Bear Mom - I hope you have a better day today. Always in my prayers - Leia

We're going to be admitted again - to the housepillow (that's how my cousin's son thought hospital was spelled when he sent us a card) - hemoglobin down to 4.5! She needs another transfusion . We'll probably also do the portal vein angioplasty while we are there.

May His strength and power be with you today!!! I am praying for you and your little bear Becca!!!

You have my prayers for you Natalie and Becca.

Prayers from South Texas for the whole family.

New post on Natalie's new webpage www.nataliebear.com (if you haven't checked it out - do so ... there are so many cute pictures of the Bear!)

Thursday, June 02, 2005 09:13 AM CDT

We are back in the hospital. Natalie got a transfusion last night. Her hemoglobin was down to 4.5. (Below 10 they will usually do a transfusion, but before transplant Natalie usually hovered around the 10 mark.)

We are going for a CT (Cat) Scan later this morning and will most likely do the Portal Vein Angioplasty tomorrow. We were supposed to do the CAT scan yesterday, but it was more important that she got the blood transfusion than the CT scan.

I'll post again, when I know more. We'll be here awhile - at least until we figure out what is going on with her.

It sounds like they'll be there for awhile. If you'd like to send The Bears an e-card, here is the Link. Hopefully, they'll have some answers soon.

Princess,

Do you have a room number?

Sorry, my bad ... anon is right, it's on the website - room 609.

I love the new pictures, she is the most adorable little girl!! Still praying for you, stay strong!

Hey all!
Here's an update....and it's not an especially good one.

CT scan showed that her lymph nodes are indeed larger than they should be. So in our discussions with the doctors, it was decided that they would go forward like this is PTLD in the early stages. This makes sense.

Jason came up with a good explanation, EBV is attacking the bone marrow, which produces hemoglobin - hence the low low low hemoglobin numbers. Tha plan of attack is to gradually DECREASE immuno-suppression drugs, to allow the body to fight the EBV/ PTLD. Right now she's in a procedure to take a portion of her bone marrow to get a better idea of what to do and to see how severe the PTLD is.

Say lots of prayers for our little fighter.

She will be in my heart, as will you and your husband. Hang in there...

Lots and lots of prayers coming your way. Hang on Becca and Jason. May God Bless and keep you all.

Continued prayers for your little fighter!

Adorable picture. Hope she is getting lots of cards to look at.

Pulled up Natalie's website today and just had to call my hubbie in to look, what a wonderful picture of your little fighter!!

Hey all...taking a little break in the computer area...
if you do send cards (and for those that have - THANKS) please make sure to use Natalie's last name: Natalie K. Some people have put Nataliebear (which is just fine with us) but confusing for the poor volunteers.

Hey, Becca! How's our bear today? And how are you and hubby holding up? Hope you at least get a chance to use the sunroom at the hospital to soak up some of those healing rays. It looks like summer is finally coming to the Midwest. Continued prayers and hugs.

Please keep the bears in your prayers today as Natalie undergoes surgery. Here is today's post on her Website :

Wednesday, June 08, 2005 07:47 AM CDT

Today is the day..for the lymph node tissue biopsy.

It is a fairly easy surgery, but it is just that, a surgery. We had 2 of Dr. Superina's residents come and talk to us yesterday. They will go in around her right lung and take a sample of a lymph node near that (since that was the most enlarged one on the CT scan).

Natalie is scheduled to be 2nd case (10 am). But last night was running a fever of 39 C (102.2 F) and her hemoglobin this morning was 5.2. So we'll see what these 2 new factors will play in her surgery's scheduling.

Her doctors let us know that her liver numbers look GREAT!!!

Continued prayers for G-d's perfection to shine through Becca and illuminate the pefectness of her being.

Still praying for you guys!

I'm also praying for your family! I showed my son the pictures of sweet Natalie and he's praying too (he's only 7!)

I too have shared the beautiful photos with a couple of my co-workers and asked for their prayers. They have been added! What a wonderful family you have!! All my hopes and dreams for Natalie and your family coming your way!!

As always, Natalie is in my prayers. I hope the surgery went well, she is such a fighter.