Friday, July 25, 2008

Moving Days

We're off to the new house today but not toally leaving Clic Housebehind. Due to hospital appointments and Bristol's traffic, it's not been easy to pick up all the things we've bought and been given via Freecycle.org in one day. So we've been building up to it.

Leo is very excited about having his own bedroom, but more so he can play on his own, I think. He keeps asking if I can sleep with him! We'll wait and see, shall we? The key thing is we'll be able to make meals without thinking about other people sitting down to eat just as our dinner is cooked! And we also will not have to compare stories about childhood cancer with others! After nearly three months at Clic House, it's so important for all of us that we have some normality ahead of a busy week next week and an even busier six weeks from Aug 11th.

A new Hickmann line is being put in on Tuesday then we're off to Surrey for the clinic appointment on Wednesday, going to my parent's in Henley for Wednesday and Thursday night so we can be back in Surrey again for planning and the shell to be made under a general anaesthetic on Friday. There's no point us driving all the way back to Bristol in between these appointments otherwise it will only add to our tiredness, I think.

Hopefully then, we'll be back on Friday in time for Leo to start his next cycle of chemo. This is the be confirmed, but may need to be put back 24 hours in order for the shell and planning to be completed in time for the radiotherapy to start.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Giving ... and Receiving with Thanks

We've found many people very giving today as we've been given:
  • Time, and lots (and lots and lots) of energy, from Leo's Uncle Jon who collected some furniture for our new house today, plus played with Leo for about 3 hours!
  • A fabulous present for Leo from Uncle Jon and Auntie Karen - a lovely Spiderman pop-up house for his new bedroom (which Leo kept making Jon get into and sit in with him!!)
  • Items of furniture, all of which has been given to us either my family, friends of friends or via the recycling / freecycling site www.freecycle.org
  • Food, for Leo and PJ, at his mum's house this afternoon, which Leo loved so much - one advantage of being back in the UK is that Leo gets to see all of his grandparents much more.
  • Efforts and lots of it from Cylla, the Clic Sargent Social Worker, who is doing much on our behalf to access info and grants for various things to make Leo's life easier.

Leo is full of energy and was even really nice to his doctor this morning, which makes a change. I think maybe he's cheered up because he knew he was coming home today after another couple of days in hospital. He's certainly wearing PJ and I out with his energy...are they sure it's only chemo or antibiotics they're giving him? I am amazed at how much energy he has pretty much day-in, day-out. Not complaining one bit, though!

Sunday, July 20, 2008

End of the Line

So the day has come for the Hickmann line to finally be taken out. Unfortunately on Friday we ended up back at the hospital with another line infection, then called yesterday to make sure his antibiotics were ready and the ward had a bed for them to be administered. On that call, the doc said to bring a bag as they'd decided to finally take the line out and give his body time to get rid of the bug.

He now has a cannula in the back of his hand for today's antibiotics and another dose tomorrow, then it's back home to Clic for a manic week of trying to furnish the new house. We're keen to get the house sorted this week so we can have at least 7-10 days there before we head up to Surrey for the radiotherapy part of Leo's treatment.

Leo will then another operation to put another line in ready for the next cycle of chemo on Friday Aug 1st.