Tuesday - December 2

Yeah! Only two more days left! I bet Uncle Jeff would remind me of his cross country saying. "start fast, finish faster, start strong, finish stronger." I am finally feeling like my old self! I think I get to stop the medicine soon and that's good because it made my whole body swell up and I don't look like me right now. The doctors say that as soon as I get better and all the medicine is out of my body my muscles will come back and I won't be swollen any more. That's good news for sure! I am so excited to go home so I can sit by the fireplace and watch TV like I used to on movie nights. Kaitlyn and I got to visit with the therapy dogs today. They are golden retrievers and their names are Tank and Cooper. They both sat with their heads in my lap. They are amazing. It's like they know I have been sick. I was glad to see them one more time before I go home. That's all for now! I just hope that this cold I have won't keep me from going home, but Mom is giving me lots of stuff to drink and keeps telling me that a cold isn't enough to make me have to stay any longer.
Love,
Bree

Note from Parents:
Brianna has gone from 16 mg/day on the steroid medication down to .5 mg/day!! Hopefully, by Friday she will be completely weaned from the steroid medication and can focus on rebuilding her muscle mass and strength as well as enjoying being home for the holiday season. Brianna mentioned three times today that she is so excited to come home. She asked if we can have a fire and watch t.v. I don't think that will be a problem! We have been looking forward to the first full day back home with our family and enjoying our movie nights in front of a fire. We will sleep in, decorate the house, and undoubtedly enjoy a stream of visitors for a few days. I warned Brianna previously, "Be careful what you wish for!" As much as she has been homesick and wishing she were home, she is going to be overwhelmed by all of the people who will want to see her. That is a wonderful problem to have!! We can't wait!! I also took Brianna and Kaitlyn to the Chapel for communion. We enjoyed a moment to reflect, pray, and thank God for all of our blessings.
Brianna is fighting a bad cold and is trying to rest and drink plenty of fluids in an attempt to get back to normal by the time we return home. She is very nervous that her cold will keep her from being able to make it home Friday night. We continue to pray for her to continue her progress and we assure her that a cold will not keep her from flying home on Friday night.
As we prepare to come home we would like to thank everyone for their continued support and for their unending prayers. We grow in our faith everyday and gain courage and strength from all the kind words and expressions of love and support. Brianna inspires us every day with her courage. Despite everything she is going through she continues to show everyone that she cares and she is always in tune with others' feelings. She even wrote an note to Kaitlyn where she told her that, "You are the best sister ever and I love you!" The two of them still fight and tease each other (though not as frequently) but Brianna's note and Kaitlyn's immediate concern for every cough or sneeze from Brianna makes our hearts melt.
God bless! The blood of the lamb will heal Brianna. Have faith and be patient as God will heal in His own time.

Brianna's Family