and now....

... the final stage of treatment begins, we hope! We are back at Addenbrooks for chemotherapy, five weeks since our last visit here and it's strangely like being back with an old friend. The nurses were all pleased to see Lola looking so well. She currently has over 300 platelets, a neutrophil count of 3 instead of 0.1 and rosy cheeks. She's proudly shown them that she can still write and can even support her arm without a sling, though I think that's strictly forbidden, and two-handed DS playing is NO problem!

Lots of the children are the same too, but at different stages in their treatment. One little fellow is charging around the ward, full of energy and life and singing away, but due for isolation tomorrow as he's started the mega-chemo. Eventually he will need stem cell treatment to recover. Next to us, a teenage girl, diagnosed with osteosarcoma the week before Lola, has had her leg amputated and is learning, incredibly bravely, to walk on a false limb. Another lad is responding well to his leukaemia treatment but has developed diabetes and pancreatitis as a result.

We still haven't had the histology results yet, though word from experienced fellow parents on the ward is that they should be here somewhere. I will be trying to seek out the elusive Amos over the next few days. Lola's treatment path is determined by the percentage necrosis of the tumour cells. This weekend's treatment is the same regardless - VAI. That's one less drug and one different drug. Apparently, the next seven sessions after this are different again, depending on her response path, but again, hopefully, less aggressive than before.

Sorry to all the people who have called, and I haven't got back to. My new home phone is great for skype but doesnt have an answer machine... a fatal flaw! Despite being at home a great deal, the opportunity to ring people is quite limited. I'm really keen to share my attention equally, and balancing physio, washing and dressing help with stories and pick up sticks before school means the chaos (and washing!) tends to hang around til after the girls have gone to bed.

It's been fantastic this week to feel that life is a little like normality. All the girls have had friends for tea on different nights, I've managed to go along to both Nancy and Greta's swimming lessons and I sewed Nancy's cubs badge on in time (Tracey did it last week!). The herb garden is looking great too mum, although I still haven't planted those shrubs...