4 Year Anniversary

4 years ago today Brooke was diagnosed with stage IV high risk Neuroblastoma and here we are now 1 month to the day from her relapse...Brooke is nearing the end of the first 21 day cycle of the clinical trial she is on and has been tolerating it pretty well. The first week was the roughest because not only was she was getting the IV chemo at CHOP but also had to do 5 days of oral chemo at home as well. She has been a trooper as always through it all and still has all the spunk she has always had (I can't even keep up with her on chemo)! She has been able to continue with school, soccer and dance although was mostly over Christmas break. 

We have had a packed couple of weeks with a trip to Williamsburg, VA for 3 days before Christmas (Thank you Noonan's , Wallace's and Jean for such a great time, the Walker's for taking care of our Bailey Boo and it was so great getting to see the Darcy clan while we were down there-Brooke loves being an honorary Tidewater Shark)!

The Thursday after Christmas we headed to NYC for a dream vacation! Our friends Isabella and Amy Pankratz, surprised Brooke and flew to NYC from South Dakota to spend a long weekend with us! Amy, in about a weeks time called in every favor she could get from every contact she had in the city and and was able to get us tickets to the Lion King (thanks so much Susan and Ian) and Mary Poppins, a candy spree at Dylan's Candy Bar, a private tour at FAO Schwartz from Toy Soldier Rich who was fabulous and a VIP belated birthday celebration and lunch for Isabella and Brooke at the American Girl Store! It was all incredible! Thank you to all the wonderful people that made all of that possible and to Amy for all her hard work to plan such a great trip. Also, would like to thank Linda Colella for bringing Elizabeth and Tim Ulfig into our lives. Elizabeth is a former Rockette and was able to get us tickets to see Radio City Music Halls Christmas Show with the Rockettes and backstage passes (the girls went crazy over getting to meet a real live camel backstage that was part of the show)! Elizabeth and Tim also gave us our 3 night stay at the Marriott Renaissance Hotel 57! The staff at that hotel could not have possibly been more fabulous. They treated us all like royalty the entire stay and showered Brooke and Isabella with goodies non stop (thank you Yoke). They got us into Serendipity and Ellen's Stardust Diner with front of the line no wait which was incredible since both don't take reservations and each had lines down the block and over 2 hour waits! Lorena, one of the managers even took me and Brooke to Penn Station when we checked out, helped carry all our bags, and waited with us 45 min until the train got there and would not leave until we were in a seat on the train. Special thanks also to the wonderful women of IMR tennis (I love you guys) for our spending money while we were there and Kellie for the beautiful dresses she brought for Brooke to wear in the city! 

New Years Eve was spent in NJ with our now 2 year tradition of going bowling with friends followed by a party at the Aron's house (Thanks for everything Marcie - love you)! Brooke as usual had no trouble staying up beyond midnight and refuses to leave a party early! 

We are currently on our latest adventure and I will update you soon on this one but it is late and I need to try to get some sleep. Thanks to friends and family who have been coming to CHOP to hang with us during our all day long weekly appointments - it helps us both so much having you there and for the elves that have visited our house nightly the days leading up to Christmas and for everyone that has contributed to Brooke's Wish account, her Medical Gift Account and the new fundraiser page on facebook "Brooke Mulford Medical and Wish Fund" and everyone who has shaved their head for Brooke (Lose it for Brooke). We are so blessed by the love and support! I know I am forgetting to mention many but my mind is fried at this point! 

With love, hope and gratitude,
Amy