Hanna Kathleen Holliday was born January 15, 2008 at Davis Hospital in Iredell county, North Carolina. She was a healthy, happy baby. On her six month well baby checkup on August 7th, her doctor, Dr. Schopps noticed that she looked pale and ordered a blood test.  At 6:30pm we received a phone call from Dr. Schopps telling us to take Hanna to Levine's Children Hospital in Charlotte, NC.  Upon arrival there, they order multiple blood test and gave her a blood transfusion. The next day we were introduced to Hanna's new doctor, Dr. Sarah Gall.  It was Dr. Gall's first night on call having just been hired by Levine's. We were told that Hanna did have cancer but they were unable to determine what type.

Within one week Hanna had three bone marrow biopsies. The first of the second week they performed surgery to remove lymph nodes off of her neck and to do a skin biopsy. On Friday August 22, 2008 we met with Dr. Gall and she explained that Hanna had Acute Myeloid Leukemia, without Down Syndrome. Upon further testing it was determined that she had the sub group M07. The clinical name is Acute Megakaryoblastic Leukemia. Only 1 child in approximately 2.5 million children are diagnosed with (De Novo AMKL).

On August 27, 2008 Hanna started chemo treatment. It was a ten day treatment designed to kill both cancer cells and good cells in her body. Currently she is still in the hospital and being treated with antibiotics while we wait for blood count to return to normal. After her counts were high enough we started second round of chemo.

We are currently on second round of chemo. This is a eight day treatment. We started this round with her ANC count at 504. The count had went up but started to fall, telling the doctors that the cancer was present and agresive. This round has made her very sick and we are only half way through at this time.

Oct. 17, 2008  Hanna is back in the hospital with an infection. We went in Sunday night. Her fever and infection is under controll. We are planning on having a bone marrow biopsy done on Monday to see how much cancer is left.

Oct. 28, 2008 Hanna has finished her third round of chemo. We plan on being home for a couple of weeks then start transplant. As long as she does not get sick we will get to stay at home.

Nov 4, 2008 Hanna has stayed sick and in the hospital most of the time. Hailey's birthday is today and we hope to get to go home this weekend to celebrate it.

Nov. 23, 2008 Hanna is in the hospital to start the chemo for transplant. Her transplant date is set for Dec. 2, 2008.

Dec. 2, 2008 Transplant went well overall. Now we play the waiting game and try to do everything we can to keep her from getting sick.

Dec. 25, 2008 It has been a rough time at the hospital Hanna has been very ill but is starting to feel better. Over the last month she has thrown up blood for days, not eaten for weeks and fighting off rashes. It appears the new bone marrow is starting to work.

Dec. 31, 2008 We have been able to bring Hanna home. She is still week and we have to take extra care for her. Overall she is doing good. We have to go to clinic at least twice a week to check counts and get blood and platlettes. Since start of transplant she has recieved over 30 units of platlettes and 10 blood transfusions. She was sent home with over 8 medicine she has to take twice a day my mouth. She is not a big sport when it come to taking them.

Jan. 15, 2009 Hanna is One year old today. We have not had to stay another night in the hospital since our last release. Hanna is doing well and starting to catch up on her mobility.

July 1, 2009 Hanna has done well over the last several months. She has some kidney functions that are not normal and we continue to fight a persistant rash. To date she has had 13 bone marrow biopsies.

Hanna's parents are Guy and Katie Holliday. She has a 3 year old sister Hailey, and a step brother, Clint. Hanna lives in Iredell county in North Carolina. Her favorite activities are making faces at her Dad, smiling at her sister. 

You can keep up with Hanna's progress by visiting her at www.caringbridge.org/visit/hannaholliday

This page will be updated on a weekly basis.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

                                                                    

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