Counts went UP!!!

We had a good day at Westmead on Tuesday. After they found her blood which apparently went missing for a while down the shoot, the doctor handed me her counts on a piece of paper as we were on our way up to the main operating theatres to do the bone marrow aspiration - our BIG Day 79 test (just afew days later). Her counts had jumped up so high which was amazing and wonderful. I don't think anyone can work out just how it all works. The procedure went well. Georgie was very relaxed about the whole thing. She couldn't stop giggling at how funny her Mum looked in my over sized full length blue gown, really big shower cap and shoe covers!!!  Attractive!!  Her port was still accessed so they gave her a lovely white medicine into the port and she was asleep within seconds. All very easy. Half an hour later (and a much needed coffee) I was back up in recovery as she woke up slowly. She was alittle confused that she was awake and should of been asleep so they could do the procedure. All she wanted to do was eat once we were back in the Oncology clinic.

 

We hopefully get the results tommorrow when we go back to see the doctors and do our paperwork for admission on Sunday if there is a bed available otherwise we wait a day or two until one is available. She will be hooked up to fluids all night and then start chemo on Monday morning and have a lumbar puncture on Monday sometime. She will be receiving very high dose methotrexate as well as continuing with her nightly chemo pill we take at home. It will depend how quickly her body gets rid of the drugs as to how long we will be in hospital.

 

Cate and Georgie have had a great couple of days at school. As you watch Georgie charging around the school grounds with her little friends it is hard to believe that she has ALL and must be quite hard for the children to understand as well. One of the oncology nurses and one of the teachers with the Back on Track program from the hospital went out to school again and met with her teacher so that they can work together to make sure that we try to stay on top of the school work. The support from the various professionals at Westmead and especially to do with the oncology unit is wonderful. While she is admitted the teachers will apparently come to her room to do abit of work with her each day so it will be interesting to see how it all works. I am not sure I am up to a week in hospital but ....

 

Some of our beautiful Sydney friends are all cooking to make sure that G and I eat very well out there which is fantastic as I just seem to run out of time each day to do all that I would like to do. Charles and I went to the shops today to buy some essentials for everyone. The Seymours are certainly going to feel this winter so everyone got singlets!!! I am constantly worrying about people catching chills and then I look at Charles and he is probably over heating.

 

Off to bed as the eyes are closing ..... shall write again soon. Love to all Sxx

 

 

Finally an Update...

Dear Friends,

 

This has been a long time coming. I think about it everyday and then by the time I can either get to the computer or have not fallen asleep in the late evening another day goes by. So it is now Day 84 tomorrow. Hard to believe. Georgie is doing really well. We missed our big DAY 79 bone marrow aspiration as her blood counts were too low. To be exact her neutrophils were too low and they continue to go up and down. They all have to reach certain levels before they will continue with treatment, be that tests or chemo. So we shall try again tomorrow which means another 7.30am appt and a long wait for a spot on the emergency operating list.

 

We have just spent the last three days and nights in the Variety Club Ward (isolation ward) as she got a temperature and with her low counts they wanted to put her on antibiotics. So we have had a practise run before we begin the Central Nervous System phase of treatment. That will also all depend on the results from the bone marrow tests. She will be receiving very high dose chemo in hospital and then they will flush her system for a few days until her body has cleared its self of the chemo. It will be very interesting to see how Georgie's body handles this next phase.

 

Michael and I are just so proud of how Georgie is handling every aspect of this experience so far. She has her moments when it gets too much for  her but considering what she has had to do so far - the blood tests, the lumbar punctures, the portacath needle being put in and taken out so often, the chemo drugs, other oral medication, mouth washes, the sitting for long periods of time, not being able to go to school on a regular basis, not feeling 100% etc.... I am continually amazed by how brave and positive she is. She still has her little bob which is wonderful and even amazes the doctors that she still has hair and little rosie cheeks most of the time.

 

The rest of the family are hanging in there. I do not know what I would do if Jill was not here to take control at home and look after Charles and Cate. She has been a wonderful support and has not stopped since we arrived. Michael starts full time work tomorrow after his first couple of weeks of trying the part time thing so I am sure that will make the work life easier for him.

 

Cate is enjoying her new school and sounds like she is making some lovely friends. She likes her new teacher and loves wearing a uniform. Georgie has now had four and a half days at school in total and has enjoyed them. We have also enrolled her at the school at Westmead so when we are admitted the teachers will come around and work with her apparently. Shall let you know what happens there.

 

Charles is wonderful and full of energy. Never sits still or rarely. He is being very good about coping with the disappearing mother - less tears each time. I am not sure if I can say the same for the mother. She is trying to find some new energy source and is not feeling so wonderful but we will get there eventually. It has been an amazing 84 days and I think that I am just feeling the strain. Sleeping on lovely single fold out beds in hospital will probably do that to most people.

 

I am putting alot of pressure on Michael to organise an internet connection for me especially with our planned four hospital stays over the next two months so I am hoping not to leave it as long between posts. Better get to bed. Love to you all. Miss you all in Dhaka and Singapore in particular. Have not forgotten you!!! SSxxx