One Year On

Well today is November 3rd 2009, one year since I was diagnosed with Leukaemia. One year on, I am back at school, and getting back to normal. I did actually go back to school for a few hours each day before the school holidays, just to get the feel of it, but since the holidays, I have been back every day for the whole day. I do get a little bit tired, and the hot weather has been a bit hard to take, but it's so good to be back with my friends.

One year on I am down to only one medication, twice a day. That's the aciclovir, the anti viral which gives me some protection against things like chicken pox, which I can't be immunised for until about two years post transplant. That would be about February 2011. Maybe they'll let me have it a bit earlier. I've been having some of my other immunisations lately, and they have been given to me in the leg. Two days later it feels like someone has kneed me in the leg and I can hardly walk. I go for my next check up with Dr Shaw on the 18th of November, when I also have to have a bone density test. My next biopsy will be on the 9th of December.

The school holidays were great. In the first week, Aimee, Georgia and I all went on a Country Hope camp to Wagga. It was such a good camp. We did so many fun things, and met some really nice people. Carmel Josephs was one of the main organisers. She works for Country Hope in Wagga. She knew Mum and Dad because she used to live in Forbes, and her son Brad went to school with my brother Rhys. Brad and Rhys are both going to Uni at Wollongong next year. Anyway, back to the camp. We did lots of craft activities, went in a hot air balloon, went on a Harley ride, went swimming, went fishing, and lots more.

We had to leave the camp early because on the Thursday, Mum and Dad picked us up and we went to Melbourne to visit my Uncle Dallas and Auntie Olga and my cousins Ethan and Cameron. We always have a good time at their place.

After the holidays, and back at school, and I've just got back from my Year 7 excursion to Tea Gardens. What a top trip that was.

I am feeling a little better each day, and I don't need to take the Ondansatron as often, but sometimes, I just have to have one so I'm not sick. My biggest problem is my weight. Dad says he sort of knows how I feel, because he has the same problem, except in reverse. The good thing is, that I'm not losing weight, but I'm not gaining any. Dad reckons he's the same, but he can gain it any time he likes, even by not eating.

Here is all my family just before we left Borambla after the Country Hope Camp; me with Georgia at a fun park near Melbourne; and me getting some pole dancing in at the park near my cousins house in Melbourne.