I finally have a wireless connection - THANK YOU Michael!!! Georgie has now started Protocol II which is the Central Nervous System part of her treatment. It entails a number of things as you would expect but it all revolves around four admissions over the two months for 3 to 5 plus days depending on how her system can deal with the chemo. She is having very high dose chemo over a 24 hour period and then she is on double maintenance fluids until the doctors are happy with the ph levels etc... Everything understand all of that. I am learning (or at least trying to) all sorts of things everyday. Some things that I would prefer not to know but that is the nature of the beast. She is doing very well so far and the doctors are pleased with how she is handling this chemo so far.
We are in the Camperdown Ward which is what the oncology ward is called at Westmead. We are sharing a room with Denis, three and a half year old little boy from Korea. They don't have a lot of English but they do have lots of visitors!! G is plugged in to her DVD player and I think that I should have the IPod in!! Hopefully Michael is able to drag himself away from work and able to visit us this evening. It will be good to bring him up to speed and for him to see where we are and how it all works when you are in the ward.
Yesterday Georgie had the chemo hooked up and then luckily there was a 10 minute free slot in the clinic for us to rush around with 5 mins warning so they could give her a GA to give her a lumbar puncture and also intra thcal chemo to the spinal cord. As she has to fast it would of been a really long day if we hadn't run. We had a quiet afternoon in our room doing craft/colouring in/movies/tv. In the morning she had a visit from one of the lovely "pink ladies" (volunteers) and a Yr 10 girl on work experience. G taught her how to play rummy while I took the opportunity to go and have a shower. The play therapist came and dropped off paints and other craft goodies which she used and they are now up on the walls of her room. Margaret, one of the teachers from the Westmead School also came and they did a poster together all about G.
I sleep on an arm chair that opens out into a little bed (not big enough for Michael) but fine for me. Typical hospital we are up and down throughout the night. Busy morning again today with visits from Giggles (large puppet on a trike) who is from Camp Quality who visits Camperdown ward each Tuesday, then Cathy, the play therapist who brought a special doll for G to play with. She comes with the whole medical kit and different hair lengths etc so she is busy playing with her now. She has called her Millie. Then we had Margaret, the teacher from the hospital and then later in the day, Valerie from Back on Track which is another support group who specially look after oncology patients. They are teachers who liaise with G's own teacher at Pymble Public. It is busy, busy, busy. She was also able to leave the ward and go to the Starlight Room across the hall for a little while. Georgie helped paint a sign which will be used on the Weather spots on the Today show this Friday in Martin Place in the city. It is Starlight Day on the 7th of May. The highlight of her day was a visit from Dr. Luce who she is very fond of. He has the most wonderful manner with all of us and they had a lovely chat. We may leave tomorrow or the following day depending on her counts and ph levels???
News from the home front sounds good. Jill is doing an amazing job. Apparently she and Charles went grocery shopping again today and then Sarah, lovely uni student has spent the last two afternoons helping Jill. Taking Cate and Charles to the park and helping with homework, dinner and baths. Cate is running in her cross country tomorrow so that is a shame that we are not able to be there but Jill and Charles are going to be there to support her. She is rather excited about it. Her very first!! My sister, Helen has gone up to Pymble tonight to see the children which Cate will really enjoy and that way Jill can go to Prayer group and Michael can come and visit us.
So that is all from Westmead. Hope you are all well. Look forward to hearing all your news too. Sxxxx
Hi Sal and Georgie
ReplyDeleteSounds like the hospital is a very busy place to be! Thanks for your "long" update. Well done Michael for getting it set up. Now you need your iphone so you can post photos instantly! One step at a time. I'm so thrilled the blog is working. I will let all the people at this end know that there is NEWS! Thinking of you all.. lots of love Andrea xx
Dear Sally,
ReplyDeleteThe updates are really great. We send our love to all of you. It's wonderful in the updates to hear of all the support you have from so many people and throughout the system. It's also great to hear that they are keeping you busy in hospital.
Please do keep blogging and posting your updates.
with all our best wishes,
Samantha & family
Sally, lovely to hear that the treatment is progressing well. It seems that you have lots of support from family, friends, teachers, medical staff etc, which is great. Your days seem full and I think that is a good thing. I know it is a struggle to learn this new medical language and part of you wants to not learn it but it is best to know as much as you can about what is happening. You are doing a great job !!
ReplyDeleteNews from our front. We have now been in Adelaide for almost two years. We are looking at buying a house here and are applying for residency. Peter is working hard as usual. Gemma is studying at university in Glasgow and is just finishing her second year. She has two more years to go. She loves it there and is sharing a flat with 5 other girls and having a blast. Scott is doing well. he is in Year 11 and enjoying school and all the sport on offer here in Oz. He has passed his driving test, bought a car and crashed it a few months later Aaagh - Boys !! Luckily no-one else was involved and he was not hurt. I am still playing golf and I have been studying spanish and passed two certificates in it so far. No bridge here as it all seems too serious.
I am so glad you keep us updated with your progress as we are all thinking of you often. Love Kim
Dear Sally,
ReplyDeleteThanks for continuing to post your news. We think of you all often in Dhaka. I guess you are back in hospital right now - I hope this round of treatment is going well. The hospital sounds as busy as AISD! Please send Georgie (and Cate of course) my love.
We miss you all,
love,
caroline