Dyani is very sensitive to the needs of others- especially small children and the elderly. She is so brave and patient. She loves to cook! In fact, that was her make-a-wish, to be a chef. She has a sophisticated sense of humor. She is an animal lover. We have quail, ducks, chickens, and a dog. She is also a proud big sister who loves deeply. She says she wants to be a dragon so she can fly. Her alter-ego is an archer/warrior.
When she was five years old, she had debilitating back pain, leg pain, numbness in feet, a quick decline in appetite, and finally labored breathing the night before being diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Her treatment plan was 8 months of Frontline (the really hardcore chemo). Then she had daily oral chemo and once a month steroid pulses for five days. She also had to have a spinal tap with chemo every three months. We had several inpatient stays and the ER visits are quickly adding up.
Childhood cancer has caused a lot of added stress to our family. We have PTSD, anxiety, lack of sleep, frequent headaches, weight gain. Our 2 year old can’t sleep through the night and we spend many dinners separated from each other. My husband is working 50+ hours a week plus two hours of driving each day in return for being able to go to clinic with us. The bills are never ending!
This has been a complete rollercoaster. “Maintenance” is just as hard if not harder than the hardcore frontline treatment. Having a 4 month old at diagnosis has been a challenge. The doctors and nurses have front-row seats to watch my children grow up. He is now 26 months and a whole new type of challenge. Her body is tired and she has 4 months to go, God willing. She has “plans” for a huge end of treatment party in Tennessee for her clinic friends and my husband’s family. We will also have one in Ohio for my family-many of which are elderly and cannot travel. We are counting down!
Hope session by Lindsey Walker Photography | Facebook | Instagram