8/18/05 - HANNAH'S PROGRESS HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS THIS PAST WEEK. Hannah now attends physiotherapy 3 times a week for one hour in the hospital gym. She is even starting to walk again ON HER OWN. Hannah is full of life & enjoys her days doing crafts and watching tv. Hannah's energy level has been increasing daily. Although we will not know the results of last weeks blood test for another 2-3 weeks Hannah's progress has everyone LEANING TOWARDS the HOPE that Hannah HAS taken to the donor bone marrow. The exact percentages will not be known until the results come back. Hannah's blood counts have all been rising and have exceeded the "DANGER ZONE". The only drawback is that Hannah has not been eating well and the fear that she may loose too much weight if sent home has brought the doctors to the decision of inserting a G-Tube (feeding tube) into Hannah's stomach. She will have her surgery on Tuesday, August 23. This tube will allow Hannah to be given a meal supplement above anything she eats or drinks orally and will ensure that she does not loose any weight. The tube will also be used to give Hannah her oral medication that she has trouble taking. This will help Hannah to gain some extra strength and will speed her recovery process. Hannah will be tube fed a few times a day (schedule yet to be determined). If stable Hannah will go home with the G-Tube and it will remain in TEMPORARILY until she is eating well. (Maybe up to 6 months). THE GREAT NEWS IS HANNAH MAY BE ABLE TO GO HOME AS EARLY AS 3 DAYS AFTER SURGERY. If Hannah continues to progress the way she has been it looks like Hannah will be REUNITED with her family in the next 2 weeks. It has been a LONG, LONG 6 1/2 MONTHS. But it's ALMOST OVER!!!!!!!!!!! WAY TO GO HANNAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!