Surgery went well.. They found three nodules in the left lung, so they didn't go in both sides like they were going to...they took samples of three different nodules in that lung to send off for testing..they put a chest tube in and she may have it taken out tomorrow.. She is still in good spirits- bless her little heart. She looked around the room and the Surgeon asked her who all those people were and she named everyone of us standing around and he said boy these people must love you and she said "Well Of course they do! :) " She is so cute lol.. When i left the hospital last night she was watching 'Enchanted' and drinking Chocolate milk... NOT MILK ..Chocolate milk.. don't mess up and say the wrong one either! Whewwwe! She was running a fever earlier today mom said it has been sorta on and off.. and they were supposed to read the MRI results, but I haven't heard from her yet.. Maybe soon.. If not I will update again tomorrow :)                                                                     Thanks so much for all your prayers and concerns :)

Katie got a package today in the mail. Thanks if you're reading this...I can't wait to see her when she opens it!

Kristin!

Katie is out of MRI and now in O.R for the biopsy and they are going in both sides of her ribs to look at each lung. We are praying hard that they find NOTHING..

Kristin

Tomorrow is the big day..
MRI, Biopsy of Lung and going in with the cameras to the lungs..We need a miracle.. Now more than ever- so far.. if these nodules in the lungs are not cancerous then we will be on the list for the transplant.. if they are..they don't know what to do yet..Just pray that everything goes well tomorrow

-Kristin

Just got back in Florence, from Charleston... So much went on and on today!.. Gosh. Don't know were to start.. :(

Her AFP (Tumor marker) Is on they way back up.. that means its growing again.. went from over 100,000 when she was first diagnosed to 25,000 then it started back up at 33,000 and now its currently at 47,000.. Her tumor is growing again, and they are thinking that the "blood clot" may also be a tumor.. So we are looking at a Complete transplant from a cadaver doner (Deceased Child preferably because of the size) ..Its hard to think about.. Its hard to even wrap our mind around it.. her Chemo has completly quit working... The lung also has a nodule in it.. They are going to do a MRI And a Biopsy and go in with a camera to look around on Tuesday.. To see if that is metasis (Cancer) or see what is going on in the lungs.. Hope. Pray. Wish. Its not.. IF it is.. Then they don't know what to do.. at this point. We will worry about that when we get to that.. As for now.. IF its not cancer, they will be doing the transplant AsAp.. If Time becomes an issue and ONLY if time becomes an issue she will be eligable for a familial (Family) transplant (Which will be by me.. hopefully because we are the same blood type) They need that main artery so they really need a cadaver liver to take the entire liver and the main artery as well..

Until Tuesday, or really until the results come we don't know anything else.. just that this is heartbreaking.. especially when things were going so great to start with.. then they just completly stopped and made a turn.

I will try to keep everyone updated..

With Hope. Love and Prayers...

-Kristin

New Update 11-13-08 --9:27am

 A quick update on Katie.  Monday before Halloween she spiked a temp (103.9) and had to be rushed by ambulance back to MUSC.  Round 4 went well but her counts dropped really low after we got home.  She received several units of blood and platelets as well as IV antibiotics.  She was discharged on Halloween and has been doing well since.  Her latest scan was last Thursday (no results yet - standing on my head).  I took her for blood work today, everything looks good for admission on Thursday.  Not sure if they are going to proceed with round 5 or not.  She is operable at this point but until the docs call Wednesday we will not know which way they intend to go.

Thank you all so much for your prayers, words of comfort and donations.  Katie's father lost his job due to our failing economy, obviously I cannot work due to her condition.   We are literally living off the charity of family, church and angels like you. 

God Bless you all!

Stacie (Katie's Mom)

Katie is in Charleston, She didn't go as soon as we thought... (Oct 3rd) Her body had not yet built itself back up to go in that soon, so she got to go in last thursday (oct 9) , she had an audiology test done- perfect results, as well as ekg and eco- they were great as well! She developed a fever yesterday and last night, so they ran another iv in her hand.. and gave her some antibiotics, Her ANC dropped really low, really fast, and they were unaware of it, so she went to the playroom anyway and could have possibly caught something in there.. No fever as of this afternoon when I talked to mom, she said Katie pretty much sweated it out all night last night..So, hopefully we are over that bump in the road.. Katie got a 'prayer shawl' in the mail today, absolutly beautiful, I cant wait for her to get home and open her box (Thanks so Much if you are reading this )! Its amazing how wonderful people are still out there, just absolute strangers sending cards, and quilts and things its amazing.. God works through Children... and if there is one reason why we belive this had to happen to my baby sister..that would be the only thing acceptable- God works on Children, and he needs HER to bring people closer to HIM.. and i Believe its working 100%!

Until next time..

Kristin

The Drs scheduled another round of chemo! Round #4- to begin on the 2nd of October, 2008... It feels like she just got home- i guess 15 days there, 15 days here..its going to feel like that.. after this round, and her numbers start to come up (probably around the end of October, early November) they will be doing another CT Scan to look at the tumor again, and the blood clot and the spleen... they will also be doing another Ultrasound and Probably another hearing test.. Just wanted to let you all know whats comming up! She is continuing to improve from the last chemo still, she got blood and platelets today in Charleston, her Temper Tantrums are getting worse..but Really, how much can you put a 3 year old through before you get one!?!?

Kristin

The following was written by Katie's older sister, Kristin Williams.

Katie - Bonnie Kathleen Fitch - was a complete surprise to our family. Shortly before learning of Katie's pending arrival, our mom miscarried and was told her chances of pregnancy were slim to none.

Born February 15, 2005, in Florence, Katie was a healthy baby girl.

But Katie isn't your typical three-year-old, She has Hepatoblastoma. Hepatoblastoma is a rare liver cancer that occurs in about one in a million children in the United States every year.

When she was diagnosed, the doctors reviewed the CT scans and the biopsy results and determined that Katie's Cancer is in a Stage 3.

This particular stage means that her tumor is inoperable due to its size, but it has not spread to any other organs.

We were told that her chances of survival were 70 percent but we have more faith than that.

The doctors are aggressively treating this tumor, just as it is aggressively attacking her liver. They are using intense chemotherapy to shrink the tumor. The protocol they are using actually comes from Germany, because it has a 10 percent higher success rate.

During her first treatment, we closely watched and measured the size of her stomach, from the time they began the chemotherapy to the time we left, it shrunk a total of 12.5 centimeters.

We have also gotten a recent scan of her liver, what once took up her entire abdomen- pushing on organs (ie- kidneys, stomach and lungs) has now shrunk a great amount.

Between treatments Katie gets to go home for a few weeks.

That doesn't mean rest, for the first two weeks we return to the clinic in Charleston three times a week to receive platelets, fluids and blood if needed.

Once her platelets started to stay up, we only have to return about twice a week.

During our first trip to the clinic we noticed Katie was bleeding out. We decided to call 911 because we couldn't get it to stop. The ambulance came and rushed mom and Katie to Clarendon Memorial in Manning.

Once the doctor got her nose to stop bleeding we were able to take her to Charleston to receive the platelets she needed for her blood to clot on its own.

Katie is in Charleston now, undergoing round three of her chemotherapy treatments.

Each treatment lasts for about 15 days.

They are planning another three treatments after this one is complete. We are hoping by then the tumor will be small enough to remove.

With the amount of faith we have and prayers we are getting there is no doubt in my mind that Katie will be just fine again one day. We just have a long road ahead of us.

During this time, her daddy is able to work, doing his best to take care of the household bills. Mom can't work due to Katie's medical condition.

Unfortunatly we live 2 and a half hours away from Charleston and with gas prices the way they are, the family is struggling to make it there and back twice or more a week.

If you would be willing to donate to help with travel expenses, or just to check on Katie, see the updates and pictures at www.katiefitch.com

NOTE: Katie lives in Florence with her mother, Stacie Williams, her father, Clayton Fitch, and two sisters, Allie and Kristin. She receives treatment at the Medical University of South Carolina Children's Hospital in Charleston,

Katie got home from Charleston last night, has to go back tomorrow for platelets and blood and fluid if needed.. So far she is doing great, she is wide open thats for sure! :) She sat in my lap at the computer earlier and I read her your entries in the guestbook and showed her all the pictures on Myspace that people have sent her. She really enjoys that a lot. she tries to rub the kitties and pet the doggies. and says she wants that toy when she sees the strawberry shortcake!! lol They are planning to do another Ct Scan, Ultrasound and hearing test after the next round of chemotherapy (Should be Mid October or so) Hopefully that will bring more good news, but for now We have a "Remarkably" Shrinking tumor! Which is wonderful, we are just concerned at the blood clot and the enlarged speen. So please continue the prayers. I believe they are working! :) thanks so much, now i have to go fix ABC's and 123's lol

Kristin

Started Chemo treatment number 3 on 9-4-08!

Ct Scan and Ultrasound results showed a 'drastic' shrink in the tumor, BUT it also showed an enlarge speen. The Dr. said it was enlarged because of a Blood Clot in Katie's Main vein/artery going to her liver (where the tumor is). This blood clot could cause problems (other than the enlarged spleen) but they think it has been there for awhile because of the veins and arteries that have built themselves a path around it.

Please continue to pray for Katie.. After this round of Chemo and one more a few weeks later, She will get another CT Scan and Ultrasound.. Hopefully that Clot will not cause any further problems and the tumor will continue to shrink.

Also look for Katie's story in The News Journal Next week :)

Kristin

Good- Scan Results! The preliminary report showed an incredible size reduction in the tumor!!

Bad- More Chemo

Ugly- Starts Wednesday :(

Pray for Katie- We want to see those scans!!!

She is doing very good emotionally and physically- taking chemo like a champ, NO SIDE EFFECTS!! which is amazing... The only thing is her hair thinned out.. she didnt even lose it all (So Far)
Her Personality has not changed.. she is still a  little princess :)

Kristin

Katie got home Friday, Happy as she could be! I've never seen anyone that happy to be home. She ran around the house hugging and kissing us all and loving on the animals, she laughed about how messy her sisters room was and we even got her a happy meal for supper!She ate it all too! She got really attached to me, because I didn't see her the whole time she was gone, and she wouldn't let me leave once she got there, she said "Nothins better than mink!" lol it was the cutest thing ever! but anyway. -She has gained 4 of the 15 pounds back! So excited about that!! Today, (tuesday) she went back to the clinic to get lab work and see if she needed blood, plalets, fluids or anything like that, but she didn't all her numbers are still up and her body is doing great fighting this battle!! We have to go back to the clinic Thursday to check again, and she will probably need them by then. But until next time.. "see yah later alligator"
Kristin or "Mink" as she says lol

So, last night Katie got a little wild.  This will prove she is a fighter! Mom and Grandma took her on a tour of the hospital and to the playroom, so she got to get out for awhile even ate lunch in the cafe down stairs, because she doesn't feel sick and doesn't act sick its hard to keep her in that bed all the time. Last time she was in the hospital, she felt awful and all she wanted to do was lay there, this time its the opposite. During her 'fit' where she wanted to get out of the bed, she managed to knock 'Fred' (the iv pump) over and it snatched the tubing, mom grabbed it but it still pulled at 'Bob' (the needle in her port-a-cath) they didnt think it did much because mom caught it in time, so the Nurse came in and examined it all and it seemed to be fine, but it wasn't. A few minutes later, Fluids were leaking all over her gown- she had pulled the needle out of the port. They came in, re-stuck her, which she Hates!!! and got the port going again, and chemo flowing back in, and then it started bleeding. The port is under the skin and it runs to the main artery in her neck, where the needle ripped out, she was bleeding. They had to clean up the dressing and re-dress it. She hates that too! She has a lot of anxiety when it comes to needles and the dressings because of the first time she was there, but other than this scary problem, mom says everything is going good and they should be home by Friday- I know I cant Wait!!

I would have to say the concert last night was the

most powerful that I have ever been to.

I would like to thank everyone who came out last night to support Katie.

We raised a good bit of money to help with expenses.

Lesa Hudson, The Biblestones and Crabb Revival all did an EXCELLENT job!

I had my speech and my powerpoint and I was pretty Confident,

until the powerpoint wouldnt work.

I had 30 mins to go home, reburn it and come back..

I did it!

It still had a few bugs, but it was working.

Not right, but most of the pictures got seen!

Of course I lost it in the speech and my best friend, Stephany

had to come help me until I could get a grip.

In the end, all of it was awesome.

-Kristin