Hospital day

Catherine's day at hospital went remarkably well. We arrived and were given a guided tour of the new facilities and were then taking to the special 'no eating area' so that Catherine could fast for her procedure without other people eating in the same room. She had some bloods taken and she is nearly neutropenic (her neutrophils are just borderline) which means that after her chemo on Tuesday, they will drop and she will probably be susceptible to infection in a few days time. Please pray that she doesn't get any infections.

The procedure is very different at the hospital. Instead of taking bloods through Catherine's portacath, they will be using a finger prick instead. This may or may not be a good thing depending upon whether Catherine realizes it is a small needle or not. Catherine is now terrified of needles due to some very bad experiences early in her treatment.

There is also a special theatre for the procedure away from the waiting area. So we take Catherine down a little corridor when it is her turn.

Personally I have been amazed at the way she is adapting to all this change. The nurses commented on how confident she was - she just got there and got on with everything.

At her new house, she only complains a bit about being bored - as any child on school holiday does - but she is not asking to go back to London and she is very settled. She had one night where she didn't sleep well, but she loves it now. Mark wondered whether it is because the house is similar to the one we lived in before training college, and subconsciously she remembers it as being a safe place.

Catherine is now really looking forward to starting school, and if she deals with it like she's dealt with everything else, it will be a breeze!

She is now being a mischief and running round the living room blowing my recorder. She has one of her own, but she's trying to get my attention. I'd better go and carry on unpacking the boxes, but thankyou for your prayers for her first hospital day. God carried her through again :)