Friday 28th November 2008

Rachel and Isla sent me this balloon to cheer me up and it really worked - thank you very much!

Stitches Out!

O.M.G! I was so anxious but it all went well and I was home that night with steri strips and a bandage on my arm feeling very sorry for myself! My nurse Julie had a good look at it on Tuesday and she was very happy that all the wounds were healing nicely and there is no sign of infection. Yippeeeee! I am really proud of myself because last night I took the bandage off and slept with nothing on it at all. Today I am going to school with nothing on it so wish me luck!!!

I have not had any chemo for two weeks because when I cut my arm I lost a lot of blood and my hb and neutrophils dropped alot and the chemo makes them low too so Dr Madi decided it was best not to have it for a while or until my bloods are better. This week the hb is climbing again but my neutrophils are still quite low - 0.6, so no chemo again. It is quite good actually because I have to take the chemo after my evening meal and at least an hour after milky things and I really like to have a glass of milk before bed so usually Mummy has to wake me up when she goes to bed and I don't like to take pills when I am sleepy.

I am so excited today because we have our school disco this afternoon. I am wearing my new Ted Baker dress and Mummy bought me some purple sparkly nail varnish after I had my stitches out because I was so brave so I have painted my nails too. I can't wait!!!

Ems is singing in a concert tonight at Oakham so we are all going to watch her. I hope she sings well! Then on Sunday I have a birthday party to go to which is a Mamma Mia party and I llllllooooovvvvveeee Mamma Mia. I'll tell you all about it next week.

We decided this week that if I hadn't had seizures, broken my arm or put my other arm through the window that actually I would have been quite fine with just Leukaemia so far! Better be careful for the next year and then I will be able to ride and swim and run and dance and play and everything else I miss with my friends.

Oh yes, just remembered........................... clinic on Wednesday for vin and christine and yuk yuk yuk steroids for 5 days. At least it will be over for Christmas!

Monday 17th November 2008

I am back home again!

Well, I have had my first ride in an ambulance now and had the blue flashing lights on too! It was very exciting, shame I don't remember it!!!

What happened was, I put my arm through the glass door by the front door just as we were about to leave to go to my ballet show but oh deary me no, I was not going to the ballet show any more, I told Mummy to call 999 and then we had to wait and wait and wait for the paramedics to come and then wait and wait and wait again for the ambulance to come to take me into A & E! There was blood and glass all over the floor and my arm was hanging off in pieces - yuuuuukkkk!!!

Anyway, on Friday morning I was put to sleep for an operation to sew my arm back together again and it took 2½ hours and I now have 30 stitches in 2 wounds and another wound which is glued together. The doctors have put my arm in half a plaster so I can't stretch the stitches but the good thing is it is my left arm this time so I can still do some things with my right.

I had to stay in hospital since Thursday night to have lots of IV antibiotics and to make sure my arm was ok. I had lots of fun though because my friend Lucy was there too because she had a bit of a temperature. Neither of us felt really ill so it meant we could just hang out together and watch movies or play in the playroom. We had a big curry on Saturday night and watched Strictly and X Factor. Lucy and I had a real laugh singing Angels into snooker cues and dancing like Ruth!

My arm feels much better now and I am having the stitches out next Monday. I am neutropaenic and have very low hb so Mummy has to keep a very close eye on me and no chemo until next week when hopefully my bloods will have recovered.

Monday 10th November 2008

Lots of people ask me what it is like when I am on steroids so I wrote a poem.

STEROIDS

My life is annoying

Everyone tries to help

It doesn't make it better

Especially when

on the fourth week

they kick in again!

My bones start to hurt

I am starting to moan

My Mum tells me stop

and my Dad tells me NO!

I say to them 'no way,

I am not taking them,

They make me feel poorly

don't try me again.'

It comes to the time

I have days off school

Mums friends all come round

oh what a to do

I can't interact

Mum says

'say hello'

and that was that

Now they've all gone

I go to my room

To let out the anger

I paint a balloon

But Mum has a problem

I didn't paint it on there

It was onto my nails

In bright orangey pear

She said to me now

what was that for?

I say, it's the fashion

She said 'Oh, tell me more!'

I go back downstairs

and talk to the dog

I do have my own life

but then, maybe not.

By Jemima Sellicks age 9

Saturday 8th November 2008

Steroids week - feel yuk!
MRI scan results were clear.
EEG on Monday.