The test results are in, and Catherine is not anaemic but has hardly any immune system. Also, three of her friends have now come down with chicken pox. The hospital has asked us to go in for tests to see whether she has any chicken pox antibodies in her blood from her last injection and also to give her a good check-up as she is definitely not well. The hospital is concerned that she is brewing the virus.
She was up for most of this morning and did a bit of colouring with me but then put herself back to bed. We are very concerned for her at this time. Prayers would be very welcome.
Thursday, 21 May 2009
Catherine is not well
Last night Catherine had a really bad earache and this morning she is feeling a bit nauseous. She also looks like she might be anaemic as her fingernails are white and she slept in until 8.45am this morning, which is extremely unusual! Last time her blood counts dropped quickly, she had a bad earache and was very tired, so we are hoping that this is all that is wrong. At the moment, she is in her PJ's on the sofa with a hot water bottle.
The hospital said that one of the first signs of chicken pox for Catherine would most likely be vomiting with a temperature. The community nurse is coming shortly to check Catherine's bloods to see whether it is because her counts are low.
Please pray that this is not the beginning of chicken pox and that there is no infection brewing. If it is her blood counts, which it could be from her symptoms, then we can get her a blood transfusion in the next couple of days.
The hospital said that one of the first signs of chicken pox for Catherine would most likely be vomiting with a temperature. The community nurse is coming shortly to check Catherine's bloods to see whether it is because her counts are low.
Please pray that this is not the beginning of chicken pox and that there is no infection brewing. If it is her blood counts, which it could be from her symptoms, then we can get her a blood transfusion in the next couple of days.
Wednesday, 20 May 2009
Another one of Catherine's friends has just come down with chicken pox. You think you've just got through the threat and then there it is again! So it is all happiness in our household as we face the excitement that is chicken pox yet again. So I am doing a Greta Garbo today and want to be alone. So if you don't see me around, that's why. Nothing personal.
Tuesday, 19 May 2009
Tonight's excitement
Catherine had a great day today and the effects of the steroids are definitely wearing off again. She has been giggly and smiley again, and is almost back to her old self.
This evening I put her to bed. 'It's time for sleeping', I said. Catherine replies 'I can't sleep because I have no eyes!'. Obviously, if she has no eyes, she cannot close them...
A while later, she says, 'I can't get to sleep mummy because my head is stupid, and I can't lay down'.
She can be so inventive sometimes!
This evening I put her to bed. 'It's time for sleeping', I said. Catherine replies 'I can't sleep because I have no eyes!'. Obviously, if she has no eyes, she cannot close them...
A while later, she says, 'I can't get to sleep mummy because my head is stupid, and I can't lay down'.
She can be so inventive sometimes!
Monday, 18 May 2009
A good procedure
Today's procedure went really well and Catherine was fantastic - really cool and calm. She didn't even flinch at having her 'wiggly' put in and she was so chilled out at having the anaesthetic that she was almost asleep before they gave it to her! A cool cucumber! She also really enjoyed all the crafts today, and it was hard dragging her away from the play table! She spent most of her time painting and using coloured sand.
The consultant also met with us today and said that, from their point of view, Catherine was doing extremely well on her treatment. This is always encouraging :-)
When Catherine had her anaesthetic and chemotherapy into her spinal fluid, they also took some of her bone marrow to check that there are no 'naughty blood cells'.
It was our last visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital before we go to our new specialist hospital when we move. I didn't realize until we got there. We still need to have chemotherapy at our shared care hospital before we move, but it was odd leaving all the friendly staff that we have got to know at the Marsden. I get the feeling that our Consultant would have liked us to be staying close by so that she could see Catherine's treatment through to the end. But I told her I would let her know how things were going. The nurses, doctors and play staff have all been brilliant and really helped us in many practical ways. The Clic Sargeant lady has also helped us greatly with all the different forms and paperwork that needed to be completed.
The hospital is looking to raise money to form the best childhood and teenage cancer hospital in Europe, but they need to raise funds first. Their plan can be found here www.royalmarsden.org/plan.
The consultant also met with us today and said that, from their point of view, Catherine was doing extremely well on her treatment. This is always encouraging :-)
When Catherine had her anaesthetic and chemotherapy into her spinal fluid, they also took some of her bone marrow to check that there are no 'naughty blood cells'.
It was our last visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital before we go to our new specialist hospital when we move. I didn't realize until we got there. We still need to have chemotherapy at our shared care hospital before we move, but it was odd leaving all the friendly staff that we have got to know at the Marsden. I get the feeling that our Consultant would have liked us to be staying close by so that she could see Catherine's treatment through to the end. But I told her I would let her know how things were going. The nurses, doctors and play staff have all been brilliant and really helped us in many practical ways. The Clic Sargeant lady has also helped us greatly with all the different forms and paperwork that needed to be completed.
The hospital is looking to raise money to form the best childhood and teenage cancer hospital in Europe, but they need to raise funds first. Their plan can be found here www.royalmarsden.org/plan.
Friday, 15 May 2009
Night owl
We had an interesting night last night with Catherine. She didn't sleep well, so came in our bed. Then I ended up sleeping in her bed. Then she asked me to leave her bed so she could sleep. 'Sorry, mum', she said, 'but I want my bed now'. Then she woke Mark up at 5.30am because she wanted him to pass her the DVD player. She shouted for him so that she didn't come into our bedroom and wake us up!!! The steroids play havoc with Catherine's sleeping pattern and then she feels very tired during the day. She's still a bit sensitive, but we found today that if she could be distracted by her friends and other activities, she felt a bit better.
On Monday we are going for a general anaesthetic and lumbar puncture at hospital. Catherine will receive more chemotherapy into her spinal fluid. Please could you pray for the anaesthetist and doctors and nurses performing the procedure and for the procedure to go smoothly. We will also be seeing Catherine's consultant.
Thanks also to Alison and John - I've just managed to access Catherine's email account again and found your messages!
catherineisgreat88@rocketmail.com
I will put some recent photos of Catherine on the blog soon, as I realised today that I haven't updated her pictures in a long while.
On Monday we are going for a general anaesthetic and lumbar puncture at hospital. Catherine will receive more chemotherapy into her spinal fluid. Please could you pray for the anaesthetist and doctors and nurses performing the procedure and for the procedure to go smoothly. We will also be seeing Catherine's consultant.
Thanks also to Alison and John - I've just managed to access Catherine's email account again and found your messages!
catherineisgreat88@rocketmail.com
I will put some recent photos of Catherine on the blog soon, as I realised today that I haven't updated her pictures in a long while.
Thursday, 14 May 2009
Cath's steroid misery
We seem to have worked out the problem - steroids! Normally the effect of steroids doesn't hit Catherine until the end of the five days of treatment, so it has been quite bizarre to see it floor her this time round. She told me today that she doesn't feel ill but she doesn't feel herself. She also said that she felt very tired and not herself this afternoon and 'should have phoned you from nursery'. She looked really tired when she came home today and just cuddled me for ages with a very sad face. In bed I told her that she would only feel 'not herself' for a few days and then she would feel better again. I think she felt reassured, but we still have another three days of this to go. I think she copes ok at nursery, but as soon as she gets home she relaxes and tells me all her woes. Poor C.
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