Start of the 2019 school year update

The start of a new school year, so we thought we should give an update on how Abby is doing.

Coming home from school early

Last year she started the school year off without making it until noon even once in September and October.  With some changes in medication she was lasting until noon some days by January, and with further changes to medication she was lasting until noon about 80% of the time by the end of the school year, missing a complete day every second week or so.  When Abby was in class she did well, but she missed so many classes, and wasn’t there in the afternoon at all, that she struggled in some classes. 

Fatigue is the main issue and is a direct result of impacts from the tumour, the surgery, and especially the radiation which continues to work on cells, good and bad, in Abby’s head.  She also gets headaches from noise and can overheat very easily because her body does not regulate its temperature very well.  Once overheated she needs to cool off and rest.

All of these things make the school environment a little more challenging, but Abby is a good student.  We redid the grade 7 math curriculum over the course of the summer and she was able to get 84% overall.   This has helped her feel more confident going into grade 8.

Another change we have made is Sherri-Lynn is now working part time so she can help Abby in the afternoons.  Trying to do homework in the evenings was not effective, so with Sherri-Lynn’s new flexibility she may be able to volunteer at the school to help Abby or just help her in the afternoons at home.

We are working with a pediatric sleep specialist and a neuro-psychologist to figure out how to help Abby’s school experience improve.  Her friends are very important to her, and she learns best while in class.  Sherri-Lynn is hoping by spending time in the classroom that she can help Abby manage her physical environment so that she can last all day at school.

Stantec Building at Rope for Hope Fundraiser for Make A Wish

This summer provided with some opportunities to help the Make A Wish Foundation for Northern Alberta.  We helped out at the Rope for Hope event in Red Deer where fundraising participants rappelled down the Stantec Building. That was a hot day, but we were able to cheer on a gentleman who was the largest individual Make A Wish fundraiser for all of Canada, raising enough to fill 3 children’s wishes.

Abby receiving a donation from the Gord Bamford Foundation for Make A Wish Northern Alberta

Honorary Keeper of the Cup (Grey Cup)

We also attended a gala fundraiser put on by the Gord Bamford Foundation.  Abby was able to meet Gord Bamford, Canadian country singer, was made an Honorary Keeper of the Cup for the Grey Cup, and was able to present it to Gord Bamford to honor his charity work.  His foundation provided the money to Make A Wish for Abby’s wish last summer when we went to Comic-Con in San Diego.

Beyond that we went on a couple of small camping trips, visited the Calgary Zoo, and did a tour of the warehouse at the Reynolds Museum and a couple of car shows. Abby loves old cars.

We look forward to this school year.  We think the changes we are making will be able to help her with school and her social circles, but at times it seems like everything is just a long experiment.  We find parts and pieces that work and try to keep them as we search for new pieces that will help.

At the Ride for Hope fundraiser in Edmonton and Kids with Cancer

We appreciate all your thoughts and prayers.

#GordBamfordfdn @GordBamfordFdn @MakeAWishNAB #MakeAWishNAB