Christmas 2008

Hope you have a good Christmas and enjoy yourselves surrounded by people who care about you; after all, isn't that what we all want at this time of year?

We let Leo open some presents yesterday after his operation and so he opened the gifts which arrived from his friends in Spain. The picture above is the only one Leo would let me take this evening; he is all dressed up as Sporticus from Lazytown; an outfit sent over by Dawn, Terry, Neva and Lexi. And Leo's energy is just about the same as this cartoon character's now he's feeling a bit better and all the chemo is out of his system.

Same could not be said for today as Leo's chest is very sore where his line was taken out. It has been there since July so the tissue which grows around it can cause it to be very sore when they take it out. So after a brief play at a new soft play place nearby, where Leo took great pleasure in sliding down the slides on his tummy and chest, it was home for a grumpy afternoon. The fact that Father Christmas may be making an appearance overnight has kept him going this evening, but Leo is your typical male of the species...just because you can take pain-killers, does not mean you have to...even if you're in lots of pain!!

Hopefully he'll be feeling a bit better tomorrow and no doubt more presents are going to help.

Merry Christmas

BIG Day, and not because Santa visits in 2 days!

It's been a big, big, big day today as Leo has had his central line removed!! Woo hoo!

Such a huge factor in life returning to a new normality. Apart from the fact that it meant more surgery and another general anaesthetic for Leo, it brings to a close a strange and very, very challenging year.

At least now, Leo can start to feel like any other child; his hair is growing back, and although he told someone today he'd like eyelashes and eyebrows for Christmas, they're growing back also. He should be asking for toys and games, not hair!! But with hope, today will be the last time we have to visit the hospital until February, when the next MRI scan is planned.

Timing is a funny thing as we spent last Christmas here in the UK and vowed to try to spend more Christmas's in sunnier climes such as Spain due to the bad weather here. But this Christmas, although it's cold and damp, we're thankful to have been here in the UK when Leo was diagnosed and thankful that we can call on the NHS and the excellent Clic Sargent community nursing team if we're at all concerned.

So two days to Christmas 2008 and so much has happened since last Christmas.

Moving countries, moving house, being homeless and being fortunate enough to be able to live at Clic House in Bristol, my operation which included an hysterectomy and bowel surgery and oh, that small thing called cancer!

Who'd have thought it, eh? Doesn't this kind of thing always happen to someone else's child who you read about in magazines or newspapers? You never actually think it'll happen to your only child.

But it has and he's through the treatment and now we press on.

Life will never be the same again but in some ways, this is a positive. Whilst we'd prefer to be living our lives in Spain and enjoying our friendships which were developing there, our lives have taken a different twist and unless we embrace it, we cannot and will not move forward.

Who knows what is going to be happening this time next year but our prayers are constantly asking that Leo be with us in 12 months time. This cannot be his last Christmas.

I have a feeling 2009's New Year's Resolutions may be rather on the large side!! We've some time for reflection between now and then though as PJ, Leo and I are off to Ayr in Scotland to spend time at Clic House which will allow us to not feel guilty about our emotions and feelings during the New Year period. We didn't want to feel we were upsetting or disrupting other people's New Year celebrations by spending time with our friends in and around Bristol in the UK, and so we're taking the opportunity to meet and spend time with families and children who know where we're at, and who knows, we may even be able to give hope and support to other families who are going along this rollercoaster of a journery called childhood cancer.

Thank you once again for all your support and please know that if I could jump on a plane to everyone and give hugs and kisses all round, then I would! And Leo would not be far behind me...he's in a very tactile place right now so you would not get away without strong hugs from a boy who is getting stronger daily.

Thank you once again, and may your Christmas and New Year celebrations be filled with joy, health and much love.