The Dynamic Duo at it again

Well Helllllllo there! Long time no post. Well I have nothing but good news to report and I am so excited to share all that happenings going on in the Zito household. I just don't know where to start because like usual, it has been crazy hectic lately but little by little things come together throughout the chaos. Mia asked that we move her appointment day so she can see Haley. I hadn't realized how long it has been since we saw her. Well, after talking with Haley's mom we were able to set up a checkup playdate! Armed with every camera possible within reach we headed out (extremely late I must add) to Dr. Joe's! I didn't see Vicky's truck so I assumed they rescheduled. Ready for the disappointment we checked in and noticed HALEY'S name on the check in sheet. Oh how excited beaner was to see her friend. She darted down the hall way to get her finger prick so she can be with Haley. Once done, she joined Haley in her check up room. Though she has lost weight again, she was all smiles!! So was I! MJ came to see what all the ruckus was and of course it was the two crazy girls acting like, well, kids. Both girls had fabulous counts and we were off to celebrate. The girls wanted to play at one of the local indoor playgrounds but they were closed so we chose to have lunch at Chili's. After a wonderful lunch we parted ways with Haley and her mom and made plans for next Tuesday. Mrs Mays if you are reading this, Mia will not be in school on Tuesday (wink wink). Luckily we were able to get the same appoinments again so they will be able to see each other. They played like no time has past and it was a true blessing to see Haley doing so well. Her hair is growing back and the smile was just heart warming. These two will have a true friendship that will last forever.

On Location Hair Salon in Oxford held a cut-a-thon in honor of Mia and was overwhelmed by the turnout. Unfortunately Mia didn't make it because she had spiked a fever. I need to thank Michelle and her partners for their generosity. It is an amazing thing they have done, as well as the entire community. We still ask for prayers because one can never get enough of those. Hopefully I can post again soon!

My girls walked the red carpet

Walking through the doors of Oxford Academy Thursday afternoon, the feeling of warmth and caring made a quick appearance as the students got their first glimpse of Mia. Everyone basically stopped what they were doing and just embraced my little girls cuteness. She was playful and charming, something that radiates off her constantly. Rachel was all sorts of excited to see everyone and also ready to have her hair cut. She wanted a grown up cut while Beaner wanted a slight clean up of her already short style. They both knew that the upcoming days would be more exciting than this. Poor Beaner was so tired that she fell asleep while her hair was being dried. I think that was the cutest thing ever, I have never seen her that tired before. When we left the girls were so happy with the new styles that they had to get home to see MeMa and show her how awesome they looked.

Sunday quickly approached and the excitement grew; so much so that nap time was almost non-existent. All the planning would come together to make a fabulous event. We quickly had a bite to eat and headed off the academy to have the girls hair and make-up done. Much to my surprise I was included in the awesome makeovers. With all the chaos within the school and salon, it was remarkably calm and without incident. At 6PM we dashed home to get dressed and head over to the Strand. Mia was starting to turn all sorts of shades with brewing excitement. As we walked in, all the students were just in awe with Mia. A true princess with her gown, tiara and head full of curls; My Mia was the star of the show!

We quickly found the row that Miss Kell reserved for our family and got ready to enjoy a fabulous evening. Mia's bestest friend Abby came and sat with her while watching the movie that one of Oxford Academys' students had created. Almost immediately George and I were brought to tears, and I honestly think there wasn't a dry eye to be had. It wasn't sad tears, they were tears of celebration and courage that poured down. Anna, Mia's half sister really didn't understand what she was going through until that evening. I think it made our family and friends understand that Mia is a brave girl and she is such a strong soul. After the touching video, the upbeat music pounded as gorgeous models made their way down the isles of the strand. It was so amazing to see all that have volunteered their time to make this such a elaborate event.

I need to say thank you too all who donated to make sure my Mia will be able to enjoy every aspect of her life. I need to say thank you to:

Kellie Steeves
The staff and Students at Oxford Academy of Hair Design
Val McCormick Photography
Louis Vayas
David and April Sciaraffa
Carousel Gardens
Santa Clause
My friends from Chili's Grill and Bar for Modeling
All who attended
All that had donated

Thank You!!

I can't say this enough, but it's overwhelming to see the amount of support our little community has shown for our daughter. It brings a new sense of warmth and compassion. I never once in my dreams would have thought so many would chose to take our family under their wing and remind us of how special life could really be. We are so very humbled of all that has happened in the past 6 months and very grateful to boot.

Val McCormick has the pictures on her site that you can order. Go to http://www.valmccormick.com/
(select webite, then online ordering, then events)

Do you think this will go to her head?

News > Valley
‘Glitz & Glam’ show to aid Valley child

Thursday, November 6, 2008 5:53 AM EST
By Patricia Villers, Register Staff
SEYMOUR — The red carpet treatment. That’s what all who attend a fundraising hair fashion show this month at the Strand Theater can expect.Proceeds will benefit Mia Zito, 5, a Bungay School kindergartner who is undergoing treatment for advanced melanoma.Kellie Steeves, administrator and owner of the Oxford Academy of Hair Design in Seymour, said she, her staff and students are planning a “Glitz & Glam” benefit at 7 p.m. Nov. 16 at the movie theater, 165 Bank St.She wants people to feel they are going to a special event. Photographer Val McCormick will be on hand to photograph the models and guests as they arrive on the red carpet in front of the theater.

The photos will be posted online, Steeves said, and proceeds from sales of the photos will be donated to the benefit.“I’ve never met Mia, but I wanted to do something to help someone in the community,” Steeves said. “People have really come together for this.”One of her hairdressing students, Samantha Allard, has created a 20-minute slide show that tells Mia’s story and describes hair fashions. It will be shown before the fashion show. Steeves said Carousel Gardens Restaurant of Seymour will donate catering services.Mia, whom Steeves called “the star of the show,” will model with other girls in the age 5-8 category.This is the third annual “Glitz & Glam” benefit that Steeves has organized. The first benefited the Children’s Hospital at Yale-New Haven Hospital, she said, and the second one was a benefit for Sydney Bartone of Derby, who died last November at age 7 after a battle with neuroblastoma.Mia’s mother, Christine Zito, said Mia “is doing fabulous” and is enjoying school.“It’s very kind and very generous” of Steeves to stage the show, she said.Louis Vayas will serve as DJ, and a special guest is expected, Steeves said.Donations of $20 are requested, but any amount will be welcomed.For information, call the Oxford Academy of Hair Design, 888-9075.Patricia Villers can be reached at pvillers@nhregister.com

To clear up some confusion

http://www.skincancer.org/Skin-Cancer/Melanoma/Stages-of-Melanoma.html and http://www.skincancer.org/About-Us/About-Us.html

Please Check out the website above. It explains in dept about the staging and how it varies from other forms of cancer.

Mia has been doing fabulous, and her first Halloween parade at school was a hit! Treatments are moving right along. And I am also happy to report my mother is progressing very well since being home. With my father away for hunting, I have had a good time spending girl time with my mom. Thank you all for the well wishes for my mom. We are all blessed to have all of you in our lives and we thank you for you encouragement

An update that is not so peachy...

Don't worry, Mia is fine! She has been progressing very well. The main concern right now is her nutrition and weight loss. The doctors have been trying to find every niche they can to get my little beaner to eat. She eats in spurts and picks like a little bird. We live day to day hoping that she will pig out and magically gain the 8lbs that she has shed since may. It doesn't seem like a lot to most but a little girl like this does raise some concerns. Mia is also very ready to end her weekly injections, she has had about as much as she can take at this point and honestly so have I.

I have many emails begging for an updated blog and I promised that I would get it done Friday. Unfortunately, Friday mom had her (hopefully) last reconstructive surgery on her breast. After her last bought with Breast Cancer she has undergone many reconstructions to to correct the many medical errors done to her chest. The 6 hour surgery went very well and we were totally relieved. She had one of the best surgeons helping to bring my mom back to her true form. Yes, you guessed it, she had Mia's surgeon!! Once in recovery we all felt that she made it through just fine. That sense of security went right out the window when mom went into cardiac arrest just shy of one hour after surgery. Once the doctors tracked down my dad, she was back into the operation room to have a catheder implanted. I thank god that she was at Yale that day so I knew she was in best of hands. When my phone rang my dad seemed shakey and distant and when he had said that mom had a heart attack my heart sank. That wasn't the great news I was waiting for. It was only 2pm at this point and I had 3 very long hours before George came home to relieve me of the girls. I headed straight to the hospital to be by my mothers side.

Walking through the doors of 5-1 Cardiac ICU scared the bejesus out of me. I was ushered right in to be by her side, doctors and nurses tried to explain why my mother need ventilators and breathing tubes and sedation. It was all sureal. Seeing my mother, my saving grace, laying there helpless made me realize how precious she is to me.

Shortly after my arrival they asked me to wait in the family lounge while they put in her main line. I saw my dad pale and frazzled as he paced the length of the hallway. He hadn't seen her at all, so I told him to wait just a few more minutes then we will both go in. In the back of my mind I didn't want him to see her, it would kill him to see her like that. Eventually, we went in. My dad caressed and twirled her hair and said he will be right by her side. And he was, all weekend. Through out the weekend we took turns at her beside just waiting for signs of improvement and it happened today. She was taken off the breathing tubes and had the balloon pump was removed. In this instance, I was relieved when my dad had said "She asked for Coffee, her first words were I want a coffee" As I stood by the back door at work, hearing those words made me chuckle. I knew my mom couldn't survive without a coffee. Finally, I can feel the breath of fresh air for the first time this weekend. She is still not in the clear but progress was made. It's these speed bumps in this thing I call life really takes a toll on a person. Because of this, I have grown stronger as a mother, a wife and a daughter. I still ask you to pray for my mothers recovery. There can never be enough prayers. I hope the next post is a brighter one.

XOXOXOX

Chrissie

One of our most favorite times of the year!

Hello all! I know its been a while but life has thrown us a few curve balls these past few weeks. George and I have been trying to juggle everything in our lives and then some. Last week Mia had a biopsy done and was such a big girl about it. Rachel started Brownies again and CCD. Ashley has been so good with her potty training but lately we have seen a regression.Also George and I have been looking for a house because we need to be closer to his job. We took the girls pumpkin picking at Jones Tree Farm in Shelton on Sunday and had such a good time. We made sure we bought like a million pumpkins and apples. We are still trying to schedule in the fun things even though things are so hectic. I think it gives us the balance that we need. Everyone, despite the choas, has been so good lately. I keep reminding myself that if he brings you to it, it is he who will bring you through it. Words to live by. I have also been in contact with Kelly from Oxford Academy of hair design and things are starting to come together for the fashion show for Mia. So mark your calenders for November 16th 2008 at 7PM. It will be held at the Strand Theater in Seymour. I must end here, I have papers to complete! Just a few short weeks and my semester is over and internship begins. Many hugs!

XOXOXOXO

Chrissie

Welcome Fall

As Fall leaves crumble to the ground we are preparing ourselves to jump and play. I wanted to say a huge thank you to all of our friends, family and community for a wonderful night at Danny O's. I can say it was an awesome time all around and I am humbled by all of your encouragement.

We just returned home from a fabulous weekend in Newport, RI with our longtime friends. It was such an amazing thing to see everyone together. The girls really enjoyed themselves at the hotel pool. We then ventured up to Providence to go to the children's museum but they were closed. So thanks to my handy dandy Blackberry we found ourselves the Providence Place Mall!!! What a ginormous and magnificent shopping facility. We had lunch at Dave&Busters and played video games until it was time to drop! Sadly, we only had the weekend to play but we look forward to seeing everyone again real soon!