Super-sib

This picture is a month old but, since things have been quiet (by our standards), it seemed a good time to praise Annie's unsung hero - her sister Katherine.   When we started this journey, almost seven years ago, we were given good advice about the impact a child's illness has on a sibling.  Katherine was only seven-years-old but all along she has been a trooper. When Annie's treatment required her to wear a hat to school every day, Katherine did too. When we adopted a vegan diet to support Annie's health needs, Katherine did too.  When we had to leave our house and belongings, Katherine rolled with the changes. She spent vacations with other families and relatives, she moved to her grandparents' house when she got sick, and she went home from school with a different family every day.  She has spent countless hours entertaining her sister in hospital rooms and at blood draws.  

Far from resenting Annie, Katherine has loved her and tried to protect her like no one else.  When she'd hear an ambulance go by school, she'd excuse herself from class to make sure it wasn't for Annie.  She has done the lion's share of kid chores and had more than her fair share of "the short end of the stick" but she has also enjoyed many blessings and opportunities.  

There is an organization called "Super Sibs" whose mission is to give the siblings some of the spotlight usually focused on the sick kid. Over the years they have sent her a steady supply of notes, poems, trophies, medals and kudos. I'm often surprised just how much these gestures have meant to Katherine. Certainly the close relationship between the girls is another silver-lining of this journey.

Annie had transfusions for platelets and red cells yesterday-over nine hours at the hospital. The donor search has not yet begun as we're still in the insurance ... phase, but things seem to be moving along.  In the mean time, every two weeks, we continue to raise the dose of her "smurfs" (eltrombopag) and lower the dose of her "bunnies" (cyclosporine).  Will report after our next doctor appointment on the 29th if nothing else comes up.