Today Catherine had her MRD result. The MRD test is a very sophisticated test that shows whether there is any leukaemia left in the bone marrow.
The Consultant has told us:
'Catherine is in the VERY SMALL number of children in whom the leukaemic DNA clone was ELIMINATED at a very early stage. This is proven through both of her MRD tests'.
'Catherine is definitely in remission'.
She will still need to complete the full course of treatment to ensure that there is no relapse.
Yesterday, Catherine told her nursery teacher, 'God is looking after me'. I think this is proof of everything we have believed all along - Catherine is firmly in God's hands and His healing power is being worked out through her.
We have decided that Catherine will be entered into randomization. Mark and I both feel this is the right course of action. We will be confirming this course of action in mid-December when we will find out whether she will receive one or two intensive blocks of chemotherapy.
Please pray that Catherine receives the right amount of chemotherapy to ensure that the leukaemia will never return, and also that she will not get any side effects or infections while she continues the treatment.
Thank you for the faith of so many who have brought our daughter to Jesus time and time again over the past months. Please continue to support her, particularly as she will still need to enter the difficult intensive block of chemotherapy over Christmas and into the New Year.
People have asked whether miracles really happen today. I'm sure you will agree that throughout Catherine's story, mini-miracles are happening frequently. Today's news is so wonderful.
We really value everything you have done.
And thankyou, God, for everything You have done.
Thursday, 20 November 2008
Wednesday, 19 November 2008
More answered prayer
Catherine had bad leg pain last night. We assume it is part of the side effects of the medication again. It was so bad that the painkiller didn't seem to have much effect, and the pain woke her up again. I hated seeing her in pain and was contemplating phoning the hospital when I thought I would take a moment to pray first. I managed to get her reasonably settled and put my hand on her leg and prayed. She calmed down and gently went back to sleep. She then slept all night.
In the morning, she was all happy and bouncing around. I asked her how she was feeling: 'I'm fine today', she said. 'I went to sleep when my leg hurt and woke up and it all feels better!', she exclaimed. I told her about how I had prayed for her leg and how God had helped take the pain away as the medicine wasn't working very well.
She bounced out of the kitchen with her cup of juice. Just when she was nearly out of earshot, she said 'Thanks, God', very matter-of-fact and in the way you would speak to your best friend. Sometime I think she knows Him better than me.
In the morning, she was all happy and bouncing around. I asked her how she was feeling: 'I'm fine today', she said. 'I went to sleep when my leg hurt and woke up and it all feels better!', she exclaimed. I told her about how I had prayed for her leg and how God had helped take the pain away as the medicine wasn't working very well.
She bounced out of the kitchen with her cup of juice. Just when she was nearly out of earshot, she said 'Thanks, God', very matter-of-fact and in the way you would speak to your best friend. Sometime I think she knows Him better than me.
Monday, 17 November 2008
Faith
This morning we had to go and collect Catherine from nursery because she had been sick. We monitored her at home, but pleasingly she was cheerful and happy and bouncing around again in no time. We think that she didn't eat enough breakfast this morning, and when she took her medicines, they didn't have a very good effect on an empty-ish stomach. It wasn't her chemotherapy medicine, but her 'banana medicine' (which prevents chest infections). She calls this medicine banana medicine because, logically, it tastes of bananas. Not to be confused with her 'banana spray' which smells of bananas and is used to spray her portacath before she has her bloods taken.
Out of all the medicines she has had so far, Catherine says her favourite medicine is the banana medicine followed by the one that tastes like melon. The 'orange medicine' is tolerable because she has it whilst she is half asleep, but her least favourite is the 'lemony medicine'. She says it is 'all fizzily on her tongue'.
She really enjoyed the rest of the day. Tonight she was complaining of a bit of earache, but she said 'I will sleep with my earache and it will be better in the morning!'. There's faith for you!
Out of all the medicines she has had so far, Catherine says her favourite medicine is the banana medicine followed by the one that tastes like melon. The 'orange medicine' is tolerable because she has it whilst she is half asleep, but her least favourite is the 'lemony medicine'. She says it is 'all fizzily on her tongue'.
She really enjoyed the rest of the day. Tonight she was complaining of a bit of earache, but she said 'I will sleep with my earache and it will be better in the morning!'. There's faith for you!
Sunday, 16 November 2008
Love
Catherine came into my room this morning and pointed to a picture. She asked me who was in the picture and I replied that the picture was of Jesus.
She pointed to the ceiling. 'Jesus is up there, mummy', she said.
'Is he?', I asked, smiling.
'Yes, he is', she replied, also smiling.
'Do you talk to Jesus?'.
'Yes, I do', Catherine replied.
And does Jesus speak to you?
'Yes'.
'What does he say?'.
'Love'
'He says love to you?'.
'Yes', she replied, still smiling. Then she asked me for her breakfast.
She pointed to the ceiling. 'Jesus is up there, mummy', she said.
'Is he?', I asked, smiling.
'Yes, he is', she replied, also smiling.
'Do you talk to Jesus?'.
'Yes, I do', Catherine replied.
And does Jesus speak to you?
'Yes'.
'What does he say?'.
'Love'
'He says love to you?'.
'Yes', she replied, still smiling. Then she asked me for her breakfast.
Friday, 14 November 2008
What caused this?
Research published by Cancer Research UK in June 2008 states that some experts believe Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia is caused by a reaction to an infection. They suggest that stress on a child's immune system can cause ALL in, obviously, extremely rare cases. Other researchers are suggesting that allergies may contribute to contracting ALL. However, researchers are still not sure what causes the disease.
This is a very different from the previous theory that electrical fields and mysterious chemicals cause ALL. When she was first diagnosed, I remember quizzing Mark about whether he could recall any risk of such things at our old house. Not really worth the effort, it seems!
It also states that we should not go overboard at protecting out children from common infections. According to the article based on the report, supposedly we should be reassured that the chance of a child developing Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia is 36 in 1 million.
That's ok if your child isn't one of the 36.
Being a doting parent, I always thought Catherine was one in a million. Seems I was nearly right.
This is a very different from the previous theory that electrical fields and mysterious chemicals cause ALL. When she was first diagnosed, I remember quizzing Mark about whether he could recall any risk of such things at our old house. Not really worth the effort, it seems!
It also states that we should not go overboard at protecting out children from common infections. According to the article based on the report, supposedly we should be reassured that the chance of a child developing Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia is 36 in 1 million.
That's ok if your child isn't one of the 36.
Being a doting parent, I always thought Catherine was one in a million. Seems I was nearly right.
Sleepy and sad
I brought Catherine home from nursery at lunchtime. Over lunch, she told me she wanted me to go and stay at nursery with her this afternoon, but then she decided she wanted to come home with me. This is not like Catherine as she normally always wants to be at 'school'.
When we got home, she sat for a while on the armchair with her teddy watching her DVD and then decided that actually she needed a nap. She is now in bed sleeping.
We wonder whether she is just very tired from the chemotherapy she received yesterday. We have been told that Methotrexate is stronger than the daily mercaptupurine she receives, so we are hoping she is just experiencing tiredness from the drugs rather than anything else (ie chicken pox).
When we got home, she sat for a while on the armchair with her teddy watching her DVD and then decided that actually she needed a nap. She is now in bed sleeping.
We wonder whether she is just very tired from the chemotherapy she received yesterday. We have been told that Methotrexate is stronger than the daily mercaptupurine she receives, so we are hoping she is just experiencing tiredness from the drugs rather than anything else (ie chicken pox).
Thursday, 13 November 2008
No spots
I am pleased to report that there is still no sign of the chicken pox virus. Catherine has been really happy today and really enjoyed nursery and seeing all her friends.
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