Update: Fun week at Home!

Caroline spent some much-needed time at home in Franklin this week, and got to do MANY of the fun things she missed while away in Cincinnati.  She had a playdate and baking session with Miss Stacey and Shelby the dog; a cookout and sleepover at her favorite TN mountaintop; a Preds game (and win!) with the family; homebound kindergarten classes with Miss Elise; watched her brother play an EWA Cubs game; visits with friends Mr. Scott and Mr. Chris; and last but certainly not least...learned to ride her bike with no training wheels after only 4 attempts!!!  She is rocking and rolling right now - feeling well with plenty of energy.

Her counts at clinic this week were just "ok," so Caroline will need Neupogen shots for the next 3 days, and we will head back to clinic on Monday to check again and continue monitoring them closely.  Unfortunately, with cold and flu season almost here, it will (again) soon be time to start limiting Caroline's exposure to enclosed spaces and large groups of people, so we plan on continuing the outdoor fun this weekend.  Tonight we're heading to have firepit s'mores with friends that live on our alley, another EWA Cubs game Saturday afternoon, a fun neighborhood party tomorrow night, and then a Ravens vs. Titans game to cap it off on Sunday.  We are trying to LIVE and enjoy every day right now!

One of our amazingly talented friends, Anneliese, designed a "superhero" logo for Caroline (featured on the blog), and she put them on new t-shirts to support Caroline.  They are the first batch to feature that theme, they come in multiple color and style options, and include a front and back logo design.  You can check them out by clicking here.

Thank you for all the love and support!  We hope you're able to enjoy and live your days to the fullest this weekend!
Lantz Family
#carolinestrong
#ftgf

 Go Caroline!!!

Proton Therapy / Cincinnati Update

Caroline and Margaret got back late last night, after 2 full days of doctor's appointments, consultations, scan, x-ray and general Proton Therapy education and prep.  Information overload, to say the least. 

We do not know the exact date that Caroline will start Proton Therapy, but they are shooting for sometime next week (Wednesday or Thursday), or at the latest, September 4th.  

We have secured housing and will be staying at an apartment very close to the Proton center, which is very helpful, since Caroline may be nauseous after being sedated every day before she gets radiation.  She will receive a total of 20 outpatient treatments, and we hope to wrap-up late by September or early October.  Mark and Andrew will travel up to Cincinnati as work, school and baseball schedules permit.

Some friends have been asking for Caroline Strong t-shirts, so we have re-launched the campaign with a new design.  You can purchase or just check them out by clicking here.

Thank you for all the love and support as we move into this 4th major phase of the High-Risk Neuroblastoma treatment plan.

Lantz Family

#carolinestrong

#ftgf

Proton Radiation machine! 

 Caroline was able to get up close to the machine and check it out!

Proton Therapy Center and Cincinnati Children's Hospital - Liberty Campus

Lobby of Proton Center 

Solid dab on luggage cart...

Enjoying the sunshine and fresh air!

Exhausted on the ride home...

Random Updates

We are heading into the clinic Friday, and are hoping that Caroline's ANC counts (and all other counts!) are high enough to start round 5 of chemo, after being rolled 3 weeks in a row.  We know that our pray warriors are behind us, and we're praying hard with you.

Kindergarten Registration
Margaret registered Caroline for Kindergarten on Tuesday.  Although Caroline will not be able to attend Kindergarten at school, Williamson County offers "Homebound Instruction," which means Caroline will be taught at home (or in the hospital), until her immune system is strong enough to brave the petri-dish of germs at school. 

Registration was a really rough day for Margaret.  Although we've spent a few major holidays in the hospital already, this was the first real milestone that felt different, thanks to cancer.  Many parents were able to bring their kids to registration - sign them up for Kindergarten Camp, Sneak-A-Peek, meet Officer Boyd, meet the teachers, etc.  Our version: Caroline wasn't able to go, Margaret wore sunglasses to hide the tears while she filled out the forms, and broke down in front of the principal (sorry, Mrs. Schwartz!).  As we quickly learned after Caroline was diagnosed, we are not in control...but sometimes it's still hard to let go of the vision we had for her...what Kindergarten registration would be (such a fun, big-girl day!)...Andrew and Caroline riding the bus together for the first (and only!) year they would be at the same school...

Although it wasn't how we imagined, Caroline will still "go" to Kindergarten, and we are truly grateful for every.single.day.

Preds Game
We've mostly been hanging out around the house all day, every day, but we were able to get out as a family on Tuesday night to see the Predators vs. Jets game at the Bridgestone Arena.  Thanks to goalie Pekka Rinne, we enjoyed a Suite with other patients, and their families, from Vanderbilt Children's Hospital.  It was great to be out in public, all together, doing something fun and "normal."  We're so thankful that he's sponsored an isolated space for immunocompromised patients.

CycleBar Class for Caroline THIS SUNDAY (3/18) at 12pm!
If you are in the Nashville area, CycleBar is hosting a spin class for Caroline.  Click here to sign-up.  Hope you can join us, and major shout-out to Brenna, Anna, and everyone at McKay's Mill Dental for coordinating this event!

T-Shirts Still Available
If you ordered t-shirts before March 11th, they should be shipping on/around March 19th.  The fundraising website automatically opened another campaign because of the high volume of requests (Yay Team Caroline supporters!!!).  That campaign will end April 4th, and will ship around April 9th.  If you would like to purchase the #carolinestrong gear, click here.

Thank you for your continued support and prayers - we feel it, and it's helping us get through each day.

Hoping and praying for HIGH counts on Friday,
The Lantz Family
#carolinestrong
#ftgf