Hi all
Being a cancer parent is the one of the toughest jobs alive. You attend the hospital for regular checkups, watch your chid go through unfathomable medical procedures and you get told often about drugs they are going to give your baby, that have major and crappy side effects. Some days the journey feels like it is almost finished and then another leg (drug) is added on. Well after having a lovely siesta for 20 days, as Immie had no procedures (besides broviac removal) or meds. On Wednesday we had clinic to discuss and begin Accutane. We were lucky enough to jag the fabulous Dr Nick, who is lovely and Immie likes (Strangely enough as she spent most of stem cell snarling at him, I was just saying the other day how incredible Immie is as she never holds a grudge to anyone at the hospital regardless of what they have done to her). Dr Nick read through the side effects, as I explained them in the previous posts. Then we discussed Immie’s freaky finger and toe nails that are regenerating new nails caused from the huge dose of chemo she had in mega therapy. Apparently she’s like a tree, with their circles (rings) growing (living) and showing their age. Kody thought it was cool, he said so she has a new life and I agreed what a fantastic way to think that cancer was part of her old life pre mega therapy and stem cell rescue. Then we talked about scans, MIBG, Cat scan and hearing tests Dr Nick is scheduling these in for February, not sure whether I will have any nails left that month : ). After that we discussed new promising research on Neuroblastoma, always exciting as Immie’s cancer is one they have found very little new research for in years. The research is still in the baby steps place, and loosely (as I have not read the details tho Dr Nick did send them to me) described as finding a familiar cell in a lot of neuroblastoma cases and being able to turn the cell off, hence the cells die, leads to minimal cancer : 0 ). Ok it’s a lot more technical, but very encouraging when my sister first heard it on ABC news. Then Dr Nick checked out Immie and she smiled, giggled and was an angel. We checked out Immies counts which were again great; this was visually obvious from the fact that she had not received an even bigger bruise or bleeding (a sign of good platelets) after running head first into the underside of the Playschool Bridge on her second last day of playschool. We then ended our very chilled out clinic, clinic has improved immensely, it has become organised with patients arriving at their allocated times and having to arrive an hour earlier to do finger pricks, so results are ready when your appt is. A HUGE WELL DONE and THANK YOU to 3b Out patients, from all involved with 3b. We were then given a wee cup, to establish a baseline to start Accutane on that was needed that day. Easy enough you think we had ½ hour or so to kill at the pharmacy and Immie kept saying she was busting. In true Imogen form, busting meant absolutely NOTHING and pharmacy took over an hour. We ended our visit at the Resort with a mad rush and NO wee sample, as I was having my new “princess” crown installed at 4.30, at a dentist located half an hour from the hospital. Luckily Jas met me there to retrieve the beautiful Immie, we arrived to find Jas lining up mechanical work with the receptionist : ). My connection with my new crown was short lived as an hour and half later it fell out, argh luckily I did not swallow my $1100 tooth. That night Immie received her first three tablets of Accutane, given by a gloved Jas, as it has side effects on unborn children and we aren’t taking any risks for future plans.
Thursday morning we had a quick trip to the hospital to drop of the highly sought wee sample and deliver some Christmas chocolates. Then we went to Toddlertown for fun with our friends Kai and his cousin. We all had a lovely coffee and cake. Then I got my crown reinstalled, after the dentist giggling that it would have been an expensive dinner for me had I swallowed it. To this I replied, ahhh no it would have been an expensive dinner FOR you!!!!. Thursday was also the last day for big boy Kody’s last day of Year four, they spent the day watching videos and crafting - remember those days, I use to love the last week of school.
Friday, we did chores for Jas then went and had lunch with Karen and her friend Grazia to celebrate Christmas, got to have a great chat with both. Thanks Karen it was just what I needed. After this we met Mum at the pool, for a couple hours of fun: ). Then Immie and Kods returned to Mum’s house, while I went in search of Jason’s Christmas present from them (sometimes it’s easier to do solo trips, especially when Immie a little whinge and Kody’s walking around in his bathers, Thanks Mum). After returning, we chatted and got to see my Dad.
Saturday Immie was very exited (and so were we) as she went to stay at Granma and Bumpa’s place for a sleep over. Kody was going to his dad’s. Firstly we returned to the scary Galleria to get a new Christmas dress as no one liked the one I had chosen. To seek revenge I made them all come with me, the first time Jason has been to the shops this Christmas. Luckily for Jas the trip was very easy, scoring a dress in the second shop!. Jas and I then went to dinner and a movie after dropping our beautiful girl off to Granma’s and Bumpa’s.
On Sunday after picking Immie up we noticed her skin, on her face had become dry. I had also noticed since giving her the Accutane she had been very whinge. Though we were unsure whether this was from the end of school emotional mess or the drugs. We lathered her up, and headed for the pool. I went to do my intensive gym workout for my motor vehicle claim (boring). Jason and Immie purchased Immie her first goggles (very cute) and had a ball in the pool.
We have been told by Dr Nick, we should notice a difference to her skin etc, after week of taking Accutane (around Christmas day – Happy Joy!!). Though every child is different, and everyone knows how Imogen does things – VERY DIFFERENTLY, she is an individual and no one is going to tell her anything else (Yay for her) : D.
Well if you don’t pop back before Christmas or New Years we wish you all a wonderful, gorgeous, safe and healthy Christmas and New Year. 2009 is going to be FANTASTIC.
Thanks for joining as in our families journey for this year : )
Hugs, Kisses and Festive Drinks.
Love the Holmes Gang.
Being a cancer parent is the one of the toughest jobs alive. You attend the hospital for regular checkups, watch your chid go through unfathomable medical procedures and you get told often about drugs they are going to give your baby, that have major and crappy side effects. Some days the journey feels like it is almost finished and then another leg (drug) is added on. Well after having a lovely siesta for 20 days, as Immie had no procedures (besides broviac removal) or meds. On Wednesday we had clinic to discuss and begin Accutane. We were lucky enough to jag the fabulous Dr Nick, who is lovely and Immie likes (Strangely enough as she spent most of stem cell snarling at him, I was just saying the other day how incredible Immie is as she never holds a grudge to anyone at the hospital regardless of what they have done to her). Dr Nick read through the side effects, as I explained them in the previous posts. Then we discussed Immie’s freaky finger and toe nails that are regenerating new nails caused from the huge dose of chemo she had in mega therapy. Apparently she’s like a tree, with their circles (rings) growing (living) and showing their age. Kody thought it was cool, he said so she has a new life and I agreed what a fantastic way to think that cancer was part of her old life pre mega therapy and stem cell rescue. Then we talked about scans, MIBG, Cat scan and hearing tests Dr Nick is scheduling these in for February, not sure whether I will have any nails left that month : ). After that we discussed new promising research on Neuroblastoma, always exciting as Immie’s cancer is one they have found very little new research for in years. The research is still in the baby steps place, and loosely (as I have not read the details tho Dr Nick did send them to me) described as finding a familiar cell in a lot of neuroblastoma cases and being able to turn the cell off, hence the cells die, leads to minimal cancer : 0 ). Ok it’s a lot more technical, but very encouraging when my sister first heard it on ABC news. Then Dr Nick checked out Immie and she smiled, giggled and was an angel. We checked out Immies counts which were again great; this was visually obvious from the fact that she had not received an even bigger bruise or bleeding (a sign of good platelets) after running head first into the underside of the Playschool Bridge on her second last day of playschool. We then ended our very chilled out clinic, clinic has improved immensely, it has become organised with patients arriving at their allocated times and having to arrive an hour earlier to do finger pricks, so results are ready when your appt is. A HUGE WELL DONE and THANK YOU to 3b Out patients, from all involved with 3b. We were then given a wee cup, to establish a baseline to start Accutane on that was needed that day. Easy enough you think we had ½ hour or so to kill at the pharmacy and Immie kept saying she was busting. In true Imogen form, busting meant absolutely NOTHING and pharmacy took over an hour. We ended our visit at the Resort with a mad rush and NO wee sample, as I was having my new “princess” crown installed at 4.30, at a dentist located half an hour from the hospital. Luckily Jas met me there to retrieve the beautiful Immie, we arrived to find Jas lining up mechanical work with the receptionist : ). My connection with my new crown was short lived as an hour and half later it fell out, argh luckily I did not swallow my $1100 tooth. That night Immie received her first three tablets of Accutane, given by a gloved Jas, as it has side effects on unborn children and we aren’t taking any risks for future plans.
Thursday morning we had a quick trip to the hospital to drop of the highly sought wee sample and deliver some Christmas chocolates. Then we went to Toddlertown for fun with our friends Kai and his cousin. We all had a lovely coffee and cake. Then I got my crown reinstalled, after the dentist giggling that it would have been an expensive dinner for me had I swallowed it. To this I replied, ahhh no it would have been an expensive dinner FOR you!!!!. Thursday was also the last day for big boy Kody’s last day of Year four, they spent the day watching videos and crafting - remember those days, I use to love the last week of school.
Friday, we did chores for Jas then went and had lunch with Karen and her friend Grazia to celebrate Christmas, got to have a great chat with both. Thanks Karen it was just what I needed. After this we met Mum at the pool, for a couple hours of fun: ). Then Immie and Kods returned to Mum’s house, while I went in search of Jason’s Christmas present from them (sometimes it’s easier to do solo trips, especially when Immie a little whinge and Kody’s walking around in his bathers, Thanks Mum). After returning, we chatted and got to see my Dad.
Saturday Immie was very exited (and so were we) as she went to stay at Granma and Bumpa’s place for a sleep over. Kody was going to his dad’s. Firstly we returned to the scary Galleria to get a new Christmas dress as no one liked the one I had chosen. To seek revenge I made them all come with me, the first time Jason has been to the shops this Christmas. Luckily for Jas the trip was very easy, scoring a dress in the second shop!. Jas and I then went to dinner and a movie after dropping our beautiful girl off to Granma’s and Bumpa’s.
On Sunday after picking Immie up we noticed her skin, on her face had become dry. I had also noticed since giving her the Accutane she had been very whinge. Though we were unsure whether this was from the end of school emotional mess or the drugs. We lathered her up, and headed for the pool. I went to do my intensive gym workout for my motor vehicle claim (boring). Jason and Immie purchased Immie her first goggles (very cute) and had a ball in the pool.
We have been told by Dr Nick, we should notice a difference to her skin etc, after week of taking Accutane (around Christmas day – Happy Joy!!). Though every child is different, and everyone knows how Imogen does things – VERY DIFFERENTLY, she is an individual and no one is going to tell her anything else (Yay for her) : D.
Well if you don’t pop back before Christmas or New Years we wish you all a wonderful, gorgeous, safe and healthy Christmas and New Year. 2009 is going to be FANTASTIC.
Thanks for joining as in our families journey for this year : )
Hugs, Kisses and Festive Drinks.
Love the Holmes Gang.
1 comments:
What is this about unborn babies and future plans my dear????? Something you'd like to share with an interested friend?! Love, Hannah. XXXXXXXXXXXXX
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