#TeamCharlotte-Being Home

On July 13, 2017 Charlotte Ann was air lifted to Children's Hospital in Cincinnati and her journey through leukemia began. For more background information see previous #TeamCharlotte articles. 

Charlotte is a busy little bee, always has been. While in the hospital she watched a lot of "Cat In The Hat" because she just didn't feel like moving around but as she began feeling better the activities room was her fave place. She did  a lot of painting and playing with playdough so that has continued here at home as she gains her strength and mobility back. 

In the last couple of weeks she is walking. Where before she always had to run ahead, now she wants to hold a finger for stability and is taking steps without holding onto things. 

She has to be checked weekly at the hospital but minimal meds. [I don't even pretend to keep up with that-my job as her great, grandmother is to hold/love/enjoy/paint/playdough/read]. 

When she is having a great time she has a squeal and infectious laugh that is coming back. You can know how good that is to hear. 

We read her cards from Her Treasure Box. The bottom photo is from the little girls across the street that she plays with

  

She and Hannah baking cookies [yep-that is just the way my girls helped-sitting right up on the counter]

Playdough time

 Charlotte won't wear anything on her head so I thought if she painted her own visor she might-all the kids painted their own-it's a start-now if I can just get her to wear the beautiful feathered head bands I ordered! lol

 Painting with daddy

She received a package from HOPPS, Helping Our Pediatric Patients Smile, with lots of interesting things to do. September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month-and Charlotte did smile-especially when she discovered a chapstick in the box-the child is wierd-kinda takes after her great, grandmother

This has been a harrowing time and Charlotte is leading us through her journey. 

a little child shall lead them.

Isaiah 11:6

Please keep Charlotte and all the other children who are battling cancer in your prayers. Thank you

God bless you
Carolyn Wainscott

#TeamCharlotte-Going Home

Charlotte Ann was released from the hospital on Tuesday, August 29, 2017-just 5 days after her open heart bypass surgery. 

She can't be lifted normally under her arms because that would hurt her chest area. She has to be handled very carefully by placing your hands under her little butt and lifting. That is a near impossibility for us oldies-especially since she has gained so much weight because of the steroids. In order to hold Charlotte, I have to sit down and Travis places her on my lap. As he picks her up, she curls over with her head into his chest.

On Saturday, Sept. 2, the home health care nurse came out to make sure Charlotte was getting her meds properly-the entry tube has to be scrubbed 30 seconds, let dry 30 seconds, pills put into liquid form, injected slowly [Erin and Travis take care of all this twice a day] and her environment clean. Everyone in the household has been put on notice to handy wipe their hands and to leave shoes at the door before coming into the room. A note is on the door to remind and a table with handy wipes is at the door, don't give her anything that hasn't been cleaned and don't be in her face.

Charlotte enjoys playing with the kids. Before she got sick she played outside with them and the little girls across the street. This is an octopus her great aunt Jackie [MamJack] crocheted for her in orange that stands for leukemia.

Her great uncle, Jeff, thought she might like shells he found while he was fishing and she loved them. He took special care to clean them thoroughly. 

Her doll house is one of her favorite things. 

She loves to paint. She did a lot of that in the activity room at the hospital and of course her side kick, Hannah, is always right there with her. 

and she is still getting special things. Mamaw Melinda brought  a Cloud Pet in that we have to learn how to use

We are all having to get used to a new normal of Charlotte Ann's fragility and keeping her environment safe for her. I just thank God that we still have her. We came near losing her twice in just a few weeks. 

Many thanks for all the prayers for her. 

God bless you

Carolyn Wainscott