The school holidays have not proved too helpful for Catherine the past few days. Now that we can get out and about again as her immune system is much improved, she is getting a lot of reactions from members of the public. This is mainly because she has been very confident not wearing her hair or her hat, but we have always been with friends, family or at hospital! Now Catherine is beginning to notice the reactions from other people. It is much worse from the children than teenagers or adults. One little boy came up to Catherine yesterday and looked her straight in the eyes and said loudly 'you've got no hair' before turning to his mum and saying 'she's got no hair'. Another little girl stood and looked at her with her mouth wide open. The parents of these children, once they notice, have been helpful at distracting their children and taking them away.
Today, Catherine was in the back of the car when she noticed she could see herself in the interior mirror. She got really upset saying she didn't want to see her head because she didn't like it. I feel very sad for her and it seemed a shame today having to ask her to wear her hat or her hair because all the children were around. I'm hoping she will have a reasonable amount of hair before she starts school in September.
Catherine's chemotherapy went well on Monday - she had Vincristine through her portacath. We are now on the maintenance phase fo her treatment which involves three main chemo drugs: Vincristine which we are given at the hospital, Methotrexate and Mercaptapurine (given at home by mouth). Catherine will need to go for another lumbar puncture in two weeks time. The doctor checked her legs and feet and could see no damage from the Vincristine (this chemotherapy drug can cause nerve damage and can make children walk on tip-toe). This is very good news.
The chemotherapy has slowed Catherine's growth (although she is still growing, albeit slowly!) and she is clearly not as physically strong as she once was. However, she is gaining weight, which is great. She also has about a millimetre of very light blonde hair all over her head, which is also a good start.
Please pray that she doesn't lose any more confidence because people are noticing her lack of hair, and that she has a reasonable covering of hair for when she starts school. Also that her body continues to recover well from the recent heavy chemotherapy. Thankyou.
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2 comments:
I have seen a number of stories done when children are the ones on the receiving end of the treatment that the parents and possible other family memebers and friends get together to do a small fund raising bit and they all shave their heads in support of the child. I believe that I even remember a whole firebrigade that did this on the telly in support of one of the local boys. They seemed to have raised a bit of money and awareness about the situation locally and a little further. Just a thought, especially at an age where they are so impressionable and reactions from others hit harder then we can imagine.
Blessings,
Bethany.
I hope that peoples words and expresions do not hurt Catherine too much it must be hard for her but if parents would explain the reasons for differences to their children it would make things easier as they can adapt and accept differences a lot easier I hope that Catherine continues to grow stronger and that her hair continues to grow so that she will have a full head of hair in time for start of school
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