Pre-Day 1 of Radiotherapy

So it's just into Monday morning on August 11th, 2008 and Leo starts the next vital part of kicking the cancer today. We're off to start his treatment at the Royal Marsden and it feels like it's come around very quickly. Weird that our world was rocked upside down with this whole adventure just over 3 months ago, and now we're already at week 14 of his treatment. Probably doesn't feel quick to Leo but then children don't tend to have the same concept of time as adults.

Rules of engagement this week include no food including milk after 6am every day, and no water after 10am and as Leo is going to bed late every evening, we're not foreseeing this being too much of a problem. He even managed some cottage pie with us late this evening so at least we know he's eaten something.

Given Leo's entire week has been mainly about consuming milk and literally hardly any food, we're pleased he's eaten for many reasons. The chemo drugs make him very constipated and this week, more so than ever. Unfortunately, if this carries on and he won't take any oral meds to combat the constipation, then the doctors will need Leo to have a naso-gastric tube up his nose and into his stomach to feed him with more nutritious things than just milk. It's dangerous for him not to 'go' properly, especially leading into this crucial time of six week's where the radiotherapy will really batter his body and immune system, as well as his brain.

PJ and I are resigned to the fact that it's highly unlikely Leo will go his whole treatment without a tube, but the longer the better. Somehow kids with a naso-gastric tube just look so much more sick; just goes to show how used to seeing Leo without hair, eyelashes and eye-brows we are if we think he'll look more sick with a tube!!

PJ and I have explained to him that tomorrow (or rather, later this morning as it's only just coming up to 1am on Monday morning), he will be at the new hospital again and this time for medicine in his 'wiggly worms' (Hickmann line) followed by a little sleep and then when he wakes up, we can have sandwiches and milk and whatever else he'd like to eat and drink. Then off to rest and sleep and play, and then back for the same on Tuesday. He's quite looking forward to Tuesday...actually, let me re-phrase that; Leo's is very much excited about Tuesday as Martina, Leo's friend from school in Spain is coming to see him and visit with us. Excited is an understatement!

Right off to bed myself and actually quite calm about tomorrow. PJ and I are making a conscious effort to remain calm and relaxed as Leo feeds off of our feelings and can tell if we're scared and anxious.

Tomorrow is another day...