow sample to make sure she has not relapsed.

If all is good next week, they will schedule to have her broviac taken out really soon.

Jesse's hair is growing, she wears it in a cute faux hawk. She is happy to be able to run her hands through her hair and actually grab some. It is coming in very thick, wavy and darker than we remember her having. She has finally stopped wearing a wig and rocks her new do.

Have a great rest of the week,

Team Catron

Dropping ANC

2009-09-02T13:10:00.000-07:00

Hello,

Today is Jesse's weekly outpatient visit. At first, Dr. Boklan was excited with Jesse's progress with drinking and not needing all the extra meds. After the blood work came back, she was not so excited. Jesse's ANC has dropped to 595. This she thinks is because of the med they are using to fight the HHV6 virus. Her platelets are also down to just 10. This next week they are stopping the HHV6 med completely. Their hope is that she will start making bone marrow again, and be able to fight the virus on her own. Tomorrow we will come back in for blood and platelets.

Hawaii for October is not going to happen, there are just to many unknowns with Jesse's chemistry.

On a good note, Jesse is off the night hydration bag for this week. They are letting her hydrate herself by drinking over 100 oz of liquid everyday. They are also changing the last IV med to pill form. So, for now this is the first time since OCT 17th, that Jesse will not have to be hooked up at anytime during the day for meds.

Jesse's weight continues to be a problem. She really tried this last week to eat, she was getting about 1700 calories a day. This is not enough, she lost another 2 lbs, she is down to 121lbs. We are going to try some weight gain drinks twice a day along with the normal food she is eating.

Jesse has come such a long way, I hate to see her going backwards at this point. Even though her counts are low, she is feeling great and enjoying being home.

Much Love, Team Catron

Once a week

2009-08-26T14:44:00.000-07:00

Hello,

We are in outpatient today. Dr Boklan has begun to schedule out appointments just once a week. Her medications are beginning to be reduced. The HHV6 virus med will go to once a day. It is suppressing her bone marrow, so she is not able to get her white blood cell count up for immunity. Hopefully this will help, and not let the virus take over and become a bigger problem. They are taking her off one heart med. We will just watch her blood pressure closely this week. Her night hydration down to 1000 ml instead of 1800 ml. If Jesse continues to drink, the following week she will have no hydration at night. If she remains hydrated through the day, the following week her Broviac will come out!!! Jesse has been waiting for this day for a very long time. She will be able to swim, shower and take a bath. If she needs any IV blood or other med, they will do an arm IV. Most importantly, it is still looking good for her Make a Wish vacation to Hawaii in October. Her anti fungal med will go back to pill form, eliminating the last IV med.

Jesse still has nausea problems in the morning, and we found out today, that the hospital cafeteria causes nausea and anxiety. Appetite remains a struggle, but it seems to be mind over matter. We are excited with Jesse's progress, and it seems she is getting some of her spunk back. Please continue to pray for a complete recovery and a huge appetite.

Much Love, Team Catron

Eating Again

2009-08-21T19:13:00.000-07:00

Pic of Jesse looking at artwork two little girls made for her

Hello,

Jesse is off to a good start again. Her cough is much less, and she is feeling much better. Her blood counts are going back up as the cold leaves her body.

We did get awesome news yesterday. The results of the bone marrow test show still NO LEUKEMIA !!! What great news. We just need to keep working on the damaged organs in her body from the chemo. We just pray that she will have complete healing. Jesse often says that she cant remember what it feels like to be normal.It has been so long since she just had a normal day without an IV pole, or a cup full of meds. One day Soon.

Much Love,

Team Catron

Cardiologist Today

2009-08-18T20:39:00.000-07:00

Hello,

Jesse has been really sick. She has a horrible cough, that just wont let up. She coughs so hard, that she vomits. So, the last 4 days she has had minimal food. They cannot give her TPN (IV Food) because her billirubin level has increased, which is a sign of liver problems. We were able to get a prescription for codine cough syrup, which helps for a little while. Today she was able to eat a little more. We did have an appt. today with her cardiologist in Scottsdale. Jesse has been blacking out, and the Dr's at PCH thought it was just low hemoglobin. She blacked out again on Sunday, had her hemoglobin checked on Monday, and it wasn't low. So, we new it was a heart issue. He wants to stop her blood pressure med because she more than likely does not have high blood pressure since she has been done with chemo for a few months. So, when we give her the med it dips to low, and she blacks out. We will do a follow up appt in 5 weeks.

We have an out patient appt tomorrow morning, to check her levels. Hopefully she has started to make her own red blood cells and wont need another transfusion. She has been making a few platelets, which is a good sign of recovery.

Please continue to pray for Jesse's health, and for the rest of the family to endure the trials of recovery as we come along side Jesse and help her in every way we can.

Much Love, Team Catron

DIAMONDBACKS !!!

2009-08-13T12:02:00.000-07:00

Wow, what a great day we had at the Diamondbacks game. It started off with a really long walk from parking to the admin building. (to much for Jesse) Once we arrived, they whisked Jesse off with two other boys to the field. There they went to the dug out and met Miguel Montero #26. He gave Jesse an autographed bat. (to cool) then they took the field and were on the Jumbo Screen. Then she got a hat autographed by Mark Reynolds #27. After that, we all went to the Suite. Amazing!!! We had our own room with a full buffet and really important our own bathroom :). What great seats, and the royal treatment. Thank you PCH and Caps for Kids.

Jesse has her outpatient appt. tomorrow morning, and another one with the cardiologist on Tuesday. They may need to change her heart med, as she has maxed out the one she is on. Other then that, she is eating really well, and feels good after her blood transfusion.

Have a great day,

Team Catron

Need to be ReFueled

2009-08-11T07:44:00.000-07:00

................................. MANY MOONS AGO

Good Morning,

Jesse's day started out pretty good, but by mid-afternoon, she did not feel well. Shortly after the ill feeling, she started to black out. Since Jesse was on a mission to do her laundry, she just kept doing it through the haze. Minutes later we where on our way to the hospital to find out what was causing the ill feeling and black out. My first thought is always her heart, but fortunately, it was a low hemoglobin. Friday she was at a level 11, and by Monday it dipped to 8. That is a lot to lose in just 3 days. So, we are off this morning to get a transfusion and regenerate her.

She really is eating well, and drinking most of the liquid that is required of her. Hopefully soon, she will be diving into the pool without the broviac!!

Have a great day,

Love Team Catron

Out Patient Today

2009-08-07T14:32:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,

Today was Jesse's outpatient appt. She received her weekly IVIG med, and nothing else (that's a first). We met with Dr. Boklan and went over her blood reports. All her electrolytes look good, and she held on to her blood and made a few platelets. We will have to schedule and appt with the cardiac specialist, as her last echo shows her heart function has decreased (not good). They may have to change her heart med, as she is already at the max dose.

Dr. Boklan also told Jesse that if she would drink 4 bottles of liquid a day, she will be close to getting her broviac taken out. Getting Jesse to drink that much will not be so easy. You can lead the child to water, but you cant make her drink :)

Wednesday we will be going to the Diamond Back baseball game. Thank to PCH for some great seats!!

Have a great weekend,

Team Catron

Going Home

2009-08-03T16:46:00.000-07:00

We have the OK to go home tomorrow. Jesse just finished up an Echo of her heart, she will get a bag of blood tonight, and tomorrow should be quick and easy. Jesse is off pain meds completely, but will have to stay on TPN, because her food intake is not much. She will continue with all of her other meds, but they are trying to get them all oral meds. This will give jesse more freedom at home not being contected to the pump.

Kenzie started the 4th grade this morning at Palm Valley Elementary. She said she had a great day, and made a few friends. It is hard to believe our baby is getting so old.

Have a great week-Team Catron

On The Mend

2009-07-30T22:07:00.001-07:00

Hello, Day two after surgery. Jesse was able to get out of bed and use the bathroom (no more bedpan). They Drs. want her to take short walks, to work the air out of her stomach. (They blow it up to operate) She was able to eat a few grapes today and water. Tomorrow we are hoping for more food.

Insurance was approved through access today :) However, so far they are only going back to July 1st. The bigggg bills go back to May, so we are hoping that they will reconsider. This means that Jesse can now get her meds at home. Not sure when she will discharge, my bet is a few more days. All of her meds are now oral, so no more lengthy water bolis or IV meds. She may still have hydration during the night. It just might feel kinda normal, I really think we have forgotten what normal really is....

Happy days for Jesse, can't wait to get her home and snuggled into her own bed.

Much Love-Team Catron

Still in ICU

2009-07-29T08:48:00.000-07:00

...This is a picture of Jesse's eyes she took with a program on the computer yesterday.
Good Morning, Thank you all for your continued prayers for Jesse. The outpouring of love has been tremendous.

They will be moving her to the second floor later this afternoon to complete her recovery. She is still feeling nauseous and they are giving her Demeral for the pain.

The surgery: The surgeon said that is went really well. They decided to have two surgeons present, instead of one resident because of the possible complications. Her platelets where so low, that they infused her non-stop to avoid internal bleeding. They monitored that all night. When they did get in to take out the gallbladder, they saw that her liver was dark in color and swollen, along with a swollen spleen. We know that her liver is damaged from all the chemo and drugs she is continuously on, but we do not know if it will heal on its own or if this is a problem for the future.

She is in a lot of pain at the sight of the incisions. They made three cuts across her stomach, and one more at the bellybutton. She has not been able to get up, or really move at all. We are becoming experts at the bedpan :) She started her morning throwing up the bile that was left in her stomach, which of course was painful on her stomach.

We should have an answer tomorrow regarding the insurance, as it must be processed by the end of July per the admission department.

Good News!!! Her HHV6 copies are down from 50,000 to 8,400. This is great news, considering she has been on the new med for just a few days. This can also be taken by mouth, so that will be easy at home. The down side is, the drug she is on can damage her liver and kidneys more than the foscarnet she was on before. We just pray that her immune system will kick in and take care of it on its own.

Have a great day :)

Love Team Catron

Surgery Today

2009-07-28T09:12:00.000-07:00

Good Morning,

Please keep Jesse in your prayers today, she will be having her gallbladder removed today at 4:00. They have been infusing her with platelets yesterday and all day today. Her platelets are really low from all the chemo, and it is essential to clot her blood during and after the surgery. From what I understand, she will be in the surgery for 2 hours.

Still nothing new on the insurance, but everyone is working hard on it.

Much Love,

Team Catron

End of week Three

2009-07-26T07:57:00.000-07:00

Good morning to all of Jesse's friends and family,

Today is the last day of week three of captivity for Jes. Maybe if she is lucky she will come home some time in week four. I sure hope so. It was part of "His" plan though that Jesse would have a stay in the Hospital. They have found that the meds she was taking for the HHV6 virus was not working so they have to try something else. This is a deadly virus and is to be taken serious. We would have never know this if she was home.

The doctors still don't know when they are taking Jesse's Gall Bladder out. They are leaning towards Tuesday.

Jesse's hair is coming back thick. She has a solid head of stubs every where and it feels soft. We took 3 walks yesterday. We went down to get some gum at the gift store but is was closed so we walked all the way back to the room. That is a lot of exercise for Jes and she has to rest after that.

We had a movie marathon yesterday. Three movies one after the next. We did take our walks in between just to stretch out. I think the longer you lay in bed the worse you feel. At least that is how it works on me.

Jesse had biscuits and gravy for breakfast this morning. Jesse was half way done and started coughing which caused her to throw it up. I was half way done with my sandwich and I lost my appetite. She doesn't feel nauseous but the coughing causes throwing up. She feels fine now and will have something else later.

That's the latest and greatest for my baby today. The ANC count isn't back yet. Just sitting with her though she says she feels fine and I can't tell you all how happy that makes me.

Have a great Sunday

Dad

Surgery

2009-07-23T08:50:00.000-07:00

Good Morning, Jesse is still in the hospital. Her blood pressure is no longer under control, it is rising. Her feet are swollen again, and her billirubin is on the rise. She will be having surgery to remove her gall bladder very soon. We hope that many problems will be fixed by taking it out. Jesse continues to eat very well, and is in good spirits even though she feels stuck in the hospital. We are hoping the insurance issues will be resolved next week. She has been having friends visit her, and it seems to be keeping her mind off the fact that she is not home. Tonight I think Matt will be staying with her, that should bring a special smile to her beautiful face.

Much Love,

Team Catron

Normal bone marrow !!!

2009-07-18T12:58:00.000-07:00

Hi to all of Jesse's friends and family,

Today is definitely a day to rejoice. Her bone marrow results have come back at 4% blasts. Anything at 5% or less is considered normal. The "blasts" are most likely baby bonemarrow. However, we will have to check and make sure that those will be reviewed further to make sure none of them are Leukemia. Well...Jesse is not considered normal but that is still great news. We are now waiting for Infection Disease Control to see if they will lift the quarantine so she can run free through the halls and go to the cafeteria for chow. There isn't much to do while we wait for the Access insurance to kick in. Just mess with each other and tell stories. We can go home when the insurance coverage starts.

Jesse has an appetite now which is cool. She will be off of TPN now so all of the nutrition she gets will have to come from her eating and drinking. Spending time with her it great. I have been working marathon hours and days and have little time to spend with her...or the rest of the girls. The hard part is over now and when Jesse comes home there will be a little more normality to our lives.

Thanks to everyone for writing into Jesse and following her story. She is smiling now and getting back to her funny little personality. Her hair is coming back in fast and thick. My baby is getting well. I can't tell everyone just how that makes me feel. The words just can't cover it.

Have a great day and thanks again for the thoughts and prayers

Can you say CARAMEL LATTE

2009-07-15T10:05:00.000-07:00

Today has started out to be great. Jesse woke up, and pleaded to go down stairs for breakfast and coffee. They let her go as long as she wore gloves and a mask. So Jesse had scrambled eggs and a caramel latte. Her spirits improved tremendously!!! We are still waiting on the Insurance company to send the final letter that the Insurance max has been met. From there, we are still unsure about getting meds at home. We are hoping to get some answers by Friday.

Feelin' good

2009-07-11T10:48:00.000-07:00

Good Morning,
Jesse is feeling pretty good. She got up, put on her makeup, and she walked downstairs. We also brought the wheelchair in case she got tired. We went outside (above pic) saw the sites around the hospital. What an improvement from yesterday. We wanted to stop in and see our little friend Michael, but he is on possible chicken pox quarantine, so we where not able to. No news on the bone marrow, it takes about a week. I cannot imagine being stuck in here just because of insurance. It could realistically take up to 3 weeks. We will have to figure out a way to either get her meds, or get her off the meds.
Have a great weekend,
Team Catron

Poor Jess!!!

2009-07-10T10:13:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,

Although Jess's biopsy and the rest of yesterday went somewhat well, I wish I could say the same for this morning. She has thrown up three times and has cried most of the time. She wants so much to come home.
I just hope more than anything that she will realize that just because she has to stay here for the nights to be able to get the medication and fluids she needs, that does not mean that she can't make the most of each day and just roam around the hospital and what not.
Please pray that God will open her eyes and make her feel that she can do more that just lay in bed and feel like someone trapped in a jail cell. Please also pray that she will regain an appetite while she's in here, I don't think the TPN is making her feel very well.
Thank you very much!
~Kota~

Bone Marrow Biopsy Today

2009-07-09T10:12:00.000-07:00

Good Morning,

Jesse will be going down for a bone marrow biopsy today at 12:00. This will tell us if the 5 rounds of chemo have worked and she is still in remission. Jesse has not really eaten much in the last 3 days, so she will be starting up again on TPN for 65% of her daily nutrition needs. Hopefully she will feel better and start eating again. Her billirubin is near normal again, and all her other liver function look normal again. Jesse will be getting her gall bladder removed in 2-4 weeks. She has sludge from all the chemo and gall stones that will continue to give her problems. Many times the gall bladder causes nausea when it needs to be removed, we are hoping this is the case with Jesse. I am sure she is ready to be free of nausea and eat, eat, eat. For now we are still stuck here while Blue cross processes the last hospital stay billing and would release any funds we might have left to get home meds. If all the funds are used up, then we will have to wait for Access to take over the medical bills, then she would be able to go home.

Much Love, Team Catron

ANC 3600

2009-07-07T09:43:00.000-07:00

Good Morning,

Yesterday we were admitted back to the hospital. Jesse is very jaundice, and they need to find out why. They originally thought she would have a blockage in her gallbladder, but that is not the case. Her billirubin count was very high, and the extra shows yellow in her eyes and skin. Today her count is a little lower, but still much higher than normal. She has already had a CT scan, EKG, Echo and Ultra sound. Results should be coming in shortly. We know that we will be stuck here until Access Insurance approves our application for coverage. (about 2 weeks) There is no other way to get Jesse's daily medications at home without insurance coverage.

Today is also mine and Clents 19th anniversary. I must say it has been an exciting 19 years. We have been able to live in many different places (some not so special) and have had the pleasure of working together in a couple different stores we opened. We have raised 4 beautiful girls. We are very proud of who they have become and know that they will continue to bless us though out their lives.

Much Love,

Team Catron

Happy 4th

2009-07-05T07:44:00.000-07:00

Good Morning, We hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July. We took the girls (and guys) to Ice age and lunch. We had a nice time, and it was great to see Jesse eating a Chicken Caesar salad. She has been eating pretty good, but not nearly enough to not be losing weight. Jesse took a dip in the pool this weekend, careful not to get the water above her waist. She said it was great to feel weightless, she could easily move her legs. Jesse is still having problems walking. She gets short of breath, and tires very easily. We have a Dr. appt Monday to see Dr. Boklan. Jesse should be having her bone marrow sampled within the next week. It will tell us if she is still in remission. Today we will be going to church as a family for the first time since Oct 17th. We have missed being with our church family and pastor Todd's sermons.
Much Love,
Team Catron

Anc 2240

2009-06-30T18:55:00.000-07:00

Wow, Jesse's ANC really jumped up. The number Monday was 2240. She goes back in Thursday to check her blood levels and get IVIG. She also made a few of her own platelets, and did not need a transfusion. Jesse was scheduled for an EKG, Echo and CT scan this week, but we ran out of insurance. Our insurance has paid out 1 million dollars!!! So, we are needing to look at other avenues to get her daily meds and procedures that need to be done. Jesse ate fairly good today. She had scrambled eggs, milk, mashed potato, beef, and watermelon. So far so good, it has all stayed down. She still get an IV drip at night with hydration and electrolytes to keep her levels up because her intake of food is minimal.

Have a great week,

Love Team Catron

ANC 1350

2009-06-27T08:04:00.000-07:00

Good Morning,

What a long week we had. We needed to go to outpatient Mon-Wed-Friday this week, 6-8 hours each visit, so pretty much the entire day. Jesse needed Blood, platelets, IVIG, Phosphorus, potassium and a few other grocery items. Jesse's ANC is rising rapidly, she is at 1350 already. She is beginning to eat more, and is on the foscarnet for the HHV6 virus just once a day now. The not so great news: Jesse's heart is getting worse. She is now short of breath with just a few steps, and she has edema in her ankles and feet. Her Left ventricle squeeze has decreased another 21%. We will be going in Monday for another echo for her heart. They have gotten her high blood pressure under control, and maybe that will help her heart function?

Thank you for your continued Love, Prayers and Support

Have a blessed weekend,

Team Catron

Enjoying Home

2009-06-23T06:54:00.000-07:00

Good Morning, I cant believe Jesse has been home for 6 days already. We have already had two Dr.s appts, and another one tomorrow. Jesse continues to need blood products when we go in, but her immune system is building steadily. At home she is not on TPN (IV nutrition) instead she is on a bag of hydration with added electrolytes to keep everything functioning properly. She has started to eat a few things, and yesterday her stomach may have started to work (lots of weird noises). She is able to go out without a mask on, and had her first time out of the house with Matt without a parent or sister riding along. Funny how Jesse seemed to be all smiles yesterday (Thank you Matt). We are hoping our household will soon settle down to some sort of normalcy, and be able to enjoy being together again. We are going to update the blog every Friday with news about Jesse's week. Please keep Jesse in your prayers for a full, quick recovery.

Much Love, Team Catron

Jesse Goes Home !! Turn up your volume

2009-06-17T12:40:00.000-07:00

ANC 176 !!

2009-06-16T06:26:00.000-07:00

Good Morning,

Yesterday was a full day with scans of Jesse's kidneys and two units of blood. She had a 86 point jump in her ANC from yesterday. All she needs is 75 to go home tomorrow. Tomorrow the 17th is also Jesse's 8 month anniversary of being diagnosed. Jesse's baxter pole is looking much lighter. During the day she is on hydration ,one antibiotic, foscarnet (HHV6) along with anti-nausea every 8 hours. They disconnect her during the day so she can take a shower and just move about. We have to watch her very closely during that time, or she just might slip out the door and keep walking :) We want to thank everyone for taking this journey with us. We have met many people along the way and continue to be blessed.

Have a great day

Team Catron

ANC-99

2009-06-14T09:11:00.000-07:00

Good Morning everyone!!!!!

Jesse`s ANC went down a little bit to 99! but is expected to jump back up tomorrow. Jesse`s med pole is becoming more and more visible as the days go by, the goal is to be out this week Tuesday I believe was the target date depending on how much she eats and ANC.

Dakota`s coming in today to be with her i`m sure they`ll have fun and have there laughs, they`re SISTERS!!!! haha they always do.

The finish line is just a few more steps ahead!!!!!!

Thank you and God Bless!

-Matt

ANC 146 !!!!!

2009-06-13T07:00:00.000-07:00

Good morning everyone,
Jesse is getting closer to going home! 146 ANC on our way to 250.
She didn't sleep very well last night because she went to the bathroom several times. I came after work and rearranged the room for her so she could sleep on the couch instead of her bed. She says she sleeps better on the couch/bed. I don't see how. I think the couch is terrible but I never sleep much regardless of where I sleep (it's even less here). Every time the door opens and the beeps go off I am awake. Thank God Jesse has learned to sleep through all of that ....after 8 months. I can't wait for Jes to get home where she can sleep all day if she wants. Although she will be going to the out patient part of the Hospital every three or four days, for several months, this part of the ride (staying in the Hospital for a month or more at a time) is finally over. I am so looking forward to Jes getting back to being Jes. I will still be able to catch her, as I chase her around the kitchen island, (for a while) and when I do she always gives me a big hug while we laugh about how much she screams when I chase her. It's going to be great just to have all the girls in the house again (except Lindsay). I don't know when I am suppose to finally except that Lindsay is all grown up, married, has Malea, and lives in a different state when I am counting all my girls. I guess in my mind I still have four girls at home all laying on the couch talking or fighting for the bathroom. I don't know where time has gone. When I sit and talk with McKenzie I see how fast she is growing up (9 going on 15) and how fast time is slipping by. This last 8 months have been the longest 8 months of my life and yet when I think about Jesse coming home within a week is seems that eight months has passed quickly. That is a definite sign of getting old so if anyone can relate to me that must mean you are getting ol... (you know).
Please keep us all in prayer as this is not over yet. I would also like to ask for a special pray for my Aunt Merna who has had open heart surgery. She is a fighter but at her age these kind of things are hard to bounce back from. She is in Gods hands and knows him well so I know what ever happens she will be well taken care of.
Everyone, have a blessed day and take the time to realize (and be thankful for) how lucky and blessed you are ...regardless of your circumstances.
God Bless you all