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Raise some joy for Joyous

  • The Other End of the Tunnel

      23 September 2022
    Posted by: Leba Hennings
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    13 cycles of chemotherapy,31 days of radiation, numerous blood tests, transfusions and platelet topups.9months in total and now we’re here😊

    Joyous is a trooper, an endurance champion for her age and she’s still going. Latest scans have come back clear and we’re believing they’ll always be. Physiotherapy is intense at The Wilson Center.3 days a week and 2 of them is aqua therapy. She looks forward to these days and the swimming lessons have definitely come in handy.

    July school holidays was both exciting and tiring for her. She had her cousins from Christchurch visiting and they kept her moving, on crutches of course😊Joyous also had her first sleepover invite after almost 7months and more play overs.

    At the end of August, the family took a trip down to Wellington accompanying the OC Y14s for the Hurricanes tournament. This was Joyous' biggest sport & social event since November 2021.She visited the Beehive and Te Papa Museum and got to ride on the cable cart @ Zealandia. Dinner with the team every night was a blast as Joyous slowly made connections with other siblings on tour too. Truly a memorable trip for Joyous and everyone.

    As we approach the one year mark, Joyous now has a cat:), and her mobility has incredibly improved. She came off the wheel chair after Wellington and has been putting more weight on her right leg while using crutches. She’s pushed past uncomfortable pains and persisted to keep her goal. Today was her first attempt to walk unsupported!!The excitement was unreal and our hearts smiled with pride! Our Princess Warrior is a winner and we’re forever grateful to you all that have supported us financially, in thoughts and prayer, in kindness and understanding…. our hearts are full.

    Plans are now in place for Joyous’ transition back into the community and school is on the horizon. She’s super excited to be making plans already and looking forward to reuniting with her teachers and friends.

    What a journey its been and though its not over with the rehab, we’re choosing to remain positive and believe that Joyous mobility will be fully restored and that she’s healed of cancer!

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  • Prayer Works!!!

      9 June 2022
    Posted by: Leba Hennings
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    Joyous journey so far can be described as a proper roller coaster ride. We've had good days, we've had bad days and we've also had the days in between. Towards the end of May, Joyous had a 2nd MRI scan from head to toe. Results have come back exceptional. The tumour which had significantly shrunk had not grown and deemed dead by her oncologist. Her scans also had no evidence of cancer in her body.Praise God!!Prayer Works!! Joyous is a fighter through and through!!

    Though she has had much physio sessions since my last update, the improvement she continues to show during home based exercise sessions are always encouraging.

    Our deepest gratitude to everyone that's been thinking and praying for us. Our hearts are full and we're very grateful. Prayer Works!!

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  • Pit Stops

      3 May 2022
    Posted by: Leba Hennings

    On the 15th of March, our beautiful girl turned 11.Joyous was very blessed to have her special friends celebrate with her. She was mobile, on crutches, in and out of the house she went, not skipping a beat, trying to keep up with all the different activities she had planned and thought thru carefully for her special day. With the help of her family and friends, the day beautifully came together. Joyous was happy,excited and content all at the same time.

    Two days later, Joyous started getting high fevers. RAT tests came back negative so off to Starship she went. Only this time, she was to be readmitted. As I write this update, Joyous is on to week three of her admission, well and truly over hospital life. A few days in, a tummy bug was detected. Joyous would bring up anything that went down, food, fluid and meds. So she had new meds added on to the lot. On the first weekend, doctors started raising concerns of the rise in her creatine levels. Timely consultations and discussions were made and Joyous' meds were pulled off which helped creatine levels come back to normal. While all of this was going on, Joyous had another hurdle to conquer. The radiation treatment had left burn patch on her back and this was going to be a proper challenge for Joyous mentally and physically. Though the nurses at Starship will always be highly recommended by us, Joyous only wanted mum to handle the wound. So daily trips to Starship once again became a thing for showers and dressing changes for a few days. Just when we thought we were starting to come out of the dark woods, Joyous was again faced with another challenge. The undesirable covid was back lurking around the Hennings house. This time her primary carers were affected. Though a very mild dose, it was stressful enough to be admitted and isolating together in the same small room. Joyous seems to have dodged the covid bullet once again as she continues to return negative RAT tests.Her much awaited MRI tests have been deferred, due to the wound on her back. Chemo cycle 10 has also been deferred until Joyous fully recovers from her wounds. She went ahead with CT scan and results have been relayed back to as good and we are looking forward to a meeting with the oncologist for details.

    While in pit stop, alot of patience has been learned. Home cooked meals taste like something out of Jamie Oliver's kitchen and there's a new appreciation for young drivers who'd make a pit stop into Starship and drop off much needed supplies from home.

    Last week, Joyous started back with her physio sessions, here in Starship. Her therapist who hadn't seen her since Christmas week was pleasantly surprised and very excited to see how much progress Joyous had made and how much strength she had in her right leg. Physio sessions aren't on her exciting list, but she puts in an effort and a half and makes them count.

    We look forward to getting home tomorrow, reuniting with our "online family" once again and hoping to get back into our new normal routine.

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  • A day at a time

      10 April 2022
    Posted by: Leba Hennings
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    31 days of radiation done and dusted!!Mon - Fri for 6weeks on the Northern motorway, early mornings or later in the day, Joyous got up, got ready and attended. She had days when chemotherapy was also on and on two occassions, she also had physio, all on the same day, one appointment after another. Joyous has been nicknamed princess warrior by one of our close friends and she has shown this to us over the last 6weeks.Joyous is now onto cycle 9 of her chemotherapy treatment and has a few more to go. Her doctors are very happy with her progress and from what they've seen so far they're very optimistic and looking forward to her next scans which will be in May.

    Because of chemo and radiation, not to mention the unwelcomed interference of covid in the Hennings house, Joyous physio sessions were limited. However, Joyous has pushed herself to uncomfortable limits to get the right leg mobile. It's slowly but surely gaining strength and with the help of her physio and mum's massage, Joyous is on track to walking without supports.

    We've continued to receive support from our family, friends and community and we're quite overwhelmed with the kindness everyone has shown. Special mention to Shine On Ltd for your very generous donation, we're forever grateful.

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  • Miracles Happen

      24 February 2022
    Posted by: Leba Hennings
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    Two weeks ago,Joyous had a MRI scan.Results have come back and we're very excited to share that the cancer cells which had spread to her lungs has cleared.There's no cancer there!The tumour has shrunk and we're believing that Joyous is on her way to being cancer free.Joyous no longer needs her daily injections as there's no more blood clot in her right leg.Miracles happen,and we're so grateful for everyone that's been praying for Joyous and all of us.

    Joyous continues to persevere with her exercises and is much more mobile with the help of the crutches.

    She has started radiation yesterday and so far,all is well.

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  • Onwards and Upwards

      6 February 2022
    Posted by: Leba Hennings
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    We're all enjoying Joyous' time at home.Her favourite things include playing roblux with her brothers and friends.She's been back and forth to the Wilson Centre and to Starship for treatment etc and so far,it's been good.She's been coping exceptionally well with only the odd nausea.Most of the time she's well and pretty much herself.Her brothers have been very helpful,minding her and keeping her busy with her exercises.

    On Friday, Joyous hit another milestone when she got on the treadmill and attempted to slow walk for a whole minute💪She's able to extend her right leg out alot more with only 7deg to go till it's fully extended😊Her perseverance and attitude is encouraging for all of us.

    This year Joyous will attend Northern Health School,based in Starship when she's an inpatient,or via zoom when she's home.Though she misses her friends at Red Beach school,she remains optimistic and bright.

    Joyous will also undergo radiation treatment and that is scheduled to start on 23rd of Feb for a total of 31days(Mon - Fri only).Next Wed,9th Feb she will have a MRI scan (gage chemotherapy)before she starts cycle 6 chemotherapy.

    Doctors and physio's have been very impressed with her progress so far and remain positive for Wednesday's scan.

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  • Happy New Year

      14 January 2022
    Posted by: Leba Hennings
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    Vinaka vakalevu to all you generous donors and those that have dropped by and showed us support in cash and kind.To Sonja,you're truly a legend for your persistence to setup this page,thank you.Our hearts are full and overflowing with gratitude to each of you and your families.

    Joyous has since been discharged from Starship hospital and came home in time for Christmas and New Year.She goes in as a outpatient for chemotherapy and or emergencies only🤞

    Joyous has continued to show progress with regards to Caudna Equina Syndrome and her mobility has greatly improved.Today,she's able to walk with the help of crutches and her leg has extended alot more than when she was first admitted.

    Joyous has just completed cycle 4 and fortunately doesn't get much side effects from chemotherapy.Instead her appetite and fluid intake has picked up,which is a blessing for us.

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