Unstoppable

We're currently sitting at Addenbrookes hospital, waiting for Caitlin to have her Vincristine & her Peg injection.

Last week Caitlin had her Cytarabines but her blood count dropped on Thursday, meaning a transfusion was needed on Friday. She was a star though, she managed to sit through the 4 hours without getting too bored & restless. It just makes it easier for me which is always great. As you can imagine, trying to keep a 5 year olds attention for 4 hours is quite a task, but Caitlin is so immune to it now, either that or we're more prepared!!!

Caitlin just keeps on plugging away & its amazing to think that January was the start of all this. We're 2 weeks (or 2 hospital visits including this one if you like) from Maintenance, & then, who knows.

The post title does signify Caitlin's relentless way in which she carrys on through the treatment, & signifys the passing of Tony Scott today, who was one of my favourite directors.

The Longest Day

Today, after trips to both Basildon & Ipswich hospital in the week, Caitlin & I return to Addenbrookes for the day, & what a day it is!

We had to get up early for Addenbrookes as she's due a Lumber Puncture, which means being Nil By Mouth as of last night. The journey in was pretty good, considering how tired we both were!

Caitlin was checked over by the doctor & once again remarked on how well she's doing. It's always encouraging to hear how well she's doing from others, especially the doctors. We could say she looks well, but they are the ones who truly know & it's reasuring for us.

She came round from her Lumber Puncture a little while ago & straight away wanted the special sandwich Daddy had made her! Heart shaped ham with special heart shaped bread that I'd cut for her. Since then she's pretty much eaten everything I put in the lunchbox, as her favourite cook isn't in today.

We're now waiting for her Cyclophosamide, which is going to take a long while, hence the post title. The actual chemo itself doesn't take long, its the flushes afterwards that take around 4 hours!!!

I'll update later, but for now I'll leave you with a pic of the little lady herself!!

XxX

*update!*

It's 5.30pm & in a few minutes Caitlin's pump will sound the alarm. We're hungry, tired & irritable, but I've promised Caitlin McDonald's as its going to be quite a while before we get home. She's been really good today, only really complaining that she's hungry, which soon stopped after a blackmail of the Mc word!! I usually hate her having takeaway but she's earned it today.

She's now due chemo all week with the Ipswich Oncology nurses coming to us to give her Cytarabines which isn't a problem.

All I've got to do now is muster up some energy to drive home.

XxX

*update*

After a nightmare drive home in barely visible conditions we made it safely home. It's 8.15pm, & I'm now cooking my dinner. We've got 15 minutes before we can give Caitlin her Mercaptopurine which starts again today. We have to be 2 hours clear of her eating & 2 hours clear after giving the chemo before we can give her her feed, which makes it a pain but, is an essential part of Caitlin's chemo.

Tomorrow Caitlin starts her Cytarabines & the last month before Maintenance.

XxX

The Fighter

Caitlin looks like she's going to be discharged today, she had a blood transfusion yesterday and along with the antibiotics she's been having her temperature has stabilized. I've got to speak to Addenbrooke's to see if she'll be allowed to have chemo on Monday. We're literally empty on Caitlin's feeds as well so hopefully we can work out when there should be more arriving.


Caitlin is doing really well considering, I'm just looking forward to getting the girls home and making sure they're fine.