Another Shot....Another $6,000!!!

It is pretty obvious that this time around is a little bit harder than the first one three weeks ago.  Morgan is very tired and cannot seem to get comfortable whether sitting, lying down, standing, or walking around.  We went into the doctor's office to get her 2nd Neulasta shot today.  This one seemed to go in better, at least from my perspective.

Morgan has lots of pills to take...some for nausea, some for pain, some vitamins, amino acids, some to help her sleep, and even another to give her some energy.  The rest of the family is going in to get flu shots tomorrow to help keep her from catching it from one of us.

We have about two more weeks to wait for the genetic test results we took at Huntsman Cancer Institute.  But, we have a blood test to check on her white and red blood cells next Tuesday.  It is hard to imagine we are only one month into this....with so much more to go!

Thanks for all of the love, support, and prayers on our behalf.  Thanks for the meals, cards, gifts, and fundraising events.  Pink is everywhere!!!

In Rare Form!!!

Here is a clip of Morgan having a rare moment of fun this evening...she decided to suck out the helium from her 16th birthday balloon and sing us a little song...it isn't THAT surprising if you really know Morgan... :)

Friends in Montana!

Just want to share an email we received today!  It is amazing the love and support from people around the country who don't even really know Morgan, but know her story and find it inspiring!

Jana & Kylee,

Just wanted to let you know about some of the events happening here in Montana for Morgan.  Tomorrow night (Thursday) our volleyball team plays and the entire campus is wearing PINK!!  I will send you some pictures!!  We are also donating all of our income from the game to breast cancer research (sorry we couldn't donate to you directly, but the university wouldn't let us donate to an individual person--I really tried--but we are going to donate it in Morgan's name).

Also, Jayden just made student council in junior high and they are doing cancer awareness and we are making some posters about Morgan and they are wearing PINK all next week!!  We are all praying for Morgan (even all these people who have NO idea who she is)!! 

Just thought you would like to know!  I will send pictures as I get them

love you
megan

Dr. Megan Chilson
Program Coordinator
Associate Professor
Health & Human Performance
The University of Montana Western
710 South Atlantic
Dillon, MT 59725

One-third of the way!!!!

Today was round #2...and that dang Taxotere just does NOT like my little girl!  Luckily, they had given her an extra bag of "pre-medications" like Benadryl and some steroids to help counteract the reaction she had last time.  It didn't prevent it, but it did help.  She turned bright red, got really hot, couldn't breathe very well, but the blue face was more like gray.  Today she lasted about five minutes (only 3 minutes last time) before she could feel it creeping up on her.  It begins in her stomach, then rises to her chest which is what affects her breathing, and then to her head.

Since she doesn't have any hair anymore, I could see just how red it became!  She said that her face felt like it was full of liquid, which would explain why it swells up so big.  Apparently she and that drug are sworn enemies!!!  Luckily she had four parents in the room with her at the time. 

Tonight she has been VERY tired.  She just really needs her rest right now.  It is obvious that today was hard on her both physically and emotionally.  She is a little bossy :) but that is okay.  I think I am floating in the same boat with her.  I think we could all sleep for 24 hours at this point!

Pink Pride!!

Pictures please

Hey everyone, I just thought it would be super cool for you all to take pictures of you in your pink get up tomorrow (or future chemo days) and send them to us. We know a lot of people are supporting Morgan that we don't get to see and we want to share all of the support! So please please please send us some pink pics! You can just email them to kyleelabrum@hotmail.com... maybe you'll get a spot on the blog. :) Love you all!

Wearing Pink!!!!

This Tuesday will be Chemo Round #2....We are wearing Pink on Monday in honor of Morgan....Let everyone know! Just like last time, only a day early so that Morgan can see it at school and around town.

She went to Church today in her dress from Homecoming and her black beanie....she is such a cutie!!! Our ward dedicated their fast to her and another ward member. Fast and testimony meeting was amazing!! So many people are willing to do anything for her and for our family....it is overwhelming to me. Just know that we appreciate it and feel your love every single day!!

We have so much to be thankful for. I see small blessings almost every day...honestly didn't think that would happen!

Wearing Pink on Monday!!!!

Next Tuesday (28th) is Morgan's 2nd round of chemotherapy. We had such a great turnout of people wearing pink last time...saw it all around town, the school, in Walmart....Amazing!!!

Morgan didn't get to see all of the pink and felt kind of left out. I say that everyone choose to wear pink on Monday...that way she can see all of the support and have that in her mind as she goes into the treatment on Tuesday morning.

Pass this on to everyone know....WEAR PINK FOR MORGAN'S CHEMO ON MONDAY!!!!

Homecoming

Cody showed up today and they spent the day together. Went with some friends to Snowbird and then home to change into their dress clothes. Dinner at Buca di Beppo's and then off to the Riverton High School Homecoming Dance!! Better be home by midnight...:)

They look super cute in black and lime green...Morgan with her black beanie and black Van's shoes!!!

Halloween Ideas!

Morgan: I could draw a line down the center of my head...
Mom: What would that be?
Morgan: Then I could be a Butt Head!

Her hair is gone!!!!

Morgan chose to be in control of when and how her hair came out. It was starting to fall out in small clumps and Morgan wasn't really happy about that. Tonight, Morgan sat in the kitchen while Boyd, Riley, Kaylee, Travis, Taylor and I used scissors to take turns cutting small swatches of hair and putting them in a baggie.

I was able to make the first cut...and it was definitely the hardest. Once all the hair had been removed, we used shears to buzz it and clean it up. She looks amazing!!! Her head is a perfect shape without any strange markings, scars, or strange freckles/moles. You can see where her "angel kiss" belongs just over her left ear. It looks exactly like it did when she was born and had such a little amount of hair. It is in such an odd shape...sort of like Italy and Greece on the world map!

She went to Riverton's Burning of the Wolf for Homecoming right after her hair was finished. She had a beanie to wear that is her school colors and if you didn't know what we had just done, you couldn't tell. Tomorrow is the football game and then Saturday she is going to the Homecoming Dance with Cody. We still working on adjusting her dress to fit just right, but she has a solid black beanie to go with it! Leave it to Morgan to have the strength to just walk in with the "love of her life" on her arm and show those kids how things are done!

I have been trying to contact different breast cancer foundations and groups. I wrote to the co-founder/executive director of the Pink Ribbon Girls for younger breast cancer survivors. She just wrote me back and gave me her personal cell number and email so that I could contact her if needed. The support and caring of perfect strangers is just so much appreciated and so very welcome! There are days that we all wonder how we are going to make it just one more day...and then we do!

Our Church ward is going to hold a special fast this Sunday on behalf of Morgan and another ward member who just found out he has an aggressive bone cancer. Any and all of you are invited to join us(and them)!

I love my sister because...

She always makes me laugh.

She stood up for me when I was in fifth grade when I couldn't do it myself.

She is unique.

She used to let me do her hair sometimes even though she hated it.

She watched Mary-Kate & Ashley movies with me.

She has her own style.

She is spontaneous.

She is smart.

She makes fun of me.

She used to ride scooters with me.

She trusts me.

She was the best Maid of Honor at my wedding.

She shows me good music.

She is adventurous.

She has been through everything with me, the good and bad.

She loves people with her whole heart.

She has the most beautiful eyes.

She is brave.

She is my hero. A perfect example of how to live life to its fullest.

I love you Morgan Sage.

Change of Plans

Huntsman Cancer Institute called me today and let me know that last Thursday Morgan was the topic of their staff/patient review meeting. At that meeting, the radiation oncologists decided that she most likely NEEDS the radiation. Therefore, we will NOT be having a needle biopsy this week. Her blood was sent to Baylor and will most likely take three weeks to come back with the results we are looking for.

Morgan passed her road driving test today!!!! So everybody watch out!! She has already informed me that I don't need to be in the car with her when she is driving anymore.... SAD....my baby girl is growin' up!!! She made it through the entire day at school and this is supposed to be a much better week which will end with the Homecoming Dance with Cody!!!!

Morgan's New Haircut!!!

Morgan's hair is starting to fall out. Today it started to fall out in larger clumps. I can see on her face that it is really getting to her. She doesn't want to stand out and be the "sick bald girl." Kaylee has been staying at our house for a few days and she offered to cut her hair so that when it falls out, it won't be quite so bad. IT IS SOOOO CUTE!!!! Thanks Kaylee! We think that Morgan may even like it herself...:)


Morgan is planning on going to school every day this week as it is supposed to be her best week so far. She has her road driving test tomorrow so she can get her driver's license. Her next round of chemo is scheduled for a week from Tuesday (28th). We are going to talk to her doctor tomorrow about the mammary node needle biopsy that was suggested up at Huntsman last week. No idea whether it will happen or not, but if it is, it would be best to do it BEFORE the next chemo treatment. This means, that she may be headed to the hospital this week...or not. We just live day to day around here. Never know for sure what is coming next.

There are so many people who are being inspired by Morgan's story. Especially those who are closest to her. She is an inspiration to me...she has a great attitude most of the time and does her best to find the humorous side of things. She told me that she is going to be the hottest bald chick! I LOVE this girl so very very much!!!

Huntsman Cancer Institute

Monday and Tuesday were good days. Morgan went to school and lasted throughout the entire day! Wednesday she woke up a little tired and a bit nauseous so she stayed home. Jamie, Morgan and I met Johnny and Crystal up at Huntsman Cancer Institute around 3:30. We were to meet with Amanda Knoth, a genetic counselor. She explained that since Morgan has experienced two different cancers in her short life, that there most likely is some sort of genetic component to it. A couple of weeks ago her BRCA test was negative. The BRCA is a chromosome which is directly linked to inherited breast cancer. Obviously I was a little bit confused at why they were working on something that was already considered a non-issue.....obviously, I have learned a lot about cancer during the last month, but there is still so much more to learn!

There is a specific test that Huntsman is interested in for Morgan. I am not going to include the name of it here but as we have learned, each of us all have cancer cells in our body. We also have a protein/amino acid which fights off any cells that are threatening to grow into a tumor, which works a lot like white blood cells fighting infections and building up our immunities. This is why many people never get cancer in their lifetime. The test is to see if that particular gene in Morgan has some sort of mutation which will make her more susceptible to other cancers as well. The good news about this is that if she is positive for the mutation, she will have a very thorough screening process to catch any type of cell growth early enough to take care of it without having to go through chemo or radiation.

We met with a pediatric oncologist, Dr. Schiffman, and a breast oncologist, Dr. Buys who have already been meeting and discussing Morgan's case. After about three hours of questions and further discussion, we were told that Morgan's case would be the topic of discussion the next morning at their staff meeting. They took some blood and will let us know the answer within 2 - 3 weeks. So now we wait. They are fairly certain that this will be positive, but if not, there are other tests lining up as possible, but less likely, options. When we find out what she has, then they will test me as well and go from there.

The reason that this test is so important is that it may change the course of treatment Morgan has for her breast cancer. If this test is positive and she does have this particular Syndrome, we may not do the radiation after the chemo rounds are finished. The doctors suggested we talk to our oncologist about doing a needle biopsy (this week, in fact) to see if her two internal mammary nodes actually have cancer in them or if they showed up on the PET scan due to inflammation from her surgery. This would be important in deciding about the radiation treatment as well. Radiation is something we want to avoid if she has this mutation and would not be necessary if there is not cancer in the nodes. If there is, then we need to weigh the options and do what is best for her. Either way, there will be at least one more major surgery in Jan/Feb and a full-body MRI every six months or so for many years to come.

Every day it feels like there is so much more to take in, process, and accept...it is quite stressful and somewhat confusing. I have actually been to five different doctors this week M-F and filled at least nine different prescriptions as well! Whew!!!

Morgan stayed home Thursday also, but we went into Riverton High to meet with her counselor and fill out the paperwork which will allow her to do Home & Hospital. This way she can stay enrolled in her classes, attend when she feels like she is up to it, but when she is absent, the absences won't count against her!!! We decided that was the best option since she does her best when she is around her friends. It perks up her attitude and it is great to see her smile. We got to see a sign put up in the commons that says...Prayers for Morgan Watson Stage II Breast Cancer.


Friday she went to school and during the first class of the day, was surprised by the entire football team and the head coach. They came into her class and Coach Miller talked about special students they like to honor each game day. The coach looked right at her and invited her up front to stand by him. He told the class about how her older brother had played for him a couple of years ago and that he had taught with me. The entire team sang to her the school "Fight Song". Morgan said that both she and the coach were crying. This is the text she sent me..."Oh my gosh :) :) it was so freakin cool! In my first period, the football team came in and sang the school fight song for me in support of everything :) :) i cried."

She must still be feeling pretty good since she decided to spend the night at a friend's house. Next Saturday is her big Homecoming Dance and she is really hoping that her hair is able to attend the dance with her. :) but it may not make it...

As always, we all appreciate your love, prayers and support. Sorry for all the kids getting detention and sent to the Principal's office on behalf of the "I love boobies" bracelets...just turn 'em inside out!

This experience has been extremely humbling for all of us. It is so difficult to go through even though so many people have offered to help and prepare me for what we are doing. I told my own doctor today that if we weren't receiving all of these prayers and having our names place on many different temple prayer rolls, I am not sure we would make it through some of these crazy days and nights. Thanks again for all you do for us!!!

P.S. Morgan has a really cute new t-shirt that is hot pink with two baseballs strategically placed on the front and it reads below: Save Second Base!!! (she won't be wearing it to school, I am sure!) website is: save2ndbase.com

Saturday Night Party!!

Last night Morgan got to celebrate her birthday with her friends...about 20 of her friends stopped by to have a party. Her boyfriend Cody came up to visit from St. George and our neighbors Cami Hansen and Julie Toone made her an awesome birthday cake! They played lots of fun music out on the deck while kids danced and jumped on the tramp. Morgan sat and watched most of it, but you could tell it lifted her spirits quite a bit. She joined in on the "Ice Cream & Cake" dance though. :)

It has become more and more obvious that Friday was her "bad day." She wasn't really nauseous but extremely tired and slept most of the day. Today, Morgan seems to be a little bit more like her usual self, and that feels really good! She is planning to go to school this week as long as she can handle it. We need to figure out all of her options for school though. She could stay in school and just try to make everything up as she goes, sign up for home & hospital which would allow her to stay home but stay enrolled in the classes she is in right now, sign up to take packets instead of going to classes at all, or we could sign her up for internet high school. So many decisions to make!

This week she has two appointments that we know of. She will be having her blood drawn on Tuesday to check her red and white blood counts as well as to check her blood toxicity levels. Wednesday we are going to the Huntsman Cancer Institute for genetic counseling. The doctors already did a DNA test looking for the BRCA1 & BRCA2 gene mutations which is an inherited gene for being more susceptible to breast cancer. Her tests came back negative so I was a little confused as to why we are getting more tests.

I talked to Huntsman and was told that it is still possible she has the BRCA mutation, but that it may be located on a different chromosome than the usual one for breast cancer. They can compare these test results to other young kids who have unusual cancers and see if she could have some genetic condition or syndrome. This would help explain why she had a tumor at age 1 on her adrenal gland and breast cancer at 15. I recently looked the 1996 pathology report from PCMC regarding that tumor and it stated that it wasn't necessarily an adenoma (benign) or a carcinoma (malignant). It was categorized as a neoplasm, which means it could be one or the other. This is the first I have heard that. Those of you who don't know or remember THAT story....well, let's just save it for another day!

Once Huntsman knows what it is, they can screen for it, and possibly could have a medicine to help some underlying condition. I have been doing the research on the Triple Negative Cancer and found that it wasn't really diagnosed as its own type of cancer until just in the last six to ten years. I have to wonder if maybe her adrenal tumor was also a Triple Negative Cancer and some random cell hung around and found its way to her breast. I could be totally wrong, but how else would the same girl have such unexplainable, <1%>

Lots of people have been asking me what they can do for us....it is hard to just ask for help when it isn't the little specific things that we need. Just keep praying and supporting as you have. A financial miracle could help! :) I am sure there are foundations or grants available to help with medical expenses. I just don't have the time to search out those avenues of help. If anyone has some information or knows someone who can help us in this area, please contact me. My email is janapendleton@hotmail.com. Thanks again for all you do!

Morgan's Message Is Around The World!!!

My friend Kami sent this to me and it was so amazing I wanted to share it with all of you! It is amazing...the power and impact that Morgan's story has had on so many people in so many places around the world!

September 9 at 1:21pm

Jana,

This is from Chris's girlfriend in Seattle WA:

Hi Kami. Your Mom talked to Chris yesterday and let him know about Morgan. SO sad! Just wanted you to know she's in all of our thoughts and prayers. I asked for prayers on my wall yesterday too. I am also a part of a Random Acts of Kindness group that a friend from Ann Arbor started. We're at about 2500 members strong right now. Well today I found this as our Thursday message and thought I'd pass it along to you:

Hello all,

As you can imagine I get many many requests and suggestions for our do good Thursday. I try to place them in a list and get the items I can in a challenge to you each week.

Yesterday I have read a status from one of my favorite Pacific West Coast do good warriors. The status talked about a young girl of the age of 15. At 15 this young lady should be worrying about the dress to the homecoming dance, having fun thinking about Boys, looking forward to when she turns 16 and getting her "freedom" in a form of a License.

Instead this young Lady by the name of Morgan is in the fight of her life, a fight that most of us will never truly know. Morgan is 15 and was diagnosed with a highly aggressive form of breast cancer.......at 15....

As a parent myself, as a person myself reading this just breaks my heart to say the least.

So this week’s do good assignment, I am asking each and everyone of you not only to pass thoughts and prayers to Morgan and her family, but on Tuesday September 14, I declare is support Morgan day, I ask that you wear pink in Morgan's honor so that we may send her our do good vibes letting her know that on this day, we the warriors of RAK are behind her and we are here thinking of her on this day.

Do good warriors of RAK I hope you can join me on Tuesday in Honor of this 15 yr old girl named Morgan and let’s take the day to send our RAK to her in this small gesture of support!!

Thanks for all you do my friends!!

FrankO

ps.FROM DIANE:
Just got an update from Frank and he got over 500 emails from people in the group talking about wearing pink for Morgan on Tuesday. A lot of people are recruiting people in their office to wear pink for her too. So if you talk to Morgan's Mom or Janice, let them know that people all over the country are going to be praying for her. I guess that's the power of Facebook, huh?

Taking Precautions...

As people come and go, we need you to remember that germs are bad... We have hand sanitizer right inside the front door, but that doesn't necessarily fix everything. Now that school is in session, the weather is turning, and flu season will be starting, we need you to be extra careful of what comes into the house.

Many of us don't even think about it, myself included, because our own immune systems are healthy and can fight off most things. Her body is more like a newborn's in that it can't fight things off. My sister, Jane, is in the hospital right now in Florida. She has been having chemo treatments and her fever spiked. It is a very scary thing.

During this first week after the chemo treatments especially, I ask that you let Morgan rest as much as possible. She usually will sleep in to mid-morning, take an afternoon nap, and needs to go to bed much earlier than she usually does.

This doesn't mean she needs to be isolated, but just think of your timing. Between nine or ten at night, especially this week, she needs to be told good night and then left alone to sleep. She has been going to bed with her cell phone in her hand just in case someone calls or texts her. PLEASE don't text her early in the morning or after 10:00 at night. She needs her rest more than anything right now.

Morgan's Birthday!!!

Morgan was soooo excited to go to school today! She couldn't wait to see her friends. She did pretty well and made it part way through the day before she called me to check her out. Her Aunts Autumn & Charity drove down from Rexburg with a birthday cake and surprises for both of us. They all went to the movie just to get Morgan out of the house and involved in something non-cancer related. It wore her out but was a great diversion.

So many people came to visit and wish her well. It was a good day overall and amazing to me that it has been 16 years since she was born. Morgan is so much fun and always saying or doing things that you don't expect....even now, she keeps us laughing. When I see that, it makes me feel better that she is being herself...it means that she is feeling okay. But, she has many times commented that she "doesn't want to do this anymore." She is coming to terms with what is really going on.

At the end of the day, we talked for a while in her room. She asked me to relay a message on the blog. She is worn out. So many visitors and well-wishers is exhausiting her. She feels bad because she knows they mean well. But the more everyone tells her they are praying for her or are sorry, she can't escape being the "cancer girl." This is all soooo overwhelming for her, for her family, and I am sure for all of you as well.

I will say though, that she perks up when her friends come around. It does make a positive difference. So keep showing up, just spread it out, limit your time, and don't come in large groups.

Believe me, we all feel the love, concern, support, and spiritual blessings that are coming from each of you. We couldn't do this without it. In fact, we are a little overwhelmed at how much support there really is out there for us. Know that we love you back. We appreciate you and all that is being done on our behalf, truly. Thank you!

Happy Birthday Morgan!!

I can't believe my beautiful sister is 16 years old!! I remember the first time I saw her. Holy cow! I'm so proud of you Morgan. I can't imagine what my live would have been like if you hadn't been there with me the whole way. "Always remember you are stronger than you know." I can't wait to see you tonight... here is your card in advance :) I love you Morgan Stage. ;)

$36,000....REALLY???

Morgan was really tired last night. She had a few friends come over and watched 4 Harry Potter movies! Today she was a little nauseated and tired. At 3:30 we went back to the doctor and she had her first shot of Neulasta.....just as the nurse told us it cost about $6,000 each!!!...and she has to have it six times!! But it is very worth it since it helps her bone marrow build up white blood cells to help her fight off infections. Thank heavens for insurance! This shot will most likely make her bones ache but we are told that she should feel much better by next week. So for now it is Ibuprofen and Compazine.

Thanks to Aunt Jamie (RN) for staying with Morgan while I went back to work today. She has been to all of our doctor appointments and sat with us through the chemo. It REALLY helps to have a medical mind to help decipher all the information we have been given. We have been told that Morgan will be experiencing a "bad day" which is supposed to fall on either Friday or Saturday. I will be staying home with her then.

The surgeon called me with the genetic test results. She does NOT have the gene mutation so there is no need to test any of the rest of us. It appears that this is just a random cell mutation. I always knew Morgan was random but this is absolutely ridiculous!

Tonight we had dinner delivered by the HHS FCCLA officers and Mrs. Shore. They brought a basket full of pink items like fuzzy socks, a blanket, bubble bath, and a movie. Thanks a bunch! We are so lucky to have such good friends. We have an entire table full of cookies, cakes, cards, movies, and other treats. Thanks to everyone.

Don't forget it is Morgan's Sweet 16 Birthday tomorrow!!!

Made It Through Round 1

What a day we have had! At 11:00 this morning we entered a small room and joined six other cancer patients who were hooked up to IV's. Morgan made the comment that it was the first time she really felt like she had cancer. Some were bald, but all were older than she. We walked in with her big fuzzy bear named "Baby Cakes" and her RHS blanket.


Once the IV was started, Morgan was given some anti-nausea/steroid medicine, and then a bag of Cytoxin which took about half an hour. The second drug is called Taxotere. After about 3 minutes of that, Morgan said that she felt really sick, then she couldn't breathe. Her face turned blue and bright red at the same time (hard to explain, but very true). She was also VERY hot to the touch. We were both scared, but the nurse gave her some medicines to help the reaction go away. They said that she had a hypersensitive reaction to the medication and that her immune system was trying to fight the poison.
After clearing out her system with regular saline, they began the medicine again at a slower rate and diluted a little bit. She did fine for the next hour and a half but was very tired as her adrenaline had been going on overload.
I am happy to say that we are home and she is comfy on the couch watching Harry Potter movies. There is a long list of dos and don'ts. She has a lot of things she needs to stay away from. She wants to see people but if you have the sniffles or don't feel well, you can call or text instead.
Morgan's Sweet 16 Birthday is Thursday but she is planning to celebrate on Saturday after the "days of fatigue" go away. Please be mindful that she needs her rest and we are all grateful for all of your love, prayers, and support on behalf of our family.

Wear Pink for Chemo Tomorrow!!!

Tomorrow is a big day for Morgan! She began her steroid medication this morning. She is taking this in case she has an allergic reaction to one of the medicines in her "Chemo Cocktail" tomorrow. Some patients have sort of gone into anaphillactic shock. If that happens, they will stop the flow and wait a few minutes and then start it up again.
It would be great to have everyone wear pink in support of Morgan's Chemotherapy tomorrow. Let your friends know and see how many people will actually wear pink! Text everyone you can think of!

Pink Ribbons

A few other of Morgan's friends, Jessica and Kaylee, did this to Morgans' house...

:)
Thanks guys.

PET Results

On 8/31 we met with the oncologist to find out what she felt the best course of action would be. She explained that some of the most important things would be the size of the original tumor (2.7 cm) and that anything bigger than 1 cm would require chemo. Also, if the lump had been around long enough that some random cells dispersed into her blood stream and spread to other areas such as lymph nodes, liver, bones, brain, and lungs. She told us that Morgan's tumor was grade 3 cells which are the most aggressive and that means they will grow the fastest. She discussed a little about what to expect from chemotherapy and then opted to wait until the PET/CT scan to see what the lump had already done on its own.

On 9/2 we found out that the internal mammary lymph glands are enlarged and that the tumor is not receptive to estrogen, progesterone, or HR2. This means it is called a Triple Negative Medullary breast cancer which is less than 1% common.

Treatment will consist of 6 rounds of chemotherapy, each 3 weeks apart. This will last about 5 months and then we will do 6 weeks of radiation every day M-F. The surgery was postponed since the glands are under her breast bone and in order to remove the nodes, they would have to crack open her breastbone.

She has a prescription for a steroid to take the day before chemo begins and then the day after. This will help prevent an anaphylactic shock from one of the drugs. Also, the day after the chemo, she will go in for a Newlasta shot which will build up her immune system and help build up her white cells. One week after chemo she will go in for a blood test to check her toxicity levels.

The doctors say that each treatment will be a little worse than the one before. We are hoping she takes this first treatment well. Supposedly the 3rd or 4th day is the worst...which will happen to fall on her 16th birthday.

As Morgan's mom, I just want everyone to know how grateful we are for your support, love, prayers, and concern. It is difficult to talk to everyone and fill you in, even though you are all so important. We are just exhausted with all of the news, emotions, and decisions. Just keep in touch and we will keep you as current as possible.

Love to you all!

Angel Kisses

When Morgan was born she had a white streak in her hair. Our family calls it her angel kiss and that she got it from her uncle Josh who had passed away just before she was born. Some of Morgan's awesome friends made their own angel kisses and colored them pink to show their support. You guys rock!!

Update

Hey everyone, it's Kylee, Morgan's sister. First of all, thank you all for your incredible support the last couple weeks. Morgan is overwhelmed by the outpouring of love. Keep it coming, it's exactly what she needs! So, here is what I know so far. Hopefully everything I write is correct, but I'm no doctor :)...
Morgan had a lump removed from her right breast last Wednesday the 25th. The surgeon even brought it out to show us! It was the size of a ping-pong ball which is very large [in my opinion :) ]. The surgery went fantastic and Morgan spent the whole day with friends and family. She even got to go to the first day of school the next day.


On Friday the surgeon called our mom to give her the results of the biopsy. She said it was nothing she had expected and that she had gone over and over it with pathology. She has taken hundreds of lumps out of teenage girls just like Morgan and only a few, if any, have come back cancerous. The doctor explained that Morgan has Medullary Breast Cancer. It is a mutation of "normal" breast cancer. It is a very rare type, but one of the most successfully treated. It is usually genetic and may be a mutation on one of her chromosomes. The doctor doesn't know how or why she got it, but it could relate back to the tumor she had as a toddler on her Adrenal gland. Since it was Friday, we had to wait the weekend out and she went in for testing on Monday.
On Monday morning, Morgan had an MRI of her chest and she did a DNA test. The MRI basically sliced her chest into little pieces so they could see if the cancer had spread anywhere else. The DNA test was to see if she had that mutation genetically. If it comes back negative- good. If it is positive- then her parents will have to do the same test to see which side it is on and so on. After the tests, she met with the surgeon again and the surgeon had the MRI results. The left breast looked good but the right had a few problems. Her tissue around where the original lump was removed was inflamed and so were two lymph nodes. That means the cancer could have spread there. Because of this information, the doctor decided Morgan will undergo chemo therapy treatments for sure. Also, there will be another surgery to remove the border tissue from her original lump to make sure there is a 'clean border'. Also, they will inject a die into her skin that will travel anywhere the cancer has gone, such as those lymph nodes. They will remove any places that the die goes to. Next the surgeon ordered a PET/CT scan that was scheduled for today. This will scan Morgan's entire body from head to toe to see any 'hot spots' that the cancer may also be at. If the scan is clear, they will do surgery Friday and start chemo a couple weeks after that. If there are any other spots at all, they will start chemo immediately.
Morgan also met with an oncologist on Wednesday to work out her chemo medicine and things like that. I still haven't hear the update from that appointment so we will have to fill you in later.
So now we are just waiting for the PET results... not sure when they will come back. Hopefully soon. I know you already do but keep Morgan in your prayers, she needs them! Thank you for all you do. Together we are going to beat this!
Go Pink :)