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Welcome to Katelyn Benson's website! This has been created to keep family and friends up to date with the latest news regarding our brave daughter.

At the age of three, Katelyn was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma Stage 4, a rare childhood cancer for which there is no cure. She was diagnosed on Monday 16th May 2005 and since then has undergone 8 rounds of chemotherapy, a 5 hour tumour resection surgery, further high-dose chemotherapy followed by a stem cell transplant, radiotherapy and 6 rounds of Accutane (Retinoic Acid). In September 2006, we discovered that Katie had relapsed and so the battle begins again.

Despite the devastating prognosis, we have great faith that our precious daughter will be granted her miracle cure. Thank you for joining us on our rollercoaster journey. Words cannot express the uplifting joy we feel to know we have such a wonderful "team" standing behind us every step of the way. We thank each and every one of you for the endless love, support and prayers.

We are praying for a miracle!!

Children with cancer are like candles in the wind who accept the possibility that they are in danger of being extinguished by a gust of wind from nowhere; and yet, as they flicker and dance to remain alive, their brilliance challenges the darkness and dazzle those of us who watch their light.

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

It's a rollercoaster

Not a great deal to report. Katie has been eating and sleeping well, so her energy levels are good. Pain issues are up and down. She woke up this morning with puffy and swollen eyes. The other day she was limping a bit, she's quite good at hiding these things. Bless her heart, Katie was trying to run after Josh dragging her leg behind her. It's always scary not knowing how the disease is progressing inside her body. All we can do is continue to pray that the chemo will hold her disease stable. Blood counts are following a certain trend, looks like a platelet transfusion is on the cards. Today her platelet count was borderline, but they've been dropping. We are keeping a careful eye out for any bleeding issues.

Other than that, things are relatively peaceful in the Benson household, if not a little exhausting, as Sophie seems to have created her own sleeping schedule. She wakes every 2 to 3 hours during the night for her feed but will sleep for around 4 to 5 hours during the day. The health visitor seemed to think she is soothed by the 'noise of the day' - whatever that may be! Katie and Josh aren't big fans of Sophie's sleeping times either. "She's not awake when we want to play with her!!" However, when she is awake, she reveals a rather cute toothless baby grin....adorable....it's worth it!!

This is what we have decided for Halloween
We aren't very good at finding a 'family' theme and sticking to it!
Mummy - Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz
Daddy - Pirate
Joshua - Spiderman (as if you were expecting something else?!)
Katelyn - Finding Nemo (we're still thinking about this one....)
Sophie - Bumblebee (thank heavens she's too young to protest!)

Please keep those prayers coming our way for miss Katie and, of course, the other brave cancer warriors. Good night and god bless....may angels watch over you tonight, and everynight......

Posted by Nicole on Tuesday, October 10, 2006