Thank You to the Tuesday Club

My Auntie Margaret and her Tuesday Club at St Josephs Church have given Madelaine £50 for Christmas. Each week all the ladies say prayers for Madelaine. So thank you so much, Ladies! When she is a little better in the new Year we will visit you and Madelaine can say Thank You in person......Much Love..x

Thank You

Dave, Madelaine and I were visited last night by Dave's brother, Richard and his wife, Galen. Richard passed us an envelope. Inside the envelope was a sum of money that had been raised for us to ease the pressure over Christmas. The organisers were Colwyn and Denise; both of whom have been touched by cancer in their lives. They also raised an equal amount of money towards the Candlelighters Trust at St James' Hospital. Richard told us that all the family had been involved and doing raffles and such. Dave and I were were absolutely dumbstruck (which is a mean feat!)
I burst into tears (for a change!)
I would like to take this opportunity on this blog to say a massive THANK YOU to everyone who participated in the fundraising, in particular Colwyn and Denise.

The world is full of wonderful people and thankfully, they are in our lives.....

Home

Madelaine is now home. We brought her home yesterday lunchtime. Her chemotherapy has been stopped till Thursday when she has a Lumbar Puncture.
Its gorgeous having her home.
xx

My Little Girl

There is not one moment when you are not in my thoughts
Yoy make me laugh..
You make me cry...
Most of all , you make me happy.


You are my angel.

And I love you.



xx

My Beautiful Angel Pie

Dave and I have taken turns in the hospital to make sure that we each get some sleep at home and consequently give our Mads our whole self when we are at the hospital. Sleep deprivation is just one of those things when you are on the ward as a parent. Tonight Dave is there with our angel.
She is doing well. We thought she might need a blood transfusion as her HB was only 8.1 yesterday.....but today the were 8.5 so well done Madelaine...no transfusion today because you are a strong little person.
Madelaine amazes me every single day. She is my Beautiful Angel Pie.......
xxxx

Poorly.

Madelaine's temperature was 38.2 at 6:30 yesterday morning. On advice of the hospital, we gave her some Calpol to reduce her temperature. An hour later, we checked again and her temperature was still 38.2. After calling the Childrens Day Clinic at St James' , we were advised to take her in for the staff there to check her out.
Once there, it was clear that her health was declining; her temperature was infact increasing rapidly and her blood pressure was low. She was sleeping all the time. I think she slept most of the day yesterday. Her neutrophils had decreased to 0.11 from 1.63 over a few days.
She was seen by several doctors who expressed concern. Geoff Shenton, Madelaine's Consultant, was (as always) extremely calming and supportive. He informed me that Madelaine's health was unstable and she may need the support of the Intensive Care Unit. He told me that he and the Team would make sure that Madelaine would recieve the best of care. To be honest, I hung on his every word.

At that time, I was in bits; feeling scared and vulnerable. Geoff has a wonderfully calming way about him and I believe in every word he tells me.
Madelaine was indeed very poorly and all I wanted was to scoop her up and make her better.

Obviously............I can't.

It was decided that Madelaine should be monitored and treated within Ward 10 at St James'.
She recieved antibiotics and fluids. Her chemotherapy has been ceased for a time in order to allow her neutrophils to recreate themselves.

A day later, her temperature has settled down, she is eating, drinking, talking, watching her DVD's and drawing pictures and is like different child. I know she is still poorly, but being with her today has warmed my heart and I feel so much more reassured that she is getting better.

The staff have performed several tests that we are waiting results from to allow us to understand the infection she has.

I am so thankful for the amazing people who have been involved in her care at St James' Hospital. I am very reassured to know that she is recieving the very best of care and support with her treatment.

We are not sure how long she will be in the hospital. I guess it will all depend on how she is over the next couple of days.

So lets hope and pray .........

xx

Viral Infection

Madelaine has a virus just now. On Sunday we whisked her onto the ward as her temperature flew. Her neutrophils were good at 1.63 though. However, 3 days earlier, her neutrphils were over 3. She had Vincristine on Thursday so we think that this alongside her virus is attacking her neutrophils. As such they are diminishing quickly. She had an overnight stay on the ward which she really was not at all happy with. Particularly as she had to be segregated from the rest of the ward to prevent the spread of her infection.
She is home now and due back in for a blood check on Thursday.
Lets hope her body is fighting back and her neutrophils have at least balanced out..