First week of radiation

Our first full week of treatment is behind us now. Hannah had radiation every day. Quite uneventful, really, as the appointments lasted only 20 minutes or so per day. Next week should be the same and the week after as well.

We moved into the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald house this past week, too. Hannah really loves it here as there are other children to play with and also a pool table, air hockey, table football and more... Her pool game has improved enormously the past week and yesterday she even beat my friend Sam Ruttenberg, who himself is quite a good pool player...! The Ronald McDonald house does a very good job of entertaining the children, too. After dinner they often have either a magician, dogs to play with, hand crafts and other fun things which the children love.

It has snowed here again the past couple of days so Hannah has been outside stomping through the highest snow drifts she can find!

Dinner with our 'team' at Osteria

During the month or so before we came for treatment to Philadephia we had an amazing team of remarkable people (both in Holland and in Philly) who assisted us in every way. 2 nights ago we were able to have dinner together and everyone was able to meet. While we were struggling with Hannah's health in December/January, Tammy Fine emerged as our 'guardian angel' in Holland and she flew over especially for this. We had an amazing evening with everyone who had been so helpful to us; Jeff Benjamin, Tamara Nuzzaci, Ronnie Polaneczky and Lee Shlifer. We were delighted to meet Jay Scott, executive director of Alex's Lemonade Stand, chefs Marc Vetri and Jeff Michaud, and Ronnie's daughter, Addie. Michael Fine, our artistic director in Rotterdam came down from NY for the evening and my mother, Carol, was there, too

The place was Jeff and Marc's Osteria, recently praised as the best restaurant in Philadelphia. The food was delicious and we had a private table in the kitchen. Even though we met many people for the first time, it felt like getting together with old friends. We are lucky and blessed to have had so much support from these remarkable Philadelphians.

Philadelphia

Hannah continues to amaze all of us! We arrived safely on Sunday night, and settled into our hotel. The next morning (seemingly unaffected by jet-lag), Hannah insisted we go to a pancake restaurant for breakfast. We all ate to our hearts content on the mammoth sized portions of food!

Philadelphia has really opened its arms and welcomed us. We have been invited to several of the finest restaurants in the city, of which one was a sushi restaurant which went down particularly well. After much planning, we had our first appointment with Dr. Maris today. We discussed all that Hannah has been through since her diagnosis last June and he tells us about the immunotherapy treatments that Hannah will be having.

Unexpectedly, he said that he wants Hannah to undergo 12 radiation treatments before she can begin the immunotherapy. We also had an appointment later in the day with radiation oncologist Ramji Rajendran. He explained many details to us and tomorrow Hannah will have a 'simulation' for the radiation. The radiation will most likely start at the beginning of March.

Here are some more pictures in Philadelphia!

Hannah in IHOP

Hannah and her grandmother, Carol, in the very modern sushi restaurant Pod..!

Flight To Philadelphia

As I am writing this, we are on the plane, somewhere over the atlantic. We got up early this morning, and left for Schiphol at 9:15, only to arrive and be told our flight was delayed until 4.00 PM. We were however given access to the airline lounge in which we relaxed and rested before our flight. Hannah of course insisted on buying sushi for lunch, which was very delicious. Hannah is coping amazingly (she has more energy than I do). Whilst my parents sleep, she plays cards with me, reads, and plays her favourite horse game on the laptop. I will post some pictures I took when in the lounge/on the plane!

Departure

This is the first post of Hannah's progress blog! Tomorrow we are departing for Philadelphia which will be very exciting for all. We should arrive by late afternoon, and go to the hotel and settle in. Hannah is very excited and nervous at the same time. The flight will be around 9 hours long, which does not seem to phase her at all, her being already very well travelled. She is looking forward seeing her grandmother, Carol, and going to the International House of Pancakes! Also, meeting the new nurses that will care for her over the coming six months is something she is very inquisitive about.