In September 2005 Gielle Kuhn, 10, was diagnosed with Burkitt’s lymphoma, an aggressive B-cell lymphoma. Below are excerpts from Gielle’s online diary that chronicles her four-month treatment and frequent hospital stays. We retained much of her original format and style. --Editors.
September 14, 2005, at 08:34 PM EDT
Aug. 31--We arrived at the emergency room at the hospital. Cat scan, X-ray, enema, labs.
Sept. 1--Waiting for tests. Admitted into 5th floor.
Sept. 2 – NPO [no food by mouth], surgery, biopsy, and port insertion at 6 p.m. Back in room at 10 p.m. Recovery room nurse has a daughter with the same problem. Her daughter was 2 years old, got treatment for six months, and is 6 years old now and is doing well. . . . Dr. Geiger told Mommy that I have Burkitt’s lymphoma. And he said that there is HOPE.
Sept. 3--Doctor tried to do spinal tap on me. It was very painful. I was admitted to Oncology on 7th floor in the afternoon. I felt very sick. My belly hurt a lot.
Sept. 4--I started chemotherapy. It is a funny feeling. I got an allergic reaction to [the medication] Reglan.
Sept. 5-9--Chemotherapy.
Sept. 10, 11--Good days. I could go outside if I wanted to, but I had too much headache.
Sept. 12--Second dose of chemotherapy. I felt very sick and nauseated. I vomited a lot, and then my headaches got worse . . .
Sept. 13--I slept and vomited all day.
Sept. 14--Jenny from Child Life helped make a doll, and we played surgery and IV. I enjoyed that, although I had to vomit many times. I also listened to Bob play the guitar and Jenny tell me a story. You know what? The doctor who did my surgery, Dr. Geiger, came to see me today with his bike. He travels throughout the United States raising money for cancer research. I took a picture with him. Now I am very tired. Good night.
September 17, 2005, at 08:40 AM EDT
I was thinking this morning about a mini house that I want to build in my parents’ backyard . . . I had a spinal tap. I asked Jesus to do it, and you know what? He did it for me. “Ask and it shall be given to you.” I got a card today with those words from the Bible. The spinal tap went fast and well. My mom was telling me about the beach, the waves coming and going, and then I asked “How long?” and my mom said, “It is over.” After that I did not have a headache the same way I had last week . . . I had music playing in the room, the CD Kids (the red one), and when it was over, the songs playing were “Praise the Lord” and “I have decided to follow Jesus.” . . . I wish I could eat a big plate of fettuccine Alfredo at my favorite restaurant, but my mom is scared of me getting bugs from the food there, so she will prepare it for me at home.
September 25, 2005, at 11:53 PM EDT
Tonight my dad brought some fettuccine Alfredo for me. It was delicious. I could not eat much, and had to eat it very slowly, but it was great! I took a walk with my mom. I saw the hospital building and the many windows. There are so many sick people here. God must have an army of angels watching over us here. I saw a little park, with trees and lights. I wish I could go down and walk there. My mom said that my blood tests are wonderful and my counts are up, which means that my immune system is getting stronger. My incision is very red, so I hope the little soldiers will fight infection soon and win.
September 27, 2005
My mom and I were talking about what I will be when I grow up. I want to find out a way for cancer patients, mostly girls, not to lose their hair during treatment. Maybe I will be a doctor and a researcher. But I really want to be what Jesus wants me to be.
October 08, 2005, at 11:45 AM EDT
Last night I was very hungry, and I cried because the food here in the hospital is horrible. My mom has a Crock-Pot so she cooks for me. She made noodles, so I was happy. I did not sleep well.
I woke up many times at night. The nurse gave me chemotherapy at 4 am--can you believe it? This morning I was sad. The medicine makes me sad, tired, and hungry. My mom made chickpea salad, and it was good. I ate it for breakfast! My dad is bringing me food from home that my grandparents made. I still have a headache, and I have nausea. I wish I could be home. I am very tired. I am going to try to sleep now.
October 14, 2005, at 03:35 PM EDT
Yesterday morning I went to the clinic to get lab work. I slept in the afternoon, I felt so tired. Last night I had fever, 100.3. I need to have 100.4 to go [back] to the hospital. We prayed that it would go down, but God knows what is best for me. I was able to eat Mom’s food for supper, and it was good, although I have the mouth sores again and it hurts to eat. Maybe that is why I have a fever, and my counts are low. That means my immune system is low. At midnight my mom checked my temperature, and it was 100.5. Grandma, Grandpa, Mom, and Dad got everything ready to go to the hospital, and we left at 12:30 am . . .
November 15, 2005, at 05:07 PM EST
I am sad, but I am trying to have courage. I had a good afternoon nap. Yesterday night I forgot I had the thermometer under my arm, and I dropped it! I was sad, but Mommy is so nice, and she said not to worry. That made me feel better . . . I have to do a CT scan to see if I still have cancer cells. In the protocol I have one more chemo just to be sure, but if I still have cancer cells I’ll have to do more chemo. I am sad because I have cancer, but grateful it wasn’t any worse. God always gives us what we can handle!
December 31, 2005, at 03:54 PM EST
It’s the last day of the year! I did the scans and yesterday the doctor called telling all the results are OK. And yesterday I saw a LOT of birds! They were so pretty! They were flying like a dance, rejoicing with me! I am happy that Jesus healed me! I hope I NEVER again have this horrible disease! Thank you for praying for me! I am going to see the doctor the 6th of January . . . I am sad my grandparents are leaving tomorrow. They’re going back to Brazil. Have a happy week and Happy New Year!
January 27, 2006, at 09:20 PM EST
Happy Sabbath to all of you. Today was a nice day. I enjoyed the sun. The home school books have arrived. I am glad I can catch up before going to school again. I had to go do a blood test because I have a little abscess, so I need to start taking Keflex--ugh! I don’t like taking those horrible, huge capsules . . . The blood test was painful, but I got some stickers! I breathe into a flow meter every day to check my lungs. I have to do more puffs every day. It seems my lungs are weak. I keep practicing piano and harp. I helped Mommy cook today. I went to Borders yesterday, and I bought a book I really wanted: Jess, from the American Girls. We did a lot of walking yesterday. I feel better every day. My mom is giving me a lot of fresh orange juice, sometimes carrot and apple juice. She says it will help me get stronger.
Good night. Thank you for your prayers. God is healing me.
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Gielle Kuhn likes to read, ride her bike, play with her sister and friends, play the piano and harp, do crafts, and collect stamps, stationery, state quarters, stickers, key chains, and pencils.
>>>Next Month
April’s Our Daily Blog will feature excerpts from Gielle’s mother’s online diary, sharing a mother’s perspective of her daughter’s bout with cancer.
