The Long Kiss Goodnight

Caitlin finished the last of her chemo in this block this week at Ipswich hospital with some Vincristine. This is the quiet period in which her counts usually drop and she ends up in hospital.

Predictably this is exactly what happened! Caitlin had a temperature and ended up in Ipswich hospital. The cause of which is still a bit unknown, but her bum was so sore it was painful to go to the toilet. It had put her off her food as she knows that eating eventually means pooing. It's been a bit of a struggle as just wiping her after going for a poo has had her screaming. Hopefully this will calm down and she can go back to eating her favourite dinner: Cottage pie!!!

This coming week, she's due a blood sample which signals the beginning of her 2 year Maintenance stage. It's been the part we've been aiming for since January. Minimal trips to the hospital, and a more regular routine. It means Caitlin's hair will grow back, and she can start back at school, and enjoy being a little girl again. Since January, we've lived through the worst experiences, and seen awful things to amazing children like Caitlin, and it's made me appreciate everything so much more. This year will be etched in my memory for the rest of my life, and having seen Caitlin go through so much it fills my heart with pride looking into her defiant eyes.

It also fills my heart with sadness as this is going to be the last post in the Blog. This Blog has always been about Caitlin and her progress against Leukaemia, and I feel this is as far as I can take it.

Your comments, and presents to Caitlin, and words of encouragement, have gotten us through the darkest nine months of our lives. A thank you just isn't enough to justify how much of an impact your words have meant to us. Your comments and knowing that you have been reading have literally kept us going. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

I will leave you with my favourite picture of Caitlin. I can't wait for her to be in a Rapunzel dress with her long blonde hair again.

Thank you for reading this Blog, and for being with us for these nine months. Through thick and thin, hell and high water, she's come out the other side fighting, and she always will.

Luke

xxx