I have been asked a few times since over the past few months this very question: “How did she present?”  Each time I was asked, I have to relive those days when she was ill and not improving.  When the blood tests were critical and required immediate hospitalization, I was happy to have professional intervention.  It was my worst nightmare though to walk into ER and hear that an oncologist had already been consulted for her.

Week of 9/9/13 Mommy and the children had a virus. Everyone recovered seemingly well, except Naomi’s illness was lingering. Mommy had begun to notice some bruising on Naomi and associated it with her gymnastics promotion and her new skills. She had been attending gymnastics two days per week for a total of 3.5 hours but continued to flip and tumble all over at home, too. We decided to skip gymnastics all week and we cut way back on homeschool for everyone to rest and recover.

When Naomi’s illness lingered beyond the rest of us, we paid a visit to a naturopathic physician who ordered a CBC. We went that same day to Qwest Diagnositics and had the tests completed.

9/23/13 lab results came back and we were instructed to report to ER immediately. Naomi was admitted to St. Rose Siena with pancytopenia. Transfusions were ordered immediately and administered that evening. Preliminary diagnosis of leukemia.