The Post of the YEAR!

Hey everyone!

I guarantee this is the post you have been waiting for...

We took William yesterday afternoon for a check up at the Children's Hospital Hematology/Oncology Clinic. Due to a merge a few months ago this was our first trip to the Minneapolis clinic...our new home away from home in some respects. We were a bit nervous about finding the place so we left early with a bit of excitement.

We arrived at the beautiful building and walked in to a spacious waiting room, our familiar face Javonn (The St. Paul Clinic's receptionist), shouting out "Hello Mr. Moeller" as she always does when we walk in. They always treat us as if they know everything about us. True friends on our journey!

William ran from us to the play area setting his sights first on "Cozy Coupe" car that looked like a fire engine. He was in heaven and we had to spend a few extra seconds promising that we'd play more when we got back from our trip to the lab. He went reluctantly but was thoroughly pleased to spot a wagon to ride in and kid chairs shaped like puppies downstairs in the lab waiting room.

We went in for his blood draw hoping he wouldn't be scared in this new place. Daddy held him on his lap as William watched the lab tech put the needle into his arm. The bravest boy I know never cried, and actually said "Thank you" to the tech as we walked out!

Oddly enough, when it was our turn to get roomed, they told us that they were very busy so they put us in a big room; one that is probably used for many cancer treatments. It was basically a hospital room, big bed, sweet TV, and an XBOX360 too! We had to wait a long time so we were thankful for the large space for William to run around, and all the toys inside for him to play with.

Finally Dr. Messinger came in to see us. (He is not our own Hematologist, but one we have seen many times before and he definitely knows William and our story). As always he came in with his huge smile and gentle accented voice that is filled with love for children. He has always taken the extra time to establish rapport with the kiddos first whether blowing soap bubbles while washing his hands or letting William play with his stethoscope and the light on the otoscope to check his ears.

This Dr. walked in to our room to catch us off guard and ROCK OUR WORLD! He told us that the numbers he sees are very pleasing to him. He said that he can now definitely diagnose William Henry with Autoimmune Neutropenia the form of his blood disorder that goes away by age 2! He said that William is on his way to normal numbers. He said that our baby is better. He said that he is healthy and PERFECT! He said that this issue or in his words "this hell you have gone through" will not have any effect on William's future in any way. He said that this will not happen to any future children we may have. He said that this will not put William at risk for any other Autoimmune disorders in life. Any the best words of all...He said that we never have to go back to see them again. He said, "Forget about us!"

He explained that testing William periodically to check his ANC (Absolute Neutrophil Count) is now pointless. He feels confident that he can fight infections on his own! He knows that we can advocate for him at any time should he have a drop in Neutrophils and an infection (which he also said is not likely). We no longer have to rush to call the on-call Hematologist at the first sign of infection or high fever. We no longer have to run down to Children's ER each time with grave worry of what we'll find. The only time that we would need to demand that Dr.'s check William's Neutrophil count is if he showed signs of a severe infection such as another abscess.

Dr. Messinger then congratulated us, kissed William and told our little guy to run after him as he went to get our FINAL print out of William's numbers. He said goodbye and that was that. We walked down the hall not fully reacting to our life changing news. We ran into Javonn again who stopped us because she "can't let us leave yet." She had to go and grab his Christmas gift from the Clinic. (If you remember from earlier posts, each child and their siblings get a gift at Christmas time because of an angel who died of cancer see her caring bridge site sometime it will inspire you! http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/princessmaddie)

William got to open his toy, got to hug Javonn, and another very special lady...his Nurse Linda who has been there for a lot of our journey too. We told them both with huge smiles and watery eyes that this was our last visit...that we aren't coming back.

We took William to the lobby, where he got the golden coin he earned for being a good boy and let him put it into the toy vending machine they have there. All kids get a prize on the way out! He picked a super ball, and had to spend 5 minutes replaying the moment he got it by stuffing it back up in the vending slot, pretending to turn the handle and letting the ball come out again. He took another spin in the fire truck "Cozy Coupe" and then we said good bye.

Nothing really set in until we got to the car. Then I lost it. I cried and cried, just as I am right now. No words can explain the way this feels! We have traveled on a journey that we didn't sign up for. We walk away now SO changed by everything. We are more knowledgeable, we are tougher, we (I) tend to worry more, we look at our child in a more thankful way and appreciate every move he makes, and we feel SO SO SO LOVED by so many people. In a way we are lucky not only for the incredible outcome we are now celebrating, but we are somehow lucky for the experience as well.

I'm sure this won't be my last blog on the subject as there is just too much to say and you all know how much I need to talk! :)

Final words for today... THANK YOU!

All the love we can squeeze into you, and a huge, wet, drooly, "Mwah" from William too!

~The Healthy Happy MoellersWilliam at St. Paul Children's Hospital on December 11th 2009 (9 months old) after surgery and a bone marrow biopsy.

William on December 12th 2010 the day after the record snowfall in MN!