Much better

Catherine is much better today and so she was able to go to the park for a friend's birthday. She still has a very low immune system, but the virus just seems to have disappeared. You wouldn't think she had been poorly. Praise God!

2 Corinthians 4:8

I believe that bravery awards for children going through chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment are a fantastic idea, although sometimes I think that an endurance award would be more appropriate! Catherine has been brave in her treatment so far but today I saw bravery on a greater scale.

When I told her that she had to go and have another two injections, she was obviously quite distressed and upset for a short while but composed herself so that we could get ready and make the journey to the hospital. We entered the treatment room and she was fine. A bit nervous but otherwise ok. When the nurse arrived and she saw the two needles she was very afraid.

It made matters worse when she had the first injection because it was very painful. She cried a great deal and it was clearly very difficult for her. I tried to comfort her as much as possible, but I could see she was having a rough time. The problem was that there were two injections, not just the one. For a split second, I wondered how on earth we would convince her to have the second injection considering the pain she had just felt. But slowly she turned her body round, and in floods of tears offered the other arm. That was it for me. I really had to focus on getting her through it otherwise I would have been in floods of tears with her. She stoicly sat through the ordeal again. I glanced across at Mark and he was also amazed at her courage.

During the walk home, she hugged me all the way with her face pressed tight against mine. We celebrated the end of the day with a chinese take-away. Catherine enjoyed a big bowl of rice and was allowed to watch some 'daddy programmes' (In our house we either have Catherine programmes - CBeebies - or Daddy programmes - anything other than CBeebies).

My daughter is as tough as they come.

Today, she is my hero.

ZIG needed

The blood test results show that Catherine has no chicken pox antibodies left in her blood which means that this afternoon she will be having two needles of ZIG injected - one in each arm! Our specialist nurse has asked, half-jokingly, if we could go after she finishes her shift, because she gave the last injections to Catherine last time and is concerned that Catherine will start to hate her!!!

ZIG is a blood product that contains high levels of chicken pox antibodies. ZIG causes chicken pox infection to be less severe. In some cases, ZIG may help prevent infection.

Otherwise, Catherine is steadily improving, and I don't think she has chicken pox but another virus due to her low neutrophils. So this is good news, but now we have to prevent it happening in a couple of weeks time with more ZIG and lots of prayer!

Thankyou for praying.

Lady in waiting

We came home from the hospital this afternoon and are now waiting to find out whether Catherine has any chickenpox antibodies and whether they can identify her viral infection. She doesn't have a temperature, so they were happy to let her come home and give her some oral antibiotics for now. She has also been given a different painkiller which is really effective and has made her feel much more comfortable. So we've had a good evening together, all three of us cuddling up on the sofa. Normally Catherine would be in bed for 7.30pm and we would be working on essays, so it has actually turned into an unexpected family time for us all. And because the painkiller is working, she is no longer upset and tearful and is enjoying the cuddle time. We even got to watch a programme on TV which was located a few miles down the road from our new home, which was quite exciting! So a silver lining in the middle of a cloud.

We are praying that Catherine will be feeling much better tomorrow.

Going for tests in hospital

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.

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.

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.