What a Great Week

This week was a great week. This week I finally went back to school. Only for two periods, but at least I got back. Bridget, the hospital liason is meeting with my teachers on Thursday to work out the best way to help me back into school. Going back to school was something I really was looking forward to, but the big, BIG, news this week was the much awaited arrival of Archie Quirk. Our friends David & Taryn had their first baby on 19th September, a beautiful little baby boy they named Archie Robert. Taryn & David promised me a nurse, and I couldn't wait. We finally got to visit them on Monday, and I had my nurse. He is so cute. (This is me on our front step, with my trusty hat ready to go for my first day at high school, finally. Me arriving at the Gates of School, with my year advisor for Year 7 Miss Danielle Forbes, and me with Archie.)

What a Fantastic Day

Today was a fantastic day. Today I went with Dad in the plane to visit his clients and friends the Harleys at Balowra near Nymagee. Dad really wanted me to go, and I'm really glad I did. The trip out only took 45 minutes and when we got there Phil and Marie met us at the airstrip. They were so nice. I can now see why Dad likes going to Balowra so much. Phil and Dad went to the wool shed to look at the wool, and Marie took me straight to the house. The Harleys have got a really cool buggy their grand children drive around in on school holidays. It is so much fun, I really want one. Marie showed me how to drive it, and I was hooked. We went up to the shed, me driving, to pick up the boys for lunch. I drove Dad back in the buggy. Marie made us a lovely lunch, and then I took Dad back to the shed, in the buggy. After Dad spoke to Dave the classer, we went back to the plane and flew home. I want to go back to Balowra again soon. The Harleys were so nice. (Below is a picture of me with the Harleys, and the buggy. Richard, Phil, Marie and Phillip. The Harleys call Phillip "Man". The other pictures are me in the buggy, me at the controls of Dad's plane, and looking out my window at the big mine at Parkes.)

When I got home to Forbes, Mum gave me some really good news. She said that Dr Shaw had called, and said I can finally go back to school. Yee haa!!!

What a really great day!!!

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.