Silence is Golden

When there's no updates on the blog, yes, it does mean it's either bad news or good news; however on this occasion, we're happy. So apologies for the lack of info, but we've either been at the hospital with Leo this week or playing with baby Sophie, and seeing Andrew and Julia.

Leo's MRI on Friday afternoon showed a significant decrease in the size of the tumour in Leo's head; maybe even up to 50% reduction. We'll know more on Monday when we speak with his doctor again once the measurements and comparisons have been made. The advise here is yes, be excited and pleased the chemo is doing it's thing but as this tumour is so rare in the site it's in and in a child of Leo's age, we don't know if that's good or bad. But hey, we'll take this result for what it is..a clear indication that something is working to combat the cancer.

The MRI also showed that the optic nerve is now visible on the scans and the impingement onto the brain has considerably decreased.

This matched with the info gained from a lengthy visit with the opthamologists this week at Bristol's Eye Hospital. They feel Leo's sight has returned to near perfect when using both eyes but given he's 3 and not all that happy about being in the hospital for hours on Wednesday, he wouldn't let them check each eye individually or look at the back of his eye so no news there.

Not sure on kidney function or his chest Xray results but the main ones are the vital ones given above. So a quick punch of the air for today and then tomorrow is another day.

The other news is that Bristol cannot offer to do his radiotherapy on time as they can only anaesthetise two children for radiotherapy each day. Leo would be a third and so to do it here in Bristol would mean a delay of 13 days. On consultation with those in the know, this delay could / would be detrimental and as such, we may be off to the Royal Marsden in Surrey for the 1st August for at least 6 weeks. It will mean more upheavel especially as PJ will be off to start work in September and we may have found a house in Bristol, as of today!

So if you're having a swift one or more this weekend, please raise a glass for a few things; the first to chemotherapy, as it's clearly doing something; the second, to Leo for being so brave (although when you tell him this, he shouts at you that he's not); and the third, for Sophie, as it's her Christening this Sunday, and she is probably the most smiley baby we know!