Thursday, June 19th
Day 3

Camryn's chemotherapy schedule is once every six hours, for two hours, no deviations. She is also taking six additional oral medications, but Camryn is doing great. She has three blood draws every hour on the hour during the administration of chemotherapy. All urine is collected throughout the day and night. Because of the risks associated with chemotherapy, organ function must be constantly monitored. The nurses have been incredible catering to every need and comfort for Camryn. You can tell that they love what they do. They are exceptional, in my opinion, in their jobs. I have found the 6a unit to be a fascinating place. Hope abounds everywhere, despite the sobering realities of the circumstances of being a patient in 6a. The staff in the unit have done so much to make the unit as close to "home" as possible. For example, in the unit are these "turtle" things (sort of like a big wheel) that people race around the hallways of the unit. Lee Ann and Camryn had races, as did Camryn, Casey, and Morgan. Lee Ann beat Camryn, but Camryn smoked Casey and Morgan. Check out the pictures below. I love the fact that some of these kids who are healthy enough to leave their rooms, can be a normal kid for a little while, despite being "quarantined" to the confines of 6a. Regardless of the "fun" depicted in the pictures below, we understand the realities of Camryn's situation. A simple activity such as this, allows us a few moments to escape with Camryn; to appreciate laughter, love, and life.

If you know Camryn, you know that she has a quirky sense of humor. As a coping mechanism through the years, Camy has given names to some of her warts. Warts that were exceptionally large, or had a unique shape, or appeared in an unusual location. For example, on her right "pointer" finger, Camryn

 has a large wart growing under her finger nail that has grown straight out beyond the nail by at least one inch.The appearance was that of a an enormously long finger nail. Camryn, in a display of her acceptance of the situation, named that particular wart "Witchy Poo". The darn thing practically has celebrity status around the Rasmussen household. However, I am here to happily announce the demise of Witchy Poo. The elongated wart simply dropped off today. A sign, we hope, of future things to come regarding the fate of those pesky warts…

Lee Ann selfishly winning. So much
for allowing the sick kid to win.

Casey incorrectly assuming that she
would win. Silly Casey... 

Sleep well princess, you will win the race that matters.