Team Teagan Update | 6-26

“Downhill”, Remember the days when you were 5 or 6 and took you tricycle down the driveway, coasting with you feet straight out in front of you, eyes closed, head back, leaning back just letting gravity control your fait… well that’s about where we are right now (at least it is for me)… Teagan (and Holly) are grateful to be home following a 5 day stay at Club AMC and completing her 4th round of chemo.

They arrived late Tuesday Night and made it home on Sunday. We’re hoping Round 5, can start in 3-4 weeks, and will represent the first of her “intensification” treatments and what we (well I) think of as “coasting” down to the finish line. Holly does not agree with my “coasting” analogy as these next treatments will be the strongest yet… Glass half full vs. half empty. This last visit was hard for Holly as I was very busy dealing with the last school days stuff and spending what seemed half my day at some event or school party at Division Street (Their School)… This left Holly somewhat neglected and sitting by herself at Club AMC most days… I guess that’s why it’s “Glass Half Empty” – Round 5 will be 7 days of intense chemo, plus whatever residual “Fever” days she’ll deal with… And now with the boys home and needing more daytime care with camps and play dates it may be a similar stay for her and Teagan… Pheww… the more I write, it seems my glass is approaching the “Half Empty” stage too. We’ll do the best we can. I still need the “downhill” – gives me a sense of an end to this ordeal.

Especially since besides her normal chemo treatments, Teagan had to endure two procedures to get some critical medication into her spinal canal and test her spinal fluid for any lingering cancer. The first failed attempt was on Wednesday, where she endured numerous unsuccessful needle punctures (with Holly watching with teary eyes) into her spine to extract the fluid, the procedure was abruptly stopped after her blood pressure started to plummet dangerously low… the 2nd attempt (which we both attended) had better results and provided the critical results we prayed for, that her fluid was clear of any cancer. YIPPEE!!! Thank You God!!!

The look on Teagans face as the narcotics took effect brought back scary reminders of seeing Teagan in the PICU only a few short months ago after her heart surgery… her glassy eyes and scared expression – just begging for help - tore deep into our souls, and certainly added to MY rapidly increasing gray hair count (yes, in case you had not noticed I have a few!) … soon I won’t be able to say I’m sporting the “salt n’ pepper” look, but rather just “salt”… but who am I to complain… Teagan’s not complaining about having only peach fuzz on her head… which will certainly get wiped out with this last round of chemo… but hopefully that will be the worse of it… the hair will grow back. Sadly, her little body is starting to show a lot of wear-n-tare from needle punctures, finger pricks, constantly pulling off the steri-strips, the multiple scars on her neck and chest… I can’t wait for it all to be over – both for her and Holly, who seems to feel each cut and prick as deeply as Teagan.

This Saturday (June 30th at 8:00am) is the “5k Walk / Run for Teagan” at the Saratoga State Park, we hope to see many of you there. If you need info or would be willing to spread the word to your friends, family and co-workers (Thank You), just download the flyer from the TeamTeagan.com website or just cut-n-paste the link below into your web browser and hand them out.

http://www.theklingenbergs.com/content/view/47/35/ - for the info page on the website.

http://www.theklingenbergs.com/images/stories/documents/teagan%205k%20poster_v2.pdf - to download and print the flyer…

Jacqueline has been working feverishly to spread the word and organize the entire event. She asked us if we knew anyone who would be willing/able to help volunteer at the event with registration or some other task… So, if feel you or someone you know could not walk/run the 5K, maybe you’d be willing to help Jacqueline in that way, we’re certain she’d appreciate the help, I know we do! The weather report still looks great for that morning with warm but not scorching temps… We’re hoping that Teagan will still be home and attend the walk along with Holly, Me and the Boys… I was happy to hear that some of my siblings said they’d come down for the walk, like my sister Natascha who lives in a distant Burlington, or Holly’s parents, who live 4-hours away near the Canadian border even expressed their support and wanted to support the cause… It will be great seeing everyone at the event, and maybe seeing you take home some of the great prizes Jacqueline has assembled.

It’s amazing to see WHO has made the effort, and how many people have said they’ve seen the posters and flyers all over town and plan attending. We appreciate all of you who make personal sacrifices, whether its by cooking a meal, making a donation or attending one of the benefits… Everything helps make this time seem somewhat normal for us and especially for the kids, who are unwilling participants in this emotional roller coaster. Thank You!

See you Saturday, Be Well!

Juergen, Holly and Kids