Biopsy Number 2

On 7th September I had my second bone marrow biopsy since transplant. I have to have a biopsy on the marrow every three months for two years. I have a general anaesthetic, and they insert a fine needle into my pelvic bone from behind about 2.5 cm from my spine. The extract a little of my bone marrow to test. My first one (three months ago) was clear and that's what we expect them all to be. My blood results are still good, and improving slowly all the time. I'm feeling more and more energetic, and I only have to take three tablets morning and night, Bactrim and Acyclovir. My only problem is my appetite. I just can't eat enough quantity to get enough calories, and so putting weight on is a real challenge for me. I may have to have the NG tube back in for a while if I can't fatten up a bit soon. Mum puts them in for me, so I don't have to go to Westmead for that.

I've been doing some fun stuff since my birthday though. I went in a "So You Think You Can Dance" competition my old school was putting on to raise funds, with my sisters Kristen and Aimee. We came third, but I didn't care if we came last, I was just so happy to be able to do something I love again. I hadn't ever done that dance before, so the girls had to teach me in a few days. I had so much fun. Mum and Dad have said I can go back to dance lessons again now, just avoid sick people still.

A few weeks ago I went Ten Pin Bowling in Orange with everyone, except Rhys. He is usually working somewhere on weekends. It was the best fun. I was a bit tired afterwards, but it was worth it. (Check out the style below. Another strike coming up!!!!)

The last two days have been fun too because I've been to the Forbes Show. Mum and Dad said it was a bit of a risk going to the show, but the fun factor won out in the end and the show wasn't too crowded. The acyclovir tablets still give me protection against viruses, and there's not too many coughs and colds around at the moment. I had a great time at the rides. The Music Trip and the Cha Cha are probably my favourites. We got our show bags, watched the demolition derby, and went home for a pizza and video night.
(Here's me with Georgia waiting to go on the Cha Cha, and on the Music Trip!)


Today was a lovely warm day, and Dad has been getting the pool ready for summer, so Georgia and I went for a dip. Dad wouldn't come in because he said he only swims when the water is over 28 degrees. Wimp. It was a bit cold I must admit, but we stayed in for a few minutes. (Me with Georgia in the pool. My first swim in nearly a year!)



We should get some biopsy results this week. It's always a bit of a nervous wait, but fingers crossed, all will be well.

Now Officially a Teenager

Yay, I'm finally a teenager. Today I turned 13.

Over the weekend I went on a camp with Canteen to a place called Attunga, which is near Canyonleigh in the Southern Highlands. I had a great weekend talking to other girls who had someone in their family with some form of cancer. I made some new friends. On Friday afternoon, Mum and Dad dropped me at Sydney airport where we met the Canteen girls. From there we went to Wollongong, and then to the camp, picking up other girls on the way. Yesterday, Mum and Dad and Georgia picked me up in Canberra, and we came home.

http://www.canteen.org.au/

What A Week!!!!

What a week we've had this week!

It all started last Sunday, when Dad, Mum, Kristen & Aimee ran the City to Surf to help raise funds for Cure Our Kids. They ran as part of the Cure Our Kids team, which had about 350 people in it, and was the biggest fund raising team in the race. While they ran the race, our friends Bridget & Sarah came to mind me at the unit at Bondi Junction. We talked, played Scattegories, watched tele and talked some more until Dad and the girls got back early in the afternoon. It was the first time any of our family had been in the City to Surf, but I'm sure it wont be the last. Dad and Aimee ran together and their time was 91.02 minutes. They crossed the line together. Mum and Kristen ran some and walked some, and their times were 113.56 for Kristen and 115.32 for Mum. They had a great day, but they were all pretty sore for a few days. They said it was well worth the trouble though, and are very grateful to all the wonderful people who sponsored them. The sponsorship page is still open, so anyone who wants to, can still support Cure Our Kids. Just click on the Woods Family City to Surf link on the left of this page.

Top: Mum, Aimee, Kristen & Dad with Camperdown nurses Stacey, Justine, Scott, Nicole & Mel.

Right: Dad & Aimee at the start.

Below: Kristen stretching before the start; The view down William St after the start; Mum sets a cracking pace up Heartbreak Hill.

Bottom: Kristen & Aimee recovering at Bondi; The Woods Family Cure Our Kids City to Surf team at Bondi Beach.

Kristen and Aimee went home on Monday because Kristen had to work and Aimee had to go to school. Mum and Dad and me, went back to Westmead, where I had to have my fortnightly blood tests done. On Tuesday, Dad played in a Ronald McDonald House Charity Golf Day at Castle Hill Country Club. He had fun, but he said it was a pretty challenging golf course. On Wednesday, Dad went to work, and Mum and I had appointments with the dietician and the RMH Tutor. Her job is to see if I need help to catch me up with my school work. Then, today (Thursday) I went into surgery at 10.30 am to have my central line removed. This is a big thing for me. Now I can go swimming again and I wont have the risk of picking up an infection in the line like a did a few weeks ago, putting me back in hospital for a week.

Tomorrow, I'm going on my first trip with Canteen, on a girls camp in the Southern Highlands. Mum and Dad will take me to the airport tomorrow, where I will catch the bus. Then I will meet them again in Canberra on Sunday. This will be the first time I have been away from both Mum and Dad for nearly a year.

I have an appointment with Dr Shaw next Wednesday and then a bone marrow biopsy on 7th September. I hope to learn soon after that, that I can return to school.

Back in the Good Books

Things can change quickly when you are being treated for leukaemia. Last week they took a turn for the worse. This week they did the opposite. One of the best things about my central line infection was that it made my new immune system really work. And it did. My WCC shot right up to over 11 when I was feeling really sick. Today I had a CT scan of my lung again. There's a slight little white patch still there, but my cough has now gone, so the white cells are really kicking into gear. My blood results are really good today. WCC is 5.2, Neutrophils are 3.2, Hb is 122, Platelets are 211. So I'm really like a normal kid, nearly, except I don't yet have enough B & T type Lymphocytes in that WCC. There the ones I need to protect me from infections. There the ones I need to be able to go to school, to go shopping, or go to the movies. They're currently on 0.2, but they need to be over 1.0. Best of all though, today I was given the news that my central line will come out the next time I'm in Sydney. That will be another general anaesthetic, but it will remove the possibility of picking up another infection there. Last week we discovered a way to go to the movies without putting me at risk. We go to the drive in at Blacktown. We think it's the last one left in Sydney. It's really cool, I get to sit in the front, and Mum and Dad sit in the back. Dad said that's how it was in his day anyway, and when I asked him could he see the movie, he said it didn't matter, he never really saw the movie when he went to the drive in anyway. Huh? I don't get it? Old people can be weird sometimes.

Back on Track...........again!!!

Well, after that little episode with the bacteria in the central line, I'm back on track again. A couple of days in hospital, and a daily visit to the hospital for some intravenous antibiotics for a week will have me back where I was, I think? I still don't seem to be able to keep these NG tubes in for long, but with a bit of luck, I wont need them for too much longer. I am gaining weight slowly, and the doctors have told me if I can get to 35kg, then they'll probably let me stop. I'm having this week back at RMHW so I can have the daily antibiotics, but should be home again at the end of the week. Never a dull moment in this business.