To our Family, Friends and Lexe Supporters,
      On September 29th, CureSearch will be having its annual walk in Salt Lake City. The walk will be held at Sugar House Park (1300East 2100 South). CureSearch is a organization that raises money and awareness strictly for childhood cancer (most cancer organization only give 4% to childhood cancer). The walk consists of individual teams. Each of these teams are made in honor of a child who is fighting or has fought cancer. Each team raises money, all of which  goes towards finding a cure for all types of childhood cancer.
     We have made a team in honor of Lexe called "Team Lexe Kicks". We would love to have as many team members as we can! To register for "Team Lexe Kicks", you can go to our team page which is www.curesearchwalk.org/saltlake/teamlexekicks.
     To register, click on the 'register' button. Then click on the picture of Utah. It will take you to the link for the Utah race. Click on that link and agree to the waiver. It will then take you to a page where you select what type of team. Click on Join a team. After that type in the name 'Team Lexe Kicks' and select our team. You will then be directed to our team page. At the top of the page, right under the title, is a 'join our team' button. Click on that and then fill out your information and donation amount. (It is a $10 registration fee for anyone over the age of 15). Click submit and you are done! Those who register before September 2nd will receive a Lexe t-shirt to wear at the walk.  Also, even if you don't participate in the actual walk, you can still donate money to our team.

     To get more information on CureSearch, what it does and the walk, go to www.curesearchwalk.org. If you have any questions regarding Team Lexe Kicks, please email Hadlee at teamlexekicks@gmail.com. Also, after you have registered, email us your name(s) and t-shirt size(s). Thank you for all of your love and support! We hope you can join us in this event to "Kick Cancer!"

Lexe started her third round of chemotherapy last friday evening.  She will be dosed in the morning and evening thru this coming Wednesday.  As mentioned earlier, her chemo will be a total of five days.  The duration is shorter than previous rounds but the dosage she is receiving is much higher.  Things are going okay.  Lexe has developed a sore throat, most likely a result of the chemo.  Chemotherapy destroys the fast growing cells in the body which include the lining in the mouth and throat.  As expected during chemo, Lexe has no appetite.

As a preventative measure against chemo induced fevers, Lexe has been put on a steroid that she gets prior to every chemo dose.  Unfortunately the steroids are leaving Lexe looking kinda puffy right now. A small price to pay to keep the fevers away.

Last Tuesday Danielle Sunderhaus, one of the coaches at the University of Arizona, came to visit Lexe at our home.  We have now had all three of Lexe's coaches out to our home.  We had a great visit went to lunch and then drove up to Snowbird Ski Resort to take a tram ride.  It was fun!  We are really looking forward to following the U of A soccer team and know that they are in for a good season.

Lexe and Danielle at the top of Snowbird

Jenn Heslop once again decorated Lexe's hospital room.  The room theme for round three is "Laughter Is The Best Medicine".  Lexe's room is covered in jokes from family and friends.  Thanks Jenn and Carli!!

Round three room theme

Jokes like this one are all over the walls

Each strip of the banners contain a joke that visitors pull and share

Come Wednesday the last of the chemo for round three will be done!!!!

Lexe has really enjoyed her time at home.  Everything feels so normal.  However, all good things must come to an end.  This coming Wednesday Lexe is scheduled for both a bone marrow aspirate and a spinal tap.  This will be outpatient surgery and Lexe will return home after the two procedures.  She will be readmitted to the hospital on Friday morning for the start of chemo...round three.  Chemo will be given for only five days, unfortunately, the strength of the chemo will increase ten fold!!  At this point Lexe's attitude is lets get to the hospital so we can get this over with.

During this break from the hospital Lexe has turned to golf for exercise.  Lexe and Laurie have taken a lesson and spent time on the driving range.  Lexe has developed a very good golf swing.

Last week lexe received a package in the mail from Amy Rodriguez, a forward on the USA Women's National Team.  Amy wrote Lexe a really cool letter and included a shirt signed by the entire Women's National Team.  The team played a final warm up match against Canada in Salt Lake City on June 30th
and then departed to London for the olympic games.  Really awesome of Amy to take an interest in Lexe.

Jersey signed by US National Team

Overall things are going well.  Lexe is positive and happy.  Life is good!!

Round two officially ended with Lexe coming home on Tuesday.  It is great to have her home.   Our wonderful friends once again greeted Lexe with some cool signage.  It sure is nice to know that this unexpected journey is 50% complete.

Lexe will be home for 10-14 days depending on how fast her counts recover.  Until then it will be a steady diet of home cooking and a comfortable bed.

The KSL SportsBeat Saturday segment aired last Saturday and we feel that they did a great job. Jeremiah Jensen provided me with the following link to the story:

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?sid=21084116&nid=294&title=teen-battling-leukemia-inspires-others-with-amazing-goal

We have received many comments from people, suffering from a variety of difficult illnesses and situations, who have been buoyed up by Lexe's positive outlook.  It is a blessing to all of us that Lexe has chosen to fight cancer with such an amazing attitude.  She is mature beyond her years.  We all hope that the media exposure that Lexe's story is receiving continues to help others and focuses attention to the fact that many people are battling cancer, especially leukemia.

We stumbled across this great picture of Lexe receiving her high school diploma from Alta High School Principal Fidel Montero.  The whole event was so rushed we were never really able to take a good picture.  This one really captures the moment.

Lexe and Alta Principal Fidel Montero

A good friend brought Lexe a puppy to play with for the evening

Thanks again to all of our support group.  We know we can't do this without you all.

For those who may be interested, KSL, Salt Lake City channel 5, is airing a segment on Lexe Saturday June 30th.  The segment will air at 6:30 pm and again at 10:35 pm.

Lexe is developing some positive cell activity.  We are all hoping that she can come home some time next week.

It has been awhile since our last post.  Lexe has concluded round 2 of chemo and is now in count recovery mode.  Lexe's ANC count is 0, meaning no immunities,  and she is reliant on blood and platelet transfusions.  Things are going good, no fevers or other illnesses just a waiting game.  Its hard to say how long it will take Lexe's body to start producing cells but hopefully she can come home in about 2 weeks time.

 A group of soccer players and coaches from the Netherlands, who were in Utah running soccer camps, heard of Lexe's story watched her goal on youtube and requested a visit with Lexe.  The visit was arranged by one of our neighbors.  They are a great group of folks.  Lexe was given some cool gifts from the Netherlands.

Lexe's new Dutch friends

Lexe's U of A coach, Lisa Oyen, shared with us a link to a short article on Lexe in Wildcat Wednesday,  a University of Arizona Athletic Department publication.  Scroll down once you open the link and the article is called "Courage Personified".  Again the school continues to stand strong behind Lexe.  Go Cats!
http://www.arizonawildcats.com/sports/inside-athletics/spec-rel/062112aaa.html

Last Monday Lexe was visited by a special friend, Taleah Stevenson.  Taleah is 3 years old and a fellow leukemia patient and is doing great!  Laurie's good friend, Trisha Orr is Taleah's grandmother.  The fight against cancer bonds together people of all ages and sizes.

Lexe and Taleah

Jeremiah Jensen texted us yesterday to tell us that KSL will be airing a segment on Lexe during next weekends Sportsbeat Sunday program.  Jeremiah spent several hours in our home and is a great guy.  We are interested to see how the segment rolls out.

We are all doing great.  In a few weeks time we can officially declare this experience 1/2 over.  Lexe remains upbeat and happy.  Despite some hard days, we all feel blessed that Lexe is so strong, both physically and mentally.

Round two of chemo has been a bit rough.  Today is day six of eight.  There is light at the end of the tunnel!!  Lexe had several nights of very high fevers.  During one tough night Lexe's fever spiked up to 106 degrees.  She had an episode of the rigors, extreme shaking and shivering, that needed to be controlled with Demerol.  The nursing staff at Primary Children's is outstanding and they have worked very hard to keep Lexe's fevers and nausea under control.  Eating is difficult right now.  Lexe has developed mouth and throat sores that make swallowing very painful.  She is currently using a morphine pump to manage  the pain.  In typical Lexe fashion, she needs to be forced to use the pump.  Getting an honest pain indication from Lexe is usually a negotiation.  Lexe is one tough cookie!!!

Thank you to all of our support team who have provided our family with meals, rides, gifts, gardening and the list goes on.  Most of all thank you to those who have provided a shoulder to lean on during crummy days.  

Round two of chemo is officially underway.  Lexe was admitted to the hospital on Friday morning and the day began with a spinal tap and chemo in the spinal column followed by the start of chemo in the evening.  The next round will be much like the first round, ten days of chemo every morning and evening.  Lexe will be in the hospital again for approximately one month.  

Lexe is currently not feeling well she is already running a fever.  Darn!!

It was wonderful having Lexe at home, we felt normal for a couple of weeks.  The highlight was her graduation.  Lexe was able to attend her graduation and even walked to get her diploma.  She was seated away from the graduating students and was one of the first names read.  Lexe walked and we went straight home.  Not ideal, but she made it!!

being received by school administration

Finally!!

Diploma in hand, we headed for the exit

Lexe Selman, class of 2012

The goal Lexe scored during her Utah Avalanche Tournament last Saturday, the game she was not supposed to be in, is receiving a lot of media attention.  We were happy that someone captured the goal on film but we did not expect to receive this much attention from it.  Lexe's goal, and story, was the lead off story on Fox13 several nights ago.  Rick Aaron came to our house and interviewed Lexe and several Avalanche teammates along with her Coach Jo Barney.  We felt that Rick did a great job with the story and we were happy that he focused significant attention on cancer awareness and AML.

http://on.fox13now.com/q5eaSOR

This same story with be played again Sunday night at 10:05 PM on Fox 13 Sports Page.

KSL Sports Beat will be featuring Lexe and her fight with cancer towards the end of June.  Jeremiah Jensen spent a couple of hours at our home last week interviewing Lexe and our family for the story.  Jeremiah promised us that he would devote a substantial amount of time to cancer awareness and leukemia.

Thank you to all those who been so very kind to our family.

The last several days have been great!  Lexe has continued to enjoy her time at home.  Last Friday, Lexe had her bone marrow aspirate and we expect to get the lab results back Monday or Tuesday.  Keep your fingers crossed.

This past weekend Lexe's Utah Avalanche club team played two games in Park City against a team from Colorado.  Lexe's physician gave her permission to warm up with her team.  Well as it turned out, Lexe's coach decided at the last minute to let Lexe start the game and take the opening kick.  She was supposed to kick the ball out of play and then leave the field.  But once the whistle blew, it was game on!  She jumped into the game full tilt with her central line and all.  She ended up scoring an amazing goal less than one minute into the game.  One of her U of A coaches was at the game and his comment was "this is something out of the movies".  It was one of the most remarkable things we have ever seen.  One of the spectators at the game filmed the goal and put it up on YouTube.  The link is below.

Lexe warming up with her team 

Lexe's Avalanche family, her "94" team mates.

Moments before the start of the game on Saturday.

Home Sweet home.  The last seven days at home have been great.  Lexe has really enjoyed her time at home and has stayed healthy!!  Lexe has spent a lot of time resting and eating home cooking.  We had a fun time last Friday celebrating Lexe's 18th birthday.  A few of Lexe's friends came by and we ended up watching a movie and grilling burgers.  Lexe felt it was one of her best birthdays ever.

The Campbell's and the Reinbold's gave Lexe a cool pair of orange nikes for her birthday

Happy 18th

Birthday visitors

On Sunday Elle Duke and her mom came by the house, Elle wrote "I came to win" - Lexe's Song, and sang to Lexe.  Elle is a very talented young lady and her songs were awesome.  We all enjoyed the visit and appreciate the interest the Duke family has shown our family.  Elle is ready to release her first album and we can't wait to purchase it!

Marci Duke top right, Elle Duke bottom right

On Memorial Day, Lexe, Laurie and her sister Mackenzie went for a hike up Bell Canyon in Sandy.  It was a beautiful day and Lexe did great on the hike.  Tons of energy. 

Lexe and her sister Mackenzie up Bell Canyon

Laurie and Lexe

Lexe, Mackenzie and laurie hiking Bell Canyon

Lexe continues to have her health monitored by home health care nurses.  Her ANC count is still only 200.  We are all hoping that her count can get to 500 by the end of the week.  As thing stand, Lexe is scheduled for an echocardiogram, bone marrow aspirate, and spinal tap this coming Friday.  The plan is to admit Lexe to the hospital June 6th and start her second round of chemo.

Alta High gradation is scheduled for June 5th.  Lexe has received permission to attend her graduation!  We have met with high school officials and they are going to work with us to minimize Lexe's exposure to others.  It look like Lexe can sit away from the crowd and will be the first student read.  She is both excited and nervous to attend the graduation.  

Lexe has really enjoyed her last two days at home!!  She has spent her time sleeping in a comfortable bed, eating home cooking, shopping with Laurie, driving again, and attending a soccer game with teammates.  It feels good to have the family together every evening.  Lexe is still taking five different medications, including an antibiotic injected into her line three times per day.  Laurie is in charge of administering all meds and is doing a great job.  Two time per week we have a home health care nurse come to the house to draw blood so that all of Lexe's counts can be monitored.  Today the ANC count was 100 which is still very low.  We need to continue to be cautious.

Garage sign that greeted Lexe at home

Last night Lexe joined her Avalanche "94" teammates at a soccer game in Utah County.  Lexe was one popular girl.  She had to wear her mask but that didn't seem to bother her at all.  She was greeted by teammates, college coaches, and a host of others.  Despite the cold night, it was great to see her enjoying a soccer game.

Lexe surrounded by her teammates

Tomorrow Lexe turns 18! She is planning on having a few friends over for a BBQ.  Probably not the bash Lexe had in mind but I'm sure she will make the best of things.  Once Lexe turns 18, she will be responsible for signing all of her medical documents.

Many people have asked us how the rest of our children are doing.  Mackenzie, our oldest, continues to go to school at BYU Idaho.  Mackenzie wanted to leave school and come home after Lexe was diagnosed but we really wanted her to stay in school.  Last week she was accepted into the nursing program which strengthened her resolve to continue her studies. She wants to be closer to Lexe during this tough time and travels down to SLC every few weeks to spend the weekends.  Mackenzie spent several nights with Lexe while she was in the hospital.  We have encouraged Mackenzie to stay in school and study hard.    The twins, Colby and Hadlee, have also done well.  They have not had much parent time but are very mature children and with the help of our friends continue to attend all of their scheduled activities.  They are independent mature children and we are grateful that they have been able to understand this tough situation and adapt.

The folks at Primary Children's Hospital called today and they have schedule Lexe for an echocardiogram and a bone marrow biopsy to take place next Wednesday. This biopsy will  show if any leukemia cells exist in the marrow.  VERY IMPORTANT BIOPSY!!!  They would like to start the 2nd round of chemo June 1st, however,  Lexe's high school graduation is June 5th and we need to decide if Lexe will attended.  If Lexe attends graduation we may delay chemo until after the ceremony.

Thank you again to all those who continue to support our family

Tomorrow Lexe is coming home!!  After 32 days in the hospital, round 1 of this 4 round fight concludes.  Today we spent most of the day preparing Lexe to leave the hospital.  She received platelet and red blood cell transfusions to "top off" her levels before heading home.  One of Lexe's physicians is going to take her running tonight to help her determine her safe maximum heart rate.  Lexe needs to stay within a set heart rate, and stick to it,  during her recovery stage.

Staying infection and fever free during her time at home will be our focus.  It looks like hand washing will be the norm around the house for everyone coming and going.  Any temp over 100 could lead to readmission to the hospital. Wish us luck.

We are hoping that our family life can return to some sort of normalcy during the next week or so.  I'm sure Lexe is looking forward to some home cooked meals.

Support from the soccer community continues.  Our local MLS professional soccer team, RealSaltLake,  is providing a fund raising opportunity for Lexe.  I believe the Utah Avalanche Soccer Club was instrumental in putting this together for Lexe.  THANK YOU!!

It looks like you have three great games to choose from.

The last few days have been a "cat and mouse" game fighting fevers.  Lexe has been very upbeat over the last several days but has battled a persistent fever.  The mornings are good but as the day progresses her temp gradually rises.  She has been on three different antibiotics including a very powerful drug called Vancomycin.  If the fevers don't resolve by Monday, she will undergo a CT scan of her head, chest, and abdomen.  The purpose of the CT scan is to see if she has developed any areas of infection in her body.

Her counts have dropped again, mostly due to the fevers, but we remain optimistic that they will improve soon.  Lexe has now been in the hospital for one month.  Her goal continues to be discharged before her birthday on the 25th.  Keep your fingers crossed.

We were contacted by the Make-a Wish Foundation this week and they are going to grant Lexe a wish. Lexe is not sure what her wish will be but we will keep everyone posted.  What an awesome organization!!

It has come to our attention that the Utah Avalanche "01" team, and others, held a bake and lemonade sale for Lexe during todays State Cup play.  We are blown away by the many acts of kindness and generosity shown to our family and especially Lexe.  We would like to take this  opportunity to say to the "01" team, and any one else taking part in this, THANK YOU!!  What a thoughtful generous gesture.  The Utah Avalanche club truly is our family.  The following pictures were sent to us today by a "94" parent:

Cupcakes with Lexe's patch made from frosting

State Cup booth

Way cool!

Amazing!

Some good news...  One of Lexe's physicians, Dr. Wright, told us that Lexe has registered an ANC count.  Even though the count is low, it does show some small signs of cell production.  We will continue to monitor her labs and hope for great things to come in the next few days.  We have been told that her ANC count needs to show an improving trend before Lexe can leave the hospital.  Lexe's birthday is the 25th of May and we are all hoping that she can be home for her birthday.

Last nigh Lexe had a minor setback.  She developed a fever that spiked up during the night.  She was aggressively treated with antibiotics and the fever seems to be under control.  Unfortunately, fevers have an adverse effect on ANC count.

Over the next few days we will try to keep Lexe fever free, kick back and grow some cells.  If all goes well hopefully Lexe can come home for a week or so and officially conclude "round one".

Happy Mother's Day! We spent a very nice Mother's Days together as a family at Primary Children's Medical Center.  We ordered pizza from Settebello Pizzeria, best pizza in Salt Lake City, and had a great Mother's Day feast.  Lexe continues to do well.  Her counts, particularly her ANC, continue to show 0.  Hopefully in the next few days her bone marrow will start to wake up.

Today Lexe had to move to a different room....major bummer!!   Every few weeks patients in the ICS Unit are required to move to a different room to allow for a deep clean of the room.  I guess this protocol helps with infection control.  Lexe was not very happy, she really liked her room and had it organized just the way she liked it.  Give her a couple of days and she will have her new room styled out.

Lexe continues to go out on her 9:00 PM walks with her buddies Sara and Hunter.  Sara, age 12,  is coming to the end of a tough AML battle and should be set to go home to Montana in a few weeks.  Hunter, age 9, recently relapsed after a long AML hospital stay and is now preparing for a bone marrow transplant.   These kids are brave, tough, happy people.    Several nights ago Lexe left the hospital and went for a short jog, alone, in the area around the hospital.  We are still deciding whether or not that was a good idea.

Lexe's spirits are good, we as a family are doing well.....we feel blessed!

Lexe and Sara

Lexe, Hunter, and Sara going for a stroll

May 10th

Still patiently waiting for Lexe's numbers to go up.  The most critical one...her ANC count is still at "0".  But we are hopeful that we'll see it start to rise in the next couple of days.  In the meantime Lexe reads, watches lots of episodes "Grey's Anatomy"and anxiously awaits 9 pm when she can take her walk about the hospital.

The awful side effects of chemotherapy are starting to take their toll on Lexe's beautiful dark hair. Although it breaks our hearts to see this happen, Lexe continues to take it all in stride.  She has started to accumulate quite the collection of hats and she ROCKS them all.

Strength, hope and courage.  That is what makes a champion.  God bless and strengthen the champions who battle this hideous disease we call cancer.  You're our heros!!

Take a minute to watch these amazing kids from Seattle Children's Hospital.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihGCj5mfCk8

Come on cells!!!  Last Wednesday morning was Lexe's last dose of round 1 chemo.  We have been told that it will take 10-14 days for Lexe to start producing new blood cells.  The wait is on.  Lexe continues to be in great spirits.

Hey everyone it's Lexe. I thought it was about time that I posted. First, I want to thank everyone for their prayers and support! I truly feel so loved and its helped me stay healthy this past week. I've been in the hospital for 2 weeks and 4 days now. Thanks to all my wonderful visitors I've never been bored. Now that I'm not being hooked to Ivan, my IV pole, all day it's harder to sit still in my room. Luckily the doctors have started to let me walk around the hospital after 9 P.M. It's hard to wait all day but you take what you can get. It's hard to believe that I'm sick when I feel so good! I don't think people would believe I was sick if I hadn't have cut my hair. Unfortunately I'm starting to lose it and I haven't quite figured out how I feel about that yet. My bed looks like a dog shed all over it but nope, it's just my hair. Right now is a good time because I'm just waiting for my counts to go up. Not too much action going on except sleeping, eating, and sitting around. My nurses comment on how I sleep in but I'm a teenager so I think it should be expected. Well, I think that about wraps things up. Thanks again to everyone for their support! I couldn't do this without you guys:)

Well it has been several days since our last post.  Lexe is now 3 days past her last dose of chemo.  Her blood counts are at rock bottom levels.  Her days are spent resting and a lot of sleeping.  Lexe continues to see visitors, however, we have been advised by her physicians and doctors to keep the visits short.

Lexe is starting to get some of her appetite back.  It is important that she build herself back physically in preparation for round 2 of chemo.

Lexe is starting to get a bit stir crazy.  Today she was kicking her soccer ball around in the room.  Hopefully her blood count will soon recover to a safer level allowing her to leave her room.

We continue to receive a tremendous outpouring of support and love.  Our hearts are full.

Round one of chemo OVER!!  This morning Lexe finished her last dose of chemo.  Three more rounds to go.  Lexe will now spend 21-28 days in the hospital rebuilding her blood counts.  Her spirits are high and we are all encouraged by her determination.  Once Lexe's counts are recovered, we hope she can come home for a week or so before round two begins.

We can't say enough about the nurses at Primary Children's Hospital.  They are talented, kind, caring people.

We hope to get all the media attention behind us and focus on getting Lexe well.  As Lexe has said "she isn't the only one out there with leukemia".  We are not even aware of some of the stuff being run.

Lexe's grandpa made us aware of the Salt Lake Tribune article tonight.

.http://www.abc4.com/content/news/top_stories/story/Leukemia-not-slowing-down-Alta-soccer-player/

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/blogspreps/54037160-52/selman-soccer-team-alta.html.csp

Thanks again for all your support!

We are coming to the end of chemo--round one.  Lexe has had an amazing last couple of days.  Her last chemo will be given wednesday morning.  She is feeling real tired but continues to be upbeat and happy.  IV antibiotics continue because of an infection but is seems to be under control.  Yesterday her physical therapist came to her room and ran her through a workout.  Lexe busted it out!!!

Yesterday we were contacted by Doug Robinson, a writer with the Deseret News, who wanted to come to the hospital to talk with Lexe.  Today he wrote an article in the paper.  We are posting the link to the story on the blog.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765572675/Community-rallies-for-kids-with-cancer.html

Today, Emerson Lotzia, a channel four sports anchor, came by to do a story on Lexe.  It will air tomorrow night at either 5 or 6:00pm on channel 4.  We will have a link to the story posted tomorrow.

hitting the push ups

Keeping the core tight.