Catherine's blog: One week to go

Saturday, 24 January 2009

One week to go

We are through another week of the intensive block and have only one more week until we reach the maintenance period in Catherine's treatment. After this week, there will be less hospital visits and hopefully Catherine will be on to a more even keel as we continue the next year or so of treatment.

The other day, I marvelled as I watched Catherine running round with her friends, leading them in a game of chase. She was as fast as them. I just find this so amazing when I consider how much chemo she is on at the moment. Her blood counts have gone down as expected, and she will probably need a blood transfusion next week, but she is still energetic and excited about being able to go for a train ride today. Next week we expect her neutrophils to bomb, and we may be at home for a few days to avoid the risk of infection as much as possible, but for now she is looking remarkably good for everything she has been through. God has been so good to her.

Yesterday, she decided she was going to lead an activity at nursery. We have some pebbles at home, and she counted out nine before her lesson; one for each of her friends. At school she organized a painting activity which involved painting a stone. She helped her friends get into their aprons, and they all ended up with some pretty painted stones. I just hope the nursery leaders didn't mind as she took over!!! Maybe it gave them a break for the morning.

The last week or so, I've been thinking back over the experience so far. It has been far from easy but we have managed to get through. It is strange how going to hospital ends up becoming 'normal' and how even something as demanding as leukaemia treatment can become part of life. I made some friends laugh the other day when I spoke about how I was reading a book with pictures of lots of children. As I looked at the photos, I found myself surprised that they all had hair!!!! How bizarre. Normality has become being with children without hair!!! It will be odd when Catherine has hair again. I will probably be very confused...

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This is Catherine's story: Expect Miracles

This is Catherine's blog. Catherine is now six years old and is in remission from leukaemia (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia - ALL). Leukaemia is a rare yet treatable form of cancer that affects the bone marrow and blood. This blog began at the start of her treatment in August 2008. The treatment lasted until October 2010. She went into remission remarkably early and the treatment was focussed on making sure the disease never returned. Over 15000 people have prayed for Catherine during the past three years for which her parents are deeply grateful. So many people love Catherine that it was hard to update everyone, so her parents began this blog to keep everyone updated. Catherine is the daughter of two Salvation Army Officers in the UK. This blog is a place to be updated, to send wishes to the parents and basically for everyone who knows Catherine (or doesn't) to be able to find out more about her progress. Feel free to post comments, concerns and questions. All prayers for Catherine at this time continue to be warmly received by her parents and Catherine's extended family. Catherine is now receiving blood tests and will be monitored regularly until she is ten-year-old when she will be give the official 'all clear'. Her parents especially welcome readers who are experiencing a child dealing with any form of cancer. Their prayer is that this blog will help them in their journeys.