Catherine has had a good day today. The steroids are taking a bit of a toll on her mood, and sometimes she is clingy or abrupt, but other times she is still giggly and playful. However, her bloods are remaining stable which means she might be able to come off her drip tomorrow and then move about freely, which anyone who knows Catherine will know that she will enjoy.
In fact, she is SO determined to come off the drip that she has been drinking heaps so that they will remove it. She has decided herself that she wants to come off, and is determined to get enough fluids down. She also had another chemotherapy drug added today - an injection. This is the one that concerned me the most, but she just got on with it with no fuss. A bit of complaining and nerves beforehand, but no struggles or tantrums. I was astounded at how well she did it.
She has also really enjoyed a visit today from her nursery leader and thoroughly enjoyed talking about nursery and all her friends.
We continue to feel really upheld by your prayers and support and thank you for everything you are doing. We know that your prayers are helping. Please also continue to pray for guidance for all the doctors and nurses caring for Catherine.
Sunday, 31 August 2008
Saturday, 30 August 2008
Another day
Today was a strange sort of day. Nothing seemed to go well this morning from the moment I woke up and we were moved out of the side room where we had been on our own onto the ward. While moving onto the ward means that her blood count is a bit better (she is less likely to get infections from germs/viruses)- it felt too early for me to be 'braving it' in front of everyone else. It was nice having had a retreat when I just wanted to catch my breath. However, it has not been as bad as expected as it has been good to speak to other parents.
Catherine has had a reasonably good day and has had the second dose of meds. She was a littl bit up and down but not too bad: a combination of tiredness and the meds. She was allowed to be detached from 'melody' the drip for five minutes today, and it was great to push her up the corridor in a little plastic car and generally run around with her for a bit. Catherine is getting used to procedures now and knows what all the different things are for but is still looking forward to seeing her friends again soon.
Please continue to pray that the results from the spinal fluid are clear and that side effects of the treatment will be minimal.
Some photos have been added to the facebook group 'Pray for Catherine'.
Catherine has had a reasonably good day and has had the second dose of meds. She was a littl bit up and down but not too bad: a combination of tiredness and the meds. She was allowed to be detached from 'melody' the drip for five minutes today, and it was great to push her up the corridor in a little plastic car and generally run around with her for a bit. Catherine is getting used to procedures now and knows what all the different things are for but is still looking forward to seeing her friends again soon.
Please continue to pray that the results from the spinal fluid are clear and that side effects of the treatment will be minimal.
Some photos have been added to the facebook group 'Pray for Catherine'.
Friday, 29 August 2008
Being a parent in this
It is now nearly 10pm and I should be sleeping, but just as I was about to go to our 'home from home' the nurses had trouble getting the required bloods. Catherine was distressed so I am still here, waiting to see if she needs a new canula.
People have asked me what it is like being a parent in this. I cannot speak for Mark but for myself one of the hardest bits so far is the feeling that, personally, I am not responsible any more. It is not up to me to decide what Catherine will be doing each day as this is now the doctor's remit. Her schedule is not arranged by me but by others and it is hard giving my daughter over to others, despite knowing they are doing the best for her. I spoke to a friend earlier and said that it is a bit like watching your little girl through a pane of glass: you can look at her and show your love, but something is preventing you from practically doing anything to really help. I explained this feeling to the nurse and she reassured me that all I needed to do was love Catherine. This was really clear this evening, as her hand really hurt, but all we did was look eachother in the eyes until it was finished. It was hard for me to hold back the tears as I got more and more cross that she was hurting but I couldn't protect her. However, I also found my role. All she had needed was me to be there and hold her and it was almost like she could get through anything. I know there will be times like this, and my faith in God is strong but I have to remember that He is in control now and not me.
Dawn
People have asked me what it is like being a parent in this. I cannot speak for Mark but for myself one of the hardest bits so far is the feeling that, personally, I am not responsible any more. It is not up to me to decide what Catherine will be doing each day as this is now the doctor's remit. Her schedule is not arranged by me but by others and it is hard giving my daughter over to others, despite knowing they are doing the best for her. I spoke to a friend earlier and said that it is a bit like watching your little girl through a pane of glass: you can look at her and show your love, but something is preventing you from practically doing anything to really help. I explained this feeling to the nurse and she reassured me that all I needed to do was love Catherine. This was really clear this evening, as her hand really hurt, but all we did was look eachother in the eyes until it was finished. It was hard for me to hold back the tears as I got more and more cross that she was hurting but I couldn't protect her. However, I also found my role. All she had needed was me to be there and hold her and it was almost like she could get through anything. I know there will be times like this, and my faith in God is strong but I have to remember that He is in control now and not me.
Dawn
Diagnosis -updated
The results from the bone marrow test are now in and Catherine has Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia. This is the most common form of Leukaemia and cancer in children and therefore has had a lot of research and a good prognosis. The diagnosis was not unexpected, as her blood has had some changes since the doctors first thought Leukaemia was a possibility. Catherine will begin chemotherapy today.
Having said this, there are certain elements in her favour:
1. Catherine is beginning chemotherapy when only a few bad blood cells have passed into the bloodstream from the bone marrow.
2. She is a girl - treatment for girls is 2 years, for boys it is 3 years
3. She has had a healthy and positive start to life and is certainly not a 'sickly' child
4. If there is a good personality type for a child to deal with the gruelling chemo, Catherine has it! The nurses on the ward have noticed that she is a strong and feisty character, and that these children tend to fare better emotionally.
Technical information!:
The chemotherapy has a long list of potential side effects, some of which are unpleasant. For the first four weeks, treatment is intense, but by the end of this period, over 90% of the leukaemia cells will have been eliminated. The remaining treatment will involve periods of maintenance treatment followed by two blocks of seven weeks of intensive treatment. The first treatment period is called induction and involves a combination of four drugs, one of which is a steroid. The steroid will mean that she is likely to put on weight and her temperament will potentially change to moody, clingy and/or aggressive. She will also need three more bone marrow tests to ensure she is making good progress.
Obviously she will lose her hair and potentially eyebrows and eyelashes whilst treatment takes place, but these will grow back after treatment. Doctors cannot predict how she will respond to the treatment but have given us a list of the potential complications. The effects of the chemotherapy on the bone marrow last a few weeks and afterwards the number of the healthy blood cells improve and Catherine will stop being in danger of side effects and complications.
Catherine's day
In herself, Catherine has been well today and has been playing with big gloops of glue, feathers and sparkly things in the wonderful playroom on the ward. I think she has just about caused them to run out of craft equipment today! She has also named her drip 'Melody' because it makes a bleeping sound a bit like music. The playworkers made a face for 'Melody' and hung a paper body on the drip - Catherine really enjoyed it. I have taken some photos, so once I get the chance, I will post them on the blog. The playworkers are brilliant - there are four of them and it reminds her of nursery so she feels secure there. Last night was 'film night' in the nursery, and the children all watched Pocahontas 2 on the big screen telly and had pizza. Catherine hasn't been going to bed until late though, as she keeps asking me questions about what is wrong with her and the other children until late. She is having an early night tonight!
For all you pray-ers out there, don't give up. Just after the diagnosis, I went to my bag and there was my bible. Mark had put it there without me knowing, so I just said, 'Ok, God, what are you going to give me for this moment'. I received Luke 18:
'Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and never give up. He said 'In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea 'Grant me justice against my adversary'
'For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she wont eventually wear me out with her coming'. And the Lord said 'Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will God not bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you , he will see that they get justice, and quickly'.
Let's keep bothering God. Our prayers are working in ways we have not yet seen.
Thank you for caring.
Dawn
Having said this, there are certain elements in her favour:
1. Catherine is beginning chemotherapy when only a few bad blood cells have passed into the bloodstream from the bone marrow.
2. She is a girl - treatment for girls is 2 years, for boys it is 3 years
3. She has had a healthy and positive start to life and is certainly not a 'sickly' child
4. If there is a good personality type for a child to deal with the gruelling chemo, Catherine has it! The nurses on the ward have noticed that she is a strong and feisty character, and that these children tend to fare better emotionally.
Technical information!:
The chemotherapy has a long list of potential side effects, some of which are unpleasant. For the first four weeks, treatment is intense, but by the end of this period, over 90% of the leukaemia cells will have been eliminated. The remaining treatment will involve periods of maintenance treatment followed by two blocks of seven weeks of intensive treatment. The first treatment period is called induction and involves a combination of four drugs, one of which is a steroid. The steroid will mean that she is likely to put on weight and her temperament will potentially change to moody, clingy and/or aggressive. She will also need three more bone marrow tests to ensure she is making good progress.
Obviously she will lose her hair and potentially eyebrows and eyelashes whilst treatment takes place, but these will grow back after treatment. Doctors cannot predict how she will respond to the treatment but have given us a list of the potential complications. The effects of the chemotherapy on the bone marrow last a few weeks and afterwards the number of the healthy blood cells improve and Catherine will stop being in danger of side effects and complications.
Catherine's day
In herself, Catherine has been well today and has been playing with big gloops of glue, feathers and sparkly things in the wonderful playroom on the ward. I think she has just about caused them to run out of craft equipment today! She has also named her drip 'Melody' because it makes a bleeping sound a bit like music. The playworkers made a face for 'Melody' and hung a paper body on the drip - Catherine really enjoyed it. I have taken some photos, so once I get the chance, I will post them on the blog. The playworkers are brilliant - there are four of them and it reminds her of nursery so she feels secure there. Last night was 'film night' in the nursery, and the children all watched Pocahontas 2 on the big screen telly and had pizza. Catherine hasn't been going to bed until late though, as she keeps asking me questions about what is wrong with her and the other children until late. She is having an early night tonight!
For all you pray-ers out there, don't give up. Just after the diagnosis, I went to my bag and there was my bible. Mark had put it there without me knowing, so I just said, 'Ok, God, what are you going to give me for this moment'. I received Luke 18:
'Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and never give up. He said 'In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea 'Grant me justice against my adversary'
'For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she wont eventually wear me out with her coming'. And the Lord said 'Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will God not bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you , he will see that they get justice, and quickly'.
Let's keep bothering God. Our prayers are working in ways we have not yet seen.
Thank you for caring.
Dawn
Thursday, 28 August 2008
Prayer news through facebook
Just to let you know that as well as the hundreds of individuals, many churches and salvation army corps in the UK and the Netherlands that have joined in praying for Catherine, I have been told that her message has reached the Canadian Territory and the USA East territory of the Salvation Army.
She will now be being prayed for globally by Salvation Army corps in these areas. Thankyou.
She will now be being prayed for globally by Salvation Army corps in these areas. Thankyou.
The day ahead
We do not know what today holds but we know that we are being supported by God at this time.
Last night we had a visit from one of the hospital chaplains. His son had leukaemia when he was five and was treated in this ward - his son is now 15 and well. This chaplain did not believe in God when he entered the ward with his son but by the end he knew God. Since then most of his family have also come to know God. It is wonderful how God works in these situations and we know that he will work in our situation too. Someone once said to me 'never forget in the darkness what God has shown you in the light'. We have received so many good things in the past that there is lots to focus on. Keep praying. God is good.
Catherine's mummy
Last night we had a visit from one of the hospital chaplains. His son had leukaemia when he was five and was treated in this ward - his son is now 15 and well. This chaplain did not believe in God when he entered the ward with his son but by the end he knew God. Since then most of his family have also come to know God. It is wonderful how God works in these situations and we know that he will work in our situation too. Someone once said to me 'never forget in the darkness what God has shown you in the light'. We have received so many good things in the past that there is lots to focus on. Keep praying. God is good.
Catherine's mummy
Procedure is complete
Catherine has now had the procedures and is awake on the ward eating a weetabix! We should know the results by tomorrow.
Will update more later. Thankyou for your support.
Will update more later. Thankyou for your support.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
.JPG)
