Thursday - December 18 - A Friendly Surprise!

Hi Everyone!
I am slowly getting back to my regular routine. I am a little nervous about going back to school. Part of it is because I have been gone so long and the other part is that the medicine they gave me made me puffy and it's a little scary to see my friends. I'm afraid they will think I look too different. But I had a really cool surprise. Some of my friends from school invited me and Kaitlyn over on Sunday and there was Haley and all of my friends from school! We played board games and they even had special organic snacks that are good for me and my friends liked them too! Now I know my friends are true friends and they won't treat me any different because I got sick. Today I went for a visit to Gregory Middle School and I got a big hug from some of my teachers and I have to admit I'm feeling great! I will do just about anything to go back to school and get back to normal! Sunday the Make-A-Wish people came to see if I had a wish they could grant. At first I wanted to go on a vacation with my whole family, but then when I thought about it, I decided that I would rather have my own puppy. A vacation doesn't last very long, but a puppy can be with you every day! I really want a Shih-Poo. It's half Shihtzu and half Poodle. It is SOOOOO cute! I really hope they grant my wish! Kaitlyn even told them what her wish would be, even though she didn't get sick! She wants to meet Miley Cyrus. That would be cool, too, but I still want a puppy. Last night the doorbell rang and Kaitlyn wouldn't answer it so I had to. There was Santa Claus! He just came by to wish us Merry Christmas and hopes that I feel better. It's really nice to know how many people are helping me get well. Thank you to everybody and I hope everybody has as good a Christmas as I'm going to have!
Love,
Bree

Note from Parents:
Our goal is to have Brianna return to school after the holiday break if only for a few hours a day and then eventually build to a full-time schedule. She is experiencing a little anxiety about returning to school. The swelling from the steroids is going down but we need to have patience. Part of her anxiety was reduced after she was surprised by a group of friends from school. Maddy and Camilla Ose invited Brianna and Kaitlyn over this past Sunday afternoon. Brianna was surprised to see Haley and all of her friends from school. Brianna has an extraordinary group of friends, a protective older brother (Eric-same school) and a sister (Haley-same school)who will be a huge support system when she returns. On our visit to Gregory Middle School, she admitted to Mrs. Binder (band instructor) that she is feeling, "Great!" Not good, but great! I asked her if being at the school makes her miss it and she said yes. I believe that she will do whatever it takes to return the first day back from break!
Sunday late afternoon we were visited by Brianna's Make-A-Wish team, Renee and Lissa. Brianna was interviewed and discussed how her two top wishes would be a puppy or a vacation with all of her family. When asked which one she would lean towards more she admitted a puppy. Since we returned from St. Jude, Brianna was asking daily if we could take her to pet stores so she could look at puppies. I think that after her experience with the therapy dogs at St. Jude she was convinced that a dog would be her number one wish. Ultimately, Brianna has wished for a puppy (she already had one picked out as she has her heart set on a Shih-Poo) and when I called Petland later that evening I found out that the puppy was still there. Petland and Make-A-wish are currently working on granting Brianna's wish which will take place the morning of December 31st. Last night there was a visit from Santa. Bob and I were not witness to this as I was taking part in an online volleyball training session while Bob and Eric were working on making holiday ornaments.
We will keep you updated throughout the holiday season, especially to let you know how her Make-A-Wish day was spent. We would like to wish everyone a blessed holiday season. The St. Jude commerical states, "Give thanks to the healthy children in your lives." and we ask that you pray for those who are not. Though we are home and Brianna is feeling great we would ask that you please continue to pray for her continued healing and for her to be blessed with God's mercy as He restores her to complete health. We also pray for all of the DIPG children and their families that they have the strength and courage to continue their journey with faith and hope. Please pray for all children with cancer that they may be blessed with God's grace and mercy.

Love,
Bree's Family