Madelaine's Journey with Leukaemia: March 2008

Madelaine's Journey With Leukaemia

Welcome to 'Madelaine's Journey with Leukaemia'.

This is a site about my Daughter, Madelaine.

Madelaine was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia when she was 14 months old.

The purpose of this site has many facets. Firstly, we (Mummy and Daddy aka Lisa Howe and David Armistead) find it therapeutic to look back on her journey through her illness. We believe she will get better with every breath in our bodies and we want her to read this in her adulthood and wonder what all the fuss was about!
It is for our families and close friends in the hope that they too may have a deeper understanding of her illness and also the issues surrounding it. Also, other parents that find themselves with seriously ill children may find some comfort knowing that they are not on their own. We are are all on this journey together.

Mostly, this is for Madelaine.
One day she will read this and realise her parents have gone mad.........
And she will know how much she is loved..

Dave and I would like to also thank everyone who has supported us throughout Madelaine's illness.

Many people have asked what they can do to help us. Well, we have created a fundraising page on behalf of Madelaine and ourselves with proceeds going to the Candlelighters Trust. The Trust help children with cancer and their families. They have helped us. Unfortunately, there will always be children with cancer and there will always be a need for Candlelighters. So if you want to help, please donate and click on http://www.justgiving.com/madelaineeve

Also, Madelaine and children like her rely on the availability of blood. Madelaine has had many blood transfusions. So if you don't already, please give blood if you can.

And please continue to say your prayers.

Thank you. x

March 28, 2008

On Maintenance at Last!!

Madelaine started her Maintenance block yesterday. Its a real milestone for us. I shed a tear in the clinic yesterday. I am sure the staff think I have screw loose somewhere. The relief at getting through her intensification blocks is immense, We are looking forward to the summer more than ever. x

March 26, 2008

Home

Madelaine is home and, all being well, she should be starting her Maintenance Block tomorrow. She seems well just now. She is laughing, eating well and being very, very cheeky. Just as she should be. We are going to visit the park later today and have a play on the swings. She loves it. I think we have a little thrill seeker on our hands. Please Madelaine, don't get into extreme sports when your older. There is only so much a Mummy can take, you know!!! x

March 18, 2008

Back in again

Madelaine's temperature spiked to 38.0 yesterday and she quite unwell. She seemed to be aching all over and she was crying as she didn't quite know what to do with herself. Her nose and eyes were running too. We took her to the day clinic where they took samples of her blood for analysis. Not surprisingly she was neutropenic. Her neutrophils were 0.16.
So we are back in the Ward for another few days. Madelaine is to have a course of antibiotics to give her a hand getting rid of whatever infection is inside her. We are awaiting results of what it is she has.

Despite all this, she is still a little gem. Still mischievous and full of fun. Hopefully she will be home on Friday or Saturday

March 16, 2008

Intensification Block is Over..

Well, Madelaine has now had the last of her chemotherapy within this last intensification block of treatment. Its quite a milestone for her and for for us as a family.
She has a week off any treatment and then begins her Maintenance treatment for the next 14 months.
She has been wonderful. She is currently eating segments of orange whilst watching one of her favourite DVD's 'In the Night Garden'.
We know that her journey is by no means over, but she has come so far since her diagnosis nearly10 months ago.
We are very proud of her and so very thankful for all the love and support we have recieved throughout her illness so far.

March 12, 2008

Not a care in the world.....

Madelaine today is just super. She is giggling at everything and is mischievious and talkative. Just like she should be.
The intensification block finishes in 5 days time and Dave and I are counting down the days. After that she has a weeks break from medication and the she starts 14 months of Maintenance treatment. The maintenance is a nice and steady treatment and previously when she has been in Maintenance she has built up her strength and developed beautifully. So we are hopeful that this continues to be the case.
Monday is a milestone for Madelaine and for us as a family. It is the beginning of a new chapter.
At the moment she looks like she hasn't a care in the world; eating sausages and watching Happy Feet for the umpteenth time....

March 5, 2008

Back at home

Madelaine is now out of the hospital and at home. She restarts the chemotherapy tomorrow.
She is full of fun just now and is eating everything in sight.
Its almost like she knows that the intensive treatment is almost over. We see more and more of the fun Madelaine. She is coming back to us now.
Once this is intensive treatment is over it will be such a relief. Madelaine has come a long way since she was diagnosed and she is still smiling.
Roll on summer when she can play outside in the sunshine in her paddling pool in her little cozzy.

Good Friday Bike Ride

Just a note to everyone about a sponsored bike ride that is taking place on Good Friday for the Candlelighters Trust.
Madelaine's Uncle Clive and Auntie Barbara have organised a sponsored Bike ride. This is taking place on Good Friday (10th April '09). It starts at Yeadon Tarn at 08:30 and finishes at Pateley Bridge. Several people are participating in the ride, including, Maddie's Daddy, Uncle Clive, Steve, Lee and Brendan.
The ride is 22 miles long, and if you are familiar with the route, it's full of hills and beautiful countryside which will make for a very interesting ride.

If you would like to sponsor the boys on their journey, you can donate directly to Candlelighters by clicking on :

Many Thanks for your support

About A.L.L. (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia)

Well, A.L.L. is the most common childhood Leukaemia in the UK. Dave and I were thankful that this is what she had. This might sound bizarre. We are thankful that she something that the Medics know alot about; that they know how to treat.

Approximately 1500 children in the UK are diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia each year.

Basically, it is cancer of the blood.
This is how Leukaemia Research explain:
'A..L.L. is a form of cancer that affects the lymphocyte producing cells in the bone marrow. Lymphocytes are white blood cells that produce antibodies and are a vital part of the bodies immune system. There are two types of lymphocytes called B and T cells.
In A.L.L. there is an accumulation in the bone marrow of immature lymphocyte precursor cells, called Blast cells.
Eventually, the production of normal blood cells is affected by this resulting in a reduction in the numbers of red cells, normal white cells and platelets in the blood'.

I can't speak about anyone else, but I couldn't spell leukaemia or know what what a platelet was before Madelaine's illness....

Dave and I have have been educated very quickly with regards to the functionality of our blood.
We recieve a sheet full of her blood results and are told that these are the important ones for us to pay particular attention to:

White Blood Count - Fight infection
Red Blood Count - Carry oxygen around the body
Platelets - Cells clot to stop bleeding
Neutrophils - Fight infection and are the most numerous of the White Blood Cells

Candlelighters Information

Just a little word about Candlelighters.
They are a charitable organisation that raise money for many things. Such as medical equipment, research and holidays for the families of poorly children. Every child that has attended St James Ward 10 or the Outpatient Clinic has benefitted from Candlelighters donations, even with assistance to parents with petrol bills to and from the hospital, and of course, items that make a poorly child's life a little more bearable, toys, TV's, and those electronic games that Daddy's like too.....!
Candlelighters also fund members of staff attending training courses and medical journals and books. They have provided funding for a children's Playleader in the Outpatients clinic.

The have an office in St James' Hospital. I have inserted a link if you wish to donate to the charity. Please donate if you can. I know from experience that this is not nonsense. This charity actively give. Everyday in one way or another they help children with cancer.

If you can, please donate. It helped me, my Family and Madelaine, and there are many families, just like mine that need a little help.

Thank You.

(http://www.justgiving.com/madelaineeve).

They also can be contacted at:

The Candlelighters Office
Childrens Day Hospital
St James' University Hospital
Beckett Street
Leeds LS9 7TF

Tel: 0113 2470372
Fax: 0113 2470248

Madelaine and ourselves have greatly appreciated what Candlelighters are doing to make our lives a little more bearable.

Madelaine's Journey With Leukaemia